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steel shapes or other materials may be used.
Directional relationship of masses for the three groups of buildings, have carefully taken into considera- tion the utmost use of space. The legislative group of buildings in re- lation with the executive groups of buildings on the north-western part and the judiciary group of buildings on the south-western part gives a coherence and continuity, an inter- relation of rhythm and beauty with the landscape. Height has been con- trolled, so as to be functional and aesthetic at the same time, without losing that monumentality of charac-
ter.
This has been achieved by the proper choice in the massing of forms
comparatively, the vertical with the horizontal.
With the design composition for the three groups finally adopted, the design group of the Division of Ar- chitecture made its own final presen- tation plans based on the require- ments of the Legislative branch of the Government.
The plan for the Legislative group is designed to meet present and future needs. One design criterion that was adopted however was fluidi- ty. The areas of offices, hall and rooms, are theorized on ideal space requirements for the functional utility of each.
Four Units
As now presented, the plan for the Legislative group is composed of four distinct units, namely: the house session hall and the adjoining offices of the members of the house; the senate session hall and the adjoining office of the members of the senate: the library of congress; and the hall of fame in the centre of the group. apparently serving as the connecting link to the other units in the group.
With this presentation, the house of representatives is located on the southern portion of the site and fac- ing north. The senate is south of the house, while in between is the hall of fame linking the two houses. The library of congress which is a separate building unit is located
Rear view showing senate (left),
southwest of the hall of fame. Of special note in the planning of the library of congress are the facilities. provided for researchers and students, both local and foreign.
Most of the offices of the members of the house and senate are located in two 13-storey buildings adjoining their respective session halls.
It is the purpose of the designers not to put too much distance between the two session halls of both houses in order to facilitate mutual consul- tations during the congressional sessions. As to the disposition and laying out of the rooms and offices for the members of both Houses and their respective staffs, it was decided after due deliberation to favor ver- tical expansion in order to concen- trate their activities nearer the session halls. With height thus defined, the
Far East Architect & Builder August, 1965
hall of fame and house of representatives monumental character of the design is preserved as a landmark for the surrounding country-side.
The National Capitol Buildings have an appropriation of P50,000,- 000 to be spread over a period of five years at the rate of ten million a year.
Two million of this total amount is set aside for preparation of plans, specifications, estimates and other in- cidentals. The remainder of P48,- 000,000.00 is allocated as follows: Legislative group, P18,000,000, Exe- cutive group, P15.000,000 and Judi- ciary group, P15,000,000.
Due to lack of funds, the whole project has been temporarily suspend- ed. Only the structural frames of the Legislative office building and partial construction of the general auditing office have been completed.
Model seen from the south, with hall of fame on the right
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