I’ve been researching architects and contractors in the Philippines because my family is planning to build a house, and I’ve noticed that almost every contractor’s portfolio I come across consists mainly of modern, contemporary, or minimalist homes.

Is there a reason this style has become so dominant in the Philippines? Is it because it’s more affordable or easier to build, or is it simply what most clients are requesting nowadays?

We’re personally looking for something very different. We would love a Spanish/Mediterranean-inspired home—warm and timeless, with features such as arches, stucco/textured walls, terracotta-style roofing, balconies, courtyards, and more traditional details rather than the modern box-style look.

Has anyone here built a Spanish or Mediterranean-style house in the Philippines? If so, how was your experience?

I’d also love recommendations for architects or contractors who have actual experience with this style, especially in or around Pangasinan. I’m having a hard time finding portfolios that aren't predominantly modern homes.

Thank you in advance :)

Something good to read? Para ma-gaslight ang sarili na tama o ituloy ang path na to. Hahahaha char

May nakagawa na po ba ng spreadsheets regarding methods of compe? Hehe curious lang. I wonder also how are they used sa real deal kasi from my experience sa previous mentor, di na niya nasusunod eh. Lump sum/percentage base lagi. Ano thoughts niyo sa ganitong method of compensation? How do you also present these methods to the client?

Pasensya na architect na ako (since 2025) but I still get confused about dito.

pwede po ba siya along sa property line? or sa boundary ng AMBF lang po? thank you!

Hi! Does anyone know of architectural firms around Makati, preferably somewhere central/near the main business districts, that are currently hiring architectural apprentices?

I’m currently looking for an apprenticeship opportunity and would really appreciate any leads or recommendations. If you know a firm that’s hiring, please comment or DM me. Thank you!

For me sad talaga na nagkaganito, kaya yung mga clients namin hindi namin ginagawan ng rush design para makasingil agad. When designing talaga laging iniisip namin na matagal pinag iipunan ng clients yung ipapatayo nila. Anyway, parang wala naman rin yatang professionals involved dito sa bahay na to :(

Hiii I’m selling my drafting table, you can message me directly if you’re interested.

Hi guys!

I'm currently reviewing for the board exam this coming January 2027.

As I go deeper into my review journey, my anxiety has been creeping up because I have very little site experience from my apprenticeship.

I didn't really enjoy the site aspect of our field because I'm a timid person, I'm not very good with people, and I'm not confident with my BT and BU knowledge.

But I did enjoy the internal exploration that happened in my head whenever I visited sites, like, "Wow, that's cool how they made that," or "That's a really clean detail right there," and so on.

I feel lost, and I don't really relate to my classmates in my RC whenever they talk about their own site experiences or situations.

What can I do to learn more and gain enough familiarity to help me during my review and, eventually, the LEA in January 2027?

BTW, I told my arki friends about this, and they're willing to bring me along to their own sites to help expose me to more real-world situations.

And yeah, I think I should've stayed at my firm or apprenticeship a little longer, but I'm battling with my personal timeline and family pressures.

Thanks, and stay safe!

Hi everyone! 2 months na po ako nagaapply sa fb, jobstreet indeed, pero wala pa rin pong responses from any firms that I've messaged.

May alam po ba kayong mga companies na in need ng apprentice around Pasay/Tarlac?

Thank youuu!

Hi. Would like to know how much rough estimate per sqm for commercial space? I already have the design. Just need the construction work. Thank you

Hi! Especially those na nag-exam this June 2026, I am planning to enroll on CDEP while working, do you think it will work or are there better options for review centers na mas friendly sa oras nung mga walang balak tumigil magtrabaho?

Also, I checked the CDEP website, may button na for “Enroll Now” na ang start ng review ay sa January, but then kapag clinick at ni-redirect sa enrollment form, ang nasa options lang ay may nakalagay na “LEA JANUARY 2027,” does it mean na ang review ay start ng January 2027, or that’s for the ongoing review para sa takers ng January 2027?

Thank you so much for those who will enlighten me!

I'm still on the first month of architecture and MAN I'm already stressing. Hell week every week HAHAHAHAHA.

Anyways, I'm trying can you guys please give me criticism on what to improve so bubble diagram so I can make the draft?

And lastly, Sir got confused that about the look of my Porte Cochere during the consultation. How do I make it communicate more that it is what it says it is?

(Yes, I know it is way too big, I'll scale it properly ✌️)

I'm a fresh graduate and as the title says I want to ask if worth it pa po ba ipursue ang 2years apprenticeship dito sa pilipinas? I tried working sa firm na inirecommend ako ng prof ko but I resigned due to health reasons. Well, partly because my salary was 13k/month and malayo sa bahay ko ung office. Different story na yun actually pero with it in mind ay nakapag isip isip pa ako ng mas malalim.

For context, talagang ginapang ko mapagraduate sarili ko by being a working student buong 5years ko in college. May mga gaps lang na tumitigil para magpahinga or dahil mag major plates pero ilang buwan lang. Sinabi ko sa sarili ko na hindi nako babalik sa call center or sa pagttrabaho sa gabi (as VA) dahil sa nadulot nito sa health ko pero ngayon na nakikita ko kung gaano ka baba ang sweldo at gaano karaming dagdag gastos at effort pa ang kailangan ko gawin para makakuha ng certificates, trainings, or additional licenses (plumbing, enp/mmep, etc) para ihire ako or atleast maging qualified kahit wala ako nung 1-2 yrs experience na hinahanap sa mga "fresh grads" at magkaron ako ng strong chance sa job market.

sa totoo lang passionate talaga ko sa architecture, oo burn out ako pero ayoko sana maalis ung maliit na hope sa puso ko na magagawa ko tong trabaho na to ng hindi inaundermine ung health at financial capability ko kasi after all hindi naman ako mapapakain ng passion lang, dapat kumikita rin ako ng sapat para ma fund ung buhay ko kahit di man lavish pero disente man lang sana.

nakikita ko ung mga posts na hindi naman ako mag isang nararamdaman at nararanasan to pero i cant help myself but realize na oo nag rereklamo nga tayo pero pareparehas lang naman tayong kabilang sa sistema at walang magawa, so should i settle for less salary na uncertain ang job security at i-go ang apprenticeship kahit hindi naman sigurado na atleast kikita ako ng disente dito sa industry na to ng hindi sinasakripisyo na mawalay sa pamilya at magiging worth it ung additional 2 years ng hirap para magka lisensya o tanggapin ko nalang ung high paying deskjob sa bpo para masimulan ko na ung pag buo ng pangarap ko para sa pamilya at sarili ko?

sobrang hirap kasi lunukin na ipagsasawalang bahala ko ung sakripisyo ko ng limang taon sa college para lang mag shift ng trabaho sa ibang industry ng hindi man lang tinatry lumaban. pero kasi ayokong gumising nalang na may regrets na sana hindi ko pala sinayang ung oras ko sa bagay na wala naman akong mapapala... so ayun po, i mean no offense po but i genuinely would just like to know your thoughts and experience about this.

tldr; idk if i should pursue the 2yr apprenticeship to get the license when it doesn't seem like it offers good compensation din naman in the long run (not unless mag abroad ako for bim) i want to know if it's true kasi if oo i might just not pursue it at all at kumuha nalang ng (might be high) decent paying (nightshift :(() deskjob sa bpo.

thank you po and i hope to have your insights 🙏🏻

I'm a 2nd year arki student. Design plate namin ngayon is outpatient center. I pretty much have all of the necessary info before doing my space program, except for this one. I tried getting answers from gemini and while it does give you info, ang vague ng sources nya. The AI will say something like "according to the DOH your project should only consider 10%-15% of the district's population", and when I ask where does it explicitly say that, "sorry, it doesn't actually state it specifically, that was an error" and reply. I tried a bunch more questions related to this pero ang ending is either error lang daw or may source nga pero pagbukas mo ng link wala naman don yung sinasabi nyang answer.

That being said, this is my last resort. For the professionals in this sub na may experience na with healthcare design, how do you guys tackle this problem? How do you guys determine, based sa size ng project, the number of staff and patients expected to occupy the building?

P.S. I tried finding research papers sa google scholar pero its on a timeout rn for some reason so yeah, until then please enlighten me.

So my mentor offered me 28.5k salary (18.5k basic and 10k allowance, no gov benefits, pero may accommodation) since ide-deploy niya ako sa site. The site was located in Rizal, and I am from Nueva Ecija. 1 year and 5 months na rin ako sa firm niya and it would be my first long term site exposure since wfh mostly ang work ko sa kanya.

Is it okay po ba?

hi! tanong ko lang! saan kaya pwedeng makabili ng budget friendly or cracked na archi softwares?

Hello po architects!! 🫶🏻 Need your advice and tips on this. How do you handle the scope and limitations of your design services to your clients?? (in terms sa contract agreement)

Ano manner of payment niyo sa project? Naka Honorarium based ba kayo for ocular visit fee niyo sa project? Or included na sa 15% PF niyo if percentage based fee ang payment? (Pre-design stage)

In terms of scope of services, as the AOR of the project, do you still manage to go through your scope yung sa nego/bidding phase ni client w/ contractor..? wherein being mediator between client and contractor, involved pa ba kayo??

or after completion all of the contract docs and archt'l services, final billing na kayo??

Hanggang ilang revisions ina allow niyo sa clients niyo per project?

Thank you so much sa makakapag bigay insights nila dito. 😇

Not an architect, but I would just like to ask for opinions. This may be a stupid question but I'll post it here anyways.

Is it really more advantageous to just have one person to talk to?

Wouldn't it be better if hiwalay yung design and yung build for audit purposes?

If you agree with the post on the photos, what are the honest advantages and disadvantages of it?

TYIA

I am planning to upskill and focus on BIM (Revit). Thoughts about enrolling REVIT COURSE especially sa GraphiKurso Ph? Or sa YT na lang ako mag aral para tipid? Hahahahaha.

Doing a plate rn about bahay na bato and ang alam ko lang is nasa calle crisologo vigan, Ilocos Sur. Tried, doing reverse-image search, pero iba yung lumalabas. I don't know if ginagamit siya as semi-commercial and residential. TYIA po!!!!

Hi, I never got to learn revit during my college years (hindi tinuro) and professional year (1yr) (we used a different software). I graduated in 2024. I am planning to expand my skills and I enrolled in microcadd revit. Nagpplan kasi ako lumipat ng work kaso puro revit na hinahanap ngayon and malaking advantage talaga sya kapag marunong.

Ngayon, tinatry ko gawin yung mga luma kong works sa portfolio into revit and nahihirapan ako especially pag may curves, feeling ko di ko matututunan to agad agad kahit nagaral na ko sa microcadd ng basic revit.

How did you learn revit and gaano katagal bago kayo naging confident sa revit skills nyo? and are there any companies out there na willing mag train kahit zero to basic lang yung alam sa Revit?

Thanks po sa sasagot, napapanghinaan kasi ako ng loob baka di ako para dito. 🫠