Francisco 'Bobby' Mañosa (born February 12, 1931) is a Filipino architect considered one of the most

influential Filipino architects of the 20th century, for pioneering the art of Philippine neovernacular
architecture.

His contributions to the development of Philippine architecture led to his recognition as as a National
Artist of the Philippines for Architecture in 2018.

Mañosa devoted his life’s work to creating a Filipino identity in architecture, advocating design
philosophies that harken “back to the bahay kubo and the bahay na bato,” and other traditional
vernacular forms. Mañosa became known for combining these traditional forms and indigenous
materials with modern building technology to create structures he feels are be best suited to the
Philippines’ tropical climate.

“Three factors make an authentic Filipino architecture,” says award-winning Filipino architect Francisco
Mañosa, “Filipino values, Philippine climate and the use of indigenous materials. The point is not to
rebuild the bahay kubo and bahay na bato – their time had come and gone – but to learn from them.

Vernacular architecture is an architectural style that is designed based on local needs, availability of
construction materials and reflecting local traditions.

Although he is most popularly known as the architect of the Coconut Palace, his other notable works
include the EDSA Shrine, the Davao Pearl Farm, and Amanpulo resorts.
 San Miguel Corporation Headquarters Building

Mañosa’s breakthrough as an architect happened while he was still working at Mañosa Brothers, when
the firm was hired to design the Headquarters of the San Miguel Corporation in Ortigas. The brothers
designed a building that was inspired by the Banaue rice terraces, with “green” design features which
were ahead of the times.

It is said to be one of the first early examples of green architecture in the country, and was landscaped
in 2006 by no less than the father of Philippine architecture, Ildefonso Santos.
 The Coconut Palace

Mañosa's insitance on only taking on projects with a Filipino design eventually led him to leave Mañosa
Brothers and put up a solo firm. Because he had built up his name designing the San Miguel Corporation
building, he was asked by Imelda Marcos to build the "Tahanang Pilipino" or often referred to as the
Coconut Palace, within the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex.

Although the controversy and the relative disuse of the building since its construction, the Coconut
Palace has come to be recognized as one of the most prominent examples of Philippine neovernacular
architecture, and made Mañosa a highly-sought-after artist.

The palace is shaped like an octagon, with a salakot roof, a chandelier made of 101 coconut shells, and a
dining table inlaid with 40,000 tiny pieces of coconut shells. Highlighted as one of CCP’s most striking
structures for its architecture and interiors, the palace celebrates the coconut as the ultimate ‘Tree of
Life’. The design echoed everything from the coconut’s roots to its trunk, bark, fruit, flower and shell.
 Amanpulo Resort

Designed by the renowned Filipino architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa, Amanpulo is the only property
on the island. Its casitas, a tribute to the traditional Filipino house, the bahay kubo, are made from
natural materials such as wood, marble, and pebbles; and distributed along the beach or nestled in the
treetops and in the hillside overlooking the resplendent Sea.

Amanpulo Resort in Palawan, has given him three international awards – the Asia-Pacific Interior Design
Award for Hotel /Resort Category in 1994, and the prestigious Gallivante’s Award for ‘Best Beach Resort
Worldwide’ in 1994 and 1995.