Architect Lor Calma passes away
The Philippine architectural and design community is in mourning following the passing of Architect Lorenzo "Lor" Calma. He was 98.
His firm, Lor Calma Partners, announced his death on Wednesday, saying, "We are saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, and husband, Ar. Lor Calma. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered for his generosity of spirit, his belief in others, and the quiet warmth and calm he brought to everyone he met."
They remembered him as "a pioneering Filipino architect and designer" who "leaves behind an enduring legacy that helped shape modern Philippine architecture."
His wake will be until Friday, Jan. 30, at Chapels 3 & 4 of Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City. The interment will be on Saturday, Jan. 31.
The Philippine Institute of Interior Designers mourned the passing of "a visionary, mentor, and one of the quiet pillars who helped shape the soul of Philippine Interior Design."
"At a time when interiors were often seen as mere ornamentation, Lor Calma stood firm in his belief that design is a discipline rooted in space, integrity, culture, and human experience. Through his involvement with PIID, he helped elevate interior design into a principled profession; one grounded in ethics, education, and responsibility, inseparable from architecture itself," they added.
"His legacy lives in the values he championed: restraint over excess, meaning over trends, craftsmanship over convenience. He taught us that design is not about spectacle, but about clarity, purpose, and respect—for materials, for context, and for people. Beyond titles and institutions, he was a quiet guide whose philosophy continues to influence generations of designers," PIID continued.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, which Calma transformed during a 100-day renovation in 1994, lauded him for his pivotal role in "shaping the language of modern architecture in the Philippines."
"In 1994, Architect Calma played a pivotal role in redefining the museum itself. Together with former museum President Rita Ledesma, Ar. Calma and his team completed an ambitious renovation in just 100 days, in time for the Vatican exhibition opening," they wrote.
Calma’s team expanded the galleries and added a new floor. They also redesigned the lobby, library, reading room, and coffee shop.
"True to his philosophy, the new architectural additions were deliberately understated. They were designed not to compete with the artworks, but to frame them—allowing art to remain at the center of the visitor’s experience," the Met continued. "Beyond architecture, he was also a dedicated supporter of the arts community. He served as a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila from 1996 to 2004."
Calma also got into sculpture and painting. The museum said that two of his sculptures are part of the museum’s permanent collection: Yellow Exploration (1996) and Windows (undated).
The Met ended: "Lor Calma’s legacy endures in spaces shaped by clarity, purpose, and a profound respect for art."
'An international modernist'
Calma co-founded the Philippine School of Interior Design in 1967 and served as one of the country’s first Interior Design board examiners in 1982. His portfolio included landmark public projects, notably the interiors of the Manila International Airport (now Ninoy Aquino International Airport), the Asian Development Bank, and the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, School of Design & Arts Building.
His career earned him the PIID Hall of Fame Award (1992, 2006) and the Gintong Ama Award for Art and Culture in 1993. In 1997, Calma received the Lifetime Award for Interior Design and Architecture. Other prestigious honors included the 2010 Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award in Arts and Architecture.
He was also recognized by the PIID as a Founding Member in 1985.
His legacy continues through his son, Eduardo "Ed" Calma, who followed in his footsteps as a prominent architect and interior designer.
In a previous interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, Ed spoke highly about his dad, saying, “He always told me to be simple with the design and he emphasized detail to bring materiality of the design to a different level of appreciation.”
He continued, “[He was] an international modernist who integrates elements of local materials, culture, and local craft to anchor the design to its place. He is one of only a few architects I know locally who works in multiple scales—from architecture to interiors, furniture, art & decor, and jewelry."
