MANILA, Philippines — Pioneering Filipino architect and interior designer Lorenzo “Lor” Calma, a key figure in shaping modern Philippine architecture, has died at 97, his family announced through his firm, Lor Calma & Partners.
“We are saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather and husband, Ar. Lor Calma,” the firm said in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
“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. A pioneering Filipino architect and designer, he leaves behind an enduring legacy that helped shape modern Philippine architecture,” the post added.
A wake will be held from Jan. 28 to 30 at Chapel 3 and 4, Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City, with interment scheduled for Jan. 31.
The Philippine Institute of Interior Designers on Wednesday also mourned Calma’s passing, posting on Instagram, “Today, we mourn the passing of Architect Lor Calma — a visionary, mentor and one of the quiet pillars who helped shape the soul of Philippine interior design. 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.”
Arts at BGC, the public art program of the Bonifacio Art Foundation, also paid tribute, highlighting Calma’s contributions to the city’s cultural landscape.
“We are saddened by the passing of Architect Lorenzo L. Calma, the brilliant mind behind the iconic BGC public art pieces namely ‘The Transformation’ and ‘People’s Minds.’ Ar. Lor Calma will be missed and fondly remembered. He and his masterful works will live on as inspiration for Filipinos,” Arts at BGC said.
Calma, widely regarded as a legend of Philippine modernism, was known for his minimalist aesthetic and mastery of tropical design. He established the Calma brand as a benchmark of excellence in local architecture and design.
Through his career, he designed landmark structures such as the Silahis International Hotel (now closed a d last known as as Sofitel Grand Boulevard), the Cancio-Calma Associates building in Makati and high-end residential projects in Forbes Park and New Manila. His interiors included the original Manila International Airport in 1962, commissions for the Asian Development Bank and museum spaces.
Calma also created notable artworks, including his “Origami” metal sculpture series and the “Banig Ring” jewelry collaboration with Swiss jeweler Hans Brumann.
Calma was a founding member and former president of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) and advised the Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID). He received numerous awards, including the Lifetime Award for Interior Design and Architecture in 1997 and the Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award in 2010. His firm, Lor Calma & Partners, which he founded in 1975, is now led by his son, Eduardo “Ed” Calma, continuing the family’s modernist legacy.