A trailblazer in the field of Philippine sustainable architecture, Liza Morales Crespo is building a legacy that will impact future Filipino generations.
“Nature is on its own self-sustaining… We can incorporate green design and make something that’s beautiful, something that’s functional…” – Liza Crespo, Green Living
There’s something worth emulating in a woman whose passion for her craft makes a profound impact on the society and the future. For over a century now, women have struggled to prove their talent for design and architecture in a profession that is dominated by men. Despite the aggressive movement for gender equality, being an architect remains a challenging path for women in the 21st century. But this did not deter Liza Morales Crespo from breaking new ground in the field of architecture.
As the Principal of Liza Crespo Ecotecture, Liza Crespo is on a mission: to provide eco-friendly alternatives to traditional construction practices in the hope of merging quality modern architecture with environmental sustainability.
A dedicated mother, Liza aims to design a better planet where children could still enjoy the beauty of nature in the years to come. And thus begin her pursuit for sustainable designs. Her passion is easily reflected in her numerous achievements and accolades.
The beginning of a journey
“The world of construction is male-dominated, but my mantra is ‘Anything they can do, I can do better.’” – Liza Crespo, Lifestyle Inquirer
Liza Crespo is no ordinary lady. She graduated cum laude at the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Certificate in Building Technology. She ranked 6th place in the PRC Licensure (Board) Exam for Architecture. While studying, she worked at RR Payumo & Partners as a CADD Manager and Designer. After she graduated, she became a Project Architect and Designer at E.T. Caniza Associates.
In 1997, Liza Crespo started working independently under her own name, Liza Morales Architects. She was able to design a 5-storey office building for the Philippine Geoanalytic Group of Companies and multiple provincial cinemas for Premiere Entertainment Productions.
She then pursued her Masters in Architecture and Urban Design at Columbia University in New York and Masters in Infrastructure Planning at New Jersey Institute of Technology in New Jersey—both of which she completed in 1999.
She remained in New York for 10 more years, working as an Associate at an award-winning New York City firm, Brennan Beer and Gorman Architects. It was then that she started working on high-end projects, traveling the world and leaving her own architectural fingerprints on 5-star hotels and luxury residential developments. Some of her notable projects include Astra Montenegro Hotel & Casinos in Europe, Fairmont Residences Baltimore in Maryland, and Peninsula Shanghai in China.
When she had her first child, she began to reconsider her design philosophy. Finally, her advocacy for green living was born.
The beginning of a legacy
“Parenthood changes people and you start thinking about legacy and the world that our kids are gonna grow up in.” — Liza Crespo, Green Living.
When Liza moved back to the Philippines with her family, she wanted her home to be a place where her children can grow in comfort and safety. The condo unit that she and her husband bought gave her the freedom to incorporate her eco-friendly design philosophy, which means more room for natural light and ventilation.
Liza’s commitment to green living urge her to pursue more credentials. In 2008, she became one of the first Filipino architects who was certified as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional by the U.S. Green Building Council. She is currently pursuing a Certificate in Green Building Design at Cooper Union in New York.
With her impressive portfolio and world-class professional experience, Liza brought her technology and sustainable design expertise back home.
It was in 2009 that she started her own company Liza Crespo Ecotecture, a design agency that specializes in sustainable architectural design for commercial and residential developments. From then on, the company has transformed into one of the leading green real estate companies in the Philippines, with offices in Manila and New York. Some of their notable projects are the Public Safety Savings and Loan Association Inc. building, which is the first green building on EDSA, Parish of the Risen Christ and Bo’s Coffee headquarters.
The beginning of an advocacy
“…sort of my “why” is… if I make a dent in reducing the carbon footprint of the country or the world, then that is my legacy and that’s something I would be proud of for the rest of my days.” — Liza Crespo, Green Living
Liza was born to a family of real estate professionals. Her father, who was in the construction business, would bring her to construction sites, which eventually became her playground. As a child, she came to appreciate the business of constructing a building from scratch.
It is no wonder that Liza’s roots have influenced her to follow a path less taken. With a passionate commitment to going green, her architectural design is characterized by biomimicry, which basically emulates nature’s patterns and strategies. Her company’s mission is to create homes and buildings that utilize materials and processes that can well-adapt to life on earth over a long period of time.
Liza continues to inspire significant change in a field dominated by men. Over the years, she has delivered numerous lectures and seminars on sustainable design to different real estate organizations, such as the United Architects of the Philippines, Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, and Philippine Concrete Industry Association. She is also a professor of architecture at De La Salle University School of Design.
Her dedication to her advocacy has named her one of Town & Country’s Top Architects and Interior Designers in Manila. She has also been featured in lifestyle and real estate publications, such as Preview, Philippine Tatler, Lifestyle Inquirer, and Real Living.
Now, Liza owns four companies and is the CEO of Philippine Geogreen, Inc. and Archisupply LLC.
But Liza’s advocacy is not limited to the real estate industry. Her other company, Tali Handmade (where she serves as the President), is a social enterprise that produces handcrafted bags manufactured from unconventional raw materials using traditional crochet techniques. But it’s not so much about the world-class bags that make the venture phenomenal as the story behind it. Liza, together with her co-founder Marielle de Leon-Lazaro, was inspired after visiting the female inmates of a local jail. From then on, Liza started empowering women at the grassroots level by providing them a means of income and a chance for a better life.
A woman, an architect, an entrepreneur, a mother—all of these embody Liza Morales Crespo. But more than that, she is an advocate who continues to impact sustainable change one building at a time.
Sources: Liza Crespo’s Website, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Tali Handmade, Town & Country, Real Living PH, Green living, Philippine Tatler, Linkedin
Read our previous feature on PH real estate’s outstanding women.
