Overlooked Contributions: Local Architects in the History of Tropical Modernism

Summary

This article examines how the narrative of tropical modernism in the Global South has historically overlooked the contributions of local architects and engineers. The author, Mohamed Ismail, uses personal experiences growing up in the Philippines and encountering structures like St Marc's Chapel to illustrate how local architectural innovations have been systematically excluded from mainstream architectural history. The piece argues for proper recognition of these overlooked contributors who developed climate-responsive designs and construction techniques that were essential to the development of tropical modernism.