Arch. Marvin Tolete, uap
Principal Architect
Marvin Tolete Architects
is an architectural firm located in Tayug, Pangasinan, Philippines founded in 2016. The firm specializes in Neo Filipino architecture —a progressive approach towards Philippine architecture. The firm is strongly committed in creating unique, innovative, and environmentally responsive design solutions.
The firm follows seven guiding principles in designing their projects: maganda (beauty) , matipid (economy), matalino (intelligence), matibay (strength), maalaga (care), maagap (agility), and makabayan (nationalism). Through these principles, they are able to design projects suited for Filipinos. Maganda and matipid are about creating aesthetically pleasing structures with low construction and maintenance costs. Matalino and matibay refer to a constant striving for innovation with durable structure and materials. Maalaga and maagap are about creating safe and time-efficient construction. Makabayan is about designing buildings according to its location with careful understanding of its people, community, and culture.
The firm mainly uses monochromatic tones with the use of humble concrete finishes on their projects to emphasize the people more than the space. For them architecture is about people and architecture is about creating a stage for the lives of its users. Making a building sensitive to its environment makes it sustainable and making a building sensitive to its users makes it an architecture.
AWARDS
Nominee – NCCA (National Comission for Culture and the Arts), Haligi ng Dangal 2026, Architecture Category, September 2026
Top 50 – Impact Design International Competitions, Microhousing Architecture Competition, Eco Manila, July 2022
Top 50 – Volume Zero International Competitions, Nano House 2021, Bloom Shelter, July 2021
Nominee – NCCA (National Comission for Culture and the Arts), Haligi ng Dangal 2020, Architecture Category, February 2020
Shortlist – Exsto Asia Singapore, Pimp My Pod, Professional Category, August 2019
Shortlist – Anthology Architecture and Design Festival, MADE (Metrobank Arts and Design Excellence), Residential Category, Bahay Kubo 2050, February 2018
CITATIONS
Feature – NCCA (National Comission for Culture and the Arts), Haligi ng Dangal 2026, Architecture Category, September 2026
Exhibit – PAAAF (Philippine Architecture and Allied Arts Festival), Architecture Category, September 2025
Exhibit – PAAAF (Philippine Architecture and Allied Arts Festival), Architecture Category, September 2024
Feature – Impact Design Competitions, Microhousing Architecture Competition, Eco Manila, July 2022
Feature – Volume Zero Competitions, Nano House 2021, Bloom Shelter, July 2021
Feature – NCCA (National Comission for Culture and the Arts), Haligi ng Dangal 2020, Architecture Category, February 2020
Exhibit – Anthology Architecture and Design Festival, M.A.D.E (Metrobank Arts and Design Excellence), Residential Category, Bahay Kubo 2050, February 2018
SERVICES
Architecture
Space Planning
Master Planning
Site Development
Interior Architecture
Design & Build
Illustration
Furniture