Lorenzo "Lor" Calma

Lorenzo "Lor" Calma (1928 to 2026) was a pioneering figure in Philippine modernism, working fluidly across architecture, interior design, furniture, sculpture, and jewelry. Trained at the Mapua Institute of Technology, he spent more than half a century translating international modernism into a restrained, materially honest Filipino idiom.

His architectural and interior commissions include the Silahis International Hotel on Manila Bay, the interiors of the original Manila International Airport in 1962, and offices for the Asian Development Bank. Working through practices such as Cancio-Calma Associates and later Lor Calma and Partners, he became known for clean lines, local materials, and quiet craftsmanship.

Calma helped build the interior design profession in the Philippines, co-founding the Philippine School of Interior Design in 1967 and serving on the first interior design board of examiners. He was the father of architect and designer Eduardo Calma, and his honors include induction into the PIID Hall of Fame. He died in January 2026 at the age of 97.