First United Building, Art Deco office building in Binondo, Philippines.
The First United Building is a six-story Art Deco office building on Escolta Street in Binondo, Manila. It has a central tower and two chamfered corner towers, with a facade marked by geometric patterns made of horizontal and vertical lines.
The building was completed in 1928, designed by architect Andres Luna de San Pedro, and stood as the tallest structure in Manila at the time. It rose during a period of economic growth that brought a wave of new construction to the city.
The ground floor, once a department store, now hosts workshops and exhibition spaces run by local artists. This shift has turned the building on Escolta Street into a gathering point for Manila's creative community.
The main entrance is on Escolta Street, where the ground floor exhibition and community spaces are easy to find. A daytime visit works best, as the natural light makes the details of the facade easier to appreciate.
The facade features boomerang chevrons, spirals, and lancet arches, a combination that earned the building a design award in 1928. Such decorative detail was uncommon in the Philippines at the time, making it stand out even among Art Deco buildings elsewhere in Manila.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
