HABITAT MANILA

Manila is close to my heart, although I’ve never been there personally. During the most harsh winter months of 2020 lockdown, I had found myself a peculiar hobby – I would blast some Thai Molam, open Google Street View and dive into the lush cityscapes of Southeast Asia.

Bangkok, Dhaka, Yangon, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta...

But the city that captivated me the most was Manila. As a fan of postmodernism, I had found there my heaven. I could spend hours exploring, every corner surprised me with something completely new. My preconceptions of what good space and livable street is were shattered. I was bewildered how brilliant designs can be found there - the incredible density of the city stimulates a lot of creativity. I saved the views that I had found most appealing.

Buildings in Manila are much more diverse than in, lets say, Europe. Codes and regulations seem to be less strict, which results in broad diversity and spectacular constrasts. Nowhere in entire world one can find such freedom of form and architectural joy. Creativity that results in unique color combinations, lush ornaments, forms often executed with cheap recycled materials. This blend of syles create picturesque views, like tiny dwellings dwarfed by giant skyscrapers. I immediately fell in love with Manila. As I was strolling throgh virtual cities, I caught myself dreaming that some day, the world will be beautiful once again - with open borders and no lockdown.

When I saw the design competition at Uni, I’ve immidiately decided to take part.

● What was the concept behind the project?

Manila, like many other cities in the world, is struggling to provide enough homes for its huge population. Homelessness is a serious issue, as around 4% of Philipines population does not have a place to sleep. I wanted to design something that is comfortable, relatively cheap and surprising in some way. Recently I’m in love with the work of postmodern architects like Michael Graves and Aldo Rossi. I especially adore how they compose a building of simple geometric elements. I wanted to do something similar with my project. The bathing module is a simple cuboid, the dining/kitchen area is a cylinder, housing blocks are extended trapezoids. Multiple arches and circles can be found here and there. The gallery, which serves as a central axis of the building is a long perforated cuboid that works as an ajour. I’m captivated with the idea of “looking through”.

I wanted to design a building that would suit into its surroundings, to avoid introducing an alien form. After carefully studying the colors and forms of Manila, I’ve chosen some of my favorite and blended into eclectic animal that I’ve called HABITAT MANILA. A structure that would provide comfortable and egalitarian acomodation for students. Up to 395 students can find acomodation in the Habitat. The complex is divided into four blocks of student housing. Each provide acomodation for around 100 students. Each block forms a community of its own, which then is separated into smaller communities that associate dwellers from the same floor. Kitchen area strengthens the floor community while large space on ground floor serves entire community. There can be located sport amenities, like ping pong and billard, or movable walls that can enclose the space creating cosy area for group work or leisure. Additional social space is located on roof.

The building should be accessible for everyone. Rooms are designed to suit needs of disabled students, ground level rooms equipped with ramps for wheelchairs. Every floor is accessible thanks to elevators.

● What was the intent behind the organization of elements across various levels (Architectural, Site, Urban)?

The idea to create a city, within a city, but opened to the city. At each side of the complex there are facilities that should be opened to the public, not only those who live there. West wing houses a restaurant which is opened for everyone, but students might get special discounts. Southern wing have two spaces that can be arranged as shops or additional student workshops.

● How many iterations were tried to arrive at the final outcome?

The design had gone through three iterations. At first I had a vision of one long meandering structure, with rooms located along the gallery and common facilities located on “bends”. This would be brilliant for moderate climate. Then I’ve realized, that in order to deliver more appropriate solution, I need to research architectural designs and textbooks for tropical climates. My later attempts were more careful. The second idea was to build a modular and irregular “village” inspired by local structures and the work of Dutch architect Piet Blom. Entire structure would be suspended on pylons, which would be connected by elevated sidewalks. This I had refuted as too expensive and complicated. The final version was meant to combine the pros of two earlier. Terraced habitat blocks as cul-de-sacs located around a central straight gallery where amenities are localized. Each oriented around an open shaded space. Researching tropical architecture gave me the idea of organising the building in a form of mastaba, with narrow atrium in the middle that works as a solar chimney. Best exposure is northern and southern, so blocks are oriented along equator. Simple, cheap and aware of local climate.

● Which methods of design investigation? How was the programe condensed into final?

The plot, due to its shape was a challenge to organize. I started with creating a lot of drawings covering different approaches. Then I did a working model, compiled of small boxes representing the rooms, which I stacked in various layouts. Then recreated the laout in 3D software.

● What/How were the materials chosen?

I’ve decided to choose reinforced concrete construction, filled with brick walls. Common building technique in the Philipines.

● What is the expansion plan of the project? How will the project transform with the passing time?

What characterizes Manila is its ability to transform, change. Buildings are modified, grow. I hope that my building would also be adapted and modified to better suit the needs of its inhabitants. The structure would easily hold another floor, or two. It would be delightful, if in few decades local architects decide to update it in some state-of-the art creative fashion.