PLAZA BALANGHAI
URBAN EXPLORATION OF COMMUNITY AND IDENTITY
TYPOLOGY INSTITUTIONAL
LOCATION PASIG CITY, METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES
YEAR 2018
Entitled PLAZA BALANGHAI, it takes inspiration from the Balangay and its representations.
PLAZA BALANGHAI consists of two main elements: the Object (The Balangay Tower) and the Blanket (Alon Park). The idea of an Object hovering above a vast Blanket abstracts the notion of the MMDA – as the administering body that oversees the different cities of Metro Manila.
Instead of creating separate structures to form the complex, PLAZA BALANGHAI divides the complex into two entities: a vertical tower and a horizontal park. The tower contains the main offices whereas the park encapsulates the different supporting facilities of the MMDA.
Inspired by the
Guided by the concept of community, PLAZA BALANGHAI creates an urban juxtaposition of elements to create a cohesive development. The architectural marriage of the tower typology with the park satisfies the executive and public functions that define the esteemed MMDA – giving it functional flexibility while creating a new public place for the people. The
PLAZA BALANGHAI becomes a testament to a sense of place, of purpose, of community, and most of all, of what it means to be Filipino.