TANIKALA
URBAN STRATEGY DICTATED BY NATURE’S INTRICACIES
TYPOLOGY      HOSPITALITY
LOCATION        LOS BANOS, LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES
YEAR                 2015
MADE ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION 2015, FINALIST

Envisioned as an architectural and urban strategy that would integrate the built environment with Nature’s intricacies, inspiration was taken from the project’s local context - to achieve a sense of place while at the same time allow the complex to act as a catalyst in representing the culture of Los Baños into the global market. Blessed with natural and man-made environments that are significant to Philippine society and culture, the design process began by identifying these environments and connecting them to the project site – creating a contextual coalescence. The Architecture was directed by these forces – and in the process created a pragmatic Filipino design that is not defined by previous notions of what Philippine Architecture should be. Rather, it created an Architecture that represents the Filipinos as dictated by location, culture, and purpose. The complex was classified into three zones: Culture, Activity, and Wellness. 

The culture Zone was placed  entrance as this is the most present for use To limit their presence on site and avoid blockage of the beautiful vista towards the Makiling, the facilities were buried underground, shaping them with the landscape- peeling only the areas that would give the users access to the spaces. The Theater sinuous forms that are reminiscent of weaves from the handicraft the Museum was crafted to emerge as a landscape out of

The next zone is the Activity Zone – which acts as a transitional section towards the wellness facility that is more private in use. The Nexus Water Feature provides a focal point in delineating the different functions of the Complex. It also acts as a rainwater collector which recycles the water for the use of the complex. Its form was derived from the Nautilus shape or the Golden spiral.

The Wellness Zone begins with the 85-Room Hotel adjacent to the Hot Springs Main Pool. The Hotel envelopes the pool areas with its organic form derived from coconut coir. Beyond the hotel are the cluster of private villas that were formed out of the landscape. Taking inspiration from the nearby mountain ranges, the architecture gradually undulates from the ground – enveloping the living with the landscape.