Modular Tectonics: Remastered
This conceptual project is dated back 2012, while I was still under Architectural Design 3 (Architectural Interiors) class mentored by Ar. Jim Caumeron.
The project is situated along P. Correa St. and classified under Industrial Zone in Manila City. The class was tasked to propose an industrial eden for communal art assembly. It is a premise of this project that it will be housed in a existing abandoned warehouse. The warehosue will be a hybrid of residential and communal facilities; where as the residential facility will bring life and people, and communal facilities will bring and attract life to the sector.
To amplify the project, it explores the Tectonic Expressions of a module. A module where as a form or a shape that can be utilized to build, to stack, to connect, and to expand. It challenges to search for tectonic values, as a connection, assemble, locking capabilities, stacking, articulation, and attachment. More than being a construction element, it questions on how it can be as an object, or as a structure, or simply how can this modularity create space.
It hinges heavily on three cases; 'Rappel a l'ordre, the Case for the Tectonic' by Kenneth Frampton, 'The Exercise of Detaling' by Vittorio Gregotti, and 'Tell The the Tale Detail' by Marco Frascari. These are theories that heavily emphasize on the act of building, joints and connection, construction as process of "becoming".
The continuing decay of this industrial sector, by means of affected air quality, public exclusion, and poor urban image, is still pivotal in the urban makeup of a city.
These eyesores will remain, but their function, as well as purpose can change. Cities change, and a portion of it should adapt. Urban regentrification is not new in architecture and urbanism, but it is along blurred lines when applied in the Philippine context.
Repurposing an industrial sector will be an engaging pole in Manila, as it not only give a new sense of place, but also give birth to a new sense of culture, if the proposed commune breeds heightened quality of life.
1/2 Communal, 1/2 Residential
Different community art hubs were proposed; from Multimedia Hub, Fashion Strips, Gallery, Music Store, and Bookstores.
A Performing Arts Theatre was proposed to cater to the depreciating scene of theatre arts, manifested through the demolition of Philippine heritage theaters. The continuing disregard to this art form suppresses expression —- ultimately suppresses art. Establishing a platform for artists to perform might actually build to this new sense of culture that this Art Eden is trying to establish.
For 14 weeks, we were tasked to formulate pods using our modules. How can a space expand using your module? How can one pod connect with another? How can someone with PWD live in these pods? —— and on top of this, we were tasked weekly to make models of our progress, and 1:1 scale of “an object that can seated on” by using the principles of our module.
It was a packed semester, and we had to compartmentalize each tasks weekly or we wont be able to finish the term. It resulted into these three modular pods. A 3 out of a thousand variations.
Let us look into them.
