UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 1

Neighborhood Shopping Centre

SUMITTED TO:

AR. GRACE BERINA

SUBMITTED BY:

ABUNDABAR, JOYCE MARIE P.

3AR-5
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Introduction 3-4

I.a. Background of the Project

I.b. Statement of the Problem

I.c. Project Goals and Objectives

I.d. Significance of the Project

II. Covid-19 & Architecture 5-6

III. Review of Related Literature 7-10

IV. Site Analysis 11-14

V. Technical Research Data 15-23

VI. Case Studies 24-26

VII. Space Program 27

VIII. Conceptual Development 28-32

Bibliography/References 32-33

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 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.a Background of The Project

While shopping malls start to face their decline from the demands and attention

of the people in other countries, shopping malls in the Philippines continue to thrive

(Marshall, 2014). Shopping malls and centers lays deep in the culture and lifestyle of a

common Filipino. Because of the hot and humid temperatures of the dense cities,

Filipinos tend to find comfort in the air conditioning offered by these malls. People of all

ages com to the mall for this same reason. There are a number of parks located in the

country but because of the climate, they find themselves strolling around SM’s and

Ayala Mall’s, two of the most prominent shopping centers in the country. For Filipinos,

the mall is a one stop-shop where they find rest after a draining day or week. However,

existing malls in the country still have flaws that add to the discomfort of its goers. For

instance, there are malls that have bad lighting, are too enclosed, are hard to navigate,

and inaccessible. There are also malls who fail to adapt in urban integration of their

local communities, have drainage problems, and have no places for people to rest

without charge.

To add insult to the injury, Covid-19 is making things harder to use malls.

Despite this deep love and use for local shopping malls, they are in decline because of

the pandemic. In the first few months of the pandemic, the malls are ordered to a full

lockdown. When quarantines started to ease up, malls were allowed to reopen but only

under the rule that they must strictly practice protocols. As of the time of this writing,

there are 55614 active cases in the country. Any breakdown of protocol will lead to an

order of shutdown for the mall. In reality, these malls do try to implement pandemic

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protocols as much as they can but existing mall design flaws hinder both mall operators

and customers to have their best mall experience.

1.b Statement of the Problem

This study aims to answer the following.

1. How can malls be planned to be pandemic-ready?

2. How can preexisting mall design flaws be fixed?

3. What materials can be used?

1.c Project Goals and Objectives

The project goal is to be able to design a neighborhood shopping center

that is capable of adapting to future pandemics while also fitting with the local context

of the site.

1.d Significance of The Project

A neighborhood shopping center will be erected in San Juan, Metro Manila. If the

structure’s design proves to be effective in handling emerging issues like pandemics,

there will be less inconvenience for the people involved in the certain shopping mall.

Mall operators will not have to worry on adjusting anything which then results to less

expenses to be put out post-construction. For consumers and customers, there will be

no major changes in habit when using the mall. It will be like normal for everybody

without the fear of feeling unsafe.

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 C H A P T E R   II

COVID-19 & ARCHITECTURE

As much as the pandemic feels like a new experience for everybody, it is not the

first time that architectural styles have been affected by illnesses. In fact, much of the

modernist movement are thought to be evolved from designs adapting to human

sickness and acting as major parts of the cure. One example if that in 1933, Hugo Alvar

Henrik Aalto, a Finnish architect, completed the Painimo Sanatorium in South Finland

along with his wife. Painimo Sanatorium takes an in-depth approach as a treatment

facility for tuberculosis. The facility has its heating oriented at the patients’ feet because

it was a well-known fact that freezing feet are symptoms of the illness. There are

terraces where there is a great amount of daylight and patients can sleep in because it

has been proven that the heat of the sun can kill tuberculosis bacteria. Apart from Aalto,

Le Corbusier had his house elevated from the ground to avoid contamination. Adolf

Loos had a separate space in his villa for sick children to be quarantined in.

In today’s pandemic, barrier is said to be the most effective structure to ensure

safety. On the other hand, wide open spaces are dangerous. In Netherlands, a restaurant

installed greenhouse-like glass booths in its outdoor tables. A restaurant in Germany

gave out hats with pool noodles to their customers. In Florida, they installed thick

transparent personal barriers which will cover the gambler’s sneeze while also

providing holes for the hands when they are playing cards. There should be life-size

infographics available to remind people to remain socially distanced. Since people have

long been living without a pandemic, guidelines should be clear and accessible to instill

information and change people’s unsafe habits. In less personal and private spaces like

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offices and malls, it is best to keep the circulation in a clockwise manner. This ensures

that people will not have to bump into one another.

On a lighter note, the pandemic has turned people into explorers of new areas of

their local areas. This, of course, is a result of lack of available of transportation and

even boredom from staying in the house for too long. Because the routine and livelihood

of cities relies on the very establishments that has been forced to shut down because of

the pandemic, people are forced to either stay indoors at home or out in the public

spaces. In time, people will tend to feel too enclosed in their homes and will brave out to

the open. Public spaces and establishments create paranoia among the people because

of the high chances of contracting the virus from strangers. In order to still be able to

keep establishments open, there are areas that opened closed streets so that

restaurants and cafes will have bigger spaces wherein they can arrange their chairs and

table in a safe manner. In New York, they made certain streets exclusive to just

pedestrians. Architecture has progressed into a form that adapts to every growing

population but in a time of a pandemic, architecture should now focus on turning things

around. Spaces should now be less dense. There should always be reconciling with the

need of long-term architectural plans while minding a pandemic’s unknowability.

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 C H A P T E R   III

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Malls all over the world are starting to fail and decrease. In 2017, Macy’s closed

down 68 of their shopping malls. One of the reasons these malls fail is because of the

growing e-commerce. In 2017, retail turnover amounted to 17.8% from 2016’s 15.2%.

Another reason is having lack of consumer insights. Malls often only rely on revenue

and visitor counts and these approaches are not reliable in understanding what keeps

customers coming back. Lastly, marketing channels are also losing impact. If malls fail to

market effectively through advertisements and the like, they will also fail to stay

relevant to the people. (Staack, n.d.)

According to B+H’s vision of the Mall of Tomorrow, people are starting to be

detached from the conventional cars that they use. Designers and architects should start

designing spaces for emerging modes of transportation and needs of the future vehicles.

Since parking lots are starting to be empty, more developments can be done. Spaces

should also start to evolve from the boxy-rigid forms of malls into flexible spaces that

can be changed based on contracts. Since e-commerce is the greatest threat to malls,

malls of the future should also adapt to the future especially technology. Being a source

of primary needs is not a reliable source of income for malls. People are starting to go to

the malls for experience and with that, malls should now invest for spaces that improve

social activities and community. (Megson, 2018)

The most common mistake of designing a mall is focusing on the finishes and

texture. Malls first and foremost should have great planning and circulation. A mall in

Mumbai, India opened back in 2004-2005 but is still considered as one of the best malls

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of the country despite the corridors, malls and food courts that need renovation because

of having an efficient design. Understanding customer behavior plays a big role in

planning. (Dungarwal, 2005)

Tropical architecture focuses on a structures thermal comfort as a way of

adapting to its location. In order to achieve good natural ventilation for structure to be

built in the Philippines, there are a few basic design principles. Interior partitions

should be minimized to allow more movement for the air. These partitions can also have

upper or lower openings which is a strategy already used in the old bahay na bato.

Opening on top such as clerestories facilitate air change. Windows are advised to be at

body level for efficient human body cooling. (de Jesus, 2011)

Putting plants indoors can be a problem when there is limited source of sunlight.

However, there are many types of plants that do not need direct sunlight to survive.

Some of these plants are the Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema), Cast Iron Plant

(Aspidistra elatior), Dracaena, and the Peacock Plant (Calathea makoyana). All plants

mentioned above except for the Peacock Plant are perfect for beginners because they

can be easily grown and maintained. All species mentioned are commonly used

nowadays in different types of rooms like bedrooms or offices. (Daniels, 2018)

Contemporary architecture rose after World War 2 with artists who wish to not

follow the existing current architectural trends and experiment on unconventional

materials that can be used. Contemporary architecture has five main features which are

the use of unconventional materials, having bright and open interiors, using a flat roof,

having geometric simplicity and harmony with nature. Large plate glass walls, metal,

concrete, wood and stone are some of the materials that are mostly used in this style of

architecture. The use of large glass planes gave interiors more connection to the world

outside. It also gave the interior a brighter and more comfortable experience.

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Contemporary structures are often in simple geometric forms; this helps give the

structure a more luxurious and tranquil look. (Smith Brothers, 2018)

Wood cladding is widely used in buildings for its natural beauty. The finish

makes a structure feel warm and also blend well with the natural environment. Also,

timber cladding is the eco-friendliest material to be used. It is 100% renewable. It is

perfect for clients who wish to make changes in several years because wood is easily

customizable and changeable. Wood is also good for heat and sound insulation.

(Duffield Timber, 2019)

Biophilia is a term used to describe a human’s innate attraction to nature or the

environment. According to the definition, humans have a natural connection with the

rest of our world that’s been built up through thousands of years of living in agrarian

settings. Edward O. Wilson is an American biologist that popularized the term Biophilia.

This was done during one of his studies where he observed that urbanization leads to

the human’s blurring connection to nature. Because of the fast pacing of urbanization

and development, the importance of nature being a part of our health and well-being is

growing. With this, biophilic design is an approach that is human centered which is

being applied to existing or new structures or places. Biophilic design is important more

than ever as the World Health Organization expects stress related illnesses like mental

health disorders will be one the largest contributors to diseases by 2020. It has already

been proven by research that incorporation direct or indirect elements of nature helps

destress people. It also helps reduce their heart rates and blood pressure. In retail, it is

expected that average rental rates will increase when there is landscaping and

vegetation in the area. Customers would claim that they will be willing to pay 8-12%

more for goods and services given such design approach. (Oliver Health Design, n.d.)

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 Adding water features like a water fountain helps the spaces immediate to it by

purifying the air, drowning out noise pollution and reduce stress. The continuous flow

of water help cover noise but it also capable of purifying the air because dust particles

are attracted to negative ions. This type of ions can be found in water. Another benefit

with having water features is that it is a natural humidifier. This means that it can

remove the disadvantages of a dry environment such as being a catalyst for poor health

and irritation with people that have skin conditions. (Naciri, 2019)

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 C H A P T E R   IV

SITE ANALYSIS

The site allotted for the neighborhood shopping center is located along P. Parada

st., San Juan. At present the lot is privately owned and is a townhouse complex called M

P Guevarra. The area coordinates of the city of San Juan are 14.6019° N, 121.0355° E.

The area coordinates of lot are 14.599592, 121.036935. The lot is in a trapezoidal

shape. The highest temperature recorded in the area is 36.6 degrees Celsius in April 21,

2019 while the lowest temperature recorded was 19 degrees Celsius in January 17,

2019. Most of the noise pollution may come from private vehicles and public utility

vehicles passing by the avenue. Since the structure to be is a neighborhood center, noise

that may come from the immediate environment will not affect its efficiency. However, a

school is located just in front of one side of the mall. This means that, especially in the

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school’s operating hours, the mall should be conscious of its noise and other processes

like vehicular traffic and circulation of the mall-goers. The lot offers sidewalks on all

sides that is 2 meters wide. P. Guevarra St. is a 2-way road which is about 7m wide. P.

Parada st. is also a 2-way road that is also about 7m wide. Both Lion’s rd. and B. Padilla

st. are a 1-way road that is about 4m wide. All four sides of the lot is occupied by mixed-

us structures. There is a school named Philippine Chen Kuang High School located in P.

Parada facing the lot. The lot itself has numerous trees planted. Other schools like La

Salle Greenhills, Xavier School and Immaculate Conception Academy-Greenhills are

located within a 3km radius. The nearest vegetation are from neighboring lots and as

well in the sidewalks. There are also offices for private companies, churches and retail

stores around. The nearest mall nearby is SM City Sta. Mesa

FLOOD MAPS:

Legend:

Yellow – Low flood hazard

Orange – Medium flood hazard

Red – High flood hazard

5-year flood

SITE

25-year flood

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 SITE

100-year flood

SITE

SUN PATH:

Explanation:

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As seen from the flood maps, the site is not entirely affected by floods. However, it does

have its little tendency of having a low flood hazard whether the floor is a 5-year type, a

25-year type or a 100-year type. As for the sun path, the sun rises at the side of P.

Guevarra and sets at the sides of Lion’s rd. and B. Padilla St.

CHAPTER V

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 TECHNICAL RESEARCH DATA

 TABLE 1

  National Building Code Fire Code of Accessibility Plumbing

of the Philippines (P.D. the Law (B.P. Code of
1096) Philippines 344) the
(R.A. 9514) Philippin
es (R.A.
1378)

Allowable AMBF= [Total Lot Area Not Not applicable Not

Maximum (TLA)] - [Land Area applicable applicable
Building Required for yards] +
Footprint [Additional Buildable Lot
Area due to Firewall
Construction)

-Section 709.Requirements
for Other Group
Occupancies. Guidelines
on Building Bulk,
Development Controls,
Building and Other
Accessory Structures
within Cemeteries and
Memorial
Parks.B.Application of
Development Controls
(DC)

Building 18 meters Not Not applicable   Not

Height applicable applicable
Limit -Section 707.Maximum
Height of Buildings.Table
VII.2.Building Height Limit
(BHL) by Type of Use or
Occupancy

 1st Floor: not less

Ceiling than 2.70 meters   Not Not applicable   Not
Heights  2nd Floor: not less applicable applicable
than 2.40 meters
 Succeeding Floors:
not less than 2.10
meters

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  Floors in need of
natural ventilation:
not less than 2.70
meters

-Section 805.Ceiling
Heights

 Average Car: 2.5  Width

PARKING: meters x 5 meters Not = min.   Not
Parking (Perpendicular and applicable 3.70m applicable
Slot Sizes Diagonal Parking)
 Average Car: 2.15 -Rule 3 Section
meters x 6 meters 2.1.8 H
(Parallel Parking) Specific
 Standard Jeepney: Requirements
3 meters x 9 meters for Buildings
and Related
-Section 707.Maximum Structures for
Height of Public Use
Buildings.4.Parking Slot,
Parking Area and
Loading/Unloading Space
Requirements

 At least 1 exit for  50+

EXITS: every usable portion people Not applicable   Not
Number of  Occupant Load of or is applicable
Exits 10 - 499= min. 2 exits over 93
 Occupant Load of sqm
500 - 999= min. 3 shall
exits have at
 Occupant Load of least 2
1000 or more= min. 4 doorway
exits s
 Such
-Section 1207.Stairs, Exits, doorway
and Occupant Loads s must
lead to
separate
exits.
 If
such
doorway
s lead to
corridor
s, it shall
open to
a

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 common
corridor
leading
to
separate
exits
 Every
storey
or
mezzani
ne shall
have not
less than
two
separate
exits.

Division 5
Section
10.2.5.2 

 Total Width of
EXITS: Exits= Total Minimum of  Minimum of   Not
Width of Occupant Load / 165 0.71m 0.8m applicable
Exits  Quotient shall be
equally divided Division 5 -Rule 3 Section
among smaller exits Section 2.1.4 D Specific
10.2.5.2  Requirements
-Section 1207.Stairs, Exits, for Buildings
and Occupant Loads and Related
Structures for
Public Use

 Only 2 exits: a  Exits

EXITS: distance apart to shall be Not applicable   Not
Arrangeme not less than ⅕ of located applicable
nt of Exits the perimeter of and exit
the area served, access
measured in a shall be
straight line arrange
 3 or more exits: d so that
reasonable exits are
distance apart as readily
long as other exits accessibl
are available if one e at all
gets blocked times

-Section 1207.Stairs, Exits,Division 5

and Occupant Loads Section

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 10.2.5.2 

 Max. of 45 meters  Any

EXITS: (without sprinkler door Not applicable   Not
Distance to system) must be applicable
Exits  Max. of 60 meters located at
(with fire the
extinguishing nearest
system) possible
exit
-Section 1207.Stairs, Exits,
and Occupant Loads Division 5
Section
10.2.5.2 

 Shall swing in the  Any  Door

EXITS: direction of exit door width =   Not
Door travel shall be min of 0.80 applicable
 Width= min. of side- m
0.90 meters hinged
 Height= min. of or  A
2.00 meters pivoted minimum
 Shall be capable of swingin clear level
opening 90 degrees g type space of
 Width 1.50 m x
-Section 1207.Stairs, Exits, = min. 1.50 m
and Occupant Loads 0.71m shall be
provided
Division 5 before and
Section extending
10.2.5.3 beyond a
Doors door;
EXCEPTIO
N: where a
door shall
open onto
but not
into a
corridor,
the
required
clear, level
space on
the
corridor
side of the
door may
be a

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 minimum
of 1.20 m.
corridor
width; 
 Shall be
designed
to open
easily or
accessible
from floor
to floor or
to any
point of
destination 

-Rule 3 Section
2.1.4 D Specific
Requirements
for Buildings
and Related
Structures for
Public Use

 Panic  Emboss
EXITS: Fire Shall not exceed 1.20 hardware ed plan   Not
Escape meters in width must not configurati applicable
how any on of the
-Section 802.Measurement locking building
of Site Occupancy  or must show
dogging the
devices location of
 Doors the lobby,
on washroom
buildings s and
of 4 or emergency
more exits of the
storeys building
must be  Flashin
provided g light
with a re- directional
entry signs
mechanis indicating
m the
location(s)
Division 5 of fire exit
Section shall be
10.2.5.2  provided
at 

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 -Rule 3 Section
2.2.1 A Specific
Requirements
for Buildings
and Related
Structures for
Public Use

 Width
Corridors Not less than 1.10 meters Capacity = =   Not
in width and shall not be occupant minimum applicable
unobstructed load that of 1.20 m
utilizes the  Recesse
-Section 1207.Stairs, Exits, corridor for s or
and Occupant Loads exit access turnabout
divided by spaces
the required should be
number of provided
exits to for
which the wheelchai
corridor rs to turn
connects around or
to enable
Note: another
corridor wheelchai
capacity r to pass
shall be not with a
less than the minimum
required area of
capacity of 1.50 m x
the exit to 1.50 m.
which the and shall
corridor be spaced
leads.  at a
maximum
Division 5
of 12.00
Section
m.
10.2.5.2
- Rule 3
Section 2.1.3 C
Specific
Requirements
for Buildings
and Related
Structures for
Public Use

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STAIRWAY Max. 200 mm 100-180 Not applicable   Not
S: Riser mm applicable
-Section 1207.Stairs, Exits,
and Occupant Loads Division 5
Section
10.2.5.4
Stairs

STAIRWAY Min. 250 mm Min of 280 Not applicable   Not

S: Tread mm applicable
-Section 1207.Stairs, Exits,
and Occupant Loads Division 5
Section
10.2.5.4
Stairs

 Occupant Load of 
STAIRWAY 50 or less= 1.10 <2000 Not applicable   Not
S: meters persons applicable
Minimum  Occupant Load of =
Width more than 50= 900 1120m
mm m
 Private Stairways  >200
with an Occupant 0
Load of less than 10= persons
750 mm = 1420

-Section 1207.Stairs, Exits, Division 5

and Occupant Loads Section
10.2.5.4
Stairs

STAIRWAY Not less than 2.00 meters Min Not applicable   Not
S: headroom = applicable
Maximum -Section 1207.Stairs, Exits, 2000mm
Headroom and Occupant Loads
Division 5
Section
10.2.5.4
Stairs

STAIRWAY Not more than 3.60 3660 mm Not applicable   Not

S: meters applicable
Maximum Division 5
Vertical -Section 1207.Stairs, Exits, Section
Distance and Occupant Loads 10.2.5.4

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Between Stairs
Landings

RAMPS:   Not applicable 1120mm 1.20 m   Not

Minimum applicable
Width Division 5 -Rule 3 Section
Section 2.1.7 G Specific
10.2.5.7 Requirements
Ramps for Buildings
and Related
Structures for
Public Use

RAMPS:   Not applicable   Not Not applicable   Not

Minimum applicable applicable
Landing
Length

RAMPS: Should not exceed 1.80 Not Not applicable Not

Distance meters applicable applicable 
Between
Landings -Section
1107.Maintenance and
Removal of Protective
Devices.J.Runways and
Ramps

RAMPS: Not less than 900 Handrail Handrail   Not

Handrail millimeters  height = min. height = 0.90 applicable
Height Of 76 cm nor m and 0.70 m
-Section 86.5 cm above steps or
1107.Maintenance and above the ramps.
Removal of Protective upper  
Devices.M.Guardrails and surface of Handrails for
Toe Boards the tread protection at
great heights =
Division 5 1.0 m to 1.06
Section m.
10.2.5.7
Ramps -Rule 3 Section
2.1.7 G Specific
Requirements
for Buildings
and Related
Structures for

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 Public Use

 10% of the floor

Windows area of the room;   Not Not applicable   Not
opening= not less than applicable applicable
1.00 sqm. 
 For
toilet/bathrooms/lau
ndry rooms/similar
rooms: windows with
an area not less than
1:20 of the floor area;
opening= not less than
240 sqm. 

-Section 808.WIndow
Openings

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 C H A P T E R   VI

CASE STUDIES

MALL OF AMERICA – Bloomington, Minnesota, United States of America (1992)

The Mall of America sits on 29 hectares of lot and has a total building area of

approximately 390 000 sqm designed by Architect Jon Jerde. It is the largest enclosed

retail and entertainment complex in the country and boasts being the first hybrid of

retail and themed entertainment. The Mall of America is dubbed as “a city within a city.”

The design and planning of the mall consists of a central park with 4 department stores

surrounding it. These department stores are connected through 4 distinct shopping

streets. Each of these streets each have their own unique character and theme. There is

the landscaped North Garden, the West market featuring an international marketplace,

there is also cosmopolitan South Avenue and lastly, the contemporary and high-energy

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East Broadway. The mall now has more than 500 stores, 71 restaurants, a 14-screen

movie complex and an aquarium that surrounds the Knotts Berry Farm’s Camp Snoopy,

a 7-acre theme park. Since the mall is enclosed, it protects the mall goers from the

extreme climate of Minnesota. With the popularity of the mall, the Mall of America

welcomes 40 million people around the world and generates nearly $2 billion each year.

The mall also claims to be committed to sustainable energy. Instead of using a central

heating system, it uses passive solar energy with the use of 1.2 miles of skylights and

heat generated from lighting, store fixtures and body heat. There are 30 000 live plants

and 300 trees that act as natural air purifiers for the mall. The mall recycles 60% of its

waste which is equal to 32 000 tons every year. 2400 tons of food waste are given to a

local hog farm which feeds more than a million hogs every year. Fat coming from

restaurant fryers are converted into 4 000 pounds of biodiesel each month. There are

275 water-efficient toilets installed in the mall which can save up to 1.4 million gallons

of water each year. At present, the Mall of America was improved to keep up with

modern technology. It tackled on indoor intelligence journey with the goal of making

navigation among mal-goers easier. An app is available for everyone who wished to visit

the mall and have a convenient yet fun time.

SM MALL OF ASIA – Pasay city, Metro Manila, Philippines (2006)

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The buildings of SM Mall of Asia are designed by Architect Felix Lim and Arquitectonica,

an international firm. The complex of mall buildings covers 480 000 sqm and is located

along Manila Bay. It serves as the centerpiece of the SM Central Business Park. The mall

is the 3rd largest in the world. On the daily, 20 000 people visit the mall. These visitors

are welcomed by a huge bronze globe that is displayed in a roundabout. This globe

lights up at night with a light show or advertisements. The first ever IMAX theatre can

be found in the mall. There is a Premiere Cinema and a Center Stage Cinema that can be

used for live concerts and theatrical performances. The Director’s Club Theater is for

intimate screenings as it features 30 lazy boy seats. The biggest skating rink in

Southeast Asia can be found in the mall. This rink can accommodate hockey games.

Other attractions like the Seaside amusement rides and Dampa seafood restaurants, the

Science Discovery Center and the Mall of Asia Arena also help attract more visitors. The

mall uses a mixture of air-conditioning and open spaces for natural ventilation. There

are skylights for indoor landscaping. Vegetation is most prominent in the front side of

the malls. Some blocks of the lot are used temporarily for parking.

C H A P T E R   VII

SPACE PROGRAM

1862
860
1997

1020
595
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 1751

5634
361
14086

7575.94 sqm
14086 sqm
8091 sqm
361 sqm
1937.5 sqm
3693.5 sqm 7 PWD + 100 Parking slots

C H A P T E R   VIII

CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT

BUHAY-BAHAYAN. In Filipino, buhay can mean two things: life and to be alive.

Bahay, on the other hand, means house or home. Buhay-bahayan is a play on the

Filipino word that is bahay-bahayan meaning a game wherein people pretend they are

at their own home. Buhay-Bahayan is a neighborhood shopping mall that is both alive

and a person's pretend living space. The mall offers natural elements from water to fire,

and also spaces for people from different walks of life to use and enjoy. It also features

planning that aims to adapt among pandemics like Covd-19.

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 The concept revolves around the idea of getting the people closer to the outdoors

while also providing a space that may be considered as pandemic proof. Crises like the

Covid-19 pandemic not only limits the people on what they can do, it also limits them on

what they can enjoy. This largely takes a toll on an individual’s mental health. In return,

Buhay-buhayan aims to be a “living mall.” Living is taken in the sense that not only is it

just a structure erected but it is a mall where life especially nature thrives. With that, it

is pandemic proof so that while a crisis assumes that downtimes will happen, Buhay-

bahayan will continue to operate giving jobs to people and also giving a rare quality of

leisure time to the others. The mall aims to give the people the feeling of what it is like

to be living in its most biological and sentimental meaning. Sentimental because the

mall is where people celebrate, bond, create relationships, and even just have some time

for themselves.

The site allotted for the building of a neighborhood shopping center justifies the

idea for one. The location is surrounded by a school, commercial areas and residential

areas. The design follows a setback of 10m in the front and 5m on the other sides.

Sufficient parking, exits, ramps and stairs are allocated for the satisfaction of the

requirements of the Fire Code of the Philippines, the National Building Code of the

Philippines and BP 344.

The ramp to the parking is placed in P. Guevarra street because it is a two-way

road meaning more places for cars and less inconvenience to those who just wish to

pass by. This limits the traffic that will be created in the one-way roads and the road

containing a school. The whole structure is raised by .3m from the sidewalk ground line

because according to flood maps, the lot itself isn’t prone to floods but the areas

surrounding it are. 100 parking lots are allotted, 7 of which belongs to the PWD

community. These 6 parking slots are located right in front of the mall entrances and the

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grocery entrance. A waterfall, which will also be designed with benches along its

perimeter, is placed in the central corridor. This is done to make it like the centerpiece.

Also, water helps purify water making it safer for everybody. The major store that is

located in the ground floor is the grocery. This is to give convenience to the mall-goers

who will only visit the mall for the necessities. This also avoids the unnecessary

movement of carts around the mall. The major store that is located in the second and

third floors is the department store. This is so that people who wish to buy garments

and the other things available in the department store can roam much more than those

who will buy in the grocery giving them more opportunities in seeing the other retail

stores located in the mall. Much of the retail stores are located in the 2nd and 3rd floors

along with the department stores because retails stores are most likely to sell products

alike to that available in the department store. The wellness stores are placed in the 4th

floor because this will help lessen the traffic of people in such floor. Since only a handful

of people visit wellness stores, the traffic that happens in the 4th floor will be eased.

This is mostly important because the 4th and last floor also consists of a roof deck,

leisure and entertainment spaces, and a big area for a retail store. Since this space for

one retail store is larger than the rest, it is most likely to be rented by an anchor store.

An anchor store would mean that a lot more people would have to go to the 4th floor to

visit. The 4th floor is already a place to stay in because apart from the entertainment

spaces, it also features of the roof deck. With this, allotting the wellness stores in the

rentable areas of the 4th floor would lessen the traffic in the floor. For every floor, there

is an area allocated for food, this is so that food would also be available in the first

building. Another structure will be built on the P. Parada side of the lot. This would be a

smaller structure and will only be featuring restaurants. This is so that we can convince

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people to stay outside and provide them the beauty of the outdoors without the threats

that come with it like too much sunlight or too little air.

The circulation is kept at a minimum or planned to be simple for people not to

have a hard time navigating. This is also to add to the mall’s goal of inclusivity. People,

especially elders, will not have to depend on other people to do their own businesses

inside the mall. The corridors are also given such width to create a more open space

avoiding a “crowded feeling” for the users. Additionally, the wide spaces that the

corridors give out can be utilized most especially when protocols for such pandemic will

have to be implemented. The reasons in placing the openings in such locations are that

it creates cross breezes while also help place areas wherein the sun path will be used

most efficiently. The outdoor areas are found wherein the Amihan winds will pass while

the parking is placed where Habagat winds will pass. Also, the sunset will be viewed in

the outdoor areas while the parking will not be affected much by the hottest time of the

day. Placing the outdoor area near such road also avoids students from the school to

loiter to the mall since they will have to walk among open spaces to enter. Much of the

landscaping will be enjoyed in the rear side of the mall where the smaller structure

stands. Just next to it, a fenced playground will be put for the children. There are

benches and swings that are located with the area for people to have choices where they

want to spend their time. Bushes surround the perimeter to emphasize where people

can only enter and exit the mall. This also helps add some security to the mall-goers.

To be able to achieve maximum connection with the outdoors, there will be extensive

use of glass of windows. It is important to note that these windows shall be operable for

use of natural ventilation. Metal cladding in the form of rectangles will be used as a

double façade. This helps achieve improved ventilation. Furthermore, the centerpiece

that is the triangle roof serving as shade for the outdoors will be built using metal

30 | P a g e
cladding but in a different form which is tubular and almost woven together. The shape

that the woven style makes will serve as shade but keeping the holes created hollow will

help the cold winds still pass through and help make it stable. For the interior, a skylight

will be projected in the area of a waterfall. The water will be falling from the skylights

much like the one famous in the Changi airport. This not only gives the structure a

unique characteristic but also give a sense of connectedness to nature especially when it

rains or drizzles. Along the interior of the mall, air plants will be used as decoration for

less maintenance.

Malls are a big part of a Filipino’s life and much of that is to blame the weather

that we are in. Now that the city is getting denser, people are starting to demand for

more parks. The concept of this mall aims to reward Filipinos with a mall that is also a

park in itself. The planning of stores still resembles that of a mall but other factors such

as design and space for outdoor leisure is extended. The extensive use of plants and

materials like wood will remind us of how beautiful nature is in the country. It also

helps the people have a breath that feels like fresh air while being in the heart of a

crowded city. As for me, specific and small details are important. That is why I turn to

metal cladding and a skylight for the waterfall for added aesthetic and elements. I am a

fan of artworks that feature many textures or “flavors for the eyes” which leads me to

incorporating such style in architecture.

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