I.

Selected Site
The selected site is located along Leon Arcillas Blvd Brgy. Tagapo, Sta Rosa City Laguna. It
has a lot area of 30, 171 square meters. It is bounded by Lot # 1366 and 1388, which are both idle
lands, at South, an irrigation ditch at West , Leon Arcillas River and Santa Rosa River at East and
Lot # 2100, which is currently a private owned junk shop, at North and the PNR railway. The
parcel of land is a private owned lot by Mrs. Susan Alcario, married to a Swiss National and it is
currently an idle land.
The road beside the lot, Leon Arcillas Blvd is proposed to be an esplanade, and on the
opposite side of the lot, a new 15 meter wide rosa is proposed by the city government. It is also
zoned to be an urban redevelopment.
More so, the site is near the government
centre of the city and at the edge of the
traditional core, the historical
development area. The site is also within
the medium population density area of the
city next to the towns with very high
densities.

II. Agenda
A. Background
The City of Sta. Rosa was instrumental in the proclamation of Philippine Independence from Spain
when it signed the Act of Independence on June 12, 1898. During the post war era until the 1970s, the
people of the municipality were still largely dependent on basic agriculture and family-owned enterprises for
livelihood. The influence of industrialisation slowly took shape in the 1980s with the entry of local and
foreign investors who were instrumental in the rapid economic and social transformation of the town.From a
fourth class municipality with an average income of P4 million in 1986, Santa Rosa became a first class town
when its income reached P54.2 million in 1993. In 1998, the municipalitys annual revenue further increased
due to intensified tax collection. Currently, Sta. Rosa enjoys the status of a major residential, commercial and
industrial centre in Metro CALA, the most dynamic sub-region in the country today (CLUP, History).

B. Issues
The aforementioned history has a lot to do with the current issues of the city. Being one of
the first cities or town founded during the Hispanic era, Sta. Rosa has its own traditional historic
core, displaced within the urban developed area. Today, there are still a lot of idle agricultural lands
but the industrialisation of the city is very evident. Due to the officials persistent goal of increasing

the city income, they sold lands to big industries, most are factories and plants. The aftereffects
have both pros and cons. Surely, Sta Rosa became well developed and enticing for investors, but the
government was not able to update its road networks and foresee the need of owning more
government lands. Due to the lack of government lands, it became harder to develop the roads,
bringing in traffic congestion. Also, it was harder to develop open spaces and parks since about 70%
of the lands of the city were heading toward industrial development. Like most cities in the country,
it also has its own settlements problem, informal settlements and socialised housing were
concentrated on the northern part, worsening traffic and circulation.. Add to it that, at the centre of
those settlements is the government centre, which made motorists experience heavy traffic at
important hours of the day and even making it harder for emergency response services to be
accessed.
C. Problems
1. Traffic Congestion
At rush hours almost similar to Manila rush hours, when students or workers go to
school and come back home, and times when truck ban is lifted, traffic in Sta. Rosa is really heavy.
There are times when it become unbearable that some choose to use the SLEX even though it will
take a longer distance and will cost some money. The roads leadings to the densest part of the city,
where the government centre is, are not wide enough to service the volume that circulates in it.
Right now there are on going construction, repair and widening which are making the traffic worse.
Hopefully, when the projects are done, the traffic will become much better.
2.Lack of open spaces / parks
The industrialisation of the city
was one big reason why the development of
parks and open spaces almost came to a halt.
Most of the lands were bought by foreign
investors that lead to such development. Now,
this is one of the problems why the city can
not be promoted to a first class city.
According to the City Planning and
Development Head, Leon Arcillas Boulevard
will be closed to vehicular traffic and be converted to an esplanade.

3. Government Centre Satellite

The densest part of the city is also the location of the government center. It seems
strategic at first because most people can access it. According to the City Assessors Office Staff,
the highest taxpayers of the city are found in the southern part of the city, which the farthest from
the government center. To be able to serve better and faster to every resident of the city, having a
government centre satellite can make it easier and help ease the traffic congestion. Or better yet, fix
the road networks and increase accessibility.
4.Disaster Response
The biggest disaster for the city is always
related to flash floods. Half of it are prone to flash
floods and takes days before the flood subsides. These
areas are also the densest areas, therefore more people
are affected by it. During the previous disasters, the
government used the market, which was highly elevated
to be the evacuation center. According to the City
Assessors Office Staff, they are now arranging plans
with a cemetery, the Centennial Garden, to rent or help
providing spaces if the worst possible scenario happens.
5.Historic Development
The city has the traditional components of a
Hispanic town, having a plaza, a school, a government structure and market across each other.
Some residents kept this identity that up to this day, there are still residential bahay na bato houses
in the area. The city, according to its CLUP have some plans to enrich this historical district. The
problem lies within the private sector who owns lands on its vicinity that develops structures that
veer away from the historic feel of the area.
D. Goals
1. Efficient Mass Transportation
The integration of the multi modal transportation is every citys goal. Having an
efficient mass transportation is a factor of increasing economic activities, decreasing congestion,
increasing accessibility, tourism and such. Efficiency in transportation gives a high quality of living
for the residents as they can now focus to other aspects of living when the time for travel is cut
down short.

2. Opening Spaces
Opening spaces to be used as parks is one of the goals of this study. In integration
with the proposed esplanade, this study aims to increase pedestrian traffic and encourage more
social activities for the people. At the same time, increasing peoples responsibility of the
environment and give them a breath of fresh air in the midst of the concrete development.
3. Maximising Use of Facilities
There are a lot of high potential structures in the city, for example, the Sports
Complex, which is foreseen to be used inefficiently due to traffic congestion, lack of parking spaces
and inaccessibility issues of its site. Besides having an efficient transportation nearby, adding more
use, or making it more multifunctional so that more types of users can utilise the structures or the
nearby structures around it can help maximise spaces.
4. Landmark / Monumental Design
The site is at the outskirts of the historic district and can serve as a gateway to the
historic development. It can be a significant landmark that is monumental in design, showing the
achievement or the identity of the city.
E. Potentials
1. Tourism
Being aesthetically pleasing and efficient in its use, the study can be a good spot for
tourism activities and provide more income for the city. Since it will become highly accessible due
to multi modal transport, it will serve not just people within the city but also people from nearby
cities.
2.

Heritage Conservation
The design of the study can uplift heritage conservation and promote the citys

traditional core or historic development. Having a good interpretation of the heritage in a

contemporary context can also aid in increasing its potential as a tourist attraction.
3.

Integration with Flood Control

The city has a project concerning every resident to build a water retention system in

their backyards to help control flood. With the same goal, the study can provide a built in water
control system to aid in subsiding flood.
F. Scope and Limitations
The scope of the study is limited to the issues that only affects the site. Although the city has
bigger scale problems and issues, the study aims, if not solve, to help lessen the problems in its

neighbourhood and in turn be able to help in those bigger problems. The study aims to deal with
integration of multi-modal transportation and integration of the government project of esplanade
conversion, but it does not limit the possible uses that can be integrated to the study like commercial
spaces and service oriented spaces.
G. Definition of Terms
1. Bahay na bato - the typical house of noble Filipinos, the colonial Filipino house,
followed the nipa' hut's arrangements such as open ventilation and elevated apartments.
2. CLUP - Comprehensive Land Use Program, a program made by the city
government that provides information on the city, the city plans and future development
3. Esplanade - a long, open, level area, typically beside the sea, along which people
may walk for pleasure.
4. Multi-modal transportation - characterised by several different modes of activity
or occurrence of transportation
III. Initial Program - List of Spaces
1. Train Station

Queue Lines Area

Train railway platform

Motorpool

Waiting areas

4. Administration Spaces

Restrooms

Head office

Ticketing office

Meeting rooms

Staff Area
Restroom

2. Bus Station

Loading Bays

Waiting areas

5. Commercial Spaces

Restroom

Commercial stalls

Ticketing office

Public restroom

Drivers lounge

6. Esplanade

2. Jeepney Terminal

Resting areas

Loading Bays

Activity areas

Queue Lines Area

7. Park and Ride Building

Drivers lounge

Parking spaces

Motorpool

Cashiers Office

3.Tricycle Terminal

Staff Office

Lounge or waiting areas

Loading Bays

IV. Review of Related Architecture

Abando Interchange
Bilbao, Spain
Source: Binney, Marcus. Architecture of Rail: The Way
Ahead. Leinster Gardens, London: Academy Group.

Architect(s) : Michael Wilford and Partners

Project Duration:

1990-1995

Project Details (exercpt from the book):

The goal of the project is to rationalise public transport
in the city, bringing together buses and several
historically distinct railways under one roof. The result
is a transport interchange on several levels, crossed by
public walkways and with a range of facilities, shops
and places to eat that make the station a lively focus of
activity throughout the day. While transport element of
the station is dependant on public funding, a substantial
proportion of the capital cost, will be funded
commercial. notably the shops office, hotel and hosuing.
The lowest level is devoted to car parking; on the next
level, still underground is the bus station. Buses enter
and leave by ramps moving round in a continuous loop.
Above this, is an intermediate level of shopping with at
one end, the platforms for the narrow gauge trains to
Santander. On the level beyond are the amin station
platforms, .

Similarities with the Study:

It is also an interchange with different modes of
transportation fused with different uses of spaces like
office, hotel and commercial. It integrated well the
different modes by having different levels.

Rotterdam Blaak
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Source: Binney, Marcus. Architecture of Rail: The Way
Ahead. Leinster Gardens, London: Academy Group.

Architect(s) : Harry Reijnders

Project Duration:

1989-1993

Project Details (exercpt from the book):

The station is well conceived for the passenger in a
hurry; stairs and escalators begin immediately inside
the etnrance. As passengers descend, a large tile mural
of a full size metro train is a reminder that the metro is
on the intermediate level. Staircases and landing are
generous in size to allow plenty of space for moveemnt
at crowd dtimes. The contrast with he traditional tunnel
staircases and corridors folder metros and subways
could not be greater.
It is a a proof that adventurous stations can draw the
crowds. Passers-by stop and look, and people using the

escalators gaze in order around them. Reindeers wants

to introduce the public to the opera of public transport.
Similarites with the Study:
This can be a good example that stations can be a
tourism spot and can attract crowds, eventually
increasing economic activities. The futuristic design
approach was also a way to make the structure
monumental and a landmark on its own city but still
considering the users very well.

West Kowloon Terminus

Hongkong
Source: "The West Kowloon Terminus under the Hong
Kong Section of the Express Rail Link Project."
Aedes.com. Accessed September 25, 2016. http://
www.aedas.com/en/architecture/express-rail-link-westkowloon-terminus.

Architect(s) : Andrew Bromberg (Director)

Project Duration:

2012-present

Project Details (exercpt from the website):

West Kowloon Terminus (WKT) is the terminus of the
Hong Kong Section of GuangzhouShenzhenHong
Kong Express Rail Link (XRL), and is currently under
construction. It is the only station in the Hong Kong
Section and will connect to the mainland China section
through a dedicated tunnel.West Kowloon Terminus will
feature an extensive green garden across the roof area of
the station. It will also set up a large collection of
cultural elements and entertainment spaces. Passengers
can easily cross the ground floor between Kowloon

Station, Austin Station and West Kowloon Cultural

District, providing Hong Kong residents and visitors
ample public open space and a comfortable green
walking environment. Above the station, an area of
approximately 8,900 square metres will be planted with
a large number of plants and trees with traffic
separated. All to create a pedestrian area, a green
platform and wooded park that will integrate with the
West Kowloon Cultural District harbour side parklands.
In addition, the West Kowloon Terminus entrance lobby
area will feature a green ecological leisure channel zone
to tie in with the greenery on top of the building.
Similarites with the Study:
This design won many awards and it is one of the latest
transport infrastructure construction in the world. Its
integration to green architecture and opening up spaces
as parks is what makes it very similar with the study.