spanning the river pasig and jones and the sta.

Cruz bridges which serve

Historical Background about the Manila
Post Office
From the American occupation to the Battle of Manila in 1945 up to the
present time, there stands the Manila Post Office. The elegance of this
building made Manila to receive the title, “Best City in the Far East”.
Design by the great Juan Arellano, together with American Ralph Doane
and fellow Filipino Tomas Mapue in the tear 1925.It is known to be in
neo-classical architecture, which is known to be one of the greatest
examples of American colonial architecture here in the Philippines.
as entry to the then-grand Taft Avenue with its tree lined walkways.
The post office building has a rectangular shaped mast adorned with
fourteen Ionic columns and has two semu-circular drums on both sides. It
also has an atrium in the middle which provides Natural light and
ventilation in the inside.
The Post Office building won praise abroad,after its completion in the
year 1931. The Post office building survived its pre-war beauty not until
thw battle of manila occurred in 1945. Because of its massive size and
think walls the building later became a Japanese fortification. Artillery
from the American forces bombarded the post office until the Japanese
had retreated towards the walled city of Intramuros during the war.

In the year 2012, there were rumors that a government official once said
that there were plans for converting the Post Office Building into a five
star hotel. The group behind the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, which was
also a post office is in talk with the DOF (Department of Finance). It is
said that the maintenance cost of the building is too much and due to our
economy evolving thus fewer people nowadays even said sending mail in
a traditional way, explained by the Philippine postmaster general.

Fig. 1. Aerial view of the ruined Post Office Building from the Pasig River.
The Metropolitan Theatre can also be seen

Daniel Burnham being known to be the urban planner of manila, His one
government building project was the Post office building which he
envisioned. His original plan was to pattern Manila to washiongton DC
and make it the ‘Paris on the prairie’. According to Filipino Urban
Planner, Paolo Alcazaren that Burnham placed the National Capitol at
the Luneta with supporting offices around it, and even more government
offices in a string composed of the following, National Library, The
National Museum, The National Exposition Building, and finally the
National Post Office by the river.All of these great plans were not been
able to realized because during those years Commonwelath President
Manuel L. Quezon was making a new capital of a much larger scale
which we now call and know for the name Quezon City.

Structures surround the Post office are very familiar, since the Post office
sits along the banks of the river pasig and across the Plaza Lawton which
is now called Liwasang Bonifacio. The Post office is flanked by the
Manila Metropolitan Theater located in its northwest, with two bridge

CASE STUDIES
LOCAL STUDIES
Reuse, adapt, retrofit: Heritage conservation models in Negros,
Iloilo
By Agusto Villalon, Philippine Daily Inquirer
Fig. 1. Impressive shell of an early 1900s mansion in Talisay, Negros
Occidental., is now the Ruins.
What are the common catchphrases that conservationist uses to
encourage owners to preserve their old structures? Reuse, Adapt and
retrofit.
One can acclimate and repurpose it so that it can serve a newer and
more contemporary need that’s when an old structure endures its original
purpose. In that way its usefulness continues and the original structure is
preserved but sometimes that is easier said than done.
The same retrofitting principles are followed globally. In the Philippine
context, structures older than 50 years are considered by law to be
heritage structures, according to Republic Act 10066, the Cultural
Heritage Law.
The building falls under the jurisdiction of the National Museum, which
must advise on the retrofit procedure if it’s declared a National Cultural
Treasure or a structure is of Heritage Value.
Keep the original structure and all of its architectural details as intact as
possible according to the other principles that is observed globally. There
are certain cases wherein additions must be made, they should be
structurally compatible with the original and designed in a style
sympathetic to but not mimicking the original. Sight lines to the heritage To retrofit the mansion, the interventions required were strengthening of
structure must not be obscured. Between the heritage structure and its the foundation and most of the structural system. Existing columns, too
neighbors, there must be a buffer zone to provide breathing space to weak to hold the foot traffic expected when the house turns commercial
ensure non-encroachment. in use, had to be strengthened as well.
The Architect should be familiar with the operational guidelines of the
Unesco World Heritage Convention (UWHC) which should be studied
together with the international Committee on Monuments and Sites
Charters, Particularly
the Venice Charter
that are the bases of
all international
conservation
principles before
either restoring or
retrofitting a heritage
structure.
Fig. 2. Fitted into the
raised ground floor
is a restaurant with a
sweeping view of a
family sugar plantation. Fig 3. Structural retrofit to ensure safety of a 1920s mansion to be
converted for commercial use involves costly structural intervention.
Talisay, Negros Occidental
Small museum, retail shops, restaurants, and the heritage structure will
In the case of the Ruins in Talisay, Negros Occidental it was easy to
be integrated with a commercial area on one side and behind, leaving
adapt an old structure for a new use. The ruins of a circa-1900s concrete
much of the front garden as an open public plaza are fitted into the
mansion that was burned during the World War II were converted into a
heritage interior of the structure.
tourist destination. There is not much structural intervention was
required. All structural supports were sound enough to remain standing. The owners decided to invest in the heritage because they felt it was
their duty, despite the reality that the rewards are more psychic than
Noting was added to the original Structure. Most of the outer and inner
financial thus The cost of retrofitting a heritage structure is considerably
wall remained undamaged, allowing chairs and tables to be set around
higher than constructing a new building.
the open, raised ground-floor ruins where stunning views are seen of the
cane fields that surround the landscape garden. All new facilities, kitchen, Structures that stand on city centers where lands are at high value are
main restaurant, public toilets, etc., are in a new, low building at the mostly heritage structures, unlike ruins that are in the middle of a sugar
perimeter of the property. This evolved into one of the more popular hacienda. And unlike The Ruins, where the cost of retrofit was low, the
destinations in Bacolod white the owner probably thought to be only a conversion of a heritage house into a commercial area requires quite an
white elephant. additional cost for major retrofitting.
Iloilo Government assistance in some form would help to encourage owners to
retrofit their heritage properties and convert them for new uses, as most
In the case of adapting a circa-1920s Iloilo mansion into a commercial
heritage owners need to undergo extensive retrofitting for their
space was another different story. Due to the high level of human traffic
properties. Not all are as fortunate as the owners of The Ruins who were
within the structure, safety requirements are more rigid for the public.
able to repurpose their property with minimal expense.
Therefore compliance with the National Building Code must be satisfied.
Most of these are often require detailed structural retrofitting to ensure Luneta Hotel
compliance with current safety requirements that often demand detailed
Manila had to deal with tourist from around the Europe, Far East, Asia,
structural retrofitting since most heritage structures were built before the
and Americas. Hospitality services had to be built with the opening of
National Building code. This process, depending on the condition of the
Manila to ocean liners and the introduction of air travel, one of these
structure, could amount to quite an expense.
hotels was the Luneta Hotel.
Built in 1917 and was completed in The Blackbird
1918, Luneta Hotel was established. The Transportation keeps the spirit of the place while optimizing the
Luneta Hotel was design by According to Cheryl Tiu’s Article, The Nielson Tower is known to be qualities of living, between distant views and domesticity of the heart of
Salvador Farre, a Spanish engineer historical for it was where the first ever Philippine Airlines flight departed islet. The two orientations of the building thus offer two way living.
during the French Renaissance style with the Beech Craft Model 18. After the world war II, it was refurbished
of Architecture. by Philippines Airlines as to becoming the official port of entry of the From the repetitive to the individual: the loggias on the Quai des
Philippines during those era. But during 1948, the airport ceased to exist Carrières
In the year, 1983, Luneta hotel was when PAL relocated to Pasay City and the land eventually returned to
renovated and restored to bring back Ayala.
its former glory. The Luneta hotel To house the building, the facade of the Carrières quay, 260 meters long
was sequester from the Panlilio Once called Nielson Tower is known to be Black Bird now, a restaurant, and oriented to the South, is redesigned. Prefabricated concrete models
family by the Philippine Government lounge and bar place. It preserved it original Art deco design, helmed by are retained and existing windows are removed. A new façade of
and thus the Luneta Hotel closed its Scottish chef Colin Mackay. architectural concrete is positioned 70 centimeters set back from the
doors to the public. existing façade. Its finish in wood cladding participates in the domesticity
There would be times where we could come across this magnificent of the facade. This shrinkage regulates the solar contributions (by the
Today, the revamped Luneta Hotel structure and to be honest, they really did a great job preserving the effect of sun breeze generated by the existing). It gives a new identity to
retains much of the charm imbued in structure where even though this building stands for years it still looks the building by the depth and the random rhythm of the loggias following
it by its designer nice outside. the demolition of a large number of prefabricated concrete elements. In
order to comply with acoustic regulations, the windows on the street, in
Casa Tesoro aluminum, are equipped with triple glazing. The vegetation of the facade
is permitted by its orientation but also by the regulated irrigation of the
From colonial mansion to contemporary landmark, the mansion was built planters thanks to the recovery of the rainwater on the terrace.
as a vacation house. Casa Tesoro was once marked a whole
neighborhood’s genteel and patrician identity.

The old mansion now functions solely as a tribal art and antiques The garden in heart of islet
showroom and a contemporary art space. Built in the year 1901, Casa
Tesoro had witnessed enough of these faithful events for it to be
On the courtyard side, a simple principle of demolition in North part
recognized as a historic structure with intrinsic architectural value for
draws a new heart of islet. Thus, the distribution of housing, the vis-à-vis
future generations.
between the facades and the solar contributions but also the installation
They recognize the vacated spaces in Casa Tesoro and brought them of a collective garden are optimized. Medium-growth plant species (2.5
meters maximum) have been planted to filter the views without reducing
back to life; Springboards for their enthusiasm and creativity to sustain
solar contributions. The apartments on the ground floor have small
the old mansion was once empty rooms. They freshened up the interiors
terraces that open onto the garden.
with better lighting and along with the façade without upgrading the
structural concept of the building. The facades, made of wood with insulation from outside, are decorated
with balconies for each of the dwellings. The panels and panels are
Foreign Studies treated in bronze-lacquered aluminum.

Transformation of Office Building To 90 Apartments

Southeast Asia's Top Heritage Buildings turned Hotels
By: Moatti-Reviere Archdaily
By: ASEAN Tourism

Hotel Fort Canning

This building was known for being the former British Far east commands
Headquarters during the World War II. Hotel Fort Canning is one of the
best examples of adaptive reuse.

Making habitable: from the monumental to the intimate. How do you put
humans back into a prefabricated office architecture? How to offer each
inhabitant from the repetitive façade in the 1970s?
Almost a hundred years on, both buildings have transformed themselves
into two of Singapore's classiest hotels. Both hotels leverage colonial
heritage and architecture into something more: the Hotel Fort Canning
embraces an added role as a curator of Singapore history, as the Fort
Canning hill behind it has yielded ancient relics dating back to the 1300s.
Some of these relics are preserved for display in a little alcove set under
glass in the hotel's lobby, forming part of its floor.
 Hotel Fort Canning was styled by the award-winning DP Architects to
incorporate the finest hospitality amenities, while retaining and
conserving its old-style, colonial glamour.
Majestic Hotel Melaka
Majestic Hotel Melaka didn’t started as a hotel rather it started from a
mansion owned by a tycoon named Leong Long Man. When he died in
the year 1931, he entrusted his son with the family estate but later sold
the mansion to a businessman named Lim Heng Fang in the year 1995.
Mr. Lim later preserved the building the converted it into the Majestic
hotel we know today.
These government buildings turned into hotels are excellent examples of
the art of “adaptive reuse”, the imaginative readaptation of a structure
made for one purpose into another.
Malaysia's Repurposed Mansions and Shoe Stores
More imaginative examples of adaptive reuse can be found in Malaysia,
specifically the former colonial trading ports of Penang and Melaka.
In Melaka, the Majestic Hotel stands beside the Melaka River, a
renovated Peranakan mansion first constructed in the 1920s and
allowed to fall into disrepair after the decline of the owner's family
fortunes. Melaka's UNESCO World Heritage recognition  breathed new
life into the city, and by extension the mansion - YTL Hotels purchased
the house (saving it from demolition) and restored its Peranakan fittings,
allowing guests to feel as if they're staying in a living, breathing
Peranakan house.
In Penang, shop houses along its historic George Town district have
found new leases on life by transforming into boutique hostels. A
former shoe store on George Town's Lebuh Chulia has done just that:
the Syok Boutique Hostel still displays its old shoe-store signage proudly
at the top-floor common room, but has transformed everything else
into a modern, comfortable budget accommodation, with quirky
artwork gracing the walls, its storerooms converted into air-conditioned
dormitories, and surfaces brightened with fresh coats of primary-
colored paint.
SITE DESCRIPTION
Formally called as Plaza Lawton is now what we know as
Liwasang Bonifacio. According to research this place was named
after the American General Henry Ware Lawton.
In the year 1970s Lawton Plaza was officially changed to
Liwasang Bonifacio (after Philippine hero, Andres Bonifacio).
Unfortunately, people have been so used to calling this place
Plaza Lawton that the old famous names is still commonly used up
to this day.
The Site is located along the P.Burgos Drive on the south and
west, Quezon Bridge on the east of Magallanes st on the north.
Aside from the post-office in manila, The plaza itself was surround
by may famous historical landmarks such as the metropolitan
Theater and the intramuros district.
Climate:
The climates is very similar to the rest of Manila, Hot and humid
during morning and noontime and moderately cold during
afternoon and evening/
Location:
The site I located on the junction of three main avenues in Manila
namely, P. Burgo, Drive, Quezon boulevard and Jones Bridge
while during rush hour are very congested crowded with people
and vehicles.
Orientation:
The site is oriented along Magallanes, Dr. Ermita, Metro Manila
SWOT ANALYSIS
Strengths
- The Iconic Buildings of the Post office and Metropolitan
buildings surrounding it are important factors to further
emphasize the significance of the plaza in the history of the
Philippines.
- What makes the plaza more ‘Breathable’ is when Large
and open spaces are already present without the
hindrance of any tall structures.
- The Location is very strategic since it is located in the
central location near the plaza which has been easily
accessed by people through vehicular pedestrian and ferry
transportation system.
Weaknesses
- Tangled Flyovers
- Traffic during rush hours
- Bad odor coming from the river size and informal settlers
- Lack of Security
- The deteriorated facilities and urban furniture
- Plenty of informal settlers and illegal vendors surrounding
the plaza makes it less inviting/appealing
Opportunities
 - The Plaza has a huge potential to become an intermodal SITE ANALYSIS
hub if traffic and pedestriazation would be properly
organize and integrated.
- Commercial centers, study hubs, and overnight hotels has
a potential to profit.
- More activity areas like night markets, nightlife activities
along the Pasig river (similar to the Baywalk area in Roxas
Blvd.)

Threats

- Crowding in the plaza once it is revitalized

- Flooding is a major problem in the site it is adjacent to the
Pasig river.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Rubío, P. (2013, April 01). Manila Central Post Office Building.

Retrieved December 07, 2016, from http://arquitecturamanila.blogspot.com/2013/04/manila-central-post-office-building.html
Transformation of Office Building To 90 Apartments / MOATTI-RIVIERE. (2016, December 02).
Retrieved December 07, 2016, from http://www.archdaily.com/800178/transformation-of-office-building-to-90-apartments-moatti-riviere
(2015, September 1). Southeast Asia's Top Heritage Buildings turned Hotels.
Retrieved December 07, 2016, from http://www.aseantourism.travel/articles/detail/southeast-asia-s-top-heritage-buildings-turned-hotels
The Majestic Malacca | Luxury Hotel Malacca | Our Story. (n.d.).
Retrieved December 07, 2016, from http://www.majesticmalacca.com/pages/our-story.html
Hotel Fort Canning Singapore. (n.d.). Retrieved December 07, 2016, from http://www.hotelfortcanningsingapore.com/
Tiu, C. (2014, July 13). BLACKBIRD MAKATI: Aviation-Themed Restaurant by Chef Colin Mackay at Nielson Tower (OUR AWESOME PLANET).
Retrieved December 07, 2016, from http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/2014/08/black-bird-aviation-themed-restaurant-by-chef-colin-mackay-at-nielsen-tower.html
Rubío, P. (2015, June 24). Luneta Hotel. Retrieved December 07, 2016, from http://arquitecturamanila.blogspot.com/2015/06/luneta-hotel.html