RE-CHARGE: A Proposed Health & Wellness Hotel -
Asking for help came in 6 out of 9 and
A Study in Effective Mental Healing through
Therapeutic Architecture and Biophilic Architecture
Approach in the Urban Setting
Jeb Patrick Arribas
Technological Institute of the Philippines
1. Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 The Project
In 2015, the level of urbanization or the percentage of
population residing in urban areas in the Philippines
was recorded at 51.2 percent. This means that a total
of 51.73 million persons resided in barangays
classified as urban. There were 7,437 barangays
classified as urban and 34,599 as rural. The level of
urbanization in 2010 was only 45.3 percent.
Rapid urbanization in the Philippines has brought new
jobs, educational opportunities, and better living
conditions for some. However it’s not easy acquiring
better living conditions in urbanized cities in the
Philippines.
With the fast paced life in urban centers and business
districts in NCR, it cost us our health. Mentally to be
exact. According to Inquiry.net, A study conducted by
Zipject an app service ranked Manila more stressful in
living conditions than war thorn Damascus in Syria.
From the daily struggles of transport, expensive
utilities, traffic, problems with work, etc. it no secret
how extremely stressful living in highly dense and
urbanized area is.
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health (CAMH) which is Canada's largest mental
health teaching hospital and one of the world's
leading research centers in its field, a certain amount
of stress is a normal part of daily life. However, long-
term stress can become harmful. When stress
becomes overwhelming and prolonged, the risks for
mental health problems and medical problems
increase.
According to the study of John Robert C. Rilveria “The
Development of the Filipino Coping Strategies Scale”
the top coping strategies of Filipinos is pag lilibang or
relaxation / recreation. Filipinos would often go out of
town to resorts, beaches and hotels to destress and
unwind.
emotional release came in 8.
This is because despite the prevalence and high rates
of psychological distress and despite our legislators
and governments creation of mental health bills,
creation of more reactional and relaxation in the form
of wellness and activity centers, resorts, spas, mental
health facilities, Filipinos still have a general
reluctance towards seeking help.
The project will be a Health and Wellness Hotel in the
urban setting in the aim of providing the needed
comfort of Filipinos in the urban areas who are
experiencing distress and provide a safe space for
people who needs help in coping up with their own
mental health. The project will be using Therapeutic
Architecture strategies to ensure the mental wellness
of the users of the structure to give the appropriate
approach for the specific needs of the users. And
through biophilic design to promote peace, relaxation
and health through nature and green centered design
approach despite having the site located at an
urbanized setting so that it is easy and convenient for
people living in urban centers to have access to such
services and space and not spend too much money
and time so they can have a chance to choose from
quick or long relaxation breaks from stress and get
back to the city life as convenient and as fast as
possible.
1.2 Problem Statement
Mental illness is the third most common disability in
the Philippines. Around 6 million Filipinos are
estimated to live with depression and/or anxiety,
making the Philippines the country with the third
highest rate of mental health problems in the Western
Pacific Region according to the World Health
Organization 2017. Suicide rates are pegged at 3.2
per 100,000 population with numbers possibly higher
due to underreporting or misclassification of suicide
cases as ‘undetermined deaths’. Despite these
figures, government spending on mental health is at
0.22% of total health expenditures with a lack of
health professionals working in the mental health
sector.
Based on Andrea B. Martinez’ research on “Filipino
help-seeking for mental health problems associated
barriers and facilitators” the top factors that prevent
Filipinos from seeking help is the Filipino stigma
which is associated with fear of negative judgement,
sense of shame, embarrassment and fear of being
labeled as crazy. And the social stigma that puts the
family reputation at stake by putting them in a bad
light.
With the lack of approachable, comfortable, safe and
peaceful facilities that encourages people to seek
help, Filipinos as resourceful as we are find ways to
cope up through having long breaks in beaches,
hotels and other forms of recreational activities.
Although this would be good for longer breaks, there
are lack of facilities for people who think they need
help with coping up right now or can’t afford going out
of town just to find relaxation.
1.3 Project Objectives
 Create a structure that is effective in
improving mental health and that produces
income and profit to encourage for more
mental health facilities be created to spread
awareness and information.
 Build a structure that not only support and
provide therapeutic functions and programs
of care environments but to battle stigmas as
well and remove barriers to open
opportunities and more chances to
treatment.
 Build a wellness center near urban areas so
that people be close to work and home but
can still experience the much needed
relaxation and or treatment in a brief period
or longer stays.
 Promote voluntary admissions among
people suffering or for people who simply
think they need help or support mentally and
needs someone to talk to or a place to
getaway to by creating a spaces where they
feel peaceful and safe, comfortable and
welcoming, place that is leisure, recreational
and behavior focused rather than institutional
or medical.
1.4 The Client
The Ayala Land
Developers is one of the top leading developers in the
country. The company specializes in planning and
development of projects which involves: residential
lots and buildings, commercial and industrial lots.
They also own services and properties like QualiMed
(Health and Medical Care). The company also pushes
through sustainable approaches in their
developments.
Mission & Vision
Our vision is to enhance land and enrich lives
of more Filipinos.
By developing integrated, masterplanned and
sustainable mixed-use communities in vibrant
growth centers all over the country, we strive to
continually elevate the quality of life for all of
our customers.
We empower our employees to deliver quality
products and services that build long-term value
for our shareholders.
1.5 Project Scope and Limitations
This project will be focusing on the different design
strategy and approaches in space designing and
programming to create an effective wellness and
relaxation spot to urban settlers. This will focus on
therapeutic architecture for those who feel like they
need actual help and treatment to ease their minds in
what they are feeling and biophilic architecture to
assure the presence of green spaces and natural
environment to further boost the enrichment of mental
health and stability to users. The project will not focus
on facilities that will provide medical treat users per
say of their mental illnesses and ways to prevent
mental illnesses in the area. The project will focus on
voluntary engagement and encouragement of users
who think they need someone to talk to or to ask help
to or just need some place to heal and relax and to
distress.
 The area is
Adherence to classified as
CLUP and 10 commercial 10
1.6 Design Process Zoning zoned

Define the Problem. The first step is knowing what is Is in proximity to

the cause and origin of why the study is necessary. target users
Strategic
What needs to be fixed and/or changed and 9 (residential, 10
Location
developed. office buildings
and workspaces)
The second step is to Collect Information. Gathering Availability and
of data with regard your proposal will help solidify Accessibility of
your problem and make you more aware of the Utilities 10 public utilities 10
current situation of the area of your problem. Taking (electrical, water
notes of your researches, acquiring photographs and supply, etc.)
sketches would be of big help to further inspire you of Site is accessible
thinking approaches to the problem. Road by different
networks and means of
Third would be Analyzing the Data that you have 8 8
Transportatio transportation.
gathered. With the researches you have done you n Convenient
can start creating little strategies and solutions to access to users
integrate in your project and then move to bigger Good existing
approaches that would mold your design. natural
Existing
10 environment for 9
After creating different design solutions and Condition
wellness centers
strategies, Seeking Advice from your adviser and and hotels
other would help you polish your previous ideas. This Essential
will help you come up with better ideas and solutions facilities and
and pinpoint areas you have missed or you can Proximity to
commodities are
essential 9 10
develop on. located near the
facilities
site and is a few
Lastly, Apply the Feedbacks that you have received to minutes away
further develop your initial ideas and solutions in The site has
proceeding with the project. good entry and
Accessibility 10 exit points for site 10
operations and
2. Chapter 2: Site Justification pedestrian use
The reachability
2.1 Site Selection Criteria and impact of the
development to
Below are the list of general and specific Demography 10 the present 9
characteristic of a site needed by the Proposed surrounding
Health and Wellness Hotel. The site is based on community and
strategic position where there is less noise and distant its target users
from main commercial centers. Proximity and
Safety and availability of
10 10
Lot 1&2 McKinley Security Police and Fire
Lot 3, Blk 56, Fort Stations
Prkwy, Fort
General Bonifacio, Taguig The lot is
Bonifacio, Taguig
Criteria City Lot / Building adequate for the
City 8 7
Size project
operations
Rating Parameters Rating
TOTAL 94/100 TOTAL 93/100
 shopping areas like Bonifacio High Street, filled with
big-name brands and flagship stores. Upscale global
restaurants mix with cocktail bars, hip cafes, and
mainstream nightclubs. The Mind Museum offers
hands-on science displays, while the Manila American
2.2 Site Profile Cemetery honors WWII soldiers. Colorful street
murals make the area popular for strolling.
2.2.1 Macro-Meso Site Analysis: Region / Province /
City / Town 2.2.2 Micro Site Analysis: The Site and its Immediate
Environs
National Capital Region
The proposed site location of the project is within a lot
The National Capital Region
with divided parcels of land with 3,417m2 and 5129m2
(NCR), also known as
area respectively, totalling to 8,546m2 or
Metropolitan Manila, is
approximately .854 hectares. The lot is situated along
composed of 16 cities and 1
Mckinley Parkway, both parcels of land is classified
municipality grouped into
as Commercial zones.
four districts. It is considered
to be the political, economic
and social center of the
Philippines. NCR is the 2.2.2.1 Site Inventory and Analysis
smallest and most densely
populated region in the
country. It is bordered by
Region III to the north and
Region IV-A in the south
and east. Manila Bay lies to
the west and Laguna de
Bay to the south-east.
Taguig City
The City of Taguig, (formerly spelled as Tagig), is a
highly urbanized city located in south-eastern portion
of Metro Manila in the Philippines. From a thriving
fishing community along the shores of Laguna de
Bay, it is now an important residential, commercial
and industrial center
The city has a land area of 53.67
square kilometers or 20.72
square miles. Based on these
figures, the population density is
computed at 14,997 inhabitants
per square kilometer or 38,847
inhabitants per square mile.
Bonifacio Global City
Bonifacio Global City (also known as BGC, Global Neighborhood. The site is surrounded by residentials
City, or The Fort) is a financial and lifestyle district in and condominiums in one side and the Manila
Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is located 11 km American Cemetery on the other.
(6.8 mi) south-east of the center of Manila. Bonifacio
Global City is a commercial hub known for glitzy
Site Access. Accessible through McKinley Parkway or 2.3 Initial Schematic Design
Rizal Drive. And can be accessed mainly by
private vehicles.
Slope. The site is under
3 different classification
the left side part is
classified as 5-8% or is
undulating-gently rolling,
the middle part as 8-15%
or gently rolling and the
right part as 0-2% or nearly level.
Flood Susceptibility. Majority of the Bonifacio
Global City has no susceptibility of flood and
low or 0-0.5m in northern and eastern parts.
Geology. The Bonifacio Global City is of
quarternary alluvium which are deposits of
alluvium, mainly poorly sorted sands, gravels
and boulders of streams and alluvial fans,
and thin discontinuous veneers of colluvium as loose
rock, talus sheets and soil

S.W.O.T. Analysis
Strength. The site is located at an area where
commodities are found, surrounded by residentials
and condominiums.
Weaknesses. Is a bit distant from the business
district.
Opportunities. To build an effective wellness center to
cater the relaxation and peaceful needs of the
residents without going too far out. To create a
welcoming space for people who feel like they needed
time to think and assess how they currently feel
mentally.
Threats. The area is near a cemetery which means
noise levels coming from the building must be
maintained low.