BATAAN PENINSULA STATE UNIVERSITY

Main Campus, College of Engineering and Architecture

Capitol Drive, Capitol Compound, Balanga City

A Feasibility / Project Study on

SEAFRONT Beach Convention and Exhibition Center: A Biophilic Approach
to Reinventing Marine Eco-Tourism in Bataan

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in

Architecture for the Course Research Methods for Architecture (RMAR0423).
AY 2022-2023

Student:
VELONTA, ANGELA CHARMES C.

Program, Year and Section:

BS ARCHITECTURE, 4TH YEAR, 4B

Instructor:
AR. ROXAS - BUCE, SHIELA MARIE
 CHAPTER 3

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

3.1 Introduction

Literary pieces and articles from the previous studies conducted have
become vital when it comes to formulating a new study and creating a new path
for a better outcome. Those pieces of literature could be utilized as a map to
trace back the steps which may have different finish lines, but will surely guide
you on your own chosen path.

The researcher has made an earnest effort to research and study a

variety of research studies, articles, and journals related to the research topic
concluded by previous scholars and researchers. The purpose of this literature
review is to find out ways to reinvent marine ecotourism through the use of
biophilic architecture, and how effective this architectural style is in improving and
advocating for environmental conditions.

The details of the related studies included in this paper is given below
under the following main topics.

1. Studies on Convention and Exhibition Centers

2. Studies on Biophilic Architecture
3. Studies on Marine Ecotourism

3.2 Studies on Convention and Exhibition Centers

According to Fred Lawson, “The main drawing factor which generates a

continuing demand for meeting is the need for communication at a personalized
level. The importance of a convention or a meeting lies not only in what is said
from the platform but in the total atmosphere of the event and the stimulation
provided as a result.”

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 The study connects to the views of Fred Lawson as it has the same goal
of not only giving the users a space where they could openly connect at a
personalized level, but also create a unique experience and atmosphere all
throughout the spaces, to create an unforgettable sensation and stimulation,
giving a whole new definition to convention and exhibition center.

Sox, et. al. (2013) examined attendees’ perception about sustainability

issues in convention centers. Their study concluded that event planners are
willing to pay more to plan meetings at facilities that are sustainability certified.
On the other hand, attendees are much more willing to participate in such events
when the venue and staff are certified for sustainability training. The researcher
took account of the willingness of both the event planners and the attendees to
attend events held on convention facilities that are proven to be sustainable.
However, the goal is for people to pay less, but achieve a more satisfying
outcome for the event that they are going to attend. This is why the researcher
came up on using durable and local sustainable products, materials and services
for the research project.

Increased efficiencies, more satisfied customers, more engaged staffs

and competitive distinctions are being experienced by venues that incorporate
sustainable business practices (Jung, Kim, Malek, & Lee, 2016). Sustainable
practices often include energy usage, waste management, food and beverage
consumption, and water conservation. Exhibition and convention events surely
require a lot including these sustainable practices, which the researcher took into
consideration in formulating a sustainable design that satisfies all the sustainable
practices mentioned. This information will benefit the study in terms of user
satisfaction and comfortability, by creating a clean and healthy space for
conducting exhibition and convention events.

The primary driving factor for people to engage in sustainable practices is

improving the corporate image of the venue, while the major hindering factor is
the lack of resources (Lee, Wu, & Zheng, 2021). Convention and Exhibition
centers, let alone one that practices sustainability are not within the familiarity
range of the province of Bataan. Introducing something new to the masses could

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be a challenging task, that is why improving the corporate image of this venue is
a must. According to the related article mentioned previously, one of the major
hindering factors is the lack of resources. The researcher took this into
consideration in choosing the site location of the project, where there is an
abundance of resources, and there are good foundations to establish a great
corporate image for the convention and exhibition center. In this way, not only will
it be beneficial to the effectiveness of the project, but to its appeal and lasting
effect on practicing sustainability.

Convention and exhibition events are part of the meeting industry, where
people gather and discuss similar interests and topics that involve a particular
agenda. The meeting industry is known to have negative impacts on the
environment, that’s why there are what we call the “Green Meetings”. Green
meetings are perceived more positively, especially with female attendees, where
people seem to be more engaged, and on their best behavior when attending
such events (Mykletun, Bartkeviciute, & Puchkova, 2014). The researcher found
the term green meeting much more appealing when it comes to referring to
convention and exhibition events, which involves sustainability practices. The
meeting industry, blended together with the tourism industry in this study could
cause some conflicts when it comes to contradicting factors, however, green
meetings could make the appropriate connections between these two factors and
create an environmentally safe meeting and tourism industry, all of that with
proper design and architectural planning.

The Philippines is a developing country with expansive tourism

infrastructures and resources. Site selection is a determinant factor when it
comes to convention and exhibition events. (Suwannasat, Katawandee,
Chandrachai, & Bhattarakosol, 2022). Increasing the destination and site location
competitiveness should be considered by the researcher to effectively execute
the design and the purpose of the research project. Finding the perfect site
location contributes a lot to the design project for there are many factors that
follow such as availability, accessibility, abundance, and many underlying factors
that will either improve, or bring down the project, when the site location is not
chosen properly.

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3.3 Studies on Biophilic Architecture

Humans have an innate connection to nature which can help assist

designers and architects create much more effective and efficient buildings and
other human abodes. ( Soderland & Newman, 2015). Due to continuously rising
stress levels, mental health issues, and high traffic issues in cities, people crave
for an escape from this kind of environment, in which biophilic architecture comes
to bring a proper solution. Since the meeting and convention industry deals with a
lot of stressors when it comes to preparing and conducting such events, the
researcher came up with a solution to neutralize the chaotic environment of this
type of events, through the use of biophilic architecture. Humans seem to be
more calm and composed when they are more connected to nature, that’s why
this is the perfect approach to balance the chaos and tranquility, while enjoying a
nature escape.

More than the mere application of vegetations in the building design,

biophilic architecture proves to be richer and more complex for it has a wide
variety that encompasses different types of nature from physical, sensory,
morphological, metaphorical, material, to spiritual (Zhong, Schröder, &
Bekkering, 2021). Biophilic architecture connects to the users of space on a
whole other level of dimension that heavily involves nature. The researcher goes
on to agree with the related study when it comes to the effect of nature-based
architectural solutions to the human psyche, and how it contributes to the health,
well-being, and sustainability efforts of humans. In relation to the study, this
information strengthens the integrity and essence of the study when it comes to
making a connection to nature. A biophilic design suits the agenda of reinvention
through the use of natural resources, while simultaneously targeting the
psychology of the human brain in the most positive way.

The need to constantly lower human ecological footprint is urgent.

Diverting our focus to sustainability concepts will help us achieve a sustainable
balance between our necessities and the well-being of our life support, nature
(Dias B., 2015). The researcher took it to their responsibility to comply with the
needs and demands of the future users of the project. But the environment in

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which the project will be built upon also requires a lot of care, attention and
consideration, in order for both factors to co-exist in the healthiest manner
possible. Through biophilic architecture, possibilities of lowering human
ecological footprint are phenomenal. Not only does this architectural style
promote sustainable solutions to modern day problems, it also helps us balance
our relationship to nature, and enhances the chances of having a greener future.

“Biophilic design is an innovative approach that emphasizes the

importance of maintenance, enhancement and restoration of useful experience
on the use of nature in the built environment.” (Sharifi & Sabernejad, 2016). The
aforementioned study highlighted how biophilic architecture plays a vital role in
promoting maintenance, enhancement, and restoration, and how it clearly has a
positive inclination towards the well-being of the natural environment. In relation
to the present study under investigation, these factors mentioned above can have
a long-lasting effect not only towards the environment, but making maintenance,
enhancement, and restoration as a healthy habit could also influence a whole
new generation and create a much more positive attitude towards a new way of
life.

Outdoor and indoor spaces have restorative qualities that could possibly
be linked to Biophilic Architecture. (Sotto, Suarez, & Correa, 2021). According to
the study, the restorative influence of environmental qualities on moods and
stress appears to incline towards a positive light. Decrease in stress levels and
uplift moods are observed in the users who have been under outdoor and indoor
spaces that have a connection with nature. Taking that into consideration, the
researcher aims to pursue such levels of restorative qualities within the study
under investigation, with the use of biophilic design.

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3.4 Studies in Marine Ecotourism

Tourism industry is continuously growing for each passing year. Although

there’s a slight mishap during the pandemic, people are now back to their feets
and out into the open again, ready to continue their own versions of the “Tour of a
lifetime”. A component of the tourism industry has been making its own name
and slowly creating a relevance to the masses, coastal and marine tourism (Lew,
Hall & Williams, 2014). In lieu of this growing industry, people are slowly
becoming more aware that marine ecotourism is not just a one stop destination, it
comes with responsibilities and awareness that this type of tourism involves
maintenance, preservation, and conservation.

The researcher chose this variable to incorporate to the architectural

project, which is a beach convention and exhibition center, because not only is
marine ecotourism on a dire disposition, it also adds a sense of purpose and
character to the project. People will get to enjoy learning and having fun
attending conventions and exhibit events, while simultaneously soaking in the
beauty of nature, and contributing to its salvation through innovative architectural
designs.

When it comes to tourism, many people seem to look away from the
people behind the beauty they witness every time they visit a particular tourist
spot. The local and indigenous people that thrive on the natural environment way
before the public even have the knowledge of the place should be taken into
consideration, especially when it comes to knowing their territory because they
possess the knowledge necessary for us to preserve the place the way they did
since they inhabited the place (Prasetyo, Carr, & Filep, 2019).

Local fisherfolks from the chosen site location of the researcher will be
considered as primary source of information with regards to their indigenous
knowledge on the marine environment, and what we could do to keep the natural
environment as is, and further improve upon its conditions through the use of
biophilic architecture.

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Citations

Studies in Convention and Exhibition Centers

1. Carole B. Sox, Stefanie Benjamin, Jason Carpenter & Sandy

Strick (2013) An Exploratory Study of Meeting Planners and
Conference Attendees’ Perceptions of Sustainable Issues in
Convention Centers, Journal of Convention & Event Tourism,
14:2, 144-161
2. Shinyong Jung, Yen-Soon Kim, Kristin Malek, Woojin Lee. (2016)
Engaging attendees in environmental sustainability at trade
shows: attendees’ perceptions and willingness to participate.
Anatolia 27:4, pages 540-542.
3. Lee, Stephanie; Wu, Jialin S.; Zheng, Chen (2021) Asian
Convention Venue Engaging in Sustainable Practice: The Driving
and Hindering Factors pp. 411-423(13)
4. Reidar J. Mykletun, Monika Bartkeviciute, Yulia Puchkova. (2014)
Green Meetings – Do They Matter to their Closest Stakeholders?.
Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism 14:3, pages
211-233.
5. Jaruwan Suwannasat, Punthumadee Katawandee, Achara
Chandrachai & Pattarasinee Bhattarakosol (2022) Site selection
determinant factors: An empirical study from meeting and
conference organizers’ perspectives, Journal of Convention &
Event Tourism, 23:3, 209-239.

Studies in Biophilic Architecture

1. Soderlund, J. and Newman, P. (2015). Biophilic architecture: a

review of the rationale and outcomes. AIMS Environmental
Science. 2 (4): pp. 950-969.
2. Weijie Zhong, Torsten Schröder, Juliette Bekkerin (2022),
Biophilic design in architecture and its contributions to health,
well-being, and sustainability: A critical review, Frontiers of
Architectural Research, Volume 11, Issue 1,
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S209526352100
0479)
3. Bruno Duarte Dias (2015). BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY –
BIOPHILIC AND REGENERATIVE DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE.
MA Lusíada University, CITAD, Portugal

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 4. Monir Sharifi and Jaleh Sabernejad (2016). Investigation on
Biophilic Architecture Patterns and Prioritizing them in Design
Performance in order to Realize Sustainable Development Goals.
European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences:
Proceedings. Volume 5, No. 3s.
5. Joel Martinez Soto, Luis Alfonso de la Fuente Suarez, and
Salvvador Ruiz-Correa (2021). Exploring the Links Between
Biophilic and Restorative Qualities of Exterior and Interiors Spaces
in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. Sec. Environmental Psychology.
Volume 12.

Studies on Marine Ecotourism

1. Peili Duan, Yanying Cao, Yeqiao Wang, and Peng Yin

(2021). "Bibliometric Analysis of Coastal and Marine Tourism
Research from 1990 to 2020," Journal of Coastal Research
38(1), 229-240, (2 September 2021).
https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-20-00171.1
2. Nurdina Prasetyo, Anna Carr & Sebastian Filep (2020)
Indigenous Knowledge in Marine Ecotourism Development:
The Case of Sasi Laut, Misool, Indonesia, Tourism Planning
& Development, 17:1, 46-61, DOI:
10.1080/21568316.2019.1604424

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