QC:where green meets edgy in three land-

scaped metro parks

BOSMION | COMBOYDIESTRO | LATIGAROPERIO | PAULINOGOLLAYAN

LAZONQuezon CityMemorial Circle

UP-AyalalandTechnoHub

The Circle of success aiming for a

clean, beautiful, and disciplined envi-

ronment for great outdoor fun!

Taking the lead in creating the sustain-

able workplace - a holistic urbanism

approach ensuring enhancement of

life

Landscape Architecture 10

Submitted to Sir GozonL Arch 10 THI

Landscape Architecture and Design in Luzon

LANDSCAPEarchitecture and design

Quezon CityMemorial Circle

T he Quezon Memorial Circle, also called QMC, is a national park and a national shrine located in the Quezon City. The park is located inside a large traffic circle in the shape of an ellipse and bounded by the Elliptical Road. Its focal point is a tall mausole-um containing the remains of former president Manuel Quezon

and his wife Aurora.

Historical Significance The current location of the presently known Quezon Memorial Circle was originally planned to have been an area in Quezon City, where the National Capitol was supposed to be built. In 1940 when the cornerstone for the struc-ture was laid, the foundation was the only part of the structure positioned be-cause the construction was disrupted by the start of the Second World War in

Written by

Catherine Mitch Operio

the Philippines. Right after World War II, an executive order about the creation of a Quezon Memo-rial Committee was made and announced by President Sergio Osmeña. His purpose was to raise funds through the use of public subscription in order to elevate a monument for his predecessor, President Manuel Luis Quezon. From all the designs submitted, the one created by Federico Ilus-tre was chosen (“Quezon Memorial,” n.d.).

Description The gigantic Quezon Memorial Shrine, which upholds the City’s landmark, has the height of 66 meters (217 ft) that symbolizes Quezon’s age when he died. It reflects his great years as the dreamer and founder of Quezon City (Lo-cal Government of Quezon City, 2008). The monument has three vertical pylons that rep-resent the three geographic divisions of the Philippines: the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao (“Quezon Memorial,” n.d.) and is surmounted by three mourning angels holding sampaguita (the national flower) wreaths that were made by the Italian sculptor, Monti

The granite-finished memorial chamber of the late Commonwealth president is found at the heart of the pylon that is being surrounded by the three pylons. The pylon is a drum-like two-story structure that contains a gallery in which the visitors could look down at Quezon’s catafalque. It was modelled after Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb in the Invalides and the gal-lery and the catafalque below are lit by an ocu-lus just like in Grant’s Tomb (“Quezon Memo-rial,” n.d.).

The huge mausoleum located at the center of the Circle houses the remains of Manuel L. Quezon, the Philippines’ second president, and his wife, first Lady Aurora Quezon, thus it was named, Quezon Memorial Circle or QMC

Under Construction:At present, the city government is continuously improving the QMC as a people’s park and a fitting place for the shrine of a Philippine president. Various facilities are constructed.

What is under construction now is the Quezon City Museum, which will occupy a 1.5 hectare footprint, and which is a much needed cultural and historical facility of the city. Also ongoing are other park attractions such as the tropical and meditation gardens.

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1As eccentric as you want it to be, an informal garden

uses the ideals of the existing landscape and surroundings or nature. It is defined as “casual, not ceremonious, suited for everyday use.” Gentle contours and flowing lines are often used in an informal style. Softness, irregularity, and naturalistic features are formed by these flowing lines.

2Informal design mixes shapes, colors, sizes, and textures into

large garden beds. It is designed to incorporate with the existing landscape surrounding the area. The plants wildly disseminating or spreading over the edges soften the hard surfaces. Plants blend and merge in what appears to be an erratic or scattered pattern.

3Different activities and events are also held here. Many

families visit QMC especially dur-ing weekends and holidays to try various activities, relax, and have fun. This is the best place for their bonding time. The Quezon Memo-rial Circle also developed informal gardens. People enjoy the scenery and take pictures.

4The pond is surrounded by trees, shrubs, groundcovers,

and other plants. The gardens are structured with gentle contours and flowing lines as well. The plants are mixed shapes, colors, textures, and sizes. The gardens are embodied with the existing landscape that surrounds the area.

5The plants also soften the edges of the hardscape

features. Stones and rocks are also adjoined to add beauty and feature. Informal gardens are much more likely to be found than formal gardens, and it focuses on making a more fit thought or concept of what you would find in nature.

inform

algarden

reviewWritten byJinny Bea Bosmion

ONCECELEBRATED PARADISE

P erfection is subjective yet we try to achieve it. Symmetry in

most cases becomes the basis of flawless grandeur of any kind. The impalpable formality of elements clinches and tickles our creative perspective of things, thus creat-ing a superb scenario in our latent artistry.

I came across a jungle in metro, QC it is. Marveling through the woody

landscapes of the choking concrete greeneries, I long to see perfection amid the chaotic array of creations. As I was trekking, I heard a stream of water whispering, “come”. I fol-lowed its curving torso that seems to be pointing where I should go to find what I was looking for. I walked and walked.

To my amazement, as I stepped on the last brink I smelled harmony!

Eureka it is! I found myself in Que-zon Memorial Circle, a haven for my restless soul! I wondered and observed everything carefully in its core, every intricate detail, every el-ements rising high and falling low- In other words, I became a critic. My eyes are burning blue in searching for any possible blemishes it may have, but I failed. All I have found is perfection.

“Symmetry, as wide or narrow as you may define its meaning, is one idea by which man through the ages has tried to comprehend and create order, beauty, and perfection.”

-Hermann Weylby Jokkaz Latigar

The impeccable symmetry of the circular pattern em-bracing the domineering nature of the dancing foun-tain combined with the prominent radial drama created by the changes in hues of the tiles gives that all new image of formal landscape. Formality is symmetry. It is all about equilibrium. QMC indeed gives us a glimpse of beauty of perfection through balance. A chipped off part from heaven’s standards.

But maybe it’s true that we can’t really have it all- It rained, the clouds opened its gates and release fumes, acid rains, smog, and other destructive agents of na-ture. It is nature destroying the nature! I thought that is all when suddenly I heard steps from the stream I followed earlier. And to my surprise, there is a mob! A sea of people of different colors, genders, height, and backgrounds. As minutes pass, I have seen the grad-ual change of the oasis slowly drying up and showing signs of weariness- until it completely lost its glow, its distinction. The familiarity has killed its fame!

I, as a concerned environmental warrior want to see the vigor of that once celebrated paradise. I want to see it shine again. The perfection it has today is not enough anymore; there must be more attention in preservation than innovation. As the key saying goes, the past is the key to the future.

Informal gardens, nowadays, are almost every-where around the globe. They are hugely popular. They are distinct for having non-linear patterns, aiming to blend with nature. Unlike formal gardens, informal gardens look less man-made. Planting forms are less rigid and natural materials are more often used.

On the next pages are some parts of informal mini gardens that can be found in Quezon City Memo-rial Circle:

Tip!

QMC Informal Garden by Harwen Gollayan

1No geometric

patterns, all natural.

3Rock features. The

main attraction.

2Curved lines and color contrasts

Different shapes, sizes, textures, and colors create unity among the plants. Benches, pathways, etc., weren’t

used as a part of the design of this part of the garden, making it seemingly even more natural.

One prominent element here is the line, which is

best illustrated by the meeting of the edges of the

pathway and the landscape. On the right part, we

can see that the landscape architect used plants

with the same form, but with different colors.

Informal gardens—designs created without symme-

try, but still united all the same. As random as they

may look, they’re still proportional and balanced in

their own natural way. Curved lines, varying forms,

contrasting textures, different colors—designed to

subtly from repetition, placed orderly to perfection.

Here’s a wider view of the above picture. Trees were

scattered on a green expanse while the design fea-

tured above is just a small patch on it. Although the

trees were of the same type, they were planted ran-

domly, which gives us a beautiful nature-like view.

Featured here are rock and plant ground covers.

The rocks used are all alike, having the same size,

texture, and color. The plants, although not having a

distinct geometric pattern, are still overall balanced

because of their sizes. The lower left plant is the

largest among the four, the upper right the smallest,

and the other two share the same size.

Informal gardens—designs created without symmetry, but still united all the same. As ran-dom as they may look, they’re still proportional and balanced in their own natural way. Curved lines, varying forms, contrasting textures, differ-ent colors—designed to subtly from repetition, placed orderly to perfection.

In this part of the garden, curved lines are notice-

able. Aside from plants, rocks were also used as

materials for this design. The contrast between the

sizes of the rocks is also notable. Different types

and forms of the plants can also be seen. Some of

the plants were cut into shapes.

Here’s a wider view of the above picture. Trees were

scattered on a green expanse while the design fea-

tured above is just a small patch on it. Although the

trees were of the same type, they were planted ran-

domly, which gives us a beautiful nature-like view.

Rock features were the main attraction on this part.

Although irregularly placed, the rocks still have the

same visual weight and balance. Proportion can also

be seen since the smaller plant on the right side (as

opposed to the one in the middle of the rocks on the

left side), is planted directly next to a tree

UP-Ayala LandTechnoHub

TechnoHubTechnology in living things through Leaves

faceta commercial tourist spota stone’s throw away from

the main campus

Marione Comboy

In the midst of the bustling high-ways of Quezon City reaching the

Commonwealth Avenue, UP Ayala Techno Hub is a sure place to go.

The UP-Ayala Techno Hub is an infor-mation technology hub jointly devel-oped by the University of the Philippines and the well known property developer, Ayala Land.

A refreshing place to dwell in, an excit-ing space to give the bum a sure break - TechnoHub offers a diverse tang of vibes to anyone who visits this new hit in the metropolis.

The new “hub” in QC!

Pola Diestro

Tip!

2The wide planting bed conforms to the enor-

mity of the wide concrete avenue in front of it.

1Integrated seats un-der shade trees pro-

vide comfort for custom-ers . The smooth warping shape add an overall mod-ern look to the landscape.

Right across the UP Diliman Campus and a few me-

ters away from the Quezon City Memorial Circle,

stands a business and lifestyle hub developed by

no less than the AyalaLand. It occupies 20 hectares

(49 acres) within the 37.5 hectares (93 acres) of the

U.P. North Science and Technology Park. Belted with

restaurants, banks and shops, the raised wide open

area situated near the entrance provides space for

leisure where fountain and integrated seating area

are at. Behind it, a man-made lagoon is installed.

Border landscapes are designed well to enhance

the aesthetics of the place.

Site and Layout

DesignInitially designed as a “science and technology park

conducive to academic study and creativity”.

As the hub is smoothly bundled by different com-

mercial and corporate activities, its landscaping ef-

fectively accentuates the architecture.

Its contemporary design marked by our present

creative minds fuses the tangible shapes and lines,

colors and forms with our celebrated vigor, inhibited

cheerfulness, abstract and youthful spirit and ideas.

The TechnoHub also has made its bold ways to

embracing having “environment-friendlier” envi-

ronment, using greener technologies and amazing

design solutions from chilled water cooling sys-

tem, gray water piping system, waste management,

rainwater catchment, and even landscaped earth

mounds(as they serve as natural barriers that de-

flect the unwanted noise coming from the boister-

ous and busy highways of Commonwealth Avenue

bordering its frontage)!

and drifts among the background

green rather than being dot-

ted around at random

except for the plants

placed at the raised

central platform. Land-

scape boundaries are

thickly clothed with

grass and ground cov-

ers with trees of darker

green shades. Flower col-

ors are soft and muted among

strong foliage that runs from dark

green to yellow.

Green is the predominant color, and

provides a cool framework for

the complex structures’

shades of gray and brown.

Even slightly garish co-

lours - that of the ob-

trusively bright orange

ground covers for exam-

ple - punctuate the green-

ery with splashes of sum-

mer color. Foliage plants are

carefully chosen for their con-

trasts in colour and form - Leaf con-

trasts of border plants like the clump of

yuccas create accent in the planting bed.

On hardscape elements, minor variation

in tone, from cool to bluish greys, flooring

and some vertical elements evoke mod-

ernism in the atmosphere. Color is used

GOgreen

Color Scheme PicturesqueRemiscent of English Romantic gardens

Hard Landscaping

1A center retail area with a fountain plaza

and conical towers serves as convergence point and emphasizes the techno-logical focus.

2Container plants, accent lanterns, and

matured trees placed randomly at the open area are focal points. Contrasts by plants are also atten-tion-catchers.

Path and paving details are simple and unobtru-

sive. The paving material consists of concrete slabs

which are laid in a formal pattern. Hard surfaces,

whether horizontal or vertical, make an excellent

setting for plants, and both benefit visually. Stone

containers of different sizes create variation. The

plants’ beauty soften harsh materials and hard ge-

ometry, and the plain background of concrete or

stone, shows up and enhances individual plants in a

way that is rarely possible in mixed beds or borders.

Focal Points

water

the landscape

accents

Ducksinhabit

the area

A calm stretch of water creates

reflections

The UP Ayala TechnoHub not only

homes a diverse horizon for IT-related

businesses, as it was first intended

for, but also, it cradles a sustainable

vibrant feel and mood that is more-

than-just-right to accommodate the

kaleidoscope of individuals who come

to recharge and renew after a long-

day’s work hussle. And as for our

case, after that long-struggle study! ;D

ReflectiveSummary

Sustainabilityat Work

Greenimproving the quality

of life, comfort, and health

Sustainability, and particularly environmen-tal sustainability, has now risen to the top of the business agenda. According to the En-vironmental Protection Agency, Green Build-ing is a “the practice of creating and using healthier and more resource-efficient mod-els of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance and demolition” (www.epa.gov/greenbuilding). It increases the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use energy, water, and materials while reducing building impacts of human health and the environ-ment through better siting,design, construc-tion, operation, maintenance, and removal throughout the complete life cycle.

A green building is a structure that is de-signed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient man-ner. With the numerous benefits of green buildings, no wonder many businesses are starting to realize their potential of reducing the negative impacts of a development to the environment along with reducing their operating costs. It also gives them market-ing advantages while not compromising the occupant’s quality of life, comfort and health.

With the competitive mounting demand from investors on locators to offer green buildings, the Philippines has followed the ecological and social responsibility to develop more green designs. The UP-Ayala Land Techno-Hub is a prominent example of spearhead-ing a responsible, safe, and healthy work environment acceptable to international standards.

The campus-based technology park has various retail establishments that cater to the public. It also has a fishpond and a jogging path that provide as vistas to the surround-ing office buildings. But less obvious than the green landscape design of the development, are the sustainable efforts that the techno-logical infrastructure of the site offers.

2Instead of asphalt or poured concrete, the TechnoHub has

pervious, colored paver blocks installed at the parking lots and driveway areas. The pervious blocks allow rainwater to seep through to replenish the ground-water. The non-reflective colors of the blocks also help to reduce the heat-

island effect of the pavements.

1The buildings were oriented in a north-south direc-tion as much as possible, to minimize heat gain from

the afternoon sun. The buildings’ window-to-wall ratio is about 25 percent, just enough to maximize natural light-ing and outdoor visibility without compromising solar heat gain. All Acacia trees at the site were preserved and several TechnoHub buildings were planned beside them for natural shading of offices.

3 A landscaped earth mound stretches along the en-tire frontage of the Hub at Commonwealth Avenue.

The long mound was built using unsuitable soil materials excavated from the project site. Instead of being hauled off to distant dumpsites, the soil was put to good use as a natural noise barrier and eliminated the need to construct concrete fencing along the frontage.

Left diagram explaining how TechnoHub reuses

water through innovative technology

GREYWATER RECYCLING SYSTEM

Indoor Environmental Quality• Outdoor air delivery monitoring

• Increased ventilation• Construction indoor air quality

• Use low emitting materials• Controlability of thermal and lighting systems

A central plant provides chilled water for the air-conditioning of all buildings, through an underground piping loop. This allows aggrega-tion of the varying cooling loads of each building, thereby optimizing energy usage by: (a) reducing equipment partial loading losses, and (b) utilizing more efficient large-capacity chillers.Energy consump-tion for chilled water delivery is reduced by about 30%.

Written andLayout by

Favie Paulino

DISTRICT COOLING SYSTEM

Underneath the entire U.P.-AyalaLand TechnoHub runs a dual-piping system which includes a “greywater” line that supplies recycled wa-ter from the effluent of a nearby Sewage Treatment Plant operated by Manila Water Corp. The recycled greywater is used for toilet flushing, landscape irrigation, and make-up water for central cooling.

LANDSCAPEarchitecture and design