Interview Gabrielle de la Cruz
Images Archion Architects
Manta Corporate Plaza
Project description edited for brevity
Manta Corporate Plaza has risen as one of the first commercial developments in Arca South, a new and growing Central Business District in Taguig City. The site provides a canvas that links two streets: Arca Boulevard and Junction Road. Due to specific restrictions of Arca South, the design challenge of building to maximum yield all while creating architecture that speaks is at the forefront of the project’s concept and development.
Starting with form, the project was set with the typical setbacks on the ground and mezzanine floors while growing to the maximized floor plate size above. This created a notable but typical problem found in commercial projects: how does architecture bring in light, enhance interior space, and create identity, on a boulevard that would house similar deep structures with build-to-line party walls? This project answered that through a simple play on the front and rear façades that eventually carries into the building by the holistic use of materiality throughout the plaza. This is supported by the incorporation of sustainable goals and the desire to bring the outside in.
The façade is charged with the necessity of depth, which will eventually be the differentiator between the future adjacent developments. This led to the interior carved-out balconies and open spaces that created two things: provide outdoor moments of reprieve for the users and allow light to penetrate deeper into the already deep commercial units. This also minimizes solar heat gain, particularly in the façade fronting Arca Boulevard. This formal move creates a layer of identity that is furthered by the formal exploits of pattern work. The steel pattern work, inspired by the Filipino “Bahay-na-Bato” and geometries in Filipino textiles, is the second language accenting the reverse moments of the balconies where we find the reflective glazing mirroring its surroundings. The third layer is the varied locations of these two distinct moments which may seem random at first glance but is equitable between floors to help enhance the commercial spaces beyond. As the façade has taken its form, materiality comes into question. By juxtaposing the reflective glass and steel lattice-like patterns with natural stone in an enduring shade of black, the project seamlessly created an identifiable and timeless “black box”.
While the project’s sense of identity is introduced from the outside, this is carried into the interiors. What greets everyone upon entrance is the main two-story lobby anchored by the monolithic reception desk. This is complemented by the sub lobby at Junction Street which has a direct view of the communicating stairs to the mezzanine floor above. Traversing upwards, the façade tells the story with the balconies, plant life, pattern work, and fenestrations. The project is capped by a shared penthouse club floor above for all users to enjoy and this space provides a fully setback exterior gallery with the lattice work displaying the play of shadow and light.
Manta Corporate Plaza’s program and use may not be out of the norm, but it creates avenues for design to flourish. It keeps its geometries while remaining true to Filipino regionalism.
Interview with Archion Architects
The genesis of Manta Corporate Plaza is basically derived from the concept of a Bahay-na-Bato. Can you elaborate more on how this influenced the building’s design? What other mechanisms did you perform to soften the building’s look and stray away from the typical look of office buildings?
The bahay-na-bato is a uniquely Filipino house that marries stick architecture as seen in the Nipa Hut and the European stone architecture tradition. One of the key factors of the bahay-na-bato is that there is a clear delineation between structure and skin. Similar to curtain wall construction, the curtain wall envelopes the space but does not carry the load. In the Bahay na Bato, the lower stone wall encloses the lower floor but does not structurally carry the upper floors. This allows for the main floor perimeter to be cantilevered, creating the overhangs that shade the people below and allowing floor-to-ceiling ventilation through the ventanillas. The Manta 2 building explores this idea of structure and skin where the skin serves to enclose the building envelope and not give it its form.
The building is “structured to be a standout estate” that will become the focal point of a new Taguig township. What strategies did you employ to ensure that the building stands as a part of a larger development?
Apart from the mechanisms mentioned above, the guidelines of the property were very specific with “build to” lines. This will create a wall of buildings similar to Ayala Avenue. The building was designed to stand out amidst this wall and age well with its unconventional exterior facade.
The building is characterized by balconies that play a huge role in both aesthetics (for a more appealing façade) and functionality (ventilation). What other steps were taken to incorporate post-COVID construction and design measures in the building? As a healthcare architect, what were the new and traditional health and safety mechanisms you carried over for this project?
During the height of the pandemic, one of the easiest solutions to prevent the spreading of COVID was simply to open a window. For this project, the balcony doors and ventanillas or lower windows were designed to give the tenants the option to open windows and ventilate the space fully.
How did you program the space to make each unit enticing to new tenants? How did you ensure that this building will attract people, given that the area aims to be as successful as BGC and is still under development?
As an AAA office building, we hope that the distinctness of the architecture as well as the monochromatic color palette of the building attracts locators. Manta Corporate Plaza is also equipped with the latest technologies such as charging stations for electric vehicles in the basement. It is also an EDGE-certified office building.
There are actually tenants in the building already and feedback has been good. They say that they are pleased to be in such a distinct structure.
Welcome to WAF! As the architect of this building, what do you think makes this project special? How is it different from your and your firm’s current body of work?
Manta Corporate Plaza is a continuation of the firm’s desire to explore and develop Filipino Architecture. We’re beyond excited and honored to be a finalist at the World Architecture Festival. We look forward to presenting this project live in Singapore. •
