Skip to content
WTA
WTA
  • Practice
        • People
        • Studio
        • Social Architecture
  • Projects
        • All
        • Institutional
        • Residential
        • Office
        • Hospitality
        • Mixed-Use
        • Commercial
        • Master Planning
        • Transportation
        • Homes
        • Retail
        • Interiors
  • News
        • Awards
        • Projects
        • Media
  • WTA Labs
        • Publication
        • Research
        • Lectures
        • Events
        • EQF
        • WTA Labs Videos
  • Affiliates
        • Artesan Prime
        • Izumi Bonsai
        • Art Stadium
        • Anthology
        • Partners
  • Contact
        • Careers
        • Press Kits

City of Tomorrow I

June 20, 2020January 9, 2021 William Ti, Jr. | Philippine Daily Inquirer

Wide sweeping balconies that are relevant and functional define the medium density alternative of Twelve Luxury Flats in San Juan
Wide sweeping balconies that are relevant and functional define the medium density alternative of Twelve Luxury Flats in San Juan

(First of two parts)

We are living through a most challenging period in history. The collective experience that all of us are navigating bonds us together with questions about the future of our communities.

As we slowly emerge from the shock of being placed under quarantine for months, we must now reassess how we have built our physical environment and how much more we need from it.

 

Transient spaces

The density of our cities and the pace of our modern life have made us view our built environment as transient spaces that serve our immediate needs—a sort of wanderlust aesthetic that moves from place to place without appreciating the depth or richness of each.

This pandemic allowed us to slow down and spend more time in and observe, not just our homes, but all the places we need. We lead very human lives with human lifestyles in human societies. We are vulnerable both in body and mind, and the well-being of our people and communities have been taken for granted in the mad rush of our consumer driven society.

Changes

This is an unprecedented time of change and convulsion. It is an opportunity for humanity to reassess the reality of our built environment. COVID-19 has made it highly evident that, for all the bluster and grand promises of our social covenant, the hyper-capitalist pattern of unfettered growth and consumption does not work.


Streetview of Twelve Luxury Flats
Street view of Twelve Luxury Flats

The WTA Office

 Architecture has long known and pushed for better and more holistic spaces. This period allows us to not just reinforce these ideas, but also explore how we can direct these changes towards a more sustainable environment. We have no contingencies or experiences to fall back on for this pandemic. We can only explore and redefine how we build our communities to better serve the health and well-being of each and every one of us.

Our homes

A couple days ago, I was completely enamored with how many birds were flying around the balcony, amid the backdrop of our city, as I watched the sun set. For many of us, a breath of fresh air as we hang around our balconies and terraces, has been the highlight of our days over the last few months.

We have spent so much time in our personal bubbles that we practically developed a relationship with each wall and piece of furniture. We have become explorers of our own homes, trying to find the best lighting for painting or sketching, or the most quiet spaces for web meetings. There is beauty in domestic spaces.

We found all the delights and deficiencies of our homes, and have come to realize that we are all unique individuals with particular needs, and one size does not fit all. What do we need? We need fresh air and open spaces; functional balconies where you can sit down and relax, sip a cup of tea, or read a book; as well as gardens and terraces that are not merely leftover spaces, but a place unto themselves where we can have a touch of nature in our lives.

Philippine Daily Inquirer publishes William Ti’s City of Tomorrow Column: City of Tomorrow. Click here to read more.


City of Tomorrow: WTA Office modern Industrial style Interior Design

Related Articles

Spaces Mag Cover El Museo del Prado en FilipinasFeatured Cover on Spaces Magazine: El Museo Del Prado
September 11, 2017September 17, 2020
WTA’s El Museo del Prado en Filipinas gets featured on the Cover of Spaces Magazine Volume 13: September 2017 Issue....
Read More »
Kalin Warehouse Office DesignCity of Tomorrow: Redefining Offices
September 12, 2020October 29, 2020
Atlas Nutrition Office by WTA There are four little kittens who’ve started to call our office home. I see them...
Read More »
Neighborhood size market in SydneyCity of Tomorrow: The Agency of Commerce
August 22, 2020October 31, 2020
Neighborhood size market in Sydney One of the main engines of capitalism is commerce. Many of our cities are built...
Read More »
Roman Architecture - The Colosseum of RomeCity of Tomorrow: 35 architecture ideas through the years
December 5, 2020December 5, 2020
The story of architecture is the story of human civilization over the last 6,000 years. We have shaped and transformed...
Read More »
Horizon East Church of the Crossroads is located at Horizon ManilaCity of Tomorrow: The human environment (1/2)
April 24, 2021May 26, 2022
(First in a series) Climate change continues to be the single, most important long term global concern, even as we...
Read More »
WTA Architecture + Design Studio
  • Practice
  • Projects
  • News
  • WTA Labs
  • Affiliates
  • Contact
Copyright 2023 WTA Architecture + Design Studio. All Right Reserved.