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: The Agency of Commerce

August 22, 2020October 31, 2020 William Ti, Jr. | Philippine Daily Inquirer
Neighborhood size market in Sydney
Neighborhood size market in Sydney

One of the main engines of capitalism is commerce. Many of our cities are built upon trading centers and often, the most important feature of these locations was convenience. Commerce is essentially driven by movement and abhors barriers. It is driven by simplicity.

Allow me this week a simple article then. A figurative one that tries to be both short and sweet, the most delightful combination that moves us onward.

Our communities and our lives are shaped by commercial interests. Commercial spaces determine the ebb and flow of urban culture.

The very first commercial spaces were the agoras and forums of the Greek and Roman world. Markets were and still remain essential centers of urban life. As our cities became more complex, commercial spaces diverged into industrial, retail and office spaces. These spaces have now dovetailed into more complex, mixed use places of commerce that foster intensified commercial activities

Forum Romanum, the social and commercial heart of ancient Rome
Forum romanum the social and commercial heart of ancient Rome

Commerce Diagram
Commerce Diagram 01

Commerce Diagram
Commerce Diagram 02

First Principles

There are various types of commercial spaces all of which revolve around simplicity.

Retail spaces exchange and move goods. A store needs to be visually clear and identifiable. A promenade needs to induce forward movement with open and engaging vistas. A destination needs to simplify our schedules by providing the most diverse experience in a single location.

Office spaces must provide knowledge and information.

A simple desk should be personal and allow one to produce ideas and solutions. Common areas allow everyone to pass through or stay and garner information through simple exchanges. Meeting spaces bring everyone together to share and present their ideas.

Architecture is an act that creates complexity and removes complications. Oftentimes, the first principles that determine our spaces allow us to recalibrate and identify what our primary focus should be and define how we can develop new ideas. We live in a society that dislikes boundaries but covets intimacy.

Philippine Daily Inquirer publishes William Ti’s City of Tomorrow Column: The agency of commerce. Click here to read the article.

Related Articles

Second Beginnings by Lien FoundationThe Book Stop Project: A Case Study
February 28, 2018September 17, 2020
The book Second Beginnings: Senior Living Redefined cites The Book Stop Project as a case study. WTA Architecture and Design...
Read More »
City of Tomorrow: Exploring ideas on sustainable tropical architecture
August 8, 2020October 29, 2020
A Boracay resort concept by WTA centered around a public piazza that extends into the resort lobby. Recently, I’ve been...
Read More »
Commercial Concept design for a walkable communityCity of Tomorrow: Smart, brilliant planning for our spaces
October 29, 2020October 29, 2020
A walkable community Being an architect might make it seem as though building your own place would be a breeze....
Read More »
Riverlane Bridge over the Pasig river water connecting the Lawton Ferry Terminal and Quinta Market.The City of Tomorrow II
June 27, 2020May 12, 2021
The Riverlane will be the first pedestrian bridge to span the Pasig River. This vital piece of pedestrian infrastructure serves...
Read More »
Anthology is a festival that brings together architects and designers, policy makers and advocates, to shine a spotlight on our built environment.City of Tomorrow: Our City Anthology Festival 2021
January 30, 2021February 2, 2021
We spend more than 90 percent of our lives in our city. We eat, sleep and work here. We grow...
Read More »
WTA Architecture + Design Studio
  • Practice
  • Projects
  • News
  • WTA Labs
  • Affiliates
  • Contact
Copyright 2022 WTA Architecture + Design Studio. All Right Reserved.