In a country of over a hundred million people, how can the government maintain connections to its people at a micro level? If there was a built symbol of our country’s democracy, it would be the barangay hall. Sulong Maynila believes that it represents the smallest administrative division, and reminds our community that every individual voice counts.
The barangay is distinctly Filipino. It revitalizes Manila’s vision to create a central civic core radially emanating on a gridiron pattern and large parks interconnected by parkways. The design integrates the patterns and purpose of the movement’s system in order to provide security, engagement, reconnection, landmark and surveillance.
Acting as a lantern and landmark, the illuminated barangay halls are modular in design. It has shifting walls, folded plates and a building envelope. It has three main sizes – the small, medium and large to serve different sized communities. In addition to being a symbolic and physical beacon of light for the communities, the reimagined barangay aims to reinstill conversation and connection between leaders and constituents.
Ermita
Sulong Maynila proposes a baranagy hall for a wide scale site located near LRT 1, Central Station. It introduces a large module unit barangay hall with the capacity of 12 barangay officials and 15 local volunteers.
Quiapo
For an average scale site location, the master plan development locates a medium module unit barangay hall at P. de Guzman St. near the Quiapo Church. The barangay hall houses 15 barangay officials.
Tondo
Located in Tondo Manila, the Sulong Maynila Barangay Hall introduces a
small unit module that accomodates 10 barangay officials.
What is Manila? How do we define this city that beats as the heart of our nation? This wellspring of Filipino culture from which we draw our identity and pride will always be the meter upon which we measure our future as a people. These 10 projects, Sulong Maynila under the Office of Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada seek to act as catalysts in the redevelopment of Manila as the cultural heart of the Philippines.