Aspiring architect envisions The Cube as inclusive space where people interact
Divisoria, which we now fondly call Divi, holds different meanings for each one: a shopper’s paradise for bargain hunters, with its stalls and vendors, or a place to work and live in. This commercial arena between Tondo and Binondo in Manila is a world on its own.
Young visionary Nikko Sale Regalado has proposed a rehabilitation project that aims to improve the quality of life of people who engage with Divisoria. Dubbed as The Cube, the plan was designed in consideration of the numerous traders who have lost their livelihood due to the continuous clearing projects and the pandemic.
The architecture student from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, School of Design and Arts has proposed a new Divisioria tower that offers spaces for all economic levels.
“Design needs to be inclusive and should not exclude,” Regalado stressed. “The Cube encourages our urban setting to become a more people-oriented community where we provide merchants with a dignified space through proper planning.”
Regalado strategically designed the tower as a public platform where people from all walks of life can interact. The edifice features gaps in between the hubs to facilitate accessibility, proper lighting and terracing, as well as distorted volumes for proper ventilation.
The building is structured to have natural rainwater collection and distribution for reuse of water, as well as lessen the flooding in the area. It is equipped with solar panels and strips in the south and west sides to counter and absorb high thermal inertia.
To reduce carbon monoxide emission in the dense market, Regalado suggested the utilization of algae technology. He explored its human ratio production and the possibility of placing a tube in the most populated public spaces to absorb the carbon monoxide.
The proposal was complete with site development plans that featured fly ash as alternative to asphalt and concrete to contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emission.
The aspiring architect also recommended the proper color coding of each area so that the consumers can easily navigate through the hubs as well as easily locate their needs, from fabrics and garments, shoes and bags, toys and gadgets, fruits and veggies, ready-to-wear long gowns, to wet market goods and everything under the sun.
Selected colors should deflect the heat and complement the greenery as well as boost excitement, sociability, and freshness. It also allotted spaces that can be developed in phases to adapt to the needs of expansion.
The Cube was given the recognition of the Best Colour Choice Award in Architecture at the Nippon Paint Asia Young Designer Award, the Philippine edition of the prestigious Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA) whose mission is to motivate interior design and architecture students to be more innovative, creative, and socially involved in design implementation.
