Thesis Proponent: Alyana Patrisha S. Dalena
2 Problem Statement
Thesis Adviser: Architect Dominador Cendaña
Proposal 1: ALBAN: A Proposed Cardiovascular
Hospital through Biophilic and Sustainable Design
Location: Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 The Project
In the past years, heart attacks were associated with
elderly people. So, individuals in their 20s and 30s
thought heart attacks won’t affect them, thinking that
they were young. And if they eat the right foods and
were not inactive, they believed cardiovascular
diseases won’t hit them. Today, those can be false
assumptions.
According to the latest World Health Organization data
published in 2017, Coronary Heart Disease deaths in
Philippines reached 122,950 or 19.86% of total deaths.
It is the top killer disease in the country while 60% to
70% of Filipinos have not been treated or have seen a
cardiologist, according to 2017 data from the Philippine
Heart Association.
The proposal is a specialized hospital for
Cardiovascular diseases, entitled Alban (came from
the word Alabang). The main goal of this project is to
strengthen public health agencies and create training
opportunities, model standards, and resources for
continuous technical support for those people with a
heart disease and also to engage in regional and
global partnerships. Multiplying resources and
capitalizing on shared experience with others
throughout the global community who are addressing
similar challenges.
The proposed project is an institution that will conduct
studies and research in order to protect the people in
having heart diseases. An institution that will shelter
and cure them from the heart disease and will provide
the professional individuals a center for them to
practice their field.
1.
 Lack of facilities for practicing cardio-
surgeons and resident doctors.
 63.4% unattended deaths due to lack of
facilities and doctors in NCR. (Refer to
Appendix Table 1)
 Top leading cause of death in Philippines is
heart disease. (Refer to Appendix Table 2)
 Inefficient of government hospitals by
upholding excellence services to the public.
 Low support for public health programs to
prevent heart disease.
1.3 Project Objectives
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the
leading causes of death in the country, with 170,000
Filipinos dying each year. The Proposed
Cardiovascular Hospital intended:
 To create opportunities for training, offer
model standards for preventing chronic
diseases, and make consultation and
technical support continuously available to
public health agencies, including their
laboratories.
 To provide an establishment that will expedite
and make more effective the physician’s
delivery of their services.
 To design a world-class hospital that will
serve as a specialized venue for treating
cardiovascular diseases
 To come up with means of gathering
economic gains for the country, which
otherwise have been spent abroad by the
Filipinos seeking more advances medical
diagnosis there.
 To establish an institution that will enable
patients to avail of accessible and affordable
state of the heart diagnosis.
 1.4 The Client
The Muntinlupa Government
1.4.1 Background of the Client
Muntinlupa is a 1st class highly urbanized city in Metro
Manila, Philippines. It is known as the location of the
national insular penitentiary, the New Bilibid Prison,
where the country's most dangerous criminals were
incarcerated, as well as the location of Ayala Alabang
Village, one of the country's biggest and most
expensive residential communities, where many of the
wealthy and famous live. "Most Business Friendly City"
on 2001, 2002 & 2006 as awarded by the Philippine
Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
1.4.2 Mission, Vision, Goal
Mission
 To promote a broad-based economic growth and
business-friendly environment for sustainable
development;
 To protect every person from natural and man-
made hazards by ensuring strict enforcement of
necessary safety measures;
 To provide quality social services that include
education, health care, livelihood and employment,
socialized housing, and social assistance, among
others; and
 To institutionalize community participation in local
governance, environmental protection, and
economic development.
Vision
We envision Muntinlupa City as one of the leading
investment hubs in the country, with educated, healthy
and God-loving people living peacefully and securely
in a climate change-adaptive and disaster-resilient
community, under the rule of transparent, caring and
accountable leadership.
1.5 Project Scope and Limitations
The proposed Cardiovascular Hospital focuses mainly
on providing state-of-the-art care by establishing
networks with the healthcare community in the area. It
is through these collaborative efforts that better
healthcare can be extended to those patients who
need it most. The project will combine world class
medical expertise, advanced technologies, and up-to-
date heart and vascular care education to dramatically
improve the prevention and treatment of heart and
vascular diseases.
The Cardiovascular Hospital will be limited only to
planning and architectural designs of both interior and
exterior of the structure. It will also focus on the interior
design using biophilic design approach. Structural,
electrical, mechanical and plumbing designs are not
included unless otherwise needed to support the
architectural design solution.
1.6 Design Process
Stage 1- Research the users’ needs.
The first stage of the design thinking process allows
the researcher to gain an empathetic understanding of
the problem she’s trying to solve, typically through user
research.
Stage 2- State the Users' Needs and Problems
In the Define stage, the researcher accumulates the
information she created and gathered during the
Empathize stage. She analyzes her observations and
synthesize them to define the core problems she has
identified so far.
Stage 3- Challenge Assumptions and Create Ideas
Researcher is ready to generate ideas as she reaches
the third stage of design thinking. The solid
background of knowledge from the first two phases
means she can start to “think outside the box”, look for
alternative ways to view the problem and identify
innovative solutions to the problem statement she
created.
Stage 4- Start to Create Solutions
This is an experimental phase, and the aim is to identify
the best possible solution for each of the problems
identified during the first three stages.
 Socio-Economic and Cultural Factor
Stage 5- Gather Feedback
SITE
The researcher presented her ideas to as many people CRITERIA %
as possible: friends, teachers, professionals, and any Alabang Pasig
others you trust to give insightful comments. Site Potential 20 5 (20%) 4 (16%)
Accessibility to
30 5 (30%) 4 (24%)
major roads
Stage 6- Improve
Must be within
Reflect on all of the feedback and decide if or to what urban area
20 5 (20%) 5 (20%)
extent it should be incorporated. It is often helpful to Accessibility to
take solutions back through the Design Process to important existing 15 4 (12%) 3 (9%)
refine and clarify them. facilities
Pedestrian
Chapter 2: Site Justification Access and 15 4 (12%) 4 (12%)
Circulation
2.1 Site Selection Criteria TOTAL 100 94% 81%
Natural, Environment, Physical Factors LEGENDS: (1) Poor (2) Average (3) Good (4) Very Good (5)
Excellent
SITE Sites
CRITERIA % Section Elements
Alabang Pasig Alabang Pasig
Natural, Environment,
Land Area/Lot Size 20 4 (16%) 2 (12%) 76 54
Physical Factors
Accessibility (Modes
10 4 (8%) 4 (8%) Legal, Institutional,
of Transportation)
Administrative, and 77 76
Soil Characteristic &
10 4 (8%) 4 (8%) Aesthetic Factor
Condition
Socio-Economic and
Accessibility of 94 81
10 3 (6%) 3 (6%) Cultural Factor
Utility and Service
Utilities to Natural GRAND TOTAL 82.3% 70.3%
10 3 (6%) 2 (4%)
Hazards
Site Drainage 5 3 (3%) 2 (2%) 2.2 Macro-Meso Site Analysis: Region / Province /
Topography 10 3 (6%) 3 (6%) City / Town
Climate 10 4 (8%) 3 (6%)
Orientation 5 4 (4%) 3 (3%)
The City of Muntinlupa lies
Existing Vegetation 5 4 (4%) 2 (2%)
Future Expansion
within 14°23’N latitude and
5 5 (5%) 1 (1%) 121°02’E longitude and is
Plan
located on the southwestern
TOTAL 100 76% 58% coast of Laguna de Bay. It is
Legal, Institutional, Administrative, and Aesthetic bounded in the north
Factor by Taguig; to the northwest
SITE by Parañaque; by Las
CRITERIA % Piñas to the west; to the
Alabang Pasig
southwest by the city
Proper Land Use & of Bacoor in Cavite; by the
20 5 (20%) 5 (20%)
Zoning city of San Pedro, Laguna;
Ease of Ownership 25 4 (20%) 3 (15%) and by Laguna de Bay to
Land Cost 35 3 (21%) 3 (21%)
the east, the largest lake in
Compatibility with
20 4 (16%) 5 (20%) the country. Being in the
Adjacent Land Use
southern threshold of the
TOTAL 100 77% 76% NCR and gateway to
CALABARZON area, it continues to bolster its
development by capitalizing on its strategic location.
Retail and services share the biggest bulk of
businesses established in the City, which maintains its
viability as potential investment haven. The city of
Muntinlupa is composed of two Legislative Districts
and one Congressional District.
History
Muntinlupa is an old term, which refers to a village now
known as the Poblacion. As early as 1800, the Catholic
priest Father Joaquin de Zuniga chronicled it as La
Poblacion que Sigue se Llama Muntinlupa. Under
American regime, the Municipality of Muntinlupa was
segregated from the province of Rizal through Act
1008 passed on November 25, 1903 annexing it to the
Municipality of Biñan, a town of the province of Laguna.
The city of Muntinlupa has been nationally known for
being the location of a state penitentiary, the historic
Bureau of Corrections (formerly New Bilibid Prison)
which was established on January 22, 1941 and house
about 7,000 prisoners.
Land Area
The City, based on the National Statistics Office
(NSO), has a land area of 3,975 hectares, partaking
6.4% of the total land area of NCR which is 61,954.
Total Population and Household Population
According to PSA Census data (2015), the population
of the City of Muntinlupa was recorded at 504, 509
representing an increase of 44,568 persons over May
2010 population. The population of the City contributes
3.52% of the NCR. Comparing the average growth rate
of 2010-2015, the Muntinlupa City’s growth rate is
higher than the Philippines and NCR by 0.06% and
0.20% respectively. (Refer to Appendix Table 1-4)
Climate
The climate of Muntinlupa is classified as Type I under
Corona’s classification used by PAGASA. Maximum
rainfall usually occurs from the month of June to
October. The annual temperature reading is 27.8 °C.
The relative of humidity of Muntinlupa has an annual
average of 76%.
Topography
Muntinlupa is generally level to gently sloping terrain.
About 45.29% is characterized by flat to relatively low,
with gradients ranging from 0.0 - 2.5%. (Refer to
Appendix Page 10)
Geology
The soils of Muntinlupa belong to two series namely:
Guadalupe and Quingua as per the Bureau of Soils
and Water Management. The Quingua series is
considered one of the best soils in the Philippines. Its
physiography is level to nearly upper terrace/levees
wherein the thickness ranges from 100-150cm and is
well drained. (Refer to Appendix Table 15)
Water Supply and Electric Power Supply
Water is provided Maynilad Water Services also
known as Maynilad is a water and waste water services
provider of cities and municipalities of the National
Capital Region that forms the West Zone and some
parts of Cavite. (Refer to Appendix page 12)
The sole distributor of electricity in Metro Manila is the
Manila Electric Company, also known as Meralco. The
de-commissioned Sucat Thermal Power Plant is
located at Sucat.
Drainage
Rivers and other tributaries collectively drain water into
Laguna de Bay. Most of these river ways mark the
natural boundary of the separation of each barangay.
Flood Control and Drainage Facilities Water
Supply
Muntinlupa is not included in the list of flood-prone
areas released by MMDA despite its proximity to
Laguna de Bay. It’s one of the cleanest cities in Manila
and is one of the first municipalities to implement a ban
on the usage of plastic and styrofoam products.
Moreover, the city has been dedicated to ensuring that
its waterways remain open by being the first in the
metro to issue a citywide ban on the use of styrofoam
and plastic products.
Solid Waste Management
The disposal facility being utilized by the city is at
Rodriguez Sanitary Landfill (SLF). The Rodriguez SLF
is a solid, non-hazardous waste disposal facility
located in Rizal. Rodriguez is approximately 50
kilometers northeast of Metro Manila.
2.3 Micro Site Analysis: The Site and its Immediate
Environs
Total Lot Area: 44,109 square meters
Type of Lot: Corner Lot
Natural Environmental and Physical Factors
The lot size exceeds more than the suggested
minimum lot size requirement set in the national
building code. The hospital will be located in the heart
of the plush green and relaxing environment of
Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. The Barangay
Alabang is the most commercialized barangay in the
City of Muntinlupa. With Filinvest Corporate City inside,
and its close proximity to the Alabang Commercial
Centre and Madrigal Park, it is expected to be the
backbone of the City’s economic development. (Refer
to Appendix page 13)
"360 Eco-loop" is Filinvest City's fully integrated
electric-powered public transport system operated by
Filinvest as the main mode of transportation around the
244-hectare Filinvest City, Muntinlupa.
Very gently sloping or undulating with gradients
ranging from 2.5% - 5.0% covers 29.96% of the City’s
land area and is found in portions of Alabang. Another
portion is characterized by gently sloping lands with
steeper gradients ranging from 5.0% - 10.0%
composing about 19.50% of the city’s land area.
It also has a 30% existing vegetation. From October to
March, prevailing winds blow easterly while the
remaining months have winds blowing westerly. (Refer
to Appendix Page 14)
Legal, Institutional, Administrative and Aesthetic
Factor
The lot is a C-3 zoning classification within a Central
Business District and present/future zoning permits
skyscraper or no zoning restrictions exist.
The site perfectly relates with the adjacent land use
and surrounding context. The location shall fuel the
City’s development in its goal of becoming the
premiere city of the 21st Century.
Socio-Economic and Cultural Factors
The site is in a 1st class highly urbanized city in Metro
Manila. It has a potential for local and international
business sectors and agencies, tourism development,
job opportunities and rationalized residential planning.
The site is within a reasonable walking distance from
the main road. It also has existing pedestrian access
that is suitable for ¼ kilometer travel and has existing
traffic control system.
The Hospital is strategically located near some of the
country’s most affluent residential areas. It is only 10
kilometers from Makati City, adjacent to SLEX and 20
minutes from the international and domestic airport. It
is easily accessible to-and-from the provinces of
Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and all points of Metro
Manila via the National Highway and the South Luzon
Expressway and Skyway.
2.4 Initial Schematic Design