PACO RAILWAY STATION

urban regeneration of the old paco station

Paco Railway Station ■ 2
ABSTRACT
T
he aim of this study is to identify the cur-
rent situation of the Paco Railway Station
located across the Plaza Dilao and at the
end of the paper would suggests possible solution
to address the problems in the structure. The pa-
per were composed of three major parts. First, the
research work is primarily about the background/
history of the building, purpose of the structure,
and the natural characteristics of the site. Second,
project background includes the history of the
site, site analysis, user analysis, and architectural
style. Lastly, the architectural drawings or doc-
umentation. This includes the site development
plan, elevation, doors and window schedule, fab-
ric survey, morphology and mapping.
The conclusion at the end of the paper
would provide the recommended conservation
strategies based on the gathered information
about the station.
Paco Railway Station ■ 3

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................................... 2

OUR TEAM.............................................................................................................................................. 4

INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................... 5

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY........................................................................................................ 7

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY............................................................................................................. 8

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS................................................................................................................. 8

literature review........................................................................................................................................ 9
Paco Railway Station ■ 4

OUR TEAM
Paul Jay Noble
Group Leader
Layout Designer

jackie estaris
Group Member
Associate Editor/Researcher

Ezekiel Amiel roque

Group Member
Associate Editor/Researcher

Joseph adam galban

Group Member
Associate Editor/Researcher

Reina hyacinth
meneses
Group Member
Associate Editor/Researcher
Paco Railway Station ■ 5
INTRODUCTION
T
he Philippines has been home to a huge
diversity of culture and ethnicity thanks
to the great influences of its colonizers in
the past. The Philippines, being an archipelago,
was prone to exploration and co lonization back
then. In various forms, native Aetas, Malays, and
others came to the Philippines and founded the
first societies. Thus, with its spices and natural
wonders, it became a treasure to numerous influ-
ential countries including Spain, the United State
of America, and Japan. Almost anything, from
our culture, heritage, and even our way of life,
has been completely influenced because of these
realities.
There might be many divisive things left in our
country by the colonizers of the Philippines, but
we should also be grateful for several of the tre-
mendous things they had left us, especially reli-
gion and culture. Others might argue that we do
not have our very own identities. So, don’t we
have a true one? Yes, part of what we have been
now originated from them. Yet we are who we are
now through the mix of those things. Via them,
we have established our own name. The Philip-
pines really has a lot to say when talking about
pure heritage itself. Its history remains alive
through its diverse culture, despite the develop-
ment and modernization of its lands. From Ba-
tanes to Sulu, every one of its 7000 islands has
its own distinct culture. And this diversity and
Paco Railway Station ■ 6
variety should make us proud.
Unfortunately, some of our country’s great heri-
tage sites are taken for granted by us. The impor-
tance of these things in our identity as Filipinos
is not understood by others. Things related to our
culture are not prioritized even by the govern-
ment. Like this old train station, in the midst of
Paco, Manila, where people passing-by can only
marvel at the elaborately designed eagles perched
carved on the top of its columns, it is empty, as if
suspended in time.
The Philippine National Railways (PNR) station,
situated in front of Plaza Dilao, is in a state of
ruin, redemption only by the vivid graffiti with-
in its walls, a tribute to many unknown artists. It
is nothing but a shell of its previous glory today.
There was a need to create a proper structure to
welcome passengers, with a lot of traffic com-
ing into the station, which was situated in front
of Plaza Dilao, then a Japanese city. Not just its
history also its remarkable worthy of attention is
just one of those reason why we should have to
preserve it.
Now in our time last 2019, ArchiNEXT: HCG
Young Designers’ Competition where their year-
ly project concept is; ANYUHAY: An Adaptive
Reuse Toward Structural Rebirth. Where the aim
of the design competition is to preserve the Paco
Railway Station, that is operated by the Philippine
National Railways (PNR), initially constructed
around Plaza Dilao in 1915. And this action fuel
our burning desire to preserve this majestic work
of architecture. That not just the significant of it
beauty will be not for granted but also included
the importance of its used that can cooperate our
emerging transportation.
Paco Railway Station ■ 7
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
“
Heritage markers not only inform the pub-
lic about heritage structures’ importance to
Filipino history and culture. They also work
to shield these historic structures from destruc-
tion. This ensures that their appearance is closest
to how they appeared centuries ago. Being able to
experience them as such, the present generation
can now be linked to the previous generations,
which is one way by which cultural heritage can
truly be experienced. (Ar. Tantulco K. PhD.)”
The significant of the study will examine
and undergo a deep and careful analyzation and
understanding from its internal components to
its physical characteristics from it original state
to its current form that will create a new informa-
tion that will allow us to provide an Architectural
solution whether if it’s for Rehabilitation, Preser-
vation or Conservation. In furthermore, the proj-
ect will undergo in pursuit to:
• To create an understanding and appre-
ciation regarding to Heritage Structures and its
significance to the culture and heritage of us as a
Filipino.
• To provide and form from the informa-
tion and data that have been collected and ex-
press those in Architectural Drawings that might
help to the Preservation, Renovation, Conserva-
tion or Rehabilitation of the Proposed Project.
• To serve contributions in the community
and in Architecture Heritage Society for future
generations that wanted to discover and explore
about the importance and beauty of the Paco
Railway Station.
• All of the Architectural solutions that has
been generated will produce a conclusion and
recommendations that will benefit these;
o Researchers – To have a further examina-
tion that it needed for its external and internal
components that needed to be study.
o Architecture Students – To provide a
clear and sufficient amount of data for the miss-
ing parts of the proposed project that can’t be
easily found on the internet and to give a sense
of appreciation to the heritage structures in the
Philippines
o Architectural Heritage and Conservation
– To Provide information and Solution that can
be insightful and beneficial to the structure’s sig-
nificance to the Society.
Paco Railway Station ■ 8

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

T

o preserve, conserve and to make an adap-
tive reuse of the built – heritage of the old
Paco Train Station. The objective is to uti-
lize the old Paco Train Station into something
beneficial for the people residing manila, tourists
and to future generation through architectural
design solution and to give new identity.

• To strengthen our country’s identity

• To develop the present Paco into a human-cen-

tered community

• To form a new life for the old Paco station that

will last for a long term

• To boost the tourism in the Philippines that

helps our economic growth

• To support and sustain the needs of the pro- SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
posed development, user and community

• To create a place that will fight and protect the
area to pollution and fading sense of place
• To give new life and achieve adaptive reuse of
old Paco Train Station into a new place that will
help the community and the economy of Manila
T
his study aims to provide a Site Location, History, Political, Economic, Social, and Cultural
Aspects, Demographics, Physical Characteristics of Paco, Manila. Anything that we can collect
as much information to gather to have a specific meaning of a Historical value of an old place
Paco.
To have the important information about the Beyond the subject matters that does not involve or
having no sense in this topic with the story in line with types and characteristics of Paco, manila will
not be involve in this research.
Paco Railway Station ■ 9

literature review

The Old Paco Railway Station

Author: Universidad de Manila(UDM) Research
Date: August 15, 2015

T
he article discusses that the Paco railway
station have been a great help to travelers
until the Battle of Manila occur in Febru-
ary 1945. The place witnessed the defeat of the
Japanese forces in Manila.

The structure was partly demolished in 1996 by

a developer that started constructing a shopping
mall beside it. However, the demolition was not
completed due to cancellation of construction
of the said project. On the other hand, the Paco
Station’s facade was still intact and abandoned up
until now.

Our cultural heritage rely on how we recognize

the structure as important part of our history.
People who experienced to use the railway will
probably explained how they were able served
them by this station. Specially, tourist who used
this to travel between places during that time.
Paco Railway Station ■ 10

literature review
There’s Art Hidden Inside
This Abandoned Manila Rail-
way Station
Author: Nicai De Guzman
Date: March 1, 2019

T he historical Paco station stands silent in

the middle of Paco, which people can see
the greatness of the structure. Leaving them
unaware to the previous contribution of this
building to the people before World War II.

After 10 assaults and two days of fighting, the

station finally liberated on the morning of Feb-
ruary 10. It was strategic victory that led to the
recapture of the city, making the building a site
with historical signifance. Sadly, after decades of
deterioration, the station was partly demolished
in 1996 by a buyer who had plans to develop a
mall in its place. However, the said structure did
not pursue due to financial constraints.

According to the author, the Paco station was

currently in the state of decay, redeemed only by
some artist who made graffiti arts on the interior
walls of the building. Today, it reflects only the
shadow of its former glory.