Pontifical and Royal

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS  

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
España, Manila

Third Year, Second Semester 2020-2021

Architectural Interiors – Plate No. 1

Marawi Cathedral Interiors

TIMELINE:
Launching Date: January 21-30, 2021
Initial Grading Date: February 1-16, 2021
Final Submission (of revisions): February 8-13, 2021
Mode of Presentation: Individual, open presentation on printable A3 size paper

INTRODUCTION
As this year of our Lord 2021 marks the five hundredth year of the Catholic Faith in the
Philippines, our Design Competition for this year celebrates our Filipino faith and devotion. Last
September 2019, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) established that
the theme for the momentous 500th-year celebration would be “Gifted to Give”, taken from
Matthew’s Gospel (10:8). For the first plate of Architectural Interiors, we shall be aligned with
your AD6 competition plate entitled: “Redesigning the Church of Marawi City”.

To rebuild one of the significant structures destroyed during the Battle of Marawi in
Lanao del Sur, a set of Project Objectives were laid out. The exterior of your proposal would
need to be respectful of the Muslim-centered built environment whilst giving Catholic religious
groups in the area a safe space to practice catholic rites and rituals.

If the religious architecture of non-Muslim in a predominantly Muslim territory is less

conspicuous in terms of iconography, scale, and location, how would you design the
architectural interiors of your proposal? Would it somehow compensate the discreet exteriors
with a very Catholic interior, or would you try to adapt ideas and motifs?

PROJECT OBJECTIVES ​(based on AD6 Competition Plate)

1. To redesign the New Catholic Church of Marawi that highlights a unique sense of
Catholic (Christian) Religion while preserving religious respect in a Muslim-centered built
environment,
2. To re-establish and revitalize the historical role and character of the former “St. Mary’s
Church” by proposing a design that showcases the spirit and solidarity amongst the
citizens of Marawi,
3. To promote a development that shows peaceful coexistence between the Muslim and
Catholic religious groups, thereby establishing contiguity and visual-cultural closeness
between the two,

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 4. To design a structure that highly considers the “blast-resistant design principles” and
mitigate damages to both structure and its inhabitants during a terrorist assault,
5. To establish the New Marawi Cathedral as one of the critical landmarks in providing
citizens from the displaced communities a positive symbol for the future. A place of faith,
stability, tradition, and identity.

PLATE SCOPE, PARAMETERS, AND LIMITATIONS

● Aligning of the first plate was made to create a deeper learning experience in Church
architecture. Since AI Plate No. 1 submission happens before AD6 submission dates,
the floor plan and exterior should be an iteration (if not the final iteration) of what the
student shall be submitting for AD6 Competition Plate.
o Should there be a need for initial measurements for the approval of your scheme,
the suggested interior measurements for the apsidal area could be the following:
width at 7.70 meters, depth at 7.70 meters, and height at 9.50 meters.
● Significant research should be done regarding the proper treatment of iconographies
and spaces within a Catholic church.

OUTPUT REQUIREMENTS
Item Numbers 1-3 shall be scaled to fit A3-sized paper
1. Concept Sheet
2. Mood Board
3. Detailed Floor Plan ​( appropriate scale that fits / maximizes an A3-sized paper)
a. Proper graphical representation of walls, doors, columns, windows, stairs, and
ramps (showing cuts, gradation, and arrow indicator)
b. Furniture, Fixture, and Equipment layout
c. Floor Pattern Layout (can be separated in representation)
4. 2 Interior Perspectives
a. A view of the Sanctuary and altar
b. A view of the Nave towards the Narthex/ Entry
5. Front Elevation of the Proposed Church ​(for reference of the interiors)

References:
Fernandez, R. & Noche, M. (2020). ​Among the Ruins: Redesigning the Church of Marawi City.
University of Santo Tomas. Unpublished Competition Plate Brief

Prepared by:
AR. RACHELLE LUCIO
Faculty Member
rblucio@ust.edu.ph

AR. ANDREA R.N. AMADOR

Architectural Design 1-4 & AI Coordinator
anamador@ust.edu.ph

AR. MANUEL MAXIMO L.C. NOCHE

Architectural Design Overall Chair
mlnoche@ust.edu.ph

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