Project Description:

In a place full of buildings, one can suffocate.

Manila have been under the power of a world which counts grand buildings as the boss of progress and
development, almost, if not yet fully, neglecting the vitality of nature.

With people seemingly cramped up in such system of life in the city, there must be Illumination present at the
end of the tunnel, with hues of green and blue. Add the breeze.

Illumina is a promenade project located in Manila Bay walk, Philippines, known for its sunset views and sadly,
nothing more. The designers’ goal is to (1) bring life in the two-kilometer space, (2) connect people to the
environment. And (3) to show people the essence of natural energy usage in our current world.

The layout of the plan boasts a centerpiece and mirrored spaces on each side.

The designers deemed it necessary to plan a layout that caters to people easily; entertaining a symmetrical
plan with a centerpiece as its focal point, reason being that symmetry unifies various elements no matter how
stretched the space is. A space can still be easily understood as a part of the whole. In the promenade, it is
used to ultimately give away the pathway from a space to another.

Several design concepts included:

Golden Sun as the main concept, inspiring the design by highlighting the use of energy generating technology
throughout the promenade while also providing electricity to the streets of Roxas Blvd. And alike the Golden
sun, Illumina aims to provide power and light to the streets and people’s eyes.

The team also considered biomimicry in the layout of the promenade and in form of the structures, mirroring
the biological presence of the bay.

Viewing deck, inspired by the

Centerpiece, inspired by
Chomis Gunting’s fin, an abundant
Gazebo plan Manila being known as the
specie of fish in Manila Bay
Pearl of the Orient.

Research:

The team included innovations that would help the promenade function in an eco-friendlier way, such
innovations are:

Wells turbine (fig. 1) - These hydroelectric turbines produce natural energy by wave energy capture
using oscillating water column principle.

Solar panels (fig. 2) – More people are using solar panels and for a good reason: a good alternative
energy resource, converting sunlight into electricity. There are several manufacturers of solar panels in
the Philippines, most notably, the Filipino-owned company, ISO 14001 certified, SPMMC. The team
installed panels atop roofs of structures in the promenade, mainly the MRF, Electrical, and pop-up stores
in the Market Area.

AeReus glass (fig. 3) – Invented by a Filipino student, is a glass that makes use of the solar energy and
converts it to electricity. These are used as roofs on the walkways.

Figure 1 Figure 2
Figure 3