DESIGN CONCEPT

THE PROPOSED DESIGN CONCEPT FOR THE JAPAN EMBASSY IN CEBU CITY IS INSPIRED BY A HARMONIOUS BLEND OF CULTURAL SYMBOLISM,
ARCHITECTURAL STYLES, AND ELEMENTAL PRINCIPLES. SITUATED ON A 97,621 SQM CORNER LOT AMIDST A MIX OF COMMERCIAL AND
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, THE EMBASSY AIMS TO CREATE A SEAMLESS INTEGRATION WITH ITS SURROUNDINGS.

THE MAIN CHANCERY BUILDING, SYMBOLIZING AUTHORITY AND PROTECTION, DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE SHAPE OF A KATANA, THE
REVERED JAPANESE SWORD. INCORPORATING ELEMENTS OF BRUTALISM AND MODERN JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE, THE DESIGN EMPHASIZES
THE USE OF NATURAL MATERIALS LIKE WOOD AND CONCRETE. THE FAÇADE MAINTAINS A MINIMAL 30% OPENING, BALANCING SECURITY,
AESTHETICS, AND THE INTAKE OF NATURAL LIGHT.
THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING FOR THE JAPAN AMBASSADOR TAKES INSPIRATION FROM JAPANESE FANS, WHICH SYMBOLIZES LIFE. REFLECTING
A SENSE OF PRIVACY, COMFORT, AND AESTHETIC APPEAL, THE DESIGN INCORPORATES ELEMENTS SUCH AS LANDSCAPED TERRACES, OPEN-
AIR SPACES, AND GARDENS, ENHANCING THE OVERALL RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE.

THE ORIENTATION OF THE FIVE ELEMENTS (WOOD, FIRE, EARTH, METAL, AND WATER) PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THE LAYOUT AND DESIGN OF THE
EMBASSY. THE MAIN BUILDING'S ENTRANCE FACES THE EAST (WOOD), WHILE OTHER ELEMENTS ARE POSITIONED ACCORDINGLY, WITH NORTH
(WATER), SOUTH (FIRE), WEST (METAL), AND NORTHEAST (EARTH). DESIGN ELEMENTS AND MATERIALS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH ELEMENT ARE
INCORPORATED TO ACHIEVE A BALANCED AND HARMONIOUS ENVIRONMENT.

SECURITY MEASURES ARE SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATED INTO THE DESIGN WITHOUT

COMPROMISING AESTHETICS. THE ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT CONVEYS A SENSE OF
SPIRITUALITY, AUTHORITY, AND ZEN AESTHETICS. WITHIN THE EMBASSY PREMISES, A
SERENE AND CONTEMPLATIVE ZEN GARDEN IS INCORPORATED, PROVIDING A TRANQUIL
SPACE FOR VISITORS AND STAFF TO FIND SOLACE.

COMFORT AND FUNCTIONALITY ARE PRIORITIZED THROUGH STRATEGIC ZONING OF EMBASSY

SPACES, CAREFULLY CONSIDERING PRIVACY, PUBLIC AREAS, AND LIMITED-ACCESS AREAS.
PUBLIC SPACES ARE CONVENIENTLY LOCATED NEAR THE RECEPTION AREA, ENSURING EASY
ACCESSIBILITY WHILE MAINTAINING PRIVACY FOR STAFF MEMBERS AND THE AMBASSADOR.
THE INCLUSION OF A CENTRAL ATRIUM AND THE UTILIZATION OF ZEN GARDENS INTRODUCE
AMPLE NATURAL LIGHT AND VENTILATION, COMPENSATING FOR THE MINIMAL OPENINGS IN
THE BUILDING'S FAÇADE.

IN SUMMARY, THIS ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN CONCEPT FOR THE JAPAN EMBASSY IN CEBU
CITY UNIFIES THE SYMBOLISM OF THE KATANA AND JAPANESE FANS, ALONG WITH THE
PRINCIPLES OF BRUTALISM AND MODERN JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE. THE RESULT IS A
DISTINCTIVE AND HARMONIOUS EMBASSY THAT REPRESENTS THE CULTURAL HERITAGE,
SECURITY NEEDS, AND ZEN AESTHETICS OF JAPAN.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

DESIGN CONSIDERATION " I DON'T BELIEVE ARCHITECTURE HAS TO

SPEAK TOO MUCH. IT SHOULD REMAIN
SILENT AND LET NATURE IN THE GUISE OF
SUNLIGHT AND WIND." - TADAO ANDAO

FIVE ELEMENTS ZEN SECURITY AESTHETIC COMFORTABILITY

FUNCTIONALITY DISASTER RESILIENT ACCESSIBILITY INCLUSIVITY

DESIGN STRATEGY
BRUTALIST BUILDINGS ARE CHARACTERISED BY THEIR
MASSIVE, MONOLITHIC AND 'BLOCKY' APPEARANCE
WITH A RIGID GEOMETRIC STYLE AND LARGE-SCALE
USE OF POURED CONCRETE.

BRUTALISM DESIGN

BLENDS THE TRADITIONAL JAPANESE AESTHETICS OF

SIMPLICITY AND PURITY WITH MODERNIST VALUES. IT
IS BASED ON THE USE OF MATERIALS LIKE GLASS,
REINFORCED CONCRETE, AND STEEL AND THE USE OF
MODERN CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY.
MODERN JAPANESE
ARCHITECTURE

THE LOCATION OF THE PRIVATE AND LIMITED SPACES

FAR FROM THE PUBLIC EYES AND ZONED ACCORDING
TO THEIR RELATIONSHIPS ENABLES PUBLIC SPACES TO
BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE WHILE
MORPHOLOGY
ENSURING THEIR SECURITY AND COMFORT.

SMOOTH LAYOUT
 AERIAL PREVIEW
SITE ANALYSIS
SITE LOCATION
IT IS SITUATED ON SOUTH ROAD PROPERTY, CEBU
CITY. A MAJOR ROAD AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
BORDER IT ON THE EAST AND SOUTH,
RESPECTIVELY.

SWOT ELECTRICAL AND

ANALYSIS WATER SOURCE
VECO- VISAYAN ELECTRIC COMPANY INC. IS THE SECOND-
HAS DIRECT ACCESS TO MORE THAN ONE ROAD OR
LARGEST ELECTRIC UTILITY IN THE PHILIPPINES. IT SERVES THE
S
RROW
GOOD SOIL FOR PLANTING CITIES OF CEBU, MANDAUE, TALISAY, AND NAGA, AND FOUR
LESS THAN 30 MINS FROM ITS NEAREST MIX-USED
Strengths RESIDENTIAL (FILINVEST CITY DE MARE), AND MUNICIPALITIES OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT PART OF METRO
COMMERCIAL (IL CORSO) CEBU - LILOAN, CONSOLACION, MINGLANILLA, AND SAN
FERNANDO. ITS FRANCHISE SERVICE COVERS AN AREA OF
ABOUT 674 KM2 WITH AN ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 1.73
NO RELATED SERVICES NEARBY MILLION.

W VEHICULAR NOISES
NOISES FROM NEIGHBORING RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL SPACES
MCWD - METRO CEBU WATER DISTRICT (MCWD) WAS
ESTABLISHED IN 1975 AS A GOVERNMENT-OWNED AND
Weaknesses
CONTROLLED CORPORATION TO SUPPLY WATER FOR THE 4
CITIES AND 4 TOWNS IN METROPOLITAN CEBU.

O CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT SOIL TYPE

Opportunities

T
NO BUS TOP
NOT ACCESSIBLE TO PUBLIC
Threats/Risk TRANSPORT
LIMESTONE SOIL CLAYEY SOILS
FAR FROM RESIDENTIAL

VEHICULAR
THE SITE

AMIHAN

NOISE FROM
ADJACENT MIX-USED

NOISE FROM
ADJACENT RROW

NOISE FROM
ADJACENT
COMMERCIAL BLDG
HABAGAT
 CHANCERY
SPACE MATRIX

RESDIDENTIAL
BUBBLE DIAGRAM

BUILDINGS ORIENTATION

HELIPORT

RESIDENTIAL

AUDITORIUM
GALLERY

CHANCERY
PRIVATE

LIMITED

PUBLIC
 RESIDENTIAL ( GROUND FLOOR)

RAMP STAIRS
EMERGENCY
EXIT

BREAKFAST ELEVATOR

QUARTERS
ROOM

ATRIUM
LIVING
STAIRS AREA
KITCHEN
BUBBLE DIAGRAM

HALLWAY
GUEST
ROOMS
DELIVERY
BAY DINING
FOYER
AREA
GARAGE
DROP-
OFF

RAMP STAIRS

RESIDENTIAL ( SECOND FLOOR)

EMERGENCY
BREAKFAST EXIT

CHILDRENS
ATRIUM
ROOM STAIRS
ELEVATOR
MASTER'S
BEDROO
M
HALLWAY

PRIVATE
LIBRARY/
LIMITED
STUDY FAMILY PUBLIC
ROOM AREA INDIRECT
DIRECT