THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF

YAP ANTON WAREHOUSE

I. Yap Anton Warehouse Background and History
II. Description of Surroundings and Existing Environmental Conditions
III. Adaptive Reuse
IV. Existing Adaptive Reuse Projects
V. Building Types Appropriate for the Yap Anton Warehouse
 I. Yap Anton Warehouse Background and History
Yap Anton Warehouse have columns that are embellished on top with neoclassical
elements and the date 1929. It is one of the few remaining warehouses that still carry their
construction date. Built by one of the richest Chinese traders of the American period, it also
carries the monogram, YA, in reference to its original owner, Yap Anton. The building’s
original owner, Yap Anton, constructed this grand edifice dedicated to commerce and trade
in 1929, exactly on the year the Great Depression, when the American stock market
collapsed and wreaked economic havoc throughout the world. This must have affected
somewhat its commercial viability, the Philippines being an American colony then. After
passing through various hands, the Ong Kin King family finally bought it in 1984. Its
current owners are the heirs of Ong Kin King, who during the heyday of this building were
just simple soap and candle makers in Plaridel.
The building’s entablatures carry distinct garlands and floral elements and moldings
reminiscent of the Cebu Capitol. The Yap Anton Warehouse, owing to its nature as a
storage area for cargoes from Pier 2 or 3 — which used to be adjacent to it before further
reclamations — is nevertheless unique in that it is the last of its kind in Cebu that is richly
embellished.
The Yap Anton Warehouse is a historic building located in Cebu City, Philippines. The
warehouse was built in the early 1900s by the Yap family, who were prominent Chinese
businessmen in the city.
The building was initially used as a storage facility for the Yap family's import-export
business. It was also used as a trading post for Chinese goods, such as silk, tea, and
porcelain, which were highly sought after by local and foreign buyers.
During World War II, the Yap Anton Warehouse served as a refuge for the Yap family and
their friends, who sought shelter from the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. The
building's sturdy concrete construction provided a safe haven for the occupants, and it
remained standing even as other buildings in the area were destroyed.
After the war, the Yap Anton Warehouse was converted into a commercial space, housing
various businesses such as a hardware store, a drugstore, and a tailor shop. In the 1970s, the
building was also used as a set for several Filipino movies.
Today, the Yap Anton Warehouse remains a prominent landmark in Cebu City. It has been
designated as a heritage site by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines,
recognizing its historical significance as a testament to the city's rich cultural heritage.
 II. Description of Surroundings and Existing Environmental Conditions
Areas and buildings nearby Yap Anton Warehouse:
-Stores
-Arlene’s Burger
-Ceniza Trading
-Rm Cargo Forwarder
-Sauro Gear Works Inc.
-Monumento Development Construction and Surveying
-Vipcor Service Center Corporation
-Cebu State College of Science and Technology
-Fast Cargo Cross Docking Facility
-HiSpeed Rebuilders Inc.
-Kyodai Enterprises
-Radyo Pilipinas DYMR 576 KhZ Cebu City
-Cebu Technological University Main Campus
-Tinago Sports Complex
-Health Center Barangay Tinago
-Angels Burger
-Fast Distribution Corporation
-Cebu Harbor Pilots Association
-Pier 3 Terminal Cebu Port
-Passenger Terminal
-Gabisan Shipping Lines Incorporated
-Aleson Shipping Lines
-Southern Pacific Transport
-Coast Guard Station Cebu
-Gabisan Shipping Lines Incorporated
-Roble Ticketing Office
-Medallion Transport Inc. Booking Office
-Specialized Bolt Center & Industrial Supply Inc
-Sagrada Familia
-CLM Dormitory
-LGC’s Pension House
-Sacris Machine Shop
-Vivant Warehouse
-VG Pension House
-The Green Pantry
-Commission on Audit Regional Office No. VII
-Dreamer Enterprise
-Aznar Shipping
-BDO Network Bank
-7/11 CTU
-Clean Day Laundry Services
-RedDoorz near Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
-HappyNest Hostel Cebu
-Toyota Cebu City Inc
-Light and Hope Overseas Placement Agency Inc.
-Jollibee-Plaza Independencia
-Cebu Sagrada Corazon Health Services Inc.
-Cebu Ace Maritime International Incorporated
-San Roque Elementary School
-HYW IT Distributor
-CERTC Complete Engineering Review and Training Center
-San Roque Barangay Hall
-RT Trading
-Cebu South Coastal Road Tunnel
-Candy’s Cargo Forwarder
-Pates Cargo Forwarder
-CEBECO Cebu City Office
-Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc.
-BFAR Regional Office No. VII
-Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Animal Industry
-Philippine Seafarers Union Cebu
-Oceanjet Ticketing Office-Cebu Port
Common and Critical Areas:
These are buildings or areas that are around the vicinity for more than once along with areas that
are considered vital in the consideration of the building type for the adaptive reuse of Yap Anton
Warehouse
-Trading -Pier and Sea
-Cargo Forwarder and Cargo Docking Facility
-Stores and Shops
-Machine Shops
-Building Materials Store
-Schools
-Health Services
-Pier Terminal
-Ticketing Offices
-Shipping Lines/Companies
-Residential Occupancies
-Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Offices
-Barangay Facilities (Sports Complex and Barangay Hall)
-Companies and Organizations
Yap Anton Warehouse

There are roads on the There are stains and Clean and improve
front, back, and side. writings on the wall which windows, doors,
Building is old but still looks would require repainting. sunshades, and metal
very functional and stable. elements of the building.
Lots of garbages and junk
that must be cleared out.

Photos of the Area

Area around the front side of the building
Area around the left side of the building
Areas around the back side of the building
Areas around the right side of the building
Building Condition
Front
Left
Back
Right
Analysis of Building Surroundings
The front side of the area is directly across a school and next to a wide road which can be taken into
consideration in the design process. The left side is near an extremely crowded area of residential houses and
stores that are also overloaded with the resident’s items, trash, and junk which are not ideal for a location
site of a building. Houses are side by side, almost seemingly attached next to each other. The area is very
polluted and is also assumed to have noise pollution problems due to the congested spaces. The back side is
less crowded with only stores or shops and commercial and industrial buildings nearby. The pier located on
the next street which is why shipping lines, cargo forwarders, and ticketing offices surround the areas near
the back side of the building. The building, therefore, is located very near to the pier and the sea which can
also be taken into consideration in the design process. On the right side, there are about four buildings
directly next to it which are across another crowded area of residential houses and stores. The problem with
the areas near the site location is that the residential areas tend to be extremely crowded, and buildings are
very close next to each other.
Analysis of Building Condition
Despite the building being structurally sound and seemingly strong enough considering its long history, the
façade is very worn out with stains, writings, old posters plastered on the wall, and paint peeled off
everywhere. The materials used are in poor condition. The metals used have corroded and stained the walls,
the wood are damaged and are rotting since they are very old. The roof on the sunshades have also been
torn and separated. The stone material used for the building are damaged with pieces chipped off and
broken. The walls and windows are filled with dirt and dust and some windows have missing wood pieces.
Another critical matter to point out is the amount of items, belongings, and junk piled up on the left side of
the building seemingly due to squatters inhabiting the area. Overall, the building is in poor condition but it
can be restored through repairs, material replacement, repainting, and cleaning without taking away its
original form.
 III. Adaptive Reuse
A rising architecture approach called “adaptive reuse” offers a way to breathe new life into
empty historic structures by converting them into something useful for the surrounding are,
like low-income housing, student housing, community centers, or mixed-use creative venues.
Adaptive reuse is a term that refers to the process of taking an existing structure and
updating or adapting it for a new use or purpose.
This type of construction often occurs when a building’s previous purpose becomes outdated
or even obsolete – for instance, a specific type of business or industry has moved out of a
region due to economic or technological reasons. The unique design of each structure for its
original purpose may require a knowledgeable project team to retrofit the existing structure
for the new life. The concept of an adaptive reuse is related to, yet different from a historic
preservation or restoration project. Many times, a historic restoration or preservation
involves restoring a building component or feature to its original condition. Certain agencies
and municipalities may provide tax credits and other incentives to historic preservation
projects, and there are also some limits and potentially, additional costs involved in a
historic restoration due to the regulations governing that a certain design aesthetic, feature
or building material be retained. On the other hand, a retrofit or adaptive reuse project
means to update a structure not to a previous iteration, but to a new design that will enable
the structure to be used in an entirely new way.
One common way to transform an outdated structure is to retrofit it into multi-family
housing or mixed-use spaces.
Why Is Adaptive Reuse Important?
Adaptive reuse is important for a community because it:
Maintains cultural heritage.
In communities with historic architecture, adaptive reuse is a form of historic preservation.
It restores culturally significant sites that would otherwise be left to decay or demolished to
make room for new buildings or parking lots.
Slows urban sprawl.
When builders search for new construction sites, they must often choose land further
outside of a city center since the land within a city is usually claimed by old buildings or
more expensive real estate. This fuels the process of “urban sprawl,” a term for the
unrestricted expansion of urban areas, contributing to air pollution and other
environmental impacts, dangerous traffic patterns, higher infrastructure costs, and social
isolation. Adaptive reuse offers a counter to urban sprawl.
Creates a new community beacon.
Adaptive reuse architecture is functional and often incredibly beautiful. For example, the
Tate Modern art gallery in London is housed in a building formerly known as the Bankside
Power Station, a decommissioned electricity plant. Taking an adaptive approach allowed
builders to create a unique and beautiful art gallery that is now a new cultural beacon in the
city.
What Are the Advantages of Adaptive Reuse?
Adaptive reuse is an excellent option for many building projects because it can:
Lower construction costs.
When compared to traditional building projects, adaptive reuse has several significant
financial advantages and cost savings. On the whole, adaptive reuse uses more labor than it
does building materials, and while material costs have skyrocketed in the last few decades,
labor costs have increased only slightly. Adaptive reuse also forgoes all demolition expenses,
which are often expensive and a significant portion of a construction budget. Local tax
incentives and federal historic tax credits for adaptive reuse of buildings ease budget
concerns for builders repurposing historic buildings.
Speeds up construction.
Building a new structure usually takes significantly longer than rehabbing an existing
building. Many spaces in an old building may be habitable after only minimal
refurbishment, so even if the project is still ongoing, owners can open parts of the building
for business.
Popular with the community.
Creative adaptive reuse projects are an incredibly popular option within communities
because people enjoy the historical preservation of significant buildings in their
neighborhood and new unique landmarks. If you’re a commercial builder, reusing an older
building can be a key factor in driving customer interest to your establishment, whether it’s
a restaurant, an apartment building, or a shopping mall.
How Does Adaptive Reuse Work?
Assess the building.
Hire a professional to assess the old structure to ensure it’s a good candidate for adaptive
reuse. It may be tempting to skip a formal analysis to save on costs, but moving forward
with an adaptive reuse project without adequately assessing the building can lead to
excessive hidden costs and even dangerous workplaces if the building isn’t structurally
sound. Along with the assessment, you should research local zoning laws to ensure your idea
is viable.
Survey the neighborhood.
While considering whether the building is the right fit for your project, you should also
survey the area around your location. Will the community be interested in the type of
building you’re planning? Consider pedestrian patterns, transportation options, and
surrounding homes and businesses before signing off on the project.
Determine the budget.
While adaptive reuse has lower costs than building from the ground up, it can be expensive.
You need to have a contractor estimate how much your project will cost, and then you can
determine whether or not those costs align with your ideal budget.
Hire the right team.
Adaptive reuse is not a DIY field—professionals will need to work on every facet of the
project. A restoration contractor and a design professional (preferably an architect or
architecture firm specializing in adaptive reuse) are essential in a restoration project. If your
project is focused on a historic building, you may want to consult a historic conservation
professional or even the local preservation office to determine if any of your changes harm
the historical integrity of the structure.
Create plans.
With your team, it’s time to create the official plans. During the planning process,
determine what elements you’ll reuse or replace, from the roof to the doors to the windows
to the walls. In the best adaptive reuse projects, every element that can be reused is reused
to respect the building’s historic features and materials (as well as any unique features).
During your design process, consult the building’s repair history to determine which areas
have been recently fixed or consistently degrade.
Begin construction.
Once plans are finalized, it’s time to begin construction. When working with an old building,
it’s essential to take special care to avoid damaging or destroying viable materials. Avoid
harsh surface treatments or haphazard demolition approaches—these can irreparably
damage parts of the building that you may want to be visible in the finished product.
 IV. Existing Adaptive Reuse Projects
Here are some examples of existing adaptive reuse projects in the Philippines that can be used as
reference for the design process:
National Museum of Fine Arts (Old Legislative Building into an Art Museum)

Along Padre Burgos Street heading southwest, the monumental Old Legislative Building is
presently the National Museum of Fine Arts. The building designed by Ralph Harrington
Doane, Antonio Mañalac Toledo and Juan M. Arellano was built between 1918-
1926. Doane with the assistance of Toledo, designed the building originally as the National
Library. The building began its construction in 1918, was delayed for lack of funds, and was
decided to become the Legislative Building. Arellano revised the plan by adding the fourth
floor and the chambers for legislators, changing the central façade and incorporating the
ornamentation and sculptural work.
Pérez Samanillo Building (Office Building into a Mixed-Use Commercial Building)
The First United Building, formerly known as Perez-Samanillo Building, is an Art Deco
building on Escolta Street in Binondo, Manila, Philippines. It was designed by Andres Luna
de San Pedro, the son of renowned painter Juan Luna, and was the tallest building in
Manila when it was completed in 1928. That same year, the building won the Best Décor
Award. The building was built for Spanish businessman Luis Perez Samanillo (related to
the owners of Hotel de Oriente in Binondo, he was killed during the Spanish Civil War) at
the time when Escolta was considered a financial center. The Syliangtengs made a conscious
effort to maintain the building through an “adaptive reuse” approach. On May 16, 2015, the
modest First United Building Community Museum was opened to reflect the colorful
history of Escolta through the story of the First United Building and of patriarch Sy Lian
Teng, an entrepreneur who ran Escolta’s (and Manila’s as well) premiere department store,
Berg’s.
The Henry Hotel Manila (Housing Complex for the U.S. military into a Hotel)

This boutique hotel in Pasay City used to be a housing complex for the U.S. military during
the 1940s. After World War II, the lot was purchased by a Chinese immigrant and
converted to an ancestral compound. Fast forward to the present time, it’s now The Henry
Hotel, with all 32 rooms spread out to five well-preserved houses. Most of the displayed art
pieces are also available for purchase. In light of preserving the old world charm of the place
and have more guests enjoy the serenity while appreciating the slowness of life amid the
bustling metropolis, Henry Hotel Manila sustains their hip vintage vibe as the charm that
keeps them renowned in the industry of hospitality.
 V. Building Types Appropriate for the Yap Anton Warehouse
The Yap Anton Warehouse in Cebu City can potentially be adapted for various uses,
depending on its location, size, and condition. Here are some possible building types that
can be considered for its adaptive reuse:
1. Mixed-use spaces development: The warehouse can be repurposed to accommodate
multiple uses such as retail, residential, and commercial spaces. The ground floor can
be converted into a retail space or a food hall, while the upper floors can be used for
offices or apartments. This type of development would cater to both the local and
tourist markets and could potentially create a bustling hub of activity near the sea.
2. Waterfront Market: With its proximity to the pier, the Yap Anton Warehouse could
be converted into a bustling marketplace selling fresh seafood and other local produce.
The market could be designed to attract both locals and tourists, with a range of food
stalls, artisanal shops, and other amenities that enhance the experience of being near
the sea.
3. Arts and cultural center: The warehouse can be transformed into a space for
exhibitions, concerts, and other cultural events. The large open floor area can be
utilized for art exhibits, while the mezzanine level can be used for small-scale
performances.
4. Creative Hub: Cebu City is a thriving hub of creativity, with a growing community of
artists, designers, and entrepreneurs. The warehouse could be transformed into a
creative hub that provides space for studios, workshops, and offices for art businesses
and creatives.
5. Office space: The warehouse can be converted into a co-working space for freelancers,
startups, and small businesses. The open floor plan can be divided into different
workstations, while the mezzanine level can be used for private offices.
6. Hotel or hostel: The warehouse can be transformed into a boutique hotel or a hostel.
The ground floor can be used for the lobby and restaurant, while the upper floors can
be converted into guest rooms.
7. Fitness center or sports complex: The warehouse can be converted into a gym or a
sports complex, with the large open floor area used for various types of fitness
activities. The mezzanine level can be used for yoga or Pilates classes.
8. Educational facility: The warehouse can be adapted for use as a school or training
center. The open floor area can be used for lectures or group activities, while the
mezzanine level can be used for private tutoring or small-group discussions.
 9. Food center- The Yap Anton Warehouse in Cebu could potentially be converted into
a food center that would serve as a hub for food-related activities such as food
production, distribution, and consumption. This could involve transforming the
warehouse into a space that includes commercial kitchens, storage facilities, food
retail areas, and dining spaces. Overall, the Yap Anton Warehouse has the potential
to be transformed into a vibrant food center that would promote local food systems,
support food entrepreneurs, and provide a space for the community to come together
around food.
10. Maritime Museum- The museum could feature exhibits on the seafaring traditions of
the region, including its long history of trade and commerce, its role in the Spanish
galleon trade, and its importance in the development of the Philippine maritime
industry. The museum could also showcase artifacts and memorabilia related to
Cebu's maritime history, such as navigational instruments, ship models, maps, and
historical documents. Interactive exhibits could allow visitors to experience what life
was like on board a ship, and to learn about the various skills and crafts associated
with seafaring.
11. Youth Hub- Turning the Yap Anton Warehouse in Cebu into a youth hub would
involve transforming the existing structure into a dynamic space that provides a
variety of activities and resources for young people in the community. This could
include a combination of recreational, educational, and cultural offerings, such as
sports facilities, arts and music programs, career development resources, and
community events. The hub could also serve as a gathering place for youth to
socialize and build a sense of community. To make it successful, it would be important
to involve young people in the planning and design process, ensuring that the hub
meets their needs and interests. Additionally, partnerships with local organizations
and businesses could help provide resources and support for programming and
activities. This is in consideration to the location of the warehouse which is across the
Cebu Technological University Main Campus.
These are just some of the many possible building types that can be used for the adaptive
reuse of the Yap Anton Warehouse in Cebu City.
Primary Ideas Taken Into Consideration:
1. Mixed-Use Commercial Spaces
2. Waterfront Market
3. Maritime Museum
4. Youth Hub
5. Food Center
6. Creative Hub