CASE STUDY- ANALYSIS

PUBLIC BOOK-SHARING SPACES IN MANILA

The Bookstop Project PH and The Rada’s Public Book Box are two of Manila's current
well-known and nearest public book-sharing libraries. I took the opportunity to visit the actual
locations of public book-sharing libraries to learn more about them and to gather data and ideas.
The subsequent photos from each location will serve as a descriptive guide for the spaces it
represents:

The Book Stop Project PH

The Book Stop Project PH, which is situated in Plaza Roma Intramuros, Manila, is the closest
book-sharing library to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (can be found between the
popular Manila Cathedral and Palacio El Gobernador as landmarks). The public library is a
portable network that attracts significantly more foot traffic than a regular library does. The venues
are positioned all around the city. The Bookstop Project PH trying to reimagine the role of libraries
in a contemporary world where the internet has become the source of the largest collection of
books available to libraries and bookstores. Since then, it has continued to operate, offering
workshops to both young people and seniors so they can engage with this recreational stuff.

Bookstop Project PH (Intramuros, Manila) Bookstop Project PH (BGC, Taguiig)

Illustrations by WTA Architecture & Design Studio/ Spot.ph (2017)

CASE STUDY- ANALYSIS
PUBLIC BOOK-SHARING SPACES IN MANILA

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Intramuros Administration states that Beverly Locsin, Melissa Mae Tan, Arvin Pangilinan
and William Jr. Ti, principal architect of WTA Architecture + Design Studio, designed and created
the Bookstop Project PH. The art installation itself was first launched on April 23, 2016, at Ayala
Triangle. Incorporating the concept of a pre-owned book depository/sharing program, its
objectives were to draw in a general Filipino user base, interact with contemporary users, and—
above all—promote the habit of book reading, which is now uncommon among younger
generations due to digitalization. Because of the country's tropical climate, which is particularly
influenced by the hot, humid conditions in Intramuros, the pop-up library branch in Intramuros was
too corroded and tarnished. Despite this, it was still sufficiently durable because it was made of
steel and used metal. The park's present management, according to the streetsweeper, has been
neglecting it for so long that it is not well-maintained and does not value art as much as it should
(in terms of the importance of architecture and art installations such as these).

The following photos on the preceding pages show the current state of Bookstop Project PH, in
which I am supposed to deposit some of my pre-loved books.

ONE POINT PERSPECTIVE (FRONT & RIGHT SIDE ELEVATION)

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 BOOK STOP PROJECT PH
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

According to WTA Architecture & Design Studio, “Books

are eternal, stories are passed down from one generation
to the next, and stories are one of the greatest sources of
creativity and invention. This makes libraries essential to
the development of a more knowledgeable community and
a critical and active citizenry. How are libraries relevant
today? Are libraries front page news? How do we activate
our public spaces and make people value them more?
Should we reinvent the library or can the architecture be
evolved to make them more suitable for today’s societies?
The Book Stop Project refocuses on the core program of a library as a place for books and
reading, a space for human interaction, and a platform for learning. In place of a huge
monolithic building with an extensive collection, The Book Stop is a network of mobile spaces
spread across the city each with garnering far more foot traffic than the typical library. In a
modern society where no library or bookstore can beat the collection of books that are
available online, The Book Stop refrains from trying to reinvent the purpose of libraries. It
instead works on rethinking the physical architecture and the distribution system of libraries,
emphasizing casual serendipity and ease of access.”

Illustrations by WTA Architecture & Design Studio (Photo courtesy by Intramuros Administration)
Illustrations by WTA Architecture & Design Studio
 FRONT ELEVATION REAR ELEVATION

RIGHT SIDE ELEVATION LEFT SIDE ELEVATION

BOOKSHELVES ROOFING/CEILING

CLOSER LOOK UPON BOOKSHELVES PERSPECTIVE TO DETAILS

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CASE STUDY- ANALYSIS
PUBLIC BOOK-SHARING SPACES IN MANILA

AWARDS
The Book Stop was nominated as a World Building for 2016 and made a shortlist for the World
Architecture Festival in Berlin, where it also won two international honors for the Philippines in
2016: the Architizer Award in New York, where it received both the People's and the Jury's
awards. It was a 2018 Haligi ng Dangal Awards nominee. According to the jury, it even won the
prestigious 2018 German Prize Award Winner in the Excellent Communications Design
Architecture Category. This library on wheels is a contemporary, open structure that can be easily
built in busy places and was intended to function as a corridor. An excellent concept whose eye-
catching design piques people's interest and introduces them to books as a cultural asset.

THE AFTERMATH (2024)

“Awards and Accolades” by WTA Architecture & Design Studio

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 OBSERVATION
PUBLIC BOOK-SHARING SPACES IN MANILA
The resemblance of the Bookstop Project PH’s design philosophy and notion indicated was
also similar to the Midterm Plate Design Problem, in relevance, observing the particular
measurements and determining other introspections, if twenty individuals could fit in this kind of
art installation. Also, if two meters and fifty centimeters of average height are deemed enough for
a book-sharing public library facility such as this, application of Accessibility law for Persons with
Disabilities (PWD) for Universal Design consideration, questioning the possible flow of activities
The entire floor area of the art installation itself measures approximately 10 square meters, which
is already broad but insufficient for 20 people to enter.
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147.8 in (3.75 m) × 107.5 in ( 2.73 m)

A total area of 10.2375 sqm (10.24 sqm)

With gratitude to Kuya Guard and Manong Streetsweeper, who kindly assisted me in taking
measurements of the art installation, they thought I was going to restore it. Perhaps they assumed
I would donate a fund because UST students have previously donated to the Intramuros
administration, as they have mentioned.
OPERATIONS
DIFFERENT PUBLIC BOOK-SHARING SPACES IN MANILA

Internet research revealed that the Book Stop Project PH may have opted out of activities in 2022
or 2023 since the timestamps for their last statement or active post on their two social media
accounts—especially on Facebook—was still made on May 5, 2023, and on Instagram, it was
made on April 1, 2022. As evidence, consider the following snippets from their Instagram and
Facebook accounts:

Source from The Book Stop Project (@thebookstopph)

CASE STUDY- ANALYSIS
PUBLIC BOOK-SHARING SPACES IN MANILA

The Public Book-Box

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CONCEPT
The Public Book Box, which is located in the Entrance of Union Church of Manila at Rada St.
Legaspi Village, Makati, (can be found along Greenbelt and Legazpi Active Park as landmarks),
was established just recently the year 2023. Doctor Who's renowned TARDIS, which stands for
Time and Relative Dimensions in Space according to BBC UK (2014), from which the Public
Book Box was inspired. The British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its several
spin-offs feature a fictitious device known as the TARDIS, which is essentially a spacecraft and
time machine hybrid. In keeping with the TARDIS theme, this new Little Free Library branch is a
full-size copy of the famous blue police box on the exterior, but it's packed with much more within.
It is now known as "The Public Book Box" and is stocked with free books that anybody can take
as they choose; living the philosophy, “Take a book, and leave a book.”

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The women's ministry of Union Church of Manila first reached out to the foreign community
through the library. Volunteer women from the community, both members and non-members of
the church, staffed it. It used to be closed on Sundays and wasn't reserved exclusively as a
church library. The women who oversaw the library in the middle of the 1980s opened it on
Sundays a couple of times a month in an effort to increase churchgoers' access to it. It was well
received and productive. August 10, 2003, marked the dedication of the library.
 The Public Book-Box
OBSERVATIONS
Upon wandering around I tried to find other existing public-depository libraries as I really
wanted to try depositing the following decluttered books I brought, and luckily, I came across a
new pop-up library in Manila called Public Book Box. These were inspired by the TARDIS of the
“Doctor Who” television series, similar to a telephone booth-like structure. From what I observed,
most of the books deposited there were Christian, biblical, or religious in nature. Random
bystanders are among the target users because of its close proximity to the church.

Nonetheless, it is permissible to deposit random publications, such as outdated reference books

and instructional materials. There are National Geographic books, encyclopedias, and children’s
books for ages 3 and up. My mistake was that I donated various books with seemingly strange
genres and titles, some of which contained apostasy content (specifically the Fallen book).
Remember that you should always be selective and sensitive about the books you donate to
public sharing boxes such as these. It also features a bowl of God's word next to a very
considerate indication of prayer requests. I received two complimentary New Testament Bibles in
exchange for the books that I had deposited, which reminded me of what I should have given Sr.
Maxillean from the Missionaries of Charity (Tayuman Orphanage) as a Christmas present, as I
promised that I would come back to the actual site. With a length of 3.9 meters (120 cm), a width
of 0.5 meters (50 cm), and a four-layered shelf, the public book box has dimensions of roughly 6
feet tall.
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The Public Book-Box
PHOTODOCUMENTATIONS
The Public Book Box was just newly
established in 2023 and managed by the Union
Church Manila - The Library. Perfectly, a new
existing must-visit book library to stop by
specially for the bookworms.

Source from ucmlibrary.com

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They also offer services online, such as a

search tool to find books in their library,
pickup service, returned books drop box
inquiries and such. Check the corresponding
image attached (right side):
References
Aranaz, A. (2022, May 12). The Book Stop Project: Creating Public Spaces as Platforms for
Cultural Resilience. BluPrint. https://bluprint-onemega.com/the-book-stop-project-creating-public-
spaces-as-platforms-for-cultural-resilience/

BBC UK. (n.d.). The TARDIS. BBC. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5Dp7g7b0dSVhD2TM1xNlf7c/the-tardis

De la Cruz, C. (2017). Your Favorite Library Is on One of the Metro’s Busiest Streets. SPOT.PH.
https://www.spot.ph/arts-culture/the-latest-arts-culture/71033/the-book-stop-project-bonifacio-
global-city-a00171-20170807

German Design Award. (n.d). The Book Stop Project - Winner - Architecture - German Design
Award. German-Design-Award.com. https://www.german-design-award.com/en/the-
winners/gallery/detail/16321-the-book-stop-project.html

Intramuros Administration. (2015). Book Stop Project Intramuros | Intramuros Administration.

Intramuros.gov.ph. https://intramuros.gov.ph/bookstop/

‌ POT.ph. (2017, June 5). The Book Stop Project: Everyone’s Favorite Library Is Back With a
S
Cool New Look. WTA. https://wtadesignstudio.com/the-book-stop-project-everyones-favorite-
library-is-back-with-a-cool-new-look/

WTA | Architecture + Design Studio. (2019, December 6). The Book Stop Project - WTA. WTA.
https://wtadesignstudio.com/the-book-stop-project/

Union Church of Manila | The Library. (n.d.). The Library at UCM. The Library at UCM; The
Library at UCM. Retrieved January 2, 2024, from https://ucmlibrary.com/