Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
AR 223 (DESIGN 04)
SPACE PLANNING 1
Second Semester, A. Y. 2023-2024

Esquisse No. 2
Title: Public Plaza
Submission: March 1, 2023
* Late submission will have deduction based on how late the esquisse is submitted.

Design Brief Description:

A public plaza is a community amenity that serves a variety of users

including building tenants and visitors and members of the public. An
open space available for civic purposes and commercial activities and
usually attached to an important building.

Public plazas can play an important role for a community. They often
serve as a symbol for a community’s identity and can act as a city or
town’s “living room,” where people gather for special events and
everyday social interaction. Public plazas can also be an economic
catalyst that attracts visitors and new businesses to a community.

Qualities Of Public Plaza:

• Should be accessible.

• Should be comfortable.

• Have pleasant imagery.

• Should have engaging spaces for different kinds of activities.

• Should be sociable.

Project Context:

The proposed project is located at Silay City, Negros Occidental

Principles Of Design

1. IMAGE AND IDENTITY

Historically, squares or plazas were the center of communities, and

they traditionally helped shape the identity of entire cities.
Sometimes a fountain or landmark was used to give the square a strong
image.

Contact No. (0922) 827-9122

Transforming Communities through Science and Technology (0933) 824-0978
Email: architecture@neust.edu.ph
www.neust.edu.ph
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
2. ATTRACTIONS AND DESTINATIONS

Any great square has a variety of smaller "places" within it to appeal

to various people. These can include outdoor cafés, fountains,
sculpture, etc. These attractions don't need to be big to make the
square a success. In fact, some of the best civic squares have numerous
small attractions such as a vendor cart or playground that, when put
together, draw people throughout the day.

3. AMENITIES

A square/plaza should feature amenities that make it comfortable for

people to use. A bench or waste receptacle in just the right location
can make a big difference in how people choose to use a place. Lighting
can strengthen a square's identity while highlighting specific
activities, entrances, or pathways. Public art can be a great magnet
for children of all ages to come together. Whether temporary or
permanent, a good amenity will help establish a convivial setting for
social interaction.

4. FLEXIBLE DESIGN

A square/plaza should feature amenities that make it comfortable for

people to use. A bench or waste receptacle in just the right location
can make a big difference in how people choose to use a place. Lighting
can strengthen a square's identity while highlighting specific
activities, entrances, or pathways. Public art can be a great magnet
for children of all ages to come together. Whether temporary or
permanent, a good amenity will help establish a convivial setting for
social interaction.

5. SEASONAL STRATEGY

A successful square/plaza can't flourish with just one design or

management strategy. Great squares such as Bryant Park, the plazas of
Rockefeller Center, change with the seasons. Skating rinks, outdoor
cafés, markets, horticulture displays, art and sculpture help adapt our
use of the space from one season to the next.

6. ACCESSIBILITY

To be successful, a square needs to be easy to get to. The best squares

are always easily accessible by foot: Surrounding streets are narrow;
crosswalks are well marked; lights are timed for pedestrians, not
vehicles; traffic moves slowly; and transit stops are located nearby. A
square surrounded by lanes of fast-moving traffic will be cut off from
pedestrians and deprived of its most essential element: people.

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE STANDARDS

ASSEMBLY STRUCTURES

Assembly refers to any structure designed to accommodate and support

combined activities of large congregations of end-users.

Contact No. (0922) 827-9122

Transforming Communities through Science and Technology (0933) 824-0978
Email: architecture@neust.edu.ph
www.neust.edu.ph
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATIONS

Public plaza can be categorized in,

GROUP E: BUSINESS AND MERCANTILE

DIVISION E-3 under accessory use such as parks, recreations and

entertainment buildings.

Minimum Setbacks

General Design Requirements

Land-Use Zoning

Planning Considerations

1. LOCATION

Where a plaza or small park is located has a definite impact on its

level of activity. Ideally, the public space should be “where the
action is” - in other words, close to popular destinations, busy
businesses, or attractive activities. A good location will draw people
into a small park or plaza, which in term will make them feel safe and
comfortable being there.

2. SEATING

Parks and plazas are great places to meet and talk, so providing
benches or some other type of seating is essential.

3. PATHWALKS

Public plazas should encourage walkability. Creative walkways are the

current trend nowadays when it comes to public space design.

4. NATURE LANDSCAPING

While there may be a few examples of good public spaces without it,
most successful small parks and plazas have some natural landscaping
(usually deciduous trees and shrubs). It doesn’t necessarily have to be
a large amount, but such greenery provides shade during warmer seasons
and a resting spot or even habitat for wildlife.

5. LIGHTING

Sunlight and man-made lighting make a space feel more inviting,

comfortable, and safe. Sunlight also provides warmth, while man-made
lighting illuminates gathering places after the sun goes down. Lighting
is also an important factor in creating a safe and more crime-free
environment.

6. WATER FEATURES

Fountains have traditionally been a feature of parks, both big and

small. In more recent times, the classic fountain has been replaced by
interactive water features, which provide a pleasing sound and allow
people to cool off during hot weather.

Contact No. (0922) 827-9122

Transforming Communities through Science and Technology (0933) 824-0978
Email: architecture@neust.edu.ph
www.neust.edu.ph
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
7. Public Art

Pieces of public art can enliven a space, both aesthetically and as a

conversation starter. Public art can be functional, or just fun and
inviting.

8. Playgrounds/Equipment

This is important for some types of plazas, such as those that are
heavily visited by children or lunchtime visitors. The presence of
children is a good indicator of how welcoming a public park or plaza
actually is, so having facilities that cater to them makes good sense.
And recreational facilities that cater to “young at heart” adults, such
as giant chess boards, ping pong tables, and foosball tables are
becoming increasingly popular.

9. Entertainment

Scheduling a program of activities, such as a weekly farmers market or

a concert series, can entice people to a public space.

10. Food Banks

Provision of food outlets/food carts is also a vital addition since

food is an essential in public places.

11. OTHERS

Other features that are nice to have include an inviting entrance to

the space, delineation of the park or plaza’s boundaries (such as short
plantings, short fences, or differentiated pavement materials),
protection from the elements, and adjacent buildings that provide a
sense of enclosure to the public space. Also, biking lanes, jogging
lanes and other areas that can be used for exercise.

Esquisse 1.2: Schematic Design Phase

Tasks:

1. Thorough site analysis

a. Show all elements of SITE ANALYSIS. MACRO, MICRO TO ENVIRONMENTAL

ANALYSIS. Layer your elements in your drawing paper manually draw
the site and do the site analysis and separate the visual elements
in the analysis. provide conclusion and design strategies.
b. Apply proper site analysis and data gathering techniques.

2. Architectural programming. Add additional pages if needed:

a. Show the computation of development controls: AMBF, TOSL, PSO, MACA,

Parking Provisions, BHL, ISA, USA, etc.
b. Thorough architectural programming. All Space requirements should
be reflected in the programming. Space requirements will be
determined from your research and design brief.
c. Include your conclusion and discuss your summary

Contact No. (0922) 827-9122

Transforming Communities through Science and Technology (0933) 824-0978
Email: architecture@neust.edu.ph
www.neust.edu.ph
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
3. Design Parti and Diagrams (A3 size paper add additional page if needed)

a. Translate your architectural programming into initial layout that

will manifest in your concept diagram
b. All Space requirements included in architectural programming should
be included in the diagram. Space requirements will be determined
from your research and design brief.
c. Illustrate how you formulate your concepts and innovations through
a series of design parti and diagrams.

Notes:

1. Submission is in f2f set up manual submission of plates.

2. Class code in the lower right of the page.
3. For this output you will be submitting a 5-Page A3 size paper ONLY
(vellum or watercolor paper type as long as you cut it in an A3 size)
4. All items should be done in A3-Size Paper. Proper layout and drawing
compositions should be determined by the student.
5. Also include “Citations” and “Image source (if any).”
6. Add bibliography in APA format.
7. Can be done in Freehand Drawings, remember to incorporate your class
code in the lower-right corner of your presentation board. Apply the
refined presentation techniques honed during your studies in your
previous Design subjects, Visual Tech 1 and Graphics 1.
8. Since all of the texts are supposed to be manually written, Standard
font size should be 5mm-10mm font size of titles (or bigger depending
on your presentation style) and 3mm font size for normal written
details.
9. ALL DETAILS SHALL BE MANUALLY DRAWN AND MANUALLY WRITTEN ONLY NO
DIGITIZED WORK FOR THIS ESQUISSE 1.2

Esquisse 1.3: Design Development Phase And Construction Document Phase

Tasks:

1. Comprehensive site development plan/master plan/Plan on site (Page 1)

a. Annotate your master plan.
b. Any convenient scale

2. Detailed Site section. (Page 2)

a. Cut through the stairs or any part of the site that illustrates
difference and transition in elevation.
b. Use proper line weights.
c. Annotate your section.
d. Show the existing lot profile and modified landforms.
e. Show spot details for your innovations, concepts and passive cooling
techniques.
f. Show 1 site section only. Show the configuration of structure
within the site.
g. blow-up details-any convenient scale

3. Site Elevation. (Page 3)

a. Show 1 site elevation only. Show the configuration of structure

within the site.

Contact No. (0922) 827-9122

Transforming Communities through Science and Technology (0933) 824-0978
Email: architecture@neust.edu.ph
www.neust.edu.ph
 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
4. Perspective (Page 4)

a. Minimum 4 exterior perspective. Showing the structures and site

features
b. 1 Site Perspective or 1 Aerial Perspective

Notes:

1. Submission is in f2f set up manual submission of plates

2. Class code in the lower right of the page.
3. For this output you will be submitting a 4-Page A3 size paper ONLY
(vellum or watercolor paper type as long as you cut it in an A3 size)
4. All items should be done in A3-Size Paper. Proper layout and drawing
compositions should be determined by the student.
5. Also include “Citations” and “Image source (if any).”
6. Add bibliography in APA format.
7. Must be done in detail using your drafting tools, remember to
incorporate your class code in the lower-right corner of your
presentation board. Apply the refined presentation techniques honed
during your studies in your previous Design subjects, Visual Tech 1
and Graphics 1.
8. Since all of the texts are supposed to be manually written, Standard
font size should be 5mm-10mm font size of titles (or bigger depending
on your presentation style) and 3mm font size for normal written
details.
9. ALL DETAILS SHALL BE MANUALLY DRAWN AND MANUALLY WRITTEN ONLY NO
DIGITIZED WORK FOR THIS ESQUISSE 1.3

Prepared by:
Ar. Roxanne D. Oreta
Instructor I

Contact No. (0922) 827-9122

Transforming Communities through Science and Technology (0933) 824-0978
Email: architecture@neust.edu.ph
www.neust.edu.ph