Ian Fulgar.

Project Tag: Commercial

  • Mars Ravelo Komiks Museum

    Mars Ravelo Komiks Museum

    This innovative museum design serves as a heartfelt tribute to a beloved Filipino komik graphic novelist, celebrating their significant contribution to the world of graphic storytelling. The architecture draws inspiration from the unique properties of paper, reflecting its flexibility and adaptability. The gallery cores are characterized by dynamic geometric forms that not only create an engaging visual experience but also seamlessly blend with the undulating landscape of Tagaytay. This thoughtful integration enhances the surroundings, allowing the museum to sit naturally within the rolling terrain while inviting visitors to explore the vibrant world of Filipino illustration and writing in a setting that is both inspiring and reflective of the local culture.

    Project Name: Mars Ravelo Museum
    Location: Brgy. Neogan, Tagaytay City
    Site Area: 21,000 sqm
    Type: Museum, Institutional

    For decades, komiks and animations have been considered an integral part of everyone’s childhood, and our studio has developed these into a memorable, sophisticated architectural form.

    Comic museum design as tribute to Mars Ravelo by best modern Filipino architect Ian Fulgar.
    The design of the comic museum is a heartfelt tribute to Mars Ravelo, who is celebrated as the first Filipino graphic novelist. This museum aims to honor his significant contributions to the world of comics and storytelling in the Philippines. Through its innovative architecture and carefully curated exhibits, the museum will showcase Ravelo’s iconic works and highlight the impact he has had on Filipino culture and the comic book industry. By recognizing his legacy, the museum aims to inspire a new generation of artists and writers, ensuring that his influence endures for years to come.

    The initiative for the Mars Ravelo Museum, a tribute to a well-loved Filipino komiks graphic novelist, creates a platform that unites the worlds of art and entertainment into a single architectural space. By utilizing one of the comic’s most essential materials, paper, as the conceptual force behind the museum design, it serves as the physical channel to embody fantasy, animation, and our childhood.

    Paired with the undulating terrains of Tagaytay City, this is where 2D animations scribbled on paper come alive. Carefully crafted to evoke a childlike experience, the site allows visitors to hop gleefully from indoor to outdoor, then back to the museum’s indoor curiosities. The property is divided into two main zones, the main building and the museum premises, connected by a 445-sqm pedestrian paved area.

    The minimal footprint of the buildings is designed to fit the site topography, while also allowing for more outdoor green spaces. Upon arrival, visitors pass through a conditional corridor that transitions from reality into a thrilling quest of folklore, superheroes, and villains fueled by the endless imagination and creative expression of our own.

    The architectural forms of the museum cores are inspired by the flexibility of paper.
    The architectural design of the museum showcases forms that are inspired by the flexibility and versatility of paper. This unique approach reflects the transformative qualities of paper, allowing the structures to embody fluidity and creativity. By integrating these elements into the museum’s design, we create an inviting space that encourages exploration and interaction, making the visitor experience both engaging and memorable.

    The museum façade is adorned with a subdued relief of white insulated panels and vertically louvered walls, perfectly capturing its main design imagery of crisp paper pages. Its monochromatic white facade piques the curiosity of its visitors before eventually welcoming them into a world of fantasy. Galleries commemorating each renowned hero and villain are distributed in the museum’s three main cores. Each of the cores’ irregular shapes allows for unique and versatile exhibitions. The “Hall of Heroes” is presented in a chronological line that starts with the lobby, the multimedia room, and the “Tunnel of Villains.”

    The two remaining cores unfold into a spacious gallery with a covered lanai partitioned by curtain glass. Unifying the three museum cores is a circular courtyard surrounding a stage, a monument, and an amphitheater.

    Transporting visitors to the fantasy world through the conditioning corridor in this museum design.
    Visitors are taken on a journey to a fantasy world through the specially designed conditioning corridor. This corridor serves as a transformative pathway, immersing guests in a captivating experience that prepares them for the adventures that lie ahead. As they progress through the corridor, they will encounter enchanting visuals and sounds, designed to heighten their senses and spark their imagination, ultimately ushering them into a magical realm filled with wonder and excitement.

    Subtle personal accents, such as typewriter-inspired seats and talk bubbles as signage, create a more intimate connection with the museum’s gardens and outdoor spaces. Among the key attractions of the museum’s landscape are various folklore-inspired areas that celebrate the Philippines’ rich cultural heritage and mysticism. These include the “Bamboo Gardens,” a small pocket garden with two passageways of bent bamboo – a commemoration of the country’s most elastic superhero.

    Deeply inspired by the promising yet straightforward properties of paper, this Komik Museum design is a creative endeavor that challenges the power of human imagination and artistry. A paradox of reality and fantasy, showing how architecture can immortalize the impact of Filipino komiks into physical space, one paper at a time.

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  • One East Commercial Hub

    One East Commercial Hub

    The cleverly designed structural brace frames elevate the hovering commercial hub above the ground, creating an innovative architectural solution that promotes natural airflow throughout the space. This thoughtful elevation allows for the seamless flow of air, which is directed toward an inviting open-air southern courtyard. This courtyard serves as a vibrant outdoor dining area at ground level, providing patrons with a unique dining experience in a natural setting. It is beautifully enhanced by the presence of existing trees, which offer shade and greenery, contributing to a relaxed atmosphere. Additionally, the courtyard is flanked by community shops, fostering a sense of connection and engagement among both visitors and residents. This layout fosters a lively and interactive environment that seamlessly integrates nature and commerce.

    Location: #1 General Ordoñez Street, Marikina Heights, Marikina City
    Site Area: 892 sqm
    Project Area: 1,200 sqm
    Type: Commercial

    An adaptive architectural intervention that promotes new urban life, based on a mixture of modern and industrial structures and the contrast between new and existing solutions. One East Commercial Hub in Marikina City proposes an urban solution while retaining the environmental memory of the place.

    Upper-level outdoor retail walkway with metal railings, full-height glass storefronts, timber soffit ceilings, exposed concrete wall panels, horizontal black corrugated metal cladding, and mature courtyard trees integrated into the building structure, set against lush green foliage.
    Our goal is to preserve the existing trees by creating an open-to-sky courtyard that is designed to work harmoniously with them. This approach enables us to preserve the natural beauty and ecological benefits of the trees while creating an inviting outdoor space for people to enjoy. The courtyard will be carefully planned to ensure that the trees remain a central feature, enhancing both the aesthetic and environmental quality of the area. By integrating the trees into the design, we create a serene atmosphere that encourages relaxation and connection with nature.

    Creating a new, attractive commercial center with its own business and social infrastructure, this two-story retail development comprises six rentable spaces, featuring a prominent frontage with diagonal brace frames. The project riffs on the idea of following the site’s natural orientation while maximizing its building envelope within an 892-sqm lot. Hence, the spatial configuration centered on a simple, straightforward floor plan with a large, central courtyard that integrated the site’s existing trees as part of its indoor landscape. Paired with its suspended walkways and a strong presence of wood, this allowed space to seamlessly blend with its foliage-filled vicinity.

    Ground-level view of commercial walkway with exposed diagonal steel brace frames supporting the elevated structure, timber ceiling soffits, steel columns, modular light-colored pavement, parked vehicle, storefront glazing with retail signage, and planted green wall along the side boundary.
    Structural brace frames play a significant role in enhancing the architectural character of a building. These frames not only provide essential structural support and stability but also contribute to the overall aesthetic appeal. By integrating brace frames into the design, architects can create visually striking exteriors that reflect the uniqueness of the structure. This combination of functionality and artistic expression makes structural brace frames a valuable element in modern architecture.

    At street level, the project is identified by a series of diagonal steel brace frames that support the cantilevered shops above. The application of straightforward planning principles brings visitors directly either to the staircase or the courtyard. Traversing its U-shaped staircase brings visitors into a linear passageway that envelopes the entrances of each retail unit on the second floor. At the eastern boundary, this passageway eventually connects to a foliage-filled seating space tucked at its west.

    Second-level outdoor retail corridor with full-height glass storefronts, exposed concrete columns, black corrugated metal cladding, timber plank ceiling soffits, warm wooden plank flooring, balcony railings, and visible interior dining and retail displays illuminated by natural daylight.
    The commercial hub has been thoughtfully designed to ensure an abundant supply of natural ventilation and daylight. This approach not only enhances the comfort of the occupants but also promotes energy efficiency and well-being. By incorporating strategically placed openings, the space allows fresh air to circulate freely while maximizing sunlight exposure, creating a bright and inviting environment for both work and relaxation.

    The ideal provision of natural light and fresh air in architectural design hinges on the harmonious integration of three essential elements. First, the site’s inherent characteristics contribute to its well-ventilated environment, capitalizing on local climate conditions and natural topography. This foundational aspect allows the building to maximize passive ventilation strategies, ensuring that air circulation is both efficient and effective. Second, the structure’s impressive elevation of 10 meters creates a dynamic relationship between the interior spaces and the surrounding environment. This height enhances the visual impact of the building, facilitating the movement of air and light, and allowing for unobstructed views and a greater sense of openness. High ceilings combined with expansive vertical spaces create a feeling of grandeur while promoting air circulation throughout the area.

    Lastly, the extensive use of glass in the building’s walls plays a crucial role in fostering a seamless connection between the indoors and outdoors. The glass façade allows for an abundance of natural light to penetrate deep into the interior, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day and promoting energy efficiency.

    Additionally, large openings facilitate cross ventilation, which naturally cools the space and enhances occupant comfort. Together, these elements not only ensure that natural illumination and airflow pervade the interior but also elevate the overall aesthetic and functional qualities of the structure. The thoughtful integration of these design principles forms the core of the building’s construction, creating an environment that prioritizes both sustainability and the well-being of its inhabitants.

    Outdoor dining courtyard with semi-enclosed wooden booths, open tables with rattan chairs, string lighting overhead, permeable stone paver flooring with green grass joints, surrounding preserved trees integrated into the structure, and elevated steel walkways supported by diagonal brace frames.
    The alfresco dining area and meeting venue are situated in a quiet, secluded section of the development. This peaceful environment provides an ideal setting for guests to enjoy their meals or conduct meetings in a relaxed atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle. Whether guests wish to savor delicious cuisine in the open air or engage in productive discussions, this venue offers an ideal blend of comfort and tranquility.

    Demarcating the project’s rectangular siting is a mixture of wooden claddings and exposed dark steel frames, highlighting the sharp contrast with the form’s lightly painted concrete plaster. This creates clear boundaries between the project’s parking and rentable spaces. To maintain such boundaries, the introduction of new visual elements is carefully planned. This ultimately framed the project to simultaneously become a background and an identifying form that matches both its exteriors and interiors.

    With a desire to blend seamlessly into the streetscape, One East Commercial Hub in Marikina City highlights the site’s existing natural features while maximizing both its architectural and practical characteristics. Wrapped in rectilinear forms with the unexpected touch of diagonal brace frames, this further props up the entire architectural character and structural integrity of the place while maintaining its original environmental identity.

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