Best Architectural Thesis Award: A Proposed Urban Entertainment Center
Thesis Proponents: Peregrina, Jessa Louise T. & Delas Alas, Hannah Ysabelle V.
Thesis Adviser: Ar. Aldrin Ron C. Mamaril, UAP
School: Lyceum of the Philippines University - Cavite Campus
Year of defense: 2024 (Top 9)
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Madaza is a proposed mixed-use entertainment and cultural destination inspired by the Kadayawan Festival of Davao City. The project name is derived from the words “Madayaw” and “Plaza.” “Madayaw” originates from the word dayaw, which means good, valuable, beautiful, or excellent, and serves as the inspiration behind the Kadayawan Festival, one of the most celebrated cultural festivals in Mindanao. Meanwhile, a plaza refers to a public gathering space that promotes leisure, social interaction, cultural exchange, and community activities.
Together, these concepts embody the vision of creating a vibrant destination that celebrates culture, recreation, tourism, and community engagement within a single development.
Madaza aims to become a landmark attraction that showcases the identity of Davao City while providing modern entertainment and recreational experiences. By integrating cultural spaces with contemporary leisure facilities, the project creates a unique destination that appeals to both local residents and visitors from other regions and countries.
PROJECT RATIONALE
As Davao City continues to experience rapid urbanization, economic expansion, and tourism growth, the demand for high-quality entertainment and recreational facilities continues to increase. As one of the major economic centers in Mindanao, the city attracts investors, businesses, tourists, and new residents. However, there remains an opportunity to develop a large-scale entertainment destination that can further strengthen its tourism industry and diversify its attractions.
The project aims to address this gap by providing a destination that serves both residents and tourists while establishing a new landmark in Davao City. Through the integration of entertainment, cultural, recreational, and hospitality facilities, Madaza seeks to enhance the city’s appeal as a travel destination and contribute to its long-term development.
The development is expected to generate employment opportunities during both its construction and operational phases. It will also stimulate local businesses by increasing visitor spending on transportation, food, accommodation, retail, and other tourism-related services. Beyond its economic and tourism benefits, the project responds to the growing demand for modern entertainment by providing spaces that encourage physical interaction and socialization. In doing so, it serves as a countermeasure to the social isolation associated with the digital age.
Based on survey data and user preferences, the development incorporates a variety of attractions and support facilities designed to cater to different age groups and interests, ensuring a dynamic and inclusive environment for all users.
The development consists of the following major components:
• Amusement Park
• Filipino-Themed Interactive Museum
• IMAX Cinema Theater
• Trampoline Park
• Indoor Sports Center
• Virtual Gaming Park
• Rentable Outdoor Courts
• Events Ground
To support these entertainment facilities, the project also includes:
• Strip Mall
• Hotel
• Multi-Level Parking Facility
• Transport Terminal
Together, these components create a comprehensive entertainment, tourism, and cultural destination capable of accommodating diverse user needs. The combination of attractions encourages longer visitor stays, increased tourist spending, and repeat visits, further contributing to the local economy.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
The researchers used an ontological framework to illustrate the comprehensive research strategy. This framework outlines the overall approach for gathering the necessary analyses to conceptualize the desired outcome. It encompasses aspects such as fostering a sense of community, zoning and circulation concepts, promoting safety through architectural features, leveraging technology, and analyzing user needs through surveys to develop the planning framework.
The study also integrates philosophical theories, thematic concepts, and design strategies that emphasize cultural sensitivity and sustainable practices. A thorough site analysis supports the development of an appropriate spatial strategy.
SITE BACKGROUND
The project is situated in Barangay Buanawan, Davao City, near the Davao Gulf tourism area. The site occupies approximately 17.28 hectares and is strategically located adjacent to the Maharlika Highway, providing convenient access for both residents and tourists.
The selected location offers strong potential for tourism-oriented development due to its accessibility, proximity to major transportation routes, and connection to nearby tourist destinations. It allows the project to serve as a gateway attraction that complements existing tourism activities within Davao City and the surrounding region.
The site’s substantial land area provides flexibility for future expansion and the integration of large-scale recreational facilities, landscaped spaces, and supporting infrastructure. Its strategic location supports the vision of creating a destination that attracts both domestic and international visitors while contributing to the continued growth of Davao City’s tourism sector.
DESIGN PARADIGM
The design paradigm, in this context, encompasses a set of design principles aimed at enhancing consistency and shared elements across diverse solution frameworks. The proposal primarily centers on an Experience-Focused Design Paradigm.
This approach integrates factors such as identity and attributes, connectivity, feasibility, and desirability harmonizing aspects related to culture, tradition, human experience, business requirements, and technical considerations, while ensuring the overall cohesion and interplay of design elements.
DESIGN CONCEPT
The architectural concept draws inspiration from the Kadayawan Festival and the rich cultural heritage of Davao City. The primary design metaphor is a fruit basket, which is common in festival celebrations and represents abundance, diversity, and prosperity.
Similar to a basket containing various fruits, the development accommodates multiple entertainment, recreational, cultural, and commercial functions within a unified environment.
The design incorporates cultural symbols associated with Davao, including the Philippine Eagle. The form of the main entertainment center is inspired by its majestic wingspan and physique, resulting in a building composition divided into left and right wings. This spatial organization also serves as a wayfinding strategy, helping users easily navigate and become familiar with different zones within the development.
In addition, traditional Mindanao weaving patterns are integrated into the architectural details, façade treatments, color palette, and spatial experience, reinforcing a strong sense of local identity.
Cultural Integration
A key objective of the project is to promote Filipino culture through interactive and educational spaces. The Filipino-Themed Interactive Museum serves as a cultural hub where visitors can engage in weaving workshops, pottery-making activities, local food tasting, traditional Filipino games, digital exhibits, and folk-dance workshops.
The museum also features gift shops showcasing locally made products, providing opportunities for local artisans and entrepreneurs to promote their crafts. Through these cultural experiences, the project helps preserve traditions while introducing them to younger generations and international visitors.
The overall design aims to provide users with an immersive experience that celebrates the traditions, artistry, and heritage of Mindanao while offering contemporary entertainment facilities that meet modern expectations.
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