The 21st century calls for a greater paradigm shift in urban planning, architecture and real estate development. This, as megalopolitan areas like Metro Manila (one of the densest in the world at 19,137 persons per square kilometer in 2010) continue to balloon in population and expand at a rapid and alarming pace. By 2050, Metro Manila’s current population of 11.8 million could grow to 50 million, according to New Geography.

The scenario served as impetus for architects, urban planners, and property developers to look into revolutionary and sustainable ways of masterplanning communities and designing buildings.

These revolutionary trends in architecture and urban planning were the core topics of a lecture given by renowned Palafox Associates principal architect-urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox, Jr., and his daughter, urban planner and Palafox Associates managing partner Karima Palafox, as part of the Asia CEO Forum. The lecture, held last July 7 at Makati Diamond Residences, was attended by various business leaders, business professionals, architects, urban planners, consultants, industry suppliers, academic institutions and the media.

Father-and-daughter tandem
This is the second time this year that the architect has been invited to speak in the forum, which he is eager to do each time. Being able to share his expertise to business leaders and ordinary citizens is part of his architectural philosophy of “People, Profit, and Planet,” which he invites others to adopt in their practice of architecture and urban planning. “I’ve been invited to lecture about architecture and urban planning in at least 18 countries. This is my chance to pay our country back by sharing these best practices. And it’s not just the poor who should learn about these things, but our leaders as well,” says architect Palafox.

Making architect Palafox’s comeback in the forum more special is the participation of his daughter, Karima. She was recently named one of the “40 under 40” by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) — the only Southeast Asian and Filipino in the first-ever list. This is also her second time in the forum.

Exemplars in urban planning
The philosophy of “People, Profit, and Planet” figured heavily throughout the talk. In her lecture, Karima emphasized public good over private interest in creating master plans for communities, underscoring the need for government leadership, participative planning, and transparency. She also highlighted the importance of considering various factors such as transportation, disaster preparedness, pedestrian facilities, as well as parks and green spaces in planning a sustainable and resilient city. One of the exemplars she used was the Comprehensive Land Use and Zoning Plan for San Juan City, which Palafox Associates prepared.

“Our plan for San Juan moved beyond land use and zoning. We also took into consideration disaster preparedness, transportation, and mobility. For example, we integrated the ‘One-third Principle’ in San Juan’s major thoroughfares,” says Karima.

Another concept introduced was urban renewal, a concept already being followed in other countries such as in New York’s Meatpacking District and Singapore’s Clarke Quay. To illustrate the concept, architect Palafox used Rockwell Center, an urban township that Palafox Associates planned and designed for an old, abandoned, and dilapidated power plant. 

It now houses the Power Plant Mall and a host of residential towers surrounded by an oasis of lush greenery.

“The concept of urban renewal is good as it encourages re-planning, redesigning, and rebuilding decaying urban areas instead of creating new ones. It counters urban and suburban sprawl by building up instead of building out, in the hope of achieving an urban renaissance,” architect Palafox says.

He also reiterated the importance of transit-engaged, mixed-use developments, wherein areas near key transportation hubs and road infrastructure are tapped for vertical mixed-use developments.

“Livable high-rise buildings are more sustainable because they can accommodate more families per hectare, to live, work, shop, dine, learn, worship, and relax. These buildings can also be designed on a more pedestrian scale with lush landscaping,” architect Palafox explains.

Best practices in tourism
The lectures didn’t only focus on urban architecture; the impact of tourism planning and development was another significant subject in the forum.

To illustrate ideal t o u r i s m p l a n n i n g , Karima showed Palafox Associates’ Conceptual Tourism Master Plan (CTMP) for San Vicente, Palawan, which boasts of the longest coastline in the country. The CTMP was the result of extensive consultations between the government, Palafox Associates and various civic stakeholders. In the CMTP, the whole municipality was divided into four tourism zones, each designed with tourist influx, pedestrian access, utilities, transport infrastructure, environmental impact, and disaster preparedness in mind.
Another tourism-related subject was hotel design and architecture, wherein architect Palafox enumerated some of the current and emerging principles in designing hotels. Showing photos of some of the world’s best hotels — including ones designed by Palafox Architecture Group such as Crystal Sand Boracay and the Army and Navy Club in Manila — he listed down important guidelines and various considerations in hotel planning and design.

In the end, the lecture given by the architect Jun and Karima Palafox shed further light on what’s missing in the Philippines despite its recent economic upturn — proper architecture and urban planning. The talk impelled attendees and guests alike to seriously consider the impact of the built environment on the natural setting, especially in light of recent events wherein private interest prevailed over public good. Architect Palafox hopes that lectures like the Asia CEO Forum would encourage political and business leaders to make “People, Profit, and Planet” part of their architecture and urban planning agenda.

“We’re thankful for Asia CEO Forum for inviting us once again to speak in their event. It is a good thing because it shows the importance people have for urban planning and architecture. We’ve been saying repeatedly to people the need for resilient and green buildings, walkable streets, and proper urban planning and development. Finally, more companies and local governments are listening to us because there are concerned citizens who relay our message to them,” says Karima.■