A Center of the Performing Arts as a

Venue of Informal Education for the

University of the Philippines, Diliman

by
Aileen Rachelle F. Fader

An undergraduate mini-thesis proposal

submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for
ARCH 197: Architectural Design VII:
Site Analysis
College of Architecture
University of the Philippines
Second Semester SY 2011
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1. MACRO-LEVEL CONTEXT

The site is located at Osmea corner Roces Avenue in the

University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City,
Philippines. Being a part of Metro Manila and UP Diliman will
play as major factors in designing for the site.

1.1 Metro Manila

Illustration 1: National Capital Region
(NCR) or Metro Manila, Republic of the
Philippines
NCR is home to major cities in the country
and as such, it also contains the majority of
institutions in higher education.
The National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro
Manila serves as the center of many activities in the
country. Major commercial developments are situated in
the region like Makati and Ortigas.
Major roads such as Epifanio de los Santos
Avenue (EDSA) and other transportation systems like
the Light Railway Transit (LRT), Metrostar Railway
Transit (MRT) and Philippine National Railway (PNR)
connect not just the cities within Metro Manila, but also
those provinces in the north and south of the region.
Rural areas can be accessed in minutes from Metro
Manilas central business districts. (See Illustration 2)
Metro Manila is also a center of education. Aside
from the larger sizes of public schools in elementary and
secondary levels, NCR is also home to major
institutions in higher education.

1.2 Quezon City

Illustration 2: Quezon City, Metro Manila
Quezon City was planned as the new
capital of the country which led to the
construction of government agencies and a
new University of the Philippines in the
area. Also shown is the relative position of
Quezon City and Metro Manila to other
provinces.
Quezon City was initially planned as the new
capital of the country and served this purpose in 1948-
1976. This change was supported by the construction of
many government buildings and the University of the
Philippines in the area which can still be found today.
Quezon City is one of the most populated parts of
Metro Manila. Major roads such as parts of EDSA,
Commonwealth Avenue and C5 service the city.

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Illustration 3: (Left) Major Roads of Metro

Manila connecting to Quezon City. Red:
Commonwealth Ave., Blue: EDSA, Green:
Katipunan Also shown is Black: Quezon
Ave.
EDSA and Katipunan continuing to C-5
road lead further north and south of Metro
Manila and Luzon. Commonwealth leads to
the rest of Quezon City and Quezon Ave.
leads to Manila City. These roads are
highly utilized by both public
transportation and private vehicles.
Illustration 4: (below) Blow-up of UP
Diliman, again showing road relationship.
The University Avenue and Academic Oval
are the physically dominant features of UP.
The University Avenue is the largest
entrance on campus especially to outside
private vehicles. It connects to the oval
which is the camus center and core.

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1.3 University of the Philippines, Diliman
Illustration 5: (Previous Page) Approved
Landuse (1994) UP Diliman showing zones
and allowed land use. Actual land use may
differ from stated.
The Academic Oval as the campus core is
stated.
Illustration 6: University of the
Philippines, Diliman Campus
UP Diliman Campus is a sprawling
community with large open areas.
Illustration 7: Quezon Hall
Quezon Hall serves as an office venue for
the universtiys administrative functions.
Directly at the end of University Ave. along
the Academic Oval, it is one of the
buildings that first greet people accessing
the campus and one that is immediately
associated to UP along with other
Academic Oval Buildings.
Illustration 8: UP Ikot Jeepney
Ikot is just one of the routes within the
campus. It connects not just the academic
core of the university but also the
surrounding residential and commercial
areas.
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The University of the Philippines in Diliman is a
493 hectare community made up of the main campus
and its buildings, residential barangays, technological
parks, forested areas, and some unoccupied expanses.
(See Illustration 5 and 6) The whole campus is
registered as one lot.
The most prominent roads of the campus starts
from the University Avenue to the Academic Oval (see
Illustration #) wherein notable structures of the
university such as the mirrored buildings
Palma/Melchor and Benitez/Malcolm, the University
Main Library Gonzalez Hall, and the administration
building Quezon Hall can be found. (see Illustration 4)
It is also part of the routes of public transportation
systems inside the campus. The Academic Oval is the
central core of the UP Campus in terms of activity and
ultimately, its identity.
Until the establishment of some gated entrances
in the campus, the area was highly permeable to outside
traffic. This change, however only diminished non-UP
private vehicles as public transportation such as
jeepneys to Katipunan Ave. SM North EDSA-Trinoma
area, and MRT Quezon Ave. (along which commercial
establishments, transportation centers and institutions in
higher education can be found) can be accessed at the
campus. PUVs with routes only within UP provide
access between the campus and the residential and
commercial areas. (See Illustration 5) As such the
demography of UP is a mix of students, faculty and
staff, residents, and transients.
In order to facilitate activities within the campus,
utility needs of its buildings are serviced by local
providers, such as electricity, water supply, drainage and
sewer management and communications.
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Illustration 9: Congested Routes in UP

Diliman
Traffic is heavily concentrated along major
roads around the campus. The abundance
of vehicles shows the possibility of UP as a
venue open to both local and outside
population.

Illustration 10: Existing Public Transport

Route in UP Diliman
Transport routes connect close commercial
and residential areas to the campus. The
routes rely on the campus center, the
Academic Oval which is always passed on
all routes. Again this encourages local and
outside users using public vehicles.

Illustration 11: Schematic Diagram of

Growth Patterns of UP Diliman Campus.
The growth patterns radiate from the
Academic Oval, serving as the campus
academic core. As a core, it must embody
UPs role in the holistic higher education
of the Filipino youth.

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1.4 Academic Oval
Illustration 12: Academic Oval Inner
sidewalk
The inner sidewalks of the oval are now
articulated into design shown, featuring
names of individuals, groups, etc.
implemented as a fund-raising effort for the
UP Diliman Faculty Development Fund
(UPDFD). Also shown are the allotment of
the inner lanes for bicycles and joggers
and the wide canopy of the acacia trees
dotting the edges of the oval.
Illustration 12: Detail of Academic Oval
Inner Sidewalk
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The UP Tennis Courts is located within the core
of the university as a part of the Academic Oval.
The Academic Oval is the main street of the
campus, made of the streets Roxas, parts of Ma.
Guerrero, and Osmea approximately 2.2km in length.
Being located in the center of the campus, it serves as a
major connection to many areas and buildings.
It is one of the most articulated in terms of street
design both physical and policy-based. Street
developments along the Oval include sidewalks with
masonry designs, pedestrian-level lamps, waiting-sheds,
landscaping and greeneries. A one-way traffic scheme is
in effect, utilizing 2 lanes for vehicles, the rest of which
is assigned as a bicycle lane used by joggers and
cyclists. Recently, the use of the oval as a jogging and
cycling venue has attracted more outsiders to the
campus.
The oval is one of the most defined parts of UP
Diliman, in terms of identity. It is physically
characterized by its shape, central location, and
greenery. It is also the center of many UP colleges and
student activities both academic and non-academic.
Colleges located here are easily associated with UP.
The oval is divided by the lagoon and sunken
garden; Roxas and Osmea. Roxas attracts more traffic
and activity mainly as a part of the public transport route
and also as the location of the College of Social
Sciences and Philosophy and College of Arts and
Letters both offering a large amount of General
Education subjects thus attracting students regardless of
degree or graduate programs. Osmea services less
traffic, especially along the colleges of Law and
Engineering. (see Illustration 10)
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2 SITE INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS

2.1 Technical Description

Illustration 13: Property Line of Site as
described by bearings and distances.
With UP Diliman as a single lot, it is hereby
proposed that for the purposes of this study that the site
of UP Tennis Court be identified as the parcel of land
situated in the Academic Oval along Osmea corner
Roces bounded on the South by Osmea Ave, along line
1-2; on the West by UP Film Institute property, along
line 2-3; on the North by the lot occupied by the UP
49ers and UP Tennis Club building, along line 3-4; on
the East by Roces Ave. along line 4-1. Beginning at a
point 1 marked on plan being S 603020.88 W 32.99m
from fire hydrant #37. Thence W 112.69m to pt. 2; N
39.99m to pt. 3; E 112.69m to pt. 4; S 39.71m to the
point of beginning; containing an area of FOUR-
THOUSAND FIVE-HUNDRED SIX (4506) SQUARE
METERS. All points referred to are indicated on the
plan from the existing fenced property of the UP Tennis
Court. (See Illustration 13 and attached documents)

2.2 Zoning and Land Use

The property is identified for Academic use.
Actual uses of lots within the academic zoning of the
campus include classroom and faculty buildings, offices,
museums, sports and recreation, and commercial.
UP Tennis Court is used as a sports and
recreation facility by the UP Tennis Club. Courts,
trainers and supporting services are provided in the
facility.
Surrounding properties are less academic in
nature, with the exception of Melchor Hall across Roces
Ave. which is home to the College of Engineering.

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2.3 Topography
The whole UP campus area is generally flat with
gentle changes in elevation, the UP Tennis Court
included. While the Court areas are flat there is a
noticeable change in elevation of the sides of the lot
along the road, between the fenced areas and the
sidewalks which makes the site higher from the road and
from the line-of-sight of a pedestrian. (See Illustration
14 )
Illustration 14: UP Tennis Court along
Osmea Ave. The general contour of the site area slopes gently
The slope gives the site a higher elevation towards the Lagoon, where drainage is directed.
from the road.
Run-off water is directed to the roads, following
the slope to the lagoon through the road and storm
drains. (see Drainage System Plan)
The area also contains a number of wide-canopy
trees along the roads and also some along the UP 49ers
edge.

2.4 Geologic Setting

Quezon Citys soil is generally described to be
made of adobe, giving it a higher bearing capacity
compared to other areas. It is also located farther from
the coast line and contains a deeper water table
especially compared to coastal cities such as Manila,
again providing for better structural quality of soil and
feasibility of deeper excavations. The citys soil is also
generally characterized with the presence termites,
requiring caution and protective measures to be taken
when using wood as a material.
Diliman Area is closest to the West Marikina
Valley Fault. In the event of an earthquake, structures
within vicinity pose no apparent threat as they are
generally one to two story high.

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2.5 Weather and Climate

As a tropical country, wet and dry season define
the climate. Weather in Quezon City is characterized by
frequent rain showers.
The structures within site vicinity do not hinder
Habagat-Amihan winds. Roads beside site increase wind
flow in the area. Generous foliage from Acacia trees
provide sun-shading.

2.6 Orientation
The site is oriented along the E-W axis, which
can be used to minimize sun exposure if the building
follows the lot shape. Orientation also maximizes the
frontage along the Academic Oval, although the higher
elevation from road and sidewalk opposes this.

2.7 Existing Structures within Vicinity

Both roadside edges of the site have sidewalks.
Both Film Institute and UP 49ers edge do not have any
physical edges to the site, instead the fence around the
Tennis court provide the delineation.
The waiting shed along Roces Ave. is frequently
used by engineering students. Routes to SM North Edsa,
MRT-Quezon Avenue, Ikot and Toki pass this stop.

2.8 Utilities
Existing lines for electricity, telecommunications,
water supply and disposal can be easily tapped from site
as the surrounding area is already relatively built-up.
Lines run along both Roces and Osmea Ave.
Refer to the next set of pages for the plans.

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REFERENCES
Development Option for the UP Diliman Campus
Project 1996, UP-SURP Study Team, School of Urban
and Regional Planning, University of the Philippines,
Diliman
Office of the Campus Architect, University of the
Philippines, Diliman Campus
Google Earth, www.google.com, 2011

Center of the Performing Arts for UP Diliman, Fader