Technological Institute of the Philippines

363 Pascual Casal St, Quiapo, Manila, 1001 Metro Manila

AR 453 – Planning 2

PLANNING
II

CASE STUDY-CHINA TOWN

BINONDO , MANILA
DISTRICT III
Introduction: Chosen Town
- As a part of our case study regarding Urban Design we
decided to choose China Town located at Binondo,
Manila.
Objectives:
- To study and identify the different problems & conflict
that surrounds the given area. Ex: Environmental,
Physical, Cultural, Safety, & Natural Conflicts.

- To apply Urban Design as one of the primary aspects to

solve the existing problems that resides the area.

- To improve the quality and comfortability of the area as

well as its safety through Urban Design.

Definitions:
What is Urban Design?
Urban Design revolves around the process of designing and
regulating the natural and physical factors that resides within an
area. Ex: Towns, City, Villages. Through the process of proper
Planning (Natural/ Environmental, Physical, Cultural, Land
Sustainability Aspects). Transforming the area to its given form,
shape and character.
What makes up an Urban Area?
Urban Area comprises of a human settlement with a high
population density ex: Towns, City, Villages. Most urban areas
developed through the urbanization where different types of
infrastructure are built and created. Ex: houses, commercial
buildings, roads, bridges, and railways. These infrastructure are
used to support the everyday lives of the population living
within the area and the surrounding area present.

Value of Urban Design

As design involves many people, including practitioners
(architects, engineers, planners, landscape architects, and many
more), local and central government agencies, property
developers and investors, community groups, and the public.
They have varying interests, perspectives, and criteria by which
they assess the merits of urban design activity.

But many kinds of 'value' can be considered - economic,

environmental, social, or cultural; tangible or intangible. The
benefits (and costs) of good urban design often accrue to the
broader community; therefore, many stakeholders have an
interest in what takes place at both the microscale (street and
building design) and the macro scale (e.g., patterns of land use).

The list below of values of urban design is based on the research

conducted and funded by the Ministry for the Environment in
Wellington, New Zealand. It mainly shows the broad conclusion
about the benefits of good urban design might offer.
  Good urban design can offer significant benefits to the
community; conversely, poor design can have significant
adverse effects on the urban environment, society, and
economy.
 While good urban design sometimes costs more upfront;
this is not necessarily the case; moreover, long-term costs
can be avoided.
 Communities value a better quality of life that good urban
design can deliver.
 Urban design can affect people's ability and willingness to
undertake physical exercise: good design can offer health
benefits.

Urban design can help make towns and cities safer and more
secure

Urban design elements are interconnected: urban design is most

effective when some factors come together (e.g., mixed-use,
density, and connectivity).

In support of the above list, other research sources below will

bring us specific values of urban design in terms of economic,
social, and environmental benefits.

According to the research published by CABE, together with

DETR in Great Britain, that good urban design adds value by
increasing the economic viability of development and by
delivering social and environmental benefits.

Their research stated that good urban design adds economic

value by:
  producing high returns on investments (good rental returns
and enhanced capital values);
 placing developments above the local competition at little
cost;
 responding to occupier demand;
 helping to deliver more lettable  area (higher densities);
- lettable means capable of being rented or leased
 reducing management, maintenance, energy, and security
costs;
 contributing to more contented and productive workforces;
 supporting the "life-giving" mixed-use elements in
developments;
 creating an urban regeneration and place marketing
dividend;
 differentiating places and raising their prestige;
 opening up investment opportunities, increasing confidence
in development opportunities and
 attracting grant monies; and
 reducing the cost to the public purse of rectifying urban
design mistakes.

And good urban design adds social and environmental

value by:

 creating well connected, inclusive and accessible new

places;
 delivering mixed-use environments with a  broad range of
facilities and amenities available to all;
  providing development sensitive to its context;
 enhancing the sense of safety and security within and
beyond developments;
 returning inaccessible or run-down areas and amenities to
beneficial public use;
 boosting civic pride and enhancing civic image;
 creating more energy-efficient and less polluting
development; and revitalizing urban heritage.

Conflicts:
Physical
- Chinatown, Binondo Manila has poor drainage and it is
one of the most crowded areas in the Philippines in the
daily basis because it is mostly composed of commercial
establishments which attracts tourists and guest
- Spaces are too narrow or small resulting in Overcrowding.

Environmental/ Natural:
- Chinatown also lacks trees and vegetation which is
important to the area and our planet itself.

- Provision of plants helps produce oxygen which help

cleanse the carbon emission produced in Chinatown
 because it has a high number of vehicle in a daily basis
which increases the temperature within the area.
- Plastic wastes are present everywhere resulting in a poor
and uncomfortable environment.

Cultural/ (Society):
- The area is overcrowded and most people practice
improper waste disposal that contributes to clogging of the
drainage pipes. Thus, resulting in floods during the rainy
season.
- Lots of crime are reported within the area due to poverty
and ignorance of the people living within the area
Safety:
- Lack of sidewalks which leads to poor human flow that
leads to vehicular traffic making the area prone to
accident.

- Minimal Sheltered walkways are present making the users

prone to rain during rainy season.

- Most buildings are old and has cracks or other building

defects making the place prone to earthquakes and natural
disasters
Photo Evaluation:
China town is
Known for its
historical Value
making it one of the
prominent places in
Manila

It offers significant
benefits to the
community; conversely,
poor design can have
significant adverse effects
on the urban environment,
society, and economy.

Improper drainage
provide negative
impact to the people.
Resulting in a poor
physical ability and
willingness for the
people
The power lines are
improperly not placed
and looking at it is
really dangerous.

No signs of vegetation in
every corner of the streets
that makes the temperature
here is uncertain hot and
cold.

Not only blocking the

streets but also the
vehicles coming there.

Improper placing of
vehicle that is seen in
the photos. That makes
other streets hard to
accommodate.
 Chinatown in a positive
side gives us a historical
background about the
friendship we with made
chinese people. In terms
of friendship, we celebrate
their chinese new year and
their tradition foods that
you can only taste here in
chinatown binondo.

We as architects must
have a proper plan for this
town to cater towards
great accommodation for
people visiting this place.
With these many people
coming here we need for
the betterment of
historical places in
Site Maps: Manila7
DISTRICT OF MANILA ZONE MAP
STREET MAP
 SATTELITE MAP

DISTRICT III ZONE MAP

DISTRICT III WIND MAP