August Tower

Binondo, Manila, Philippines, 2021

August Tower (2021) is a project that celebrates the roots and ideals of the building owners, but also celebrates the vibrant identity of place and people. Because it the tower is situated in Binondo, Manila, the historic Chinatown district, the project already necessitated that the project pays special attention to the history of the area. Furthermore, the lot is adjacent to the Estero de Binondo, one of the important estuaries in the historic canal system of Manila. Steeped in Chinese heritage and hybridized with Filipino culture over the centuries, one cannot simply ignore the strong traditions of the neighborhood.

Client \ Confidential

Location \ Binondo, Manila, Philippines

Building Area \ 1,900 sq.m.

Program \ Mixed-Use (Office + Residential)

Status \ In Progress

Brief

This project stands on a compact 147-square-meter lot beside a small river. The site’s soft soil required a fully piled foundation, while the limited footprint demanded an efficient and inventive spatial strategy.

The program functions much like an expanded shophouse: offices occupy the lower levels, with two two-storey private apartments for the building’s owners stacked above.

Parking, sky lobbies, offices, residences, utilities, services, and a private roof deck are seamlessly integrated into a slender thirteen-storey tower—demonstrating a thoughtful blending of diverse functions within a highly constrained urban site.

Optimism

A sense of optimism is embedded in not only of the typology of a towering skyscraper that reaches for great heights, but also the intent for this edifice to be a lantern and a beacon of hope in the district.

Articulation

The key element in the articulation of the design was through the use of a screen that wraps the entire tower. Reminiscent of dragon scales, the sun-shading system consisted of operable perforated metal panels that open and close depending on the need for shade and view. This metal screen protects the interior spaces from the intense heat of the sun, while providing views to the outside. What becomes even more significant beyond the functional performance of the screen is its symbolic meaning. Rendered in vibrant red, an auspicious color in Chinese culture, the screen becomes a symbol of optimism to its residents and surrounding neighbors. With the dynamic opening and closing of these metal shutters, the tower also serves as a signal of optimism at night.