Day05 - Drawing exercises

Still on the design process, students are asked to visit the site again for more understanding of the concept of the project. To achieve this, they are given drawing assignments to visualize what they want to do.

First, they need to have a look of the site and see it with fresh eyes by trying to find for a lot of things and wait for it to talk to them.

After that the participants shared their discoveries and sketches.

Second is a unique drawing experience. Participants are asked not to think as an architect but either as a musician or poet. To look for forms and feel the rhythm. To think of music and words. to let their imagination talk to them. They are encouraged not to limit their drawings from what they learn as an architect but to open their creativity to a broader expand and range.

Sketch by Long Fei Wang of China.

They were group accordingly for the last exercise. They have to learn to work as a group and accomplish things. A final design is required for a final presentation tomorrow.

During dinner we are welcomed by the Municipality of Puerto Prinsesa together with Mayor Hagerdorn.

DESIGN PROCESS

The participants again woke up early to explore one of the most visited places in Palawan - the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. (It is currently running first in the Official New7Wonders of Nature campaign. Vote to keep it in first place!)

This day trip is not only a must-see tour, but as part of the design process, it will help the participants to learn more about Palawan, its geographical location, history and culture.

Participants showed their excitement before taking the 10-minute boat ride to the Underground River. For a change, the weather cooperated and gave us a day that was nice and very sunny.


Before taking lunch, the students were given the chance to take a long walk on the beach and a quick swim to sample the warm waters of the Pacific.

Filipino architecture students with Mr. James Hubell, the leader of this project who, together with co-leader Kyle Bergman, keeps the participants inspired. He speaks with a soft voice, but his words and insights are freely and generously shared to help them reach their full potential as designers.

After lunch, Jovenee Sagun of the city planning office of Puerto Prinsesa gave a short pep talk about the City's ideas in this whole project. She told us of Puerto Princesa's vision to create an environmental preserve particularly in the site where the Park is going to rise, and how the Park will boost the development potential in Puerto Prinsesa.

From the Underground River, the participants returned to the city and spent the afternoon at the Palawan Museum. Just like when they toured Intramuros, the students were asked to look around and sketch anything in the Museum that interested them.

The hope is that the exercise of looking for more shapes and patterns, and committing them to paper would help boost their creativity as the design process continues over the next few days.

Day03 - First Day in Palawan

The participants woke up before the crack of dawn to catch the first flight to Puerto Princesa City.

After quickly checking in at the Bahay Inato where the City had booked them for the duration of the project, they got their first look at the site where the Park will eventually rise.

They had to walk the last 200 meters or so - intermittent rains made it risky for the bus to bring them directly to the site. The City assured us that the road will be fixed up a bit in the next few days.


The spectacular approach to the sea had everyone pumped!

And for the rest of the afternoon, the participants were allowed to simply explore and sketch, again looking for patterns, shapes and inspiration.


Above is Jim Hubbell, the artist-sculptor who is the heart of this Project. He talked briefly about how, in this very first days of the adventure, no one - not even him - knew what the design will turn out to be. As the students explore, they are really trying to find the soul of the project, by learning more and trying to understand as much about the land as they could.


As afternoon rains started to pour outside, the students took shelter in a nearby abandoned building where they shared initial thoughts and ideas.

It's very exciting. Think about it - what will a park look like after it's designed and built, in only four weeks, by a group of young people from different countries and cultures who have only just met?

We're hoping they'll all have the time of their lives, and that Puerto Princesa City (and the rest of the country) will end up with a fitting and long-lasting symbol of peace, environmentalism and friendship.

Starting PRP Phillipines....! (Day 1&2)

Day02 - Exploring Manila

The students who are part of the Pacific Rim Project had a tour around Manila as their orientation to the Philippines and the Filipino culture.

The idea was to give them a sense of the patterns, icons, history, colors and other elements that make the Philippines what it is, and hopefully incorporate these in their ideas for the design of the Pacific Rim Friendship Park in the Philippines.

First stop was at the Chinese Cemetery, the second oldest cemetery in Manila and was the resting place of Chinese citizens who were denied burial in Catholic cemeteries during the Spanish period.

Then they visited La Loma, the lechon capital in the country where they saw a lot of roasted pigs diplayed on the streets.


Then a walk to the famous Chinatown in Binondo, Manila.

The last stop was at Intramuros where they spent the rest of the afternoon sketching


and enjoying the view - and smell? :-) - of the Pasig River.

Day 01 - Meeting

It’s the official Day one of the Pacific Rim Project. A group meeting was held as initial class orientation and meeting of all the participants.

James and Kyle gave an introduction of the whole design process and the understanding of the whole project.

Participants are given the chance to interact and socialize.

The day ended with a dinner and more socials.



I'm looking thru the schedule and find out that today the group was at Manila, and tomorrow they'll be traveling to Palawan. Well I'm just writing hoping everything is good, and wishing everybody a happy park... and reminding everyone that one "half mexican-half american-half russian-full PRP friend"... is cheering you guys up from San Diego..! -send us photos and comments.

by: Cristobal