Metro Manila is often defined by steel, traffic, and endless stretches of concrete — but Mapúa University is helping Filipinos imagine a different future. Through research-driven urban design and a deep commitment to sustainability, the university is shaping a new blueprint for greener, healthier, and more livable cities.
As one of the country’s premier engineering and technological institutions, Mapúa is empowering its students to rethink urban life from the ground up. Its programs infuse global best practices, sustainability-centered design, and people-first planning principles such as Place Theory and placemaking, encouraging learners to craft solutions that balance aesthetics, functionality, and community well-being.
One standout example is the recent thesis of Architect Sharmaine B. Baes, whose work shows how small, neglected corners of the city can unlock big environmental and social benefits. In her study, Improving Quality of Urban Residual Spaces Through a Place Theory Approach: A Case Study of District 1, Pasay City, she explored how “residual spaces” — vacant lots, easements, open edges, and areas under elevated structures — can be transformed into vibrant micro-parks and community spaces.
Her research found that residents already use these leftover spaces for walking, resting, selling food, and socializing, despite the lack of safety, accessibility, or greenery. By applying Place Theory, conducting spatial analysis, and engaging the community through surveys and interviews, Architect Baes designed a framework showing how these underappreciated pockets of land can become safe, sustainable, and people-friendly public spaces.
Her proposals include pocket parks, modular libraries, shaded waiting areas with mist-cooling systems, gender-inclusive restrooms, PWD-accessible features, and open green zones that help reduce urban heat. She also wove climate resilience into the concept by introducing elements like modular green infrastructure and reverse vending machines to encourage recycling and circularity.
What makes her work especially powerful is its replicability. The Assessment Framework she developed can guide local governments in identifying and transforming similar spaces across Metro Manila, offering a scalable model for policy reform and long-term urban development.
Mapúa University’s Dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, Industrial Design, and the Built Environment, Dr. Junar P. Tablan, said the Philippines can meaningfully expand its green space network through steady, long-term planning.
He emphasized that a timeline of 10 to 20 years — backed by consistent enforcement, supportive zoning policies, and a cultural shift in how public spaces are valued — can lead to visible, impactful results. Formal recognition of residual spaces, community garden allocations, and public realm contributions from developers would also accelerate progress.
Dr. Tablan added that the success of urban greening relies on strong collaboration: academia to craft research-backed solutions, industry partners to offer technical expertise, and communities to provide lived insights that shape inclusive, place-specific designs.
Through innovative research like Architect Baes’s and the intentional leadership of institutions like Mapúa, urban greening is steadily transitioning from aspiration to national priority — proving that even in a metropolis of concrete, there is still room to grow life, shade, and possibility.
To learn more about Mapúa’s Master of Science in Architecture – Urban Design program and other globally competitive offerings, visit mapua.edu.ph today and start your journey toward a world-class, future-forward education.