4. CASE STUDY
a. International Case Studies
EXAMPLE 1
I.
II.
III.
Project title: Jaegersborg Water tower
Location: Jægersborg station in Jægersborg, Gentofte
Municipality, Copenhagen, Denmark
History
Jægersborg Water Tower (1955)
Originally the Jægersborg Water Tower was designed by the
Danish architect and professor Edward Thomsen. It was
constructed in 1955 during a period of significant post-World War
II growth in the Jægersborg area. As its name suggests, in 1955 the
primary function of the Jægersborg Water Tower was to provide a
reliable supply of clean drinking water to the local community due
to the relatively high location of the area. The tower's elevated
position allowed it to distribute water to the surrounding
residential areas through gravity flow, ensuring a steady supply to
residents. Over the years, the Jægersborg Water Tower became
more than just a functional utility structure; it evolved into a
recognizable landmark in the Jægersborg area. Its hilltop location
and distinctive design made it a notable part of the local
landscape. The tower and its weather vane have garnered cultural
significance, representing a period of growth and development in
Jægersborg's history. Despite initial controversies, it has become
an accepted and cherished part of the community's heritage. The
Jægersborg Water Tower continued to stand as a symbol of the
area's history and development.
Jægersborg Water Tower (2006)
In 2006, the plans to place apartments in the tower were rekindled. Dorte
Mandrup Arkitekter was tasked with transforming the top five stories into
affordable youth housing. To break up the monotony of the tower’s shape, the
distinctive bay windows were installed on the exterior of the building, creating
new geometrical spaces and letting in more light. Rooms were also created on
the exterior for three terraces to disrupt the cylindrical shape. At the center of
the tower, there are three communal areas. The lower three stories are still
used by the Jægersborg After-School Club while also retaining the cultural
heritage and recognizable landmarks in the district.
IV.
Advantage and Disadvantage
Advantage
● Utilized materials such
as the whole concrete
structure is maintained
● Flexibility of spaces
within the structure
while maintaining and
adding some elements
to the existing building
● The building used the
opportunity to meet the
changes in the
community rather using
it as a student housing
and youth center
● The tower combined
with communal
balconies emphasizes
the landmark character
of its own, embellished
with new features
Disadvantage
● Cost prohibited
materials and housing
are expected
● Strict limit of materials
as to how the solution
can be fixed given that
the users are for youth
center and people under
education
● The existing building
through its shear scale
already has an iconic
value that had to be
considered in all stages,
and on all levels from
geometry to the choice
of materials.
● Physical restrictions
considering that the
existing number of
columns and structural
system layouts of the
structure are not
modified
EXAMPLE 2
I.
II.
III.
Project title: The Green Building
Location: LOUISVILLE, UNITED STATES
History
Established in 2008 located in the east market district of Louisville, the
rehabilitation of the 115-year-old former dry goods store began in 2007. A
federally classified distressed area at the time of purchase and construction,
The Green Building has become the catalyst to the reinvigoration of the
district, now the hip city center for arts and sustainability, coined NuLu, or
‘New Louisville.’
Intent upon rescuing the building from decades of misuse, the project included
resuscitating the structural masonry shell and infusing it with a modern core,
including a 40-foot-high lobby, expansive natural lighting, eco-friendly
materials, and renewable energy systems, as well as extensive solar power,
geothermal wells, and recycled denim insulation.
(Powered by 81 solar panels: photovoltaic 15-kilowatt solar power system)
The green building was designed in partnership with Los Angeles-based
architecture firm (fer). The green building transformed into a mixed-use
commercial building housing a gallery, event space, offices, tenant office
spaces, conference room, and a separate tenant restaurant space. The
building’s original mortar joint façade remained intact while the 1980’s
storefront was replaced by an angled, recessed wood and aluminum façade
that recedes. The green building is designed to outperform Kentucky energy
codes by up to 65% and meets or exceeds the standard American Society for
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Ventilation for
Acceptable Indoor Air Quality and through architectural design maximizes
daylight and views in 95 percent of all regularly occupied spaces.
IV.
Advantage and Disadvantage
Advantage
● Incorporated Innovative
Reuse Design: selectively
removed parts of the
structure, creating space
for a fresh, adaptive
design. The strategic
placement of tall spaces
next to smaller ones
generated a feeling of
openness contrasting with
cozy, intimate areas. The
new construction respects
the building's historic
front, gradually unveiling a
modern layout as visitors
move towards the rear.
● Water efficiency: Storm
water is either absorbed by
the green roof, collected in
three large rain barrels, or
directed into a rain garden,
where the toxins are
removed by plant material
before reentering the
groundwater system.
● Energy efficiency :81 solar
panels, a 1,100-gallon ice
Disadvantages
● High initial investment due
to technology installation.
● Energy supply may depend
on weather conditions.
● Less flexibility of an
existing building in order to
adapt to its structural
conditions due to its
constraints.
● High cost of maintenance
and repair due to physical
deterioration and defect.
storage system, and twelve
geothermal wells 225 feet
underneath the building
● Reused Materials: In
addition to saving the
original mortar shell of the
structure, The Green
Building team re-used
much of the material from
the original building.
● Recycled Materials: The
Green Building includes a
high percentage of
recycled materials,
including 100% of the
flooring, 70% of the
windows, and 80% of the
insulation, made from
recycled blue jeans.
EXAMPLE 3
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II.
III.
Project title: Sandi Simon Center for Dance at Chapman
University
Location: ORANGE, UNITED STATES
History
Santiago Orange Growers Association built and operated the largest
packing house in Orange in 1918 – the largest and last operating in
Southern California. The project adhered closely to historic
preservation standards. The post and beam heavy timber frame
building is representative of the industrial vernacular style of its
time. Packing houses are generally characterized by their utilitarian
design, prosaic materials, and lack of any characteristics of
recognizable styles. The property was acquired by the Villa Park
Orchards Association in 1967. Chapman University purchased the
packing house from the Villa Park Orchards Association in 2004 and
has repurposed the building to house the Sandi Simon Center for
Dance. Chapman University’s purchase of the building signifies a
dedication to the preservation of this local historic landmark.
Prior to the widespread use of electric lighting, daylight was brought
into the building using a variety of methods including specialized roof
forms to bring light into the interior. Notably, important characterdefining features were maintained throughout the reuse of the
structure, such as the large open spaces, sawtooth clerestories, and
exposed structural elements. The Sandi Simon Center for Dance
houses studio spaces for one-on-one and small groups instruction,
performance space for small concerts and master classes, and a
faculty studio and offices. The center addresses not only the studio
and classroom need of the dance program, but also provides spaces
for students to socially engage as well.
IV.
Advantage and disadvantage
Advantage
● Lessened use of new
materials since the
rehabilitation equips
historic character of the
packing house such as
utilizing the wooden floor
as a material for a new
design as well as the
sawtooth roofing. Thus,
preserving the historical
heritage
● LOHA’s adaptive reuse
strategy opens the
structure with a calculated
cut through the original
floor, allowing a
reorganization into three
levels and forming a new
circulation through the
former packing house
allowing it to be more
flexible due to its original
state of open space
● Providing more usable
space within the existing
envelope where the
Disadvantage
● Intangible and noneconomic perspectives of
maintaining day-to-day lives
of people who are attached
to the place.
● High cost of maintenance
and repair due to physical
deterioration and defects
basement had been
underutilized historically
had opened the portion of
the ground level to the
basement.
b. Local Case Studies
Example 1
I. Project title: Rizal Memorial Coliseum
II. Location: Malate, Manila
III. History
An indoor arena, which has stood as a symbol of the country’s rich sports
history, was completed in 1934 as a tennis stadium called “Rizal Memorial
Tennis Stadium”, but later renamed ”Rizal Memorial Coliseum” under the
supervision of architect Juan Arellano-a pioneering Filipino Architect. It was
finished in time for the 10th Far Eastern championship games, which Manila
was hosting the same year. During the war, Japanese troops used Rizal Sports
Complex as a garrison. It was also the site where Manuel Quezon was named
one of the presidential candidates in the 1935 elections. By the time Manila
was liberated in 1945, the structure had been destroyed and was rebuilt in
1953 for the 1954 Asian Games, and since then has hosted a number of
athletic meets and national events. It also hosted two sold out concerts of the
Beatles.
The fate of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex almost ended tragically in 2016
if not for the vigilance of heritage groups. The Complex faced the threat of
destruction in 2016 when the Local Government of Manila, which owns the
property, expressed their interest in transforming the property into a mixeduse development through a partnership with a private company. Heritage
advocates and cultural groups, however, stepped in.
The site was declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines earlier this year. Prior to that, the National
Museum declared Rizal Sports Complex an Important Cultural Property in
2017. It was deemed significant because of its distinct Art Deco style—ensuring
that the structure won't be subject to demolition or improver renovation.
(Inside the rehabilitation of the coliseum)
(Quarantine facility inside the RMSC)
The coliseum later underwent a major rehabilitation funded by the national
government, in time for 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019. The structure
was later used as a quarantine facility at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,
proving that old buildings can serve crucial roles in modern lives if only they’re
allowed to do so. Today, the Rizal Memorial Coliseum stands proudly as the
product of multi-sectoral efforts to conserve our built heritage.
IV.
Advantage and disadvantages
Advantage
● Preserved the cultural
heritage through maintaining
its natural original state of use
as a sports complex otherwise
it would have been
demolished or used as a
commercial building.
● Not only it is declared as a
national historical landmark
moreover it has the capacity
to host national sport events
in the Philippines.
● Environmentally responsible
given the fact that materials
are costly and scarce and the
existing pollution aplenty here
in the Philippines.
Disadvantage
● Key components and materials
had to be sourced from local,
readily available suppliers.
● unnecessary additions that have
accrued over the years had
been dismantled that might
cause deterioration over time.
● Implementing technology such
as air-conditioning causing most
of the windows to be removed
that can affect the structural
stability of the building
Example 2
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II.
III.
Project title: Casa Floria
Location: San Juan City
History
(Villa Floro’s exterior from 1920’s)
Villa Floro was built in 1924, the two-story abode, by Floro Santos
and Maria Feliciano to become the home for his family of eight
children. It was the first house built along Foch Street (currently P.
Guevarra) in San Juan. The property resembles a 20th century
American colonial era bahay na bato at kahoy or stone and wood
house signifying the developments between Spanish colonial era
houses and their American era with its capiz shell sliding windows,
ventanillas, a metal openwork fascia, and lyre-shaped fretworks.
Throughout the years, this residence has been a silent observer to
numerous significant moments in history. It served as a gathering
place for both social and civic gatherings, offering a secure haven
during times of conflict. While it miraculously withstood the ravages
of World War II, it couldn't withstand the rapid changes that
accompanied the passage of time. The house was then passed down
to one of their children, who passed it further down the line.
Unfortunately for a prolonged period, the property, now 98 years
old, exhibited the typical signs of deterioration.
(Casa Floria before the restoration)
The massive house, now called Casa Floria, had undergone
conservation (and relocation) and was disassembled then rebuilt
piece by piece to be transferred to a new site located along M.
Infante Street. The project of Villa Floro was taken on by Architect
Gerard Lico and his Arc Lico team, who specialize in the heritage
conservation of Philippine structures. Reconstruction of Casa Floria
made the house weatherproof and earthquake resistant and
incorporated additional spaces to meet the current needs of the
residents.
(Great attention was given to ensure a seamless integration of the
new structure with the original framework of the house)
(Casa Florio Today)
The completed structure featured its original social spaces in its 1924
configuration as well as the principal façade and driveway façade
were conserved. The brand new, additional spaces were built at the
back of the house to preserve the original appearance of the
principal façade. The project took three years to complete and
currently serves as the owner’s family home in its new address.
IV.
Advantage and Disadvantage
Advantage
● Preserved the cultural
heritage and
memories of the
house as well as
resembling the
timeline of its
generation.
● The structural stability
of the house had been
restored while
retaining the shell of
the former structure.
● The construction of
the house reduced the
use of materials by
recycling the exterior
materials used on the
former structure.
Disadvantage
● Challenges on how to
meticulously
disassemble the
materials without the
structure being
collapsed and
maintaining the pieces
of the façade intact.
Example 3
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II.
III.
Project title: First United Building
Location: BINONDO, MANILA
History
First United Building formerly known and still commonly referred to
as Perez-Samanillo Building is one of the prominent structures in
Escolta street, dubbed as the ‘Queen of Manila Streets’, Escolta was
home to banks, big business, government offices, and the most
elegant boutiques this side of the South China Sea.
Built in 1928 by renowned Filipino architect Andres Luna de San
Pedro, son of famous painter Juan Luna. It is one of the few and
outstanding, surviving examples of Art Deco office architecture in the
Philippines. Following the aftermath of World War II, the building
was left significantly damaged but was later repaired. It was also the
former site of the famous Berg’s Department Store. In 1951, selfmade Chinese businessman Sy Liang Teng of the Syliangten family
bought Berg’s Department Store from its original American owner,
Ernest Berg. It closed sometime in 1982 and Fairmart took over. In
the 1970s to the 1980s, due to its proximity to the movie theaters of
Avenida Rizal, the building served as the headquarters of movie
production houses of Filipino entertainment icons Dolphy and Nora
Aunor. Ideal Home Houseware Center also occupied the ground floor
until 2004. In 2012, East West Bank occupies the eastern corner of
the building. Aside from being one of Manila’s finest pieces of
surviving pre-World War II Art Deco architecture, the building is also
a centerpiece of the Escolta Street Revival movement. On May 26,
2016, the space once occupied by Berg’s was converted into a bazaar
and exhibition space for young creative artists called Hub. In 2017,
the First Coworking Community, an open space for people looking for
an environment where they can create new ideas and develop
meaningful connections with other passionate creatives, was
opened. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, their operations
were disrupted but all have since resumed operations. On October
16, 2018, the building was declared as a Heritage Structure by the
National Historical Commission of the Philippines. The Syliangtengs
made a conscious effort to maintain the building through an
“adaptive reuse” approach, if not for the initiative of the Sylianteng
family, who bought the building in the 1970s, it would have just been
another ruin, a reminder of World War II.
Today, the First United Building is a burgeoning home to arts and
culture, thanks to the establishment of HUB: Make Lab in 2016. The
building’s ground floor houses a slew of local up-and-coming lifestyle
brands, including vintage shop Glorious Dias, a bar called Fred’s
Revolucion, and The Den, a coffee shop cum art space, among
others.
IV.
Advantage and Disadvantage