In the downtown section of Quiapo, Manila, one can wander and chance upon specialty markets that cater to different needs and wants. In one particular area here, a clustering of eyewear suppliers and distributors, and eye clinics can be found patronized by people from all walks of life. This research paper attempts to explore the identity and character of this distinctive area through the lens of Ian Bentley's Responsive Environments.

1. References: lougopal.com

2. Mapping Out the Architecture, Place-
making, and Spatial Dynamics of
Quiapo’s Optical Precinct

3. DYNAMICS OF ARCHITECTURAL SPACE
Rodelon M. Ramos
University of the Philippines Diliman – College of Architecture

4. Quiapo At a Glance

5. Quiapo At a Glance
• It is home to the renowned Quiapo Church (Minor Basilica of the
Black Nazarene) and the procession of the Black Nazarene being
attended by faithful devotees annually
• It derived its name from a type of aquatic plant called Water
Cabbage (known as ‘kiapo’ in Tagalog)
• Referred to as the Old Downtown of Manila
• Pasig River and Estero de San Miguel bound its southern limits, the
District of San Miguel to the east, Recto Avenue to the north and
Rizal Avenue (colloquially known as Avenida) to the west.
• Quiapo District has sixteen (16) barangays under its jurisdiction

6. Quiapo At a Glance
References: philippines-travel-guide.com; histroyofarchitecture.weebly.com; media.philstar.com; newsinfo,inquirer.net; 2.bp.blogspot

7. Quiapo At a Glance
References: gmanews.tv, newsinfo.inquirer.net, wikimedia.org, manila.coconuts.co

8. The Optical Precinct
• One of the many zones of commerce bustling within the historic
quarters of Quiapo is a dedicated hub merchants, proprietors,
and patrons who have an identical agenda – to offer and
consume goods and services that are optical in nature.
• By virtue of the absence of a defined, established and singular
main street within Quiapo, all the shopping streets have
organically grown into what they are now – offering
merchandises and services in close proximity to one another –in
stiff competition.

9. The Optical Precinct
• Certain streets have become associated with the specialty
products and goods they provide, and three contiguous streets
in close proximity to the Quiapo Church are known for the
cheap bargain and wholesale optical merchandises
• Since the 80’s the trade of optical goods have grown along the
street of Pedro Paterno, and fast forward to present, has
evolved and subsumed the streets of Sales and Padre Gomez.

10. The Optical Precinct
Satellite View

11. Responsive Environments
by Ian Bentley, et al
• Permeability
• Variety
• Legibility (Paths, Edges, Nodes, Landmarks, Districts)
• Robustness
• Visual Appropriateness
• Personalization

12. Permeability
Keywords:
Accessibility, Hierarchical Layout, Scale of
Development , Pedestrian Segregation, Vehicular
Segregation, Security
Challenges:
1. Generation of uncontrolled local traffic
2. Lack of distinction of the public domain
3. Unclear segregation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic
4. Constraints in walkability

13. Permeability

14. Permeability
PEDRO PATERNO STREET
Terminus: (W) Rizal Ave. & (E) Quezon Blvd.
Street Length: ± 245 Meters
Street Width: ± 6 Meters
No. of Junctions: Six (6)

15. Permeability
SALES STREET
Terminus: (S) Carriedo St. & (N) Soler St.
Street Length: ± 386 Meters
Street Width: ± 4 Meters
No. of Junctions: Three (3)

16. Permeability
PADRE GOMEZ STREET
Terminus: (N) Gonzalo Puyat St. & (S) Carriedo St.
Street Length: ± 310 Meters
Street Width: ± 4 Meters
No. of Junctions: Two (2)

17. Permeability

18. Permeability
Ingress/Egress: Pedestrian &
Motorized Traffic
Ingress/Egress: Pedestrian Traffic

19. Permeability
Shared Traffic
On-foot Traffic

20. Permeability
Possible Design Intervention:
-Establishment of directional traffic schemes and direction
-Adaption of road-sharing signage and way-finding means to
guide motorists and pedestrians
-Utilization of traffic-calming techniques
-Usage of road markings
Findings:
1. High Permeability to Pedestrian Traffic
2. Medium Permeability to Vehicular Traffic
3. Low-Medium Permeability to Delivery of Goods
4. Bicycle infrastructure is not supported

21. Variety
Keywords: Range of Activity, Possibility of
Supply, Positive Interaction with Design
Challenges:
1. Improvement of street features, shopfronts,
overhead utilities
2.

22. Variety

23. Variety

24. Keywords:
Physical Form, Activity Patterns, Paths, Edges, Districts, Nodes,
Landmarks
Challenges:
1. Creation of a welcome/distinct marker to signify arrival to the
precinct
2. Introduction of urban design street features that will become a
cohesive element for familiarity – such as free seating, lighting
fixtures, venues for small-time public performances, plant boxes,
bicycle racks, etc.
Legibility

25. Legibility - Paths

26. Legibility - Edges

27. Legibility - District

28. Legibility - Nodes

29. Legibility - Landmarks

30. Findings:
1. No indicator to signify arrival and exit within the precinct
2. Medium-building height lend an atmosphere of human-scale relationship to
pedestrians
3. Structures that belong to different architectural timelines create character and
interest
4. Discriminate use of advertisements create both urban rhythm and saturation
URBAN DESIGN TRANSLATION:
1. Proposal of urban branding / trademark for the precinct as a
catch-all marketing idea to promote and sell optical goods and
services – with P. Paterno Street being the main street
2. Replacement of road surface material from existing asphalt /
concrete finish into heavy-duty, permeable paving materials
Legibility

31. Keywords:
Building Depth, Access, Building Height, Hard Spaces & Soft
Spaces, Size & Shape
Challenges:
1. Scrutinize natural illumination and ventilation vis-à-vis
existing building depth, massing, and height
2. Absence of decent hard spaces and soft spaces to provide
contrast to built-up urban fabric
Robustness

32. Robustness

33. Robustness

34. Findings:
1. Building Mass and Built do not intimidate pedestrian experience
2. Medium accessibility to the Precinct is a quality although
improvements are needed
3. Orientation of shop fronts along the busiest street create a
sustained sense of place; Certain frontages along less minor
streets deter prolonged human activity
Urban Design Intervention:
1. Proposal of a Growth and Urban Development Plan to anticipate future needs
and problems within the precinct
2. Improvement of pedestrian access from major thoroughfares – this includes
liberation of sidewalks and footpaths, replacement of existing pavement with
pervious and durable materials, among others
3. Provide vertical living walls for unused and blank walls in less busy street
sections (Sales St.)
4. Linkages to existing nodes of pedestrian connectivity
Robustness

35. Keywords:
• supporting the place’s legibility
• supporting the place’s variety
• Supporting the place’s robustness
Challenges:
1. Building height (two to four storeys on average) does not intimidate and
complement the human scale at street level
2. Overhead clutter create distraction from the exterior treatment of shop fronts
3. Street frontages of shops encourage different uses and activities
4. Areas concealed by delivery vehicles tend to become conducive for vagrancy and
littering
Visual Appropriateness

36. Visual Appropriateness

37. Visual Appropriateness

38. Findings:
1. Areas concealed by delivery vehicles tend to become
conducive for vagrancy and littering
Urban Design Intervention:
1. Introduction of a precinct marker to delineate visual legibility
2. Restoration of Facades into their original state and condition
3. Removal/concealment of eyesore utility objects at building exteriors
4. Improvement of main entrances, glass windows, display shelves to
sophisticated or more decent materials and finishes
Visual Appropriateness

39. Keywords:
Sense of Smell, Sense of Touch, Sense of Hearing, Sense of Sight
Challenges:
1. Ambient and uncomfortable noise is present
all through out the busy hours of the day
2. Visual disarray cause blending of
Richness

40. Richness

41. Richness

42. Findings:
1. Medium Degree of Richness brought about by ambulant vendors and peddlers
who occupy part of street space as interim areas of business
2. Utilitarian means of the streets are made evident by service-related purposes
such as delivery and receiving of goods, temporary parking, drying yard, staging
area, and seating opportunity, among others
3. Streets have become an organic stage for rich urban activities – from commercial
transactions, religious wandering, flaneuring, loitering, littering, and temporary
recreation for the weary workers.
-
Urban Design Intervention:
1. Improvement of amenities – provision of a central public
toilet, clinic, a police outpost, and an information booth
2. Waste Management – improve drainage lines and waste
collection schemes; provide a small-scale materials-recovery
facility
Richness

43. Keywords:
External image, stamping of personal taste, self-identity
Challenges:
1. Absence of regulation led to uncontrolled imposition of garish
external treatment
2. Lack of established guidelines on the usage of street frontages paved
the way for the obstruction of prime spaces that could have enjoyed
and used as part of the public domain.
Personalization

44. Personalization

45. Findings:
1. Tenants have a free rein on the design, upkeep, maintenance and
personal stamps on certain buildings and spaces
Urban Design Intervention:
1. Design Management/Standardization of advertorials and fixed
marketing showpieces
2. Repainting and cleaning of facades and other exterior elements
subject to ambient pollution and weathering
3. Adaption of guerrilla landscaping techniques
Personalization

46. What is this for, then? Here’s the deal.
1. Revitalize a rundown urban section to project strides in local governance
2. Establish a marketable precinct developed through sound urban design principles
3. Provide conducive and pleasant shopping experience for pedestrians and long-
term users
4. Uplift neighborhood retailing and providing support for the improvement and
better performance of local enterprises
5. Organize existing utilities and services
6. Resolve and further anticipate the development, congestion, and pollution
7. Create a worthy precedent

47. Under the Lens of Urban Design
- A Synthesis
On the whole, Quiapo’s Optical Precinct subsists on its own
vibrant pulse enlivened by the demand and supply of the optical industry
– and its loyal habitués. Its diluted concentration of merchants have
flourished despite some apparent setbacks in urban design and planning,
city ordinances, and local traffic regulation, and terribly utilized spaces.
It has been put forth the redeveloping and rebuilding
neighborhood retail streets tend to become difficult, lengthy, and entail a
lot of complicated process (Beyard, Pawlukiewicz, Bond - 2003). But this
shouldn’t be seen as a deterrent to actually improve the appearance and
uplift the experience of shopping within this specialty precinct.
But in order to be attuned with the ever-changing necessities of
the times, considerations must be made into the status quo, and assessing
the problems, future needs, and economic opportunities will warrant a
return of focus to the role of traditional neighborhoods and downtowns in
the upkeep of urban centers.
References: Beyard, Michael D., Michael Pawlukiewicz, and Alex Bond. Ten Principles for Rebuilding Neighborhood Retail.
Washington, D.C.: ULI–the Urban Land Institute, 2003.