BACKGROUND
Philippine Tiong Se Academy was the first Filipino-Chinese School in the country. As such, it was the school of choice for the Filipino-Chinese families upon its founding. Through the years, as the Filipino-Chinese community started to spread out from Binondo and as their socio-economic clout grew, newer and better location schools were developed. Today Philippine Tiong Se Academy is located in the dense and commercially active heart of Binondo/Divisoria. This neighborhood has attracted a new wave of Chinese Immigrants who have quickly fund in the void left by the earlier and more integration Filipino-Chinese. Surrounding the school are numerous high-rise condominium buildings housing some thousands of families whose business are vitally linked to Divisoria.
This huge potential “market” would ideally be served by a modern school which belongs to the community and can help in developing the next generation. Hedged in by the numerous condominium developments, Philippine Tiong Se Academy serves as one of the few breathing spaces for the community. It is a school which is incredibly accessible considering the increasing traffic problems of Binondo and the still existing cultural gap between the new wave of Filipino-Chinese and their host country.
To arrest the deterioration of its facilities, Philippine Tiong Se is undergoing an intense reorganization and reconstruction effort. It is hoped that this shall allow it to attract more students and once again become a school of choice for the Filipino-Chinese Community.
STRATEGY – REBIRTH
This PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT of Philippine Tiong Se refuses to accept CHANGE FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGE. Repairing and repainting the school would not create a modern institute of learning. It will not allow for a Rebirth but rather just slow the already evident deterioration in facilities and image.
This proposal envisions recreating the school and maximizing its strengths to create a place of learning that shall be impossible to ignore for the residents of the community. This is a proposal for REBIRTH.
Philippine Tiong Se Academy will serve as a special sanctuary for the kids in the densely packed neighborhood. A strong infusion of colors to stand in stark contrast with the heavy shadows of high rise buildings and immense pressure of the adjoining markets.
The new school will have a stronger connection with the outdoors. It will be more open and will make use of the wind shear created by the surrounding towers. Day lighting will be abundant and should be an asset of all parts of the new building.
The school shall be an enabler of interaction by providing spaces for this. It shall encourage growth and development by allowing for more usable and more open platforms of interaction. It is a school that connotes.
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