AN INTERACTIVE

CULTURAL MUSEUM AND LIBRARY WITH THE

REHABILITATION OF THE HERO’S MEMORIAL PARK

A Thesis Presented to

the College of Engineering and Architecture

University of the Cordilleras

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

For AR 411 DESIGN 08 - Thesis Research Writing

by

NORA LEIGH NICOLAS GALARSE

AUGUST 2018

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 University of the Cordilleras

Governor Pack Road, Harrison Road, Baguio City

Department of Architecture

To: Ar. Irene G. Florendo, MS Arch.

Thesis Adviser

RE: ENDORSEMENT LETTER FOR TITLE DEFENSE

Dear Architect,

May I inform you that my advisee, GALARSE, NORA LEIGH N., with the

thesis entitled: AN INTERACTIVE CULTURAL MUSEUM AND LIBRARY WITH THE

REHABILITATION OF THE HERO’S MEMORIAL PARK had accomplished the

requirements for AR 411 Architectural Design 8.

I am hereby certifying and endorsing the presentation of the chapter

output of the research study for Oral Defense for panel evaluation requirement

to the architectural panel committee.

Thank You.

Ar. NIcanor K. Latogan, MS Arch.

AR 411 Design 8 Adviser
Date _________________

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 CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY

I hereby declare this submission is my own work and that to the best of my

knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by

another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted

for the award of any other degree or diploma of a university or other institute of

higher learning, except where due acknowledgement is made in the text.

I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of

my own work, even though I may have received assistance from others on style,

presentation and language expression.

Date ________________

Ar. NIcanor K. Latogan, MS Arch.

AR 411 Design 8 Adviser
Date _________________

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page ....................................................................................................................i

Endorsement Letter for Title Defense ......................................................................ii

Certificate of Originality ...........................................................................................iii

Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................iv

PART 1: THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Chapter 1 ................................................................................................................1

1.1 Background of the Study .............................................................................1

1.2 Project Goals, Objectives and Strategies ..................................................2

1.3 Significance of the Study .............................................................................4

1.4 Scope and Limitation ...................................................................................5

1.5 Review of Related Literature and Studies ..................................................6

1.6a Related Literature ......................................................................

1.6b Related Studies/Projects ...........................................................

1.7 Conceptual Framework ...............................................................................8

1.8 Definition of Terms ........................................................................................10

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Chapter 1

1.0 The Problem

1.1 Background of the Study

Culture plays a major role in creating a person and place’s sense of

identity (World Youth Alliance, 1999). Culture includes everything from religion,

history, material traits (Merriam-Webster, 2018) and other significant

characteristics that make persons and places unique and recognizable from

others.

Culture is developed by a people’s history, values, disciplines and

experiences. It gives us a way to connect with our ancestry, get to know

ourselves better based on the group we belong to, strengthen our morals

through our culture’s beliefs and knowledge, and teaches us compassion to co-

exist with other cultures around the world (Discover the Importance of India,

2018).

However, with the advent of modern technology and advances like the

internet, media, and ease of travel, different people’s cultures and traditions

have become muddled because of trends and the lack of interest. Facilities

that preserve information on culture and artefacts of history, like museums and

libraries, are not lacking, but there has been a decline in these facilities because

of modern society’s preference of technological displays and media.

Another problem is that many people nowadays have little to no interest

in their own culture and traditions. Majority of people are consumed by the

global popular trends and forget their own culture. People have lost their

connection to their own roots.

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 With the previously stated problems, one can conclude that there is a

need for museum and library facilities that are updated and equipped to

capture the interest of the current generation as well as preserve and maintain

the unique culture and history of different peoples and places.

The site of the proposed project is located in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya

beside the Saint Louis Beltran Church and Saint Louis School and adjacent to the

national road. Solano is the central business district in Nueva Vizcaya. The town

has a land area of 13,980 hectares, politically subdivided into 22 barangays,

and has a total population of 56,134, distributed in 11,205 households (NSO

2010).

The site is suitable for the proposal due to it is in the center of the town

and surrounded with different structures like school, church, community center

and various commercial buildings. The site is passed by many tourists going to

Banaue, Sagada, Cagayan and Isabela.

The study will rejuvenate the thinking of the people when it comes about

cultural museums and libraries that they are boring and uninteresting. This will

change the minds of people that cultural museums and libraries can be fun and

interesting.

1.2 Goal, Objectives and Strategies

1.2.a Goal:

The goal is to design a cultural museum and library that is innovative and

interactive to its visitors that will cater ranging from children to adults. The end-

users will include the local population as well as visiting tourists passing by the

town.
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1.2.b Objectives

The proposed development has the following objectives:

1. Site and Environment

To Design a facility that takes full advantage of the site’s location and to

incorporate the interactive cultural museum and library to the existing Memorial

Park.

2. Building and Facilities

To design a facility that will provide well-designed configuration of spaces and

will provide fun without compromising the cultural aspect of the facility.

3. Light and Ventilation

To design the facility that takes full advantage of the natural light and

ventilation with the use of effective design elements to create comfortable

indoor environment and adequate lighting.

1.2.c. Strategies

The scheme designed to attain the overall goals and objectives of the proposal

that will be achieved will be the following:

1. Perform a site inventory, analysis, and observation of the proposed site in

Solano, Nueva Vizcaya.

2. Visiting nearest related structure to the proposal.

3. Extracting various sources such as books, magazines and surfing the internet

with reliable contents.

4. Digest related both local and foreign case studies.

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5. Research about new trends and innovations embodying technologies and

strategies.

1.3 Significance of the Study:

The significance of the study is divided from different important aspects. These

include the impacts on local and foreign nationals as part of tourism, on

domestic livelihood, economic level and most importantly, its contribution to the

architectural development of the proposed design.

1.3.a Tourism Significance:

The study will benefit local and foreign nationals by having an additional tourist

spot in the location. This facility will showcase the culture of Solano.

1.3.b Domestic Livelihood Significance:

The study will benefit the domestic livelihood of the town and neighbouring

towns by introducing local food and products, agriculture and fishery.

1.3.c Economic Significance:

The study will benefit the community by increasing employment and attracting

tourists that will result to the higher population of the town.

1.3.d Architectural Significance:

The study will benefit the aesthetic view of the location and its surrounding and

will introduce a new approach to museums and libraries by providing

architectural solutions that are effective.

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1.4 Scope and Limitation:

This research will be conveyed to study the design for an interactive

cultural museum and library to be situated in the center of the municipality of

Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. The museum and library will showcase the vast culture

of the said municipality and exhibit it in a way that users will enjoy by interacting

and providing different activities than the normal cultural museums.

The design will cover the area of the proposed lot (4,304 sq. m.) including

the rehabilitation of the existing memorial park (1,149 sq. m.) across the

proposed lot. The design of the museum and library and the existing park will be

design with unity. The study will cover the conception of the design and

planning of the museum and library along with the supporting facilities and

landscaping of the proposed sites.

The indoor and outdoor facilities will comprise different exhibit areas

showcasing the different cultures of the municipality, the library, ticket booth,

cloakroom and luggage, virtual galleries, activity area for cooking local

delicacies, museum souvenir shop, discussion and activity rooms, café, other

services, administration areas, outdoor performing area, parking areas and

other landscaping elements that will provide fun to the users.

The research will also comprehend various trends, innovations and

technologies in the proposed project. Providing alternate media for way finding

information, exhibits, presentations and background material using Braille,

audio, text and captions. Audio presentation will also be incorporated.

The design will be considerate about the combination of natural lighting

and artificial lighting. Lighting plays a major role in determining how people

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 experience the museum and library. Lighting design helps guide audiences’

visual quality.

1.5 Review of Related Studies

Interactive museums for arts, science and technology,

Local Case Study

i. Philippine Science Centrum (Philippine Science Centrum. (2016, May 08).

Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/philippine-science-centrum-essay)

For more than 2 decades, the Philippine

Science Centrum presently located in

Marikina City has never ceased in offering

new features and exhibits year after year.

With its internal capacity in the interactive

development and fabrication, the PSC has

Figure 1. Entrance of the Philippine Science Centrum.
Retrieved
the luxury of producing customized exhibits http://www.kumagcow.com/2015/04/kapuso-kids-
vincent-magbanua-carl.html

with locally-sourced materials.

Science Centrum made sure they are given opportunity to be ‘edu-tained’ by

the hands-on science modules. As early as 1995, the PSC mobilized its first mobile

exhibition, the Adventures in Discovery- Traveling Science Centrum (AIDTSC) to

bridge the gap of distance and bring Science Centrum on the regions. Through

the years, PCS produced 9 sets of traveling exhibitions but keeping the Science

Centrum constantly upgraded with new and exciting interactive exhibits is still a

‘must-do’.

The Philippine Science centrum received from the Association of Science and

Technology Centers baesd in the USA the 2011 Roy L. Shaper Leading Edge

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Award for PSC’s rapid response and recover during the typhoon Ondoy and as

an Outstanding Science Center outside of the United States of America.

ii. Art in Island Interactive Art Museum (Seek the World(n.d.) Philippines: Art in

Island – Largest 3D Museum in Asia. Retrieved from http://seektheworld.com/art-

in-island-3d-museum-manila/)

Located at Brgy. Socorro,

Cubao, Quezon City, the Art in

Island was founded by Yun Jae

Kyoung together with a team of 18

Korean master painters who were Figure 2. Seek the World(n.d.) Philippines: Art in Island – Largest
3D Museum in Asia. Building façade (Photograph). Retrieved
from http://seektheworld.com/art-in-island-3d-musem-
specially flown in for the project. manila/)

They all worked together and created the paintings in the museum. The

museum had over 200 masterpieces, including reproduction of works of masters,

animals, Egyptian ruins and others—most of them are 3D! These arts give the

illusion of depth when viewed from a certain angle, and is designed to serve as

a backdrop for photo opportunities.

The purpose of opening a 3D

trick art museum in Manila was to

acknowledge Flipinos’ love affair with

taking selfies and sharing them with Figure 3. Seek the World(n.d.) Philippines: Art in Island –
Largest 3D Museum in Asia. Themed zone (Photograph).
Retrieved from http://seektheworld.com/art-in-island-3d-
their loved ones on social media. musem-manila/)

There were many different themed “zones” that are enjoyable upon

entering the hallway of the museum. It was themed as the Masterpiece Zone

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where you could interact with the famous paintings from all over the world (i.e.

“The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh, “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci,

“The Scream” by Edvard Munch, etc.).

They featured themes that includes the following:

 Aquatic Adventures (underwater zone)

 Journey to the Jungle (animal zone)

 Winter Wonderland (Christmas zone)

 Religious World of Art (religious zone)

 Dungeons of the Ancient Times (central hall)

 Magical and Mysterious Walls (fantasy zone)

1.6 Conceptual/Theoretical Framework

The proposed project will make use of two major concepts: (1) Cultural

showcase (2) Fun Educational purpose. To design a successful interactive

cultural museum and library with these concepts, the researcher must then

compare two types of information and data relating to these concepts- (1)

Existing facts and features, and (2) Theories, Ideas and Concepts. Next, these

two types of information will be compared and contrasted to extract and

identify what can and can’t be suitable for the proposed project.

To be able to fit the future design and to check which of the facts and

concepts of the museum and library are applicable to the proposed lot, they

need to be cross checked with existing conditions, elements, features, and

activities both within and around the proposed lot.

The information can be further sorted into three groups (1) Site/

Environmental aspect, (2) Building aspect, and lastly, (3) Light and Ventilation.

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Foreign practices will be compared with local museum and library trends and

facilities will be compared to identify which of these will be suitable for/ can best

be applied to the proposed project.

Finally, the research output will be for the researcher to be able to design

the interactive museum and library that provides a range of services and fun for

its end-users.

Proposed Lot (Site Concept of Cultural Experiential Data

Aspect) Showcase
a. Natural physical a. Site/ a. Case studies
features, man- Environmental of existing
I made features Aspect facilities similar
(Physical b. Building Aspect
to the
N Characteristics) c. Light and
b. Landscape Ventilation proposed
P Elements Concept of Fun project
- Trees, plants, Educatinal Purpose
U shrubs a. Site/
- Hard and soft Environmental
T surfaces Aspect
- Materials b. Building Aspect
c. Adjacent c. Light and
Buildings, land uses Ventilation
and zoning, road/s

PROCESS

Coparative Analysis: (a) Case Studies of Local and International interactive

museum and library

OUTPUT

To Design a facility that:

a. that takes full advantage of the site’s location

b. will provide well-designed configuration of spaces and will provide fun

without compromising the cultural aspect of the facility.

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c. takes full advantage of the natural light and ventilation with the use of

effective design

1.7 Definition of Terms

Museum

A museum is an institution that cares for (conserves) a collection of artifacts and

other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance

Library

A library is a collection of sources of information and similar resources, made

accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing.[1] It provides

physical or digital access to material, and may be a physical building or room,

or a virtual space, or both. A library's collection can include books, periodicals,

newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps, prints, documents, microform, CDs,

cassettes, videotapes, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, e-books, audiobooks, databases,

and other formats.

Park

A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human

enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It

may consist of grassy areas, rocks, soil and trees, but may also contain buildings

and other artifacts such as monuments, fountains or playground structures.

Culture

Culture is the social behavior and norms found in human societies. Culture is

considered a central concept in anthropology, encompassing the range of

phenomena that are transmitted through social learning in human societies.

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Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is the process of restoring a structure to a useful and constructive

place in society.

Integrated

Combining or coordinating separate elements so as to provide a harmonious,

interrelated whole. (Dictionary.com, 2017)

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