FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts

Nicanor Reyes St. Sampaloc Manila

Mangrove Biomimicry: Floating Waterfront Park and Aquatic

Research Center for Manila Bay Restoration
Manila Bay Beach, Malate, Manila

In partial fulfillment of the requirements

Architectural Design 9

Researcher:
Galilee D. Daep
Section 5

Adviser
Ar. Anne Lorraine Mutia & Ar. Vannesa Grace Cabiedes

Consultant
Ar. Arjay John Secugal

August 2023
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CHAPTER 1: Introduction

1.1. Background of the Study

Marine pollution is an environmental problem we are facing today. According to

research, marine pollution affects the biodiversity of aquatic animals decreasing their

population. (Marine Pollution | National Geographic Society, n.d.) Plastics, chemicals

discharged from factories, and other man-made factors produce excess nitrogen and

phosphorus that cause algae to bloom. Harmful algae blooms can cause higher mortality

rates in aquatic animals by high respiration of algae causing a lack of oxygen in the

water. (Beckler et al, 2019).

Aside from algae blossoms, oil spills also affect the ecosystem of the marine

population. Oil floats above the water making the surface dense causing a shortage of

oxygen for marine species. (How Oil Spills Affect Fish and Whales |

response.restoration.noaa.gov, n.d.). If this problem is not addressed, marine species

may face massive extinction in the future. The extinction of species can result in an

unbalanced ecosystem in the ocean. Marine defaunation can affect the sustainability

and availability of food sources to humans. In addition, polluted oceans can cause

various diseases in humans by consuming seafood. (Wihbey, 2016).

According to Tinsley (2020), traces of microplastic are present in foods humans

ingest. Plastics are non-biodegradable materials that cannot be decayed even after

decades. Microplastics carry toxins that can cause lung irritation, dizziness, and worst,

allergic reactions that can threaten life. (Parker, 2022). Although some studies have

proven that microplastic often does harm to our bodies it is still alarming since according

to Dick Vethaak, a professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, microplastics in blood were

DAEP, GALILEE D.
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discovered. Blood should not carry foreign materials, especially microplastic since it can

cause blood clots which can kill a person.

In the Philippines, Manila Bay is a natural harbor facing the West Philippine Sea

with an area of 1,994 km². The coastline of Manila Bay is adjacent to the urban areas in

Metro Manila. Urban activities are one of the many contributors to marine pollution in the

Manila Bay area. About 9000 tons of waste were thrown into bodies of water connected

to Manila Bay. (Cudis, 2019). The waste ended up on the surface of Manila Bay

becoming an eyesore and cause of pollution to the environment.

In 2021, Dolomite Beach, a project by the Philippine government was created to

address the excessive garbage being washed on the shore of Manila Bay. Reports said

that the cleanup project was successful. Contrary to that, critics said that Dolomite

Beach is not as effective as what the government tells the public since it did not address

the bigger issue- the ecological problem. (Pena, 2021). The solution in Manila Bay is

beyond repairable by cleanup alone and a beautification project. The solutions often

proposed to the area are temporary, beautification is different from solutions since it only

whitewashed the real issues of the problem.

Despite being the Philippines’ center of economic activity through shipping,

fishing, aquaculture, and tourism, Manila Bay faced enormous challenges. Compared to

Singapore’s Marina Bay waterfront, which became a landmark of its own country due to

the developments and activities it offers. Manila Bay remains underdeveloped in terms of

sustainability. The urban impact in Manila Bay caused heavy environmental

consequences which resulted in coastal erosion and dwindling biodiversity. (Manila Bay,

n.d.)

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1.2. Statement of the Problem

This research aims to build an aquatic research center and waterfront park in the

Manila Bay area to observe and provide long-term solutions for the continuous rise of

marine pollution around the area. Manila Bay is one of the pillars of the economic trade

in the Philippines both local and international. Marine pollution has been damaging the

biodiversity of Manila Bay for a long time. According to studies, marine pollution can

cause huge problems not only in the physical aspect of marine life but also to the

economy with damage to fisheries, shipping, and tourism. (The Ocean Cleanup, 2023).

This research aims to answer the following questions:

Main Problem:

How can the project improve the quality of Manila Bay’s biodiversity?

Minor Problems:

1. What spatial areas will be provided?

2. What are the programs and activities to be implemented?

3. How will the maintenance operate in the project?

Table 1.

Research Question, Architectural Goals and Objectives, and Strategies

Research Question Goals and Objectives Strategies

1. What is the 1. To improve Manila Research
current physical Bay and its sustainability. Center
condition of Manila
Bay?

2. What are the 2. To revive urban impact Waterfront

current activities in in Manila Bay through Park
Manila Bay? the use of space.

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3. What are the 3. To maintain and Biomimicry/

current sustain Manila Bay in the Biophilia
environmental long run.
concerns in Manila
Bay?

4. What is the 4. To develop and find Mangrove

current ecological solutions to protecting
situation in Manila coastal areas.
Bay?

Figure 1. Formulation of Research Question

Marine
Pollution

Environmental
Physical Social Ecological

- Garbage - Lifeless - Water - Loss of

Pollution Quality Biodiversity
- Unsafe
-Uncontrolled -Coastal -Degradation
Development Erosion of Habitats

RQ 1. RQ 2. RQ 1. RQ 1.

What is the What are the What are the What is the
current physical current current current
condition of activities in environmental ecological
Manila Bay? Manila Bay? concerns in situation in
Manila Bay? Manila Bay?

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1.3. Definition of the Project

Manila is the capital city of the Philippines. The city is located at the heart of

Luzon Island where it is the center of economic, cultural, business, social, and political

activity of the country. (Salita, 2023). It is an excellent portside for shipping. The

landscape of Manila includes the infamous Pasig River. The said river is connected on

the northwestward side of Manila Bay. With that, Manila Bay became the catch basin of

the river as well as the other connecting water bodies from nearby provinces.

Manila Bay has had a severe case of marine and water pollution for decades.

The biodiversity of Manila Bay has been destroyed due to these existing problems. The

project aims to provide a solution for the long-term problem the Manila Bay is facing.

Project: Floating Waterfront Park and Aquatic Research Center

Occupancy: Division C-2

Zoning: GI (General Institution)

Users: Primary Users: Marine Biologists and Scientists

Secondary Users: Facility Staffs

Tertiary Users: Local and International Tourists

Activities: Primary Activities: Studying marine life and pollution

Secondary Activities: Incorporating waste management facilities and devices

Tertiary Users: Amusement

Government Agencies: Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resource, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of

Tourism, Maritime Industry Authority

Special Features: Amusement and Open Park

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1.4. Research Focus

The research focus of the project is to alter and improve the existing practices

and methodology in building offshore projects in contribution to the building construction

industry. Finding solutions and incorporating new and improved techniques based on

previous theories and existing studies but with a touch of modern venture.

1.5. Scope and Limitation

Table 2. Categorization

Scope Limitations

Site The offshore location of the site Restoration and beautification

is adjacent to the Dolomite will be on limited perimeters

Beach development. only.

Users Primary Users: Marine Biologists The project does not cover the

and Scientists management and internal affairs

Secondary Users: Facility Staffs of the facilities and staff

Tertiary Users: Local and handling. It will cover the

International Tourists architectural part only.

Activities Primary Activities: Studying The research facility will focus

marine life and pollution on marine life and marine

Secondary Activities: pollution-related issues only. The

Incorporating waste political and economic dispute is

management facilities and not part of the scope.

devices

Tertiary Users: Amusement

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Technology Incorporating structural and In-depth studying of the due to

architectural standards in limited knowledge and sources

building offshore projects. of information

• Restoration and beautification will be on limited perimeters only

• The research facility will focus on water and marine-related issues only

• Machinery and technology from the research laboratory will be exclusive to Metro

Manila only.

1.6. Significance of the Research

The research aims to reduce the impact of pollution with the help of architecture.

The facility will monitor and observe the current and future conditions of the water quality

in Manila Bay to know if the treatment they will perform is effective. The strategies and

considerations for the project are to apply theories and principles of architecture to

maintain the relationship between nature and the building’s users.

The project is based offshore, hence, most of the structural materials will be

soaked in water. The ideal system and structural concept will be based on the

characteristics and properties of the Mangrove tree. These trees lived in shallow parts of

bodies of water, hence, mangroves act as ecotones between sea and land. (Mold,

2012). This research will attempt to dig deeper into the biological properties of the said

plant to identify if it can contribute to the management of marine pollution.

The following are benefactors of the research project:

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MARINE BIOLOGIST

This research aims to provide a better and more advanced facility and research center

for marine biologists in the Philippine soil to provide assistance in monitoring the

biodiversity of Manila Bay.

RESEARCHERS

This study aims to provide new findings and contribute to the body of knowledge,

especially in problems tackling marine pollution.

since it is mostly overlooked because citizens think that it is expensive.

THE ENVIRONMENT

The significance of this study to the environment is to provide a possible long-term

solution to the decade-long problem of marine pollution that destroys the natural flow of

the ecosystem in marine life.

ARCHITECT

This project aims to contribute to the building construction field by introducing new

findings in providing quality and effective methodology for building a project offshore.

LOCALE

This research can potentially make long-term solutions for marine and reinvent the

known image of Manila Bay to many, both locally and internationally.

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STUDENTS

This research project can help students as a reference for their future research proposal

and they can even improve the study and do it at their own phase.

1.8. Definition of Terms

Term 1. Biomimicry. A practice that learns from and mimics the strategies found

in nature to solve human design challenges and find hope.

Term 2. Manila Bay. A natural harbor that serves the Port of Manila, in the

Philippines. Strategically located around the capital city of the Philippines.

Term 3. Marine Pollution. A combination of chemicals and trash, most of which

comes from land sources and is washed or blown into the ocean.

Term 4. Research Center. A research institute may specialize in basic research

or may be oriented to applied research.

Term 5. Waterfront Park. An area with a waterfront on the ocean, a bay, or a

lake is its principal attraction.

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Baclig, C. (2021). Pasig River makes international waves despite being dead. Inquirer.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1446482/pasig-river-makes-international-waves

despite-being-dead

Beckler, J. S., Arutunian, E., Moore, T., Currier, B., Milbrandt, E., & Duncan, S. (2019).

Coastal harmful algae bloom monitoring via a sustainable, sail- powered mobile

platform. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, 587.

How Oil Spills Affect Fish and Whales | response.restoration.noaa.gov. (n.d.).

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-spills-affect-fishandwhales.html

López-Pedrouso, M., Lorenzo, J. M., Varela, Z., Fernández, J. Á., & Franco, D. (2022).

Finding Biomarkers in Antioxidant Molecular Mechanisms for Ensuring Food

Safety of Bivalves Threatened by Marine Pollution. Antioxidants, 11(2), 369.

Marine Pollution | National Geographic Society. (n.d.).

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/marinepollution/

McCarthy, J. (2019, March 25). Plastic Pollution Clean-Up Effort in Manila Bay Begins.

Global Citizen. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/manila-bay-clean-up/

Mold, R. J. (2012). Ecology of Halophytes. Elsevier.

Pahalawattaarach V., Purushothaman C.S., Vennila A. (2009). Metal phytoremediation

potential of Rhizophora mucronata (Lam.) Indian J. Mar. Sci. 2009;38:178–183.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2019). Manila Bay | Facts, History, & Map.

Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Manila-Bay

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Manila Bay. (n.d.). PEMSEA. http://pemsea.org/our-work/pollution-and-waste-

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