CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Figure 1.1 PNR Paco station at present

1.1 Background of the Project

In the Philippines, there is a great need to revive old buildings for they play a huge
part in the countrys economy. Forms of urban decay, which has a big negative
impact on the economy ruin the citys appearance and turn away tourism and
investments. Urban decay plagues many of the large developed urban areas. These
buildings have rich history and some of these are heritage structures yet they are
left abandoned and unattended.
One of these buildings is the old Philippines National Railway (PNR) Paco
station. Although this terminal is non-functional anymore, trains still pass through
this building. This structure has witnessed a lot of Philippine history and is
considered as a heritage building these days. The structure is now gutted and
abandoned.
Old PNR Paco station is said to bear resemblance to the Penn Station in New
York, William Parsons designed this station in 1908. It was the scene of a heroic

battle during World War II and the recapture of the station led to the crucial defeat
of the remaining Japanese forces in Manila. In 1996, a contractor of a 7-storey
mall partly demolished the old PNR Paco station but due to the lack of funds, the
operations stopped, leaving behind a skeleton of the first four floors of the mall
and the facade of the station.
With the said facts, this project aims to propose a sustainable design for the
conservation of the said building. The design may help the building to function
again, preserve its history that would stand as a legacy to the future generations
and it may also serve as a catalyst in reviving its surrounding area especially its
degrading environment.
In order to have clearer and deeper understanding about the condition of the old
PNR Paco station, the researcher is willing to conduct a thorough research in order
to find a better design for the conservation of the old PNR Paco station. Although
there are already existing proposals, the researcher is interested in going the extra
mile to come up with a better solution.
In conclusion, the project is to propose a design for the conservation of old PNR
Paco station to make it functional again, preserve its rich history, and make the
structure a catalyst in reviving its degrading environment.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Urban decay is prone in our country especially in Manila. This urban decay has a
big negative impact in the status of our economy. This consists of old buildings
which are abandoned and unattended. One of this is the old PNR Paco station.
This project aims to answer the general question, how could the old PNR Paco
station be revived sustainably through architectural conservation?
This project aims to answer the following specific questions:

What are the sustainable designs that would make the old PNR Paco station

active again?

How could the old PNR Paco station be preserved and stand as a legacy to the

future generations?

What are the sustainable designs that would make the old PNR Paco station a

catalyst in reviving its surrounding?

1.3 Project Goal and Objectives
1.3.1 Goal
The main goal of this project is to propose an architectural
conservation design to the old PNR Paco station that would restore its
former glory.
1.3.2 Objectives

To propose a sustainable design for the conservation of old PNR

Paco station for the current commuters

To preserve the history of old PNR Paco station that would stand as a
legacy to the future generations

To provide a sustainable design for the conservation of old PNR

Paco station that can help in transforming and affecting its
surrounding, especially its degrading environment.

Figure 1.2 PNR Paco station at its peak

1.4 Significance of the Project

The project will be a wakeup call to the general community. With this, society
will be aware of the existing urban problems in the surroundings and somehow be
inspired in conserving heritage buildings as well.
This project may also introduce economical methods of living, as a substitute
method in facing the problems of depleting resources. It may serve as a tool in
giving solution to the continuous growth of problems related to resource shortage.

Preservation and conservation of old buildings will be promoted by the project

and it may ignite other project researchers to conduct such study not only about
the old Philippine National Railway Paco station but also other abandoned
heritage buildings in our country.
Architects, urban designers and town planners may be influenced with such
project and be encouraged to design buildings that are more sensitive and more
responsive to its local climatic conditions. This will also encourage on utilizing
the existing lands positively.
After this project, the proposed conservation of old PNR Paco station could serve
as a model, by demonstrating how an abandoned building can be transformed and
affect its surrounding, particularly its degrading environment.
1.5 Project Scope and Limitations
This project includes the application and testing of a conservation approach on the
old PNR Paco station that has significant historical qualities within an urban
context. Careful analysis of the areas historical, cultural, social, and site
information are vital determining factors for the design concept.
An understanding of the old PNR Paco stations identity must occur first before
any planning can be undertaken so as to conserve what needs conserving. While
remaining conscious of design constraints that are likely to emerge with such a
project, the underlying aim of the study is to develop an architectural response by
conservation to the distinct historical features of the context, site and building;

building upon, alongside and amongst the existing layers, as incremental stages of
growth.
1.6 Definition of terms
Term

Meaning

Abandoned

left without needed protection or care, no longer held or

thought of

Architect

a person trained and experienced in the design of

buildings and the coordination and supervision of all
aspects of the construction of buildings

Catalyst

an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or

action

Conservation

the management of a building to prevent its decay,

destruction, misuse, or neglect; may include the
recording of the history of the building and conservation
measures applied

Conservation

describes the process through which the material,

historical, and design integrity of humanity's built
heritage are prolonged through carefully planned
interventions.

Degrading environment the process of making the quality of environment worse

Gutted

destroyed inside structure

Local climatic

the climatic events that a specific area has been

experiencing

Preservation

the process of applying measures to maintain and

sustain the existing materials, integrity, and form of a
building, including its structure and building artifacts

Sustainable

involving methods that do not completely use up or

destroy natural resources

Town planner

planner; a person or organization responsible for

designing and developing town, area and general plans

Urban area

an area that is within the city limits, or closely linked to

it by common use of public utilities or services.

Urban decay

the depreciation of built structure over time

Urban designer

a person whose aspect of architecture and city planning

deals with the design of urban structures and spaces.

Urban planning

planning a future community, or the guidance and

shaping of the expansion of a present community, in an
organized manner and with an organized layout