Continuing the Legacy of the Taboan

By Ar. Allan Silvestre

“Tabo”- a vernacular term more recognized in the provinces, is a local Market Day held weekly in the town center bustling with farm produce and people who are out to market in an open area setting called the “Taboan”. The activity creates social encounters and build relationships among the “suki” which makes the experience more meaningful and special. This very experience is what the architect attempts to create amongst the building users and thus, inspired the core concept of the “Poblacion Market Central”, also known as PMC.

Nestled the city center, PMC stands prominent with its industrial-style façade, bare concrete finishes and exposed structural elements that reflect the simplicity of a traditional “Taboan”. Due to its prime location where the property value is very high, every square inch of the lot area must be fully utilized to its highest potential. A lower ground floor was therefore provided and planned to house the main building utilities, as well as ensure that the ratio of parking space requirements- which posed as one of the major design challenges, is met. This allowed for the allotment of all the upper floors for rentable commercial units. With carefulplanning and a series of consultations, the designers were also able to provide architectural and engineering solutions for possible flood problems at the lower ground floor.

Occupying the main ground floor are mainly restaurants and antique shops. Slightly elevated from the street level, the main ground floor creates a sense of separation from the busy street traffic and the sidewalk. The second floorhouses small retail shops of jewelries and souvenir items- all highlighting the good quality of Mindanaoan craftsmanship. Service shops like banks, dental clinics and salons are also provided to complete the customers’basic needs and leisure experience.

Like the “Taboan” in rural areas, the project uses an energy-efficient and cost-effective approach that minimizes electrical load by harnessing natural light and ventilation. The monitor roof of the building is equipped with industrial fans that draw out hot air, allowing continuous fresh air to continually flow through the hallways and other common spaces of the building. Several studies were conducted by the engineers for various ways to achieve a comfortable microclimate for the users without using conventional air conditioning system. This also made the spaces safer in this pandemic period of the Covid-19 virus.