Two Architecture students, ID121 Allan Jasper Garcia and ID122 Rolland Carlos Gamez, designed the first floor of De La Salle University’s St. Mutien Marie Hall (SMMH) into a multi-purpose space that integrates detachable design and eco-friendly materials to support a wide range of creative activities. The design will be brought to life in the actual implementation phase in 2026.
Their proposal titled “Mutien Marie Art Learning Center,” won 1st Place in St. Mutien Marie Hall Design Competition on Aug. 9, 2024. The event was a collaborative competition between DLSU and the Benilde School of Environment and Design (SED).
Beginning of a creative venture
In an interview with one of the designers, Garcia, who also serves as the Benildean Press Corps’ Video Editor, shared that the competition was part of an Architectural Design Tree class that was open for their batch. “‘Yung whole batch namin, we were tasked to design the first floor of DLSU and sinabi nila na part ito ng competition and it will be submitted kung sino ‘yung mapipiling design na gagawin dun sa mismong building.”
The design challenge called for proposals rooted in La Salle and the arts, as the building was named after the Belgian teacher St. Mutien-Marie Wiaux, who was known for bringing art and music closer to students. In the conceptualization phase, Garcia shared that the location of the building in Agno—being a cramped space—influenced how they came up with a spacious yet versatile design for the floor.
“With that, ang naging proposal namin is a space that will immerse the students through art, and with art. All while taking into account how spacious it is and how safe it can be to students,” he explained.
Garcia noted how “... [the] first floor, very versatile siya in terms of puwede kang mag-hang ng different types of artworks, puwede siyang maging different multi-purpose spaces na it can be a museum, it can be like a seminar hall.”
Designed with purpose
One of the main criteria for the design competition was sustainability; and for the duo, using wood materials were ideal for designing a sustainable space.
“For the sustainability part, we designed it in a way na passive ‘yung cooling, passive ‘yung air na pumapasok, and ‘yung materials na ginamit, most of it is wood. So very sustainable siya in the long run, plus mas madali siyang i-maintain,” Garcia shared.
However, it was not all easy, as Garcia said it was a challenge to meet tight deadlines for the revisions while juggling other projects required in other classes. Still, compared to where he was a year ago, he has learned a lot in terms of design.
“It was a year ago na, so looking back, medyo mas marami na ako natutunan ngayon. In return, ‘pag nakikita ko ‘yung design namin back then, mas alam kong mas marami pa kami ma-improve during that time, especially if mas marami ‘yung time na binigay sa ‘min.”
What especially helped them carry out the design despite the difficulties was the guidance of their Architectural Design Tree professor and mentor, Ar. Moses Fetalvero. “Because of the help of our mentor, and because of his mentorship, mas na-pull off namin ‘yung design all while improving and revising what we have every week up until sa pinaka-last piece namin.“
Learning in motion
From being just a second year architecture student at Benilde to coming up with a real project design for fellow art students, Garcia shared that the collaborative competition was an opportunity that prepared them for a future in Architecture.
“Because in real life, especially for architecture, very tight deadlines talaga. So because of that experience, siguro mas nakakita kami ng glimpse of what the future could be, of what our careers would look like in the real industry. … Mas na-hone kami, mas ini-expect na namin ‘yung hardships in the long run,” Garcia concluded.
