ECO-VERNACULAR THERAPEUTIC RESORT:

RECONCILIATION BETWEEN HUMAN AND NATURE

A Thesis Presented to the
School of Architecture, Industrial Design & the Built Environment
Mapua Institute of Technology

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in Architectural Design 09/ AR200/ AR200S

For the Degree of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE

Presented by
Canlas, Gilbert
2011180039

Architect Junar Pakingan Tablan, uap, MSAE

Adviser

December 2014

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Chapter I.1: General Overview

Introduction
The growth of the economy followed by the urbanization within Metro Manila is
undeniable and cannot be stopped. The increase in tourism of the Philippines has become a
great opportunity for the economy to prosper. With hotels being the first option for tourists to
stay, these hotels also serve as their first impression in the Philippines in terms of hospitality
in service and in entertainment. A hotel such as the one with a resort has turned out to be one
of the most basic tourist attractions here in the Philippines due to the archipelagic setting of
the country; it effectively highlights the beauty of the natural surroundings depending on its
location.
With the increase of resort and hotel establishments providing leisure, it has
become underrated for it to focus on the health and wellness of the users without sacrificing
any of their demands. Accommodating such a feature, especially a therapeutic one, will be
something fresh and will give a new variety in hotel selections for tourists. In this sense,
therapeutic means to relax in a way most beneficial to your health and for that to happen,
there should be an effective synergy between the hotel, the resort, the amenities and of
course, the natural surroundings in order to create an environment conducive to not just
relieving stress but also keeping your body in perfect rhythm. In order to create a distinct
hotel and resort that will captivate the users attention and cater to their health needs,
vernacular architecture will be used to emphasize the eco-friendly aspect of the construction
and also to inflict less damage to the environment by utilizing and recycling natural
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materials. That being said, this will create an approach that will give off the true Filipino
vibe.
The hotel and resorts site will be located outside of Metro Manila to reduce the
congestion in the area and to establish a new place of attraction that will benefit the city it
will be in. Pampanga will be a good choice since it has a well-developed international airport
and is also rich in raw, natural and beautiful sights. Given the proximity of an airport, it will
be a great added advantage to the hotel and resort as both these structures embody the
function of taking care of the people wanting to visit and explore the place. Having a
therapeutic resort in the province will increase the demand for tourism in that area and
equipped with the unique feature and different approach to relaxation, the hotel and resort
will be the best of its kind improving both the overall view of therapeutic accommodation
and the philosophy of hospitality the Filipino culture offers.
Background of the Study
Incorporating therapeutics to a resort gives it a whole new function and set of
facilities that will offer a different kind of relaxation and physical wellness to the users. Spa
treatments have a wide range of approaches ranging from physical massage therapy to water
spa therapy. The connection of spa therapy and nature will be both enhanced through
architectural application that will make the ambiance of the resort conducive to relaxation
and peace. The resort will provide different facilities such as restaurants and convention halls
to accommodate nature retreats of local visitors and international travelers reconciling them
with the tranquility brought about by nature.

Statement of the Problem

The primary purpose of this study is to determine and design a resort and hotel
that feature therapeutics.
1. How will vernacular architecture stand-up in modern day era resort and hotel?
2. How to strategically plan a resort and hotel in order to be successful given that the
site will be in a province?
3. How will it reinvent the current trend of resort and hotel, and will adding therapeutic
facilities be effective?
Project Goals, Objectives and Strategies
The goal for this study is to create a therapeutic specialized resort and hotel that
will effectively reinvent the trend of resorts in the Philippines. The objectives will be:

To create a distinct vernacular architecture that will be modern in approach

To provide enough space to prevent any congestion the resort and hotel could have in
the future, as well as study the topography of the site in order to maximize user
comfort.

To have a well-studied circulation and planning that will improve the functionality of
the hotel, resort and its featured facilities.

To strategically incorporate natural sustainability, namely horticulture therapy, in

order to minimize harm to the environment and to boost the eco-friendly aspect of the
resort.

Given the site in a province, landscaping will be strategically planned to control the
micro-climate of the resort and hotel to again, maximize comfort.

Significance of the Study

The study shall be beneficial to the following areas / people through:

Benefitting tourism in the Philippines via construction of a specialized resort and

hotel.

Attracting travelers looking for a peaceful, more relaxing environment by applying

principles of therapeutics in the construction of the resorts facilities.

Providing data and improved standards supplementing the capability of incorporating

therapeutics in a resort through research.

Scope and Limitation

The study will cover the inclusion of therapeutics in a resort and hotel. The prime
intention of this inclusion is to synergize both the hospitality innate to the Filipino culture
and the wellness brought about by spa treatments. It shall reinvent the benefits of
therapeutics and integrate it with todays perspective of a resort and hotel that will lead to a
new adaptation in designing a specialized resort such as this one. The design will also act as
an epitome of what an oasis holds in the given site as it provides relaxation and harmony in
both human and nature. To further elaborate its eco-friendly aspect, the resort and hotel shall
utilize natural sustainability strategies in response to different architectural challenges, such
as calamities, without inflicting harm to the environment it is in.
The study will be limited within the ranges of hotel and restaurant management.
The development of solutions will only be therefore regarded directly to the improvement of
the said title. Other architectural approach such as design, planning, orientation and materials
will only be prioritized for the betterment of the resort and hotel in order to have the
maximum impact in the economy and the tourism of the site.
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Assumptions
This study assumes that by blending the wellness of spa treatments, the hospitality
of the Filipino culture and excellent accommodation of the resort, it will create a new breed
of resort not meant for loud physical activities, but for the serenity and relaxation of the users
it will serve.
Conceptual Framework

THERAPEUTICS
Wellness via spa
therapy
Tranquility
through
reconciliation with
nature

VERNACULAR
ARCHITECTURE
Hotel
Resort
Amenities

SCHEME
Modernize vernacular architecture to
accommodate current tourism demands
and to imbue the Filipino vibe
Reinvent the meaning of relaxation by
veering off from leisure and focusing on
health and wellness
Utilize the environment not just as a
source of indigenous materials but also as
the central focus of construction

IMPACT
Increase tourism on site
Address environmental
concerns
Redefine relaxation
provided by resorts and
hotels

Definitions of Terms
a) Hotel a building, edifice or premise or a completely independent part thereof, which
is used for the regular reception, accommodation or lodging of travelers and tourist
and the provision of services incidental thereto for a fee.
b) Resort any place or places with pleasant environment and atmosphere conducive to
comfort, healthful relaxation and rest, offering food, sleeping accommodation and
recreational facilities to the public for a fee or remuneration.
c) Horticulture Therapy - is defined by the American Horticultural Therapy
Association (AHTA) as the engagement of a person in gardening and plant-based
activities, facilitated by a trained therapist, to achieve specific therapeutic treatment
goals.
d) Micro-climate - is a local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the
surrounding area. The term may refer to areas as small as a few square feet (for
example a garden bed) or as large as many square miles.

Chapter I.2: Review of Related Literature and Studies

Related Literature

Promoting the Spa Tourism Industry: Focus on Coastal Resorts in Kenya

The connection of health and tourism began dating back in the 1800 in the spa
towns people used to travel. An interest in new age remedies and traditional remedial
therapies has become one of the rapidly growing interests of tourism industry. Tourists are
attracted to health tourism as this gives beneficial treatments for health and rejuvenation. In
Kenya, a relaxation resort is popular and is a good way to develop the tourism. It is proven to
have a positive impact in the economy from domestic users to international travelers who
visit Kenya and in particular Mombasa which is their tourist destination. A resort/hotel spa
offers a spa, fitness and wellness services, as well as spa cuisine menu choices and overnight
accommodations within a resort or hotel. Okech (2014)
There are on-site Spa industry trends identified by Anderson (2011) these are:
Anti-aging treatments and products, gift card sales, regional specialties, increased stress
management, impulse appointments, shift in perspective, changes in demographic use profile,
medical affiliations and green environments. That being said, establishing a therapeutic resort
comes with very detailed considerations in terms of trends.
Based on the resource, it is important to have the primary motive of the resort to
be visited by the people looking for a place to relax and unwind from the pressure of work
and day to day life and also to be pampered. Next, the amenities the resort will have such as
fitness facilities, outdoor sports activities which improve the users health and physical wellbeing. In reality, tourists mostly request these treatments.
8

Massages remain the popular treatment

Non-traditional products such as Eastern treatments

Water therapy, mud baths, etc.

Use of natural and organic materials to keep the body and mind healthy

Services for couples dual massages- and beach massages are also
becoming more popular

Health Tourism in Australia: Supply, Demand and Opportunities

The increase in interest in wellness opens up opportunities for a number of
establishments in Australia to accommodate this interest. This also resulted to a broader offer
in terms of services in Australia. Thus wellness could be combined with complementary
activities such as those associated with fitness, nutrition or relaxation.
The health tourism in Australia developed a lifestyle resort visitation which is
typically entails a comprehensive program which focuses on lifestyle transformations and
includes activities and seminars concerning fitness stress management techniques.
(Tremabath 2010)
That being said, the effect of improving health tourism in Australia is doing a great job in
terms of keeping its users more fit through relaxation treatments.
In economy wise, the wellness tourism that Australia has developed is slowly
becoming a norm in terms of how they create their resort. In fact, people from Europe are
visiting them in long-term stays to simply be part of this trend. Statistics from North America
also confirms a large number of beauty spa and lifestyle resort visitors. And according to the
International Spa Association, one in four Americans had visited a spa. Going back to
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Australia, they have developed many destinations / resorts which boost their domestic
tourism market as well as their international tourism market giving wellness tourism a greater
role in the economy.
Key results become significant such as:

Spiritual retreats attracted the highest proportion of males and the highest
proportion of residents aged 55 and over.

Visitors are more than likely to have travelled from other countries in
order to experience the wellness tourism Australian resorts feature.

More than half of the visitors came with a friend, spouse or family
member. Making it an effective venue for bonding and socializing.

Most people that will visit the resort were most likely have a good lifestyle

They also identified six benefit factors of wellness tourism

Escape & relaxation, transcendence, physical health, indulgence, re-establish self-esteem and
important others & novelty.

Relates Studies / Projects

Shangri-Las Boracay Resort & Spa

Known as the private paradise this is located by the hillside and set in an ecoreserve environment. The resorts accommodations are design meant to blend in its tropical
surrounding making it elegant at first glance. The resort also features Sea view Suite which
they can execute using the advantage of having the resort located by the ocean. The resort
also have convention halls, recreation parks, outdoor sports, and a restaurant that supplement
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the resorts high class feel. The view is always present and the tranquility of the site is very
well preserved and it perfectly demonstrates how to reconcile human with nature.
The tropical vernacular architecture feel is perfectly designed to make it a
paradise to remember. The landscaping make the resort look like it is naturally erected in the
site. And by sunset, the fun does not stop there, the resort feature outdoor cabanas by the
beach to enjoy the breeze coming from the sea. Spa facilities are also products of modern era
making the stay in the resort worthwhile and satisfying both in relaxation and in recreation
activity.

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Puning Hot Spring and Spa

Another example is the Puning Hot Spring and Spa, although lacks the hotel
features to accommodate long staying users and is also far from the beach; it is unique and
manages to deliver its purpose effectively. The site of the spa is located near the Mt. Pinatubo
making it possible to have hot spring. Puning hot springs location is not easy to travel to, but
that is what makes it even more unique because they used that issue to incorporate off-road
travel using small 4x4 trucks. Sights of valleys and mountains can be seen as the truck takes
the customers to the main destination, the spa. The hot spring and spa feature landscaping
that shades them from sunny weather, and thus creating a micro-climate which the researcher
is planning to use in the therapeutic resort and hotel. Another feat is the use of rice terraces
like setting to let the resort rest by a mountain that effectively shades most part of the resort.

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Chapter I.3: Research Design and Methodology

I.

Research Methodology
The research methodology used in this research is an empirical case study using
the five senses with methods on observing the current built environment of a Hotel
Resort. With this Methodology, the proponent opts to propose and Eco-vernacular
therapeutic hotel and resort in which it inhibits he bond between human and nature.
The Empirical case study is in line with architectural problems specifying the need of
spaces, adequacy of size and dimensioning proper, the sorts of planning, and the
consequences of uplifting the current status of a Hotel and a Resort into a new and
popular trend. Also, it will look deeper as to how effective will the addition of a new
facility like a therapeutic spa would be effective or what is it that people wanted to
see that might make it better and make it enticing for everyone to consider.

II.

Research Instruments
The Case study wouldnt have been possible without its research instruments and
that these instruments play a vital part into the formulation and acquisition of data.
The instrument used in this study includes the variable for the survey, the survey
questionnaire itself, the photo used in the case study and observation of the current
existing structures, log books of the people who use the resort, satisfaction evaluation
sheet forms and may more. Such Data that could be harnessed with the given research
instruments would lead into the acquisition of how we could compare hotels and
resorts from each other and that the variety of people who use it will give an idea of
what is it that they like or what is it that they dont like and needs improvement.

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III.

Research Locale
Although the survey was conducted in the context of whoever has been into any
hotel and resort, the research locale wherein the case study was performed was in a
resort in Porac, Pampanga exclusively named to as Poracay having a significant
rhyme with Boracay to make it appealing and to have the notion that it has the same
concept. The site is actually a secluded spot accessible by its access routes as shown
in the map below. (Site map will be seen in the Chapter 4; Case Study Presentation).
Just as, staying up late until night time could greatly persuade you in sleeping in the
said resort. The resorts environment is a rehabilitation of a previously volcanic site
that is buried in deep Lahar or volcanic ash and sand. It resembles a near dessert
state and that the addition of an artificial lagoon and pool would make the resort as an
oasis of some sort. The Map of its location and navigation is shown below.

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IV.

Population Universe
The population universe would be the users of the said facility which is a hotel
and a resort. They are users of the facility within the year 2014 and that the memory
of the resort and spa for them is but fresh and new. The variable was to be asked
about their experience and about their up taking of the hotel and resort. Such that,
their satisfaction rate would be weighed on a scale of strongly agree, agree, in doubt,
disagree and strongly disagree. They are asked on the basis of architectural design
perspective and that the knowledge of the said questionnaire has been simplified in
order for them to answer briefly as they could. The variables were picked within
national capital region and that the sampling procedure on how they were selected
will be discussed on the next part of which is sampling procedure.

V.

Sampling Procedure
The sampling procedure to be used is the non-random sampling procedure. It is
selected for easy acquisition of data just as given the research instruments of
information of all of those using the facility could already give a list of possible
sampling group yet it is easier done. Every people in the metropolis have a 70%
chance of being in a Hotel and Resort. For sampling, the proponent would assign
numbers to each of the names in population universe through which all of those listed
have been in a hotel and a resort in the previous 9-10monts just as, the assigned
numbers would therefore be picked randomly until 100 variables are ready for survey
questionnaire procedure and each of them would be given time to answer it within
three days and that the data collected from it shall be presented in the qualitative and
quantitative analysis in chapter 4.
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VI.

Research Design
The research design that will be used in this empirical case study would be
descriptive and that if the data has already been acquired and that it has already been
organized, it must be studied and must be interpreted through a certain phase. That
phase is a descriptive phase for the proponent will only describe the acquired data and
that it will be organized in order to move to a preceding phase.

VII.

Statistical Treatment
The statistical would be descriptive in which after the data is acquired; it will be
manually organized and would be statistically treated acquiring its mean, median and
mode. The definite means are solid ways and that it is most of the time accurate and
precise. Descriptive statistical treatment could be mean meaning getting the average
majority amongst the sample group and interpreting it as a most effective data for it is
the average. Median meaning something that is in the middle would mostly likely to
be considered or must it be mode wherein the majority number against the minority
would have to be the precise winning answer to formulate a conclusion.

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Chapter I.4: Summary of Findings and Analysis

I.

Presentation of Case Study

Poracay is a more so Hidden Paradise set amidst the lahar-devastated town of
Porac, Pampanga. It is a new resort yet becoming a fast popular destination during
vacations. It entails family gatherings, outing amongst friends, team buildings and a lot
more. Poracay Resort has developed various accommodation facilities to suit different
needs, ranging from bungalow-type villas, 'sawali' cottages and nipa huts. They are
specifically designed to have a feel of typical Filipino homes and at the same time to
appreciate the simple joys of life.

The pools are located at the heart of this vacationer's haven. This area comprises of
sections that spell outstanding resort design. A heavy sheet of water flows down from its
waterfall going to an adult pool, while two (2) kiddie pools spill excess water into a manmade lake. This man-made lake features amenities similar to other developments in the
US and Europe. It is connected to a boating and fishing sanctuary which appeals to nature
and sports lovers alike.

17

Prominently located beside the pools, the Clubhouse is a spacious function hall ideal for
any type of occasion. Celebrate family gatherings such as reunions, weddings, baptisms
birthdays and debuts as well as corporate functions like teambuilding, product
launchings, trainings, seminars and company parties right here in Poracay Resort.
Equipped with audio-visual facilities, it can be set-up in any way to meet the event's
requirements.

18

It features a 6-meter wide road, sidewalk, landscapes and a boulder centerpiece that
welcomes guests into the resort. A ticket booth manned by warm and friendly staff is
strategically situated here to give information regarding their stay and their designated
accommodation facility. Guests need not step out of their vehicles when checking in and
out. An administrative office and a huge parking space are planned additions in this
facility for easy access and convenience of guests.

The board and lodging offer different types which include villas, cabins, sawalis, Nippa
Huts and more. These various accommodation facilities suit different needs, ranging from
bungalow-type villas, 'sawali' cottages and nipa huts.

The upper Left Photo is the Nippa Hut, The upper right is the Villa, The lower left are the
cabins and the lower right is the sawali House. All of which are in-house sleeping areas
of board and lodging areas with the site of the Hotel and Resort itself.
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II.

Need Analysis
The need analysis of this study is that it is performed within two methods which is
case study method by going into the site and learning its built environment while the
other is the Survey Method done by the use of Survey questionnaires for 100 persons.
Survey method will be discussed on the Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis.
a. Case Study Method
The case study method has learned about the different spaces and its implication
having a built environment used specifically as a temporary housing for the
people of the resort. Just as, in my opinion, the resort has been poorly planned
being constructed just to play its present and current role with the emphasis of its
manifestations in the future. The temporary housing facilities have not been
manned with integrated design space consuming space and it is very tight more so
the lack of personal spaces and proper space programming procedure. The Multifunctional room isnt huge enough and that it is not proportional to the way the
resort accommodates people for recreation, swimming, and leisure. The impact of
this is that it will soon have the tendency to be poorly maintained just as there is
no water treatment facility and the pool and the lagoon served only for public
having to proper or sustainable approach of maintaining it or overlooking its
image in the future. Another, the Hotel and resort only focused on the fact of
temporary housing, pools and lagoon with no intention of proposing a new trend
for its utmost benefit. They could have included several new spaces like spa or
even a therapeutically treatment wherein it is not only for the joy of usage but the
pleasure of having to satisfy ones self in an all in one package.
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III.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

In this part of the results and discussion, Data is presented through graphical method
like pie charts and the like. This has been regarded to the topic which is an ecovernacular therapeutic resort that reconciles the bond between human and nature. There
are 100 survey participants and the data are as follows.
i.

How will vernacular architecture stand-up in a modern day era integrated as

a resort and a hotel and that will it be acceptable and satisfactory for the
people?
a. If in a Resort and Hotel, what kind of bedroom do you
prefer or into which are you more comfortable with?
20%

Wooden Bedroom

7%

Stone Bedroom
68%

5%

Concrete Bedroom
Steel and Glass Bedroom

The Pie Chart above states that people are more comfortable with a wooden
bedroom with 68% from the total. Next to that, 20% states that steel and glass
bedroom is also comfortable while a minimum of 7% and 5% states that it is
comfortable with a concrete and stone bedroom respectively. Wood is vernacular
in its nature which means to say that wood does have its essential use in a
vernacular use just as it is comfortable in a hotel and a resort.
b. Do you think that vernacular (Close to origin) materials are
better to be used than imported materials?
3%
17%
20%

Strongly Agree
60%

Agree
Maybe
Disagree

The Pie Chart above states that Vernacular materials are better than imported
materials. 60% strongly agreed to it, 20% agreed to it, 17% are in hesitation of it,
3% disagreed on it and none strongly disagreed on to it.
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c. Would you prefer to sleep in a nippa hut with passive air

cooling at a beach that of which is vernacular to the setting,
rather than in an enclosed concrete room ventilated by airconditioning?
Strongly Agree
24%

26%

18%

Agree
Maybe

22%

Disagree
Strongly Disagree

10%

The Pie Chart above states that Vernacular materials are better than imported
materials. 60% strongly agreed to it, 20% agreed to it, 17% are in hesitation of it,
3% disagreed on it and none strongly disagreed on to it.
ii.

What are the effective architectural planning strategies that could be

executed to successfully provide the needs of the end users just as the hotel
and result will be in a provincial setting?
a.

If in a Hotel and Resort, what spaces do you use often?

Multi-Functional Assembly
Area
24%

5%

7%

7%

Spa
Other

17%
Sports & Recreational
Facilities

20%
20%

Board and Lodging

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Area
Outdoor Swimming Pool Area

The Pie Chart above states the commonly used spaces in a Hotel and Resort
facility to which; Outdoor Swimming Pool Area has the most with 24%, followed
with a tie between Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner area and Board and Lodging both
having 20%, followed by Sports and recreation facilities with 17% and then
another tied having 7% which is spa and others just as the minimum that got the
need is the Multi-functional area having a 5% from the total.

22

b. Are you comfortable using the said facilities that you are
using in the previous question?
10%
Strongly Agree

26%

18%

Agree
Maybe

24%

22%

Disagree
Strongly Disagree

The Pie Chart above states how comfortable the users are with using the said
facilities they commonly use such that; 26% strongly disagrees that it is
comfortable, 24% disagrees, 22% is in doubt, 18% agrees that it is comfortable
while the lowest of 10% strongly agrees that it is comfortable.
c. Do you think that the spaces are adequate in terms of the
area of space and its accommodation of the number of persons
using it?
10%
Strongly Agree

22%

Agree

24%
18%

Maybe
26%

Disagree
Strongly Disagree

The Pie Chart above states if the spaces within the facility are adequate in terms
of space and its accommodation to the number of persons using the said facilities
such that; 22% Strongly Disagrees, 18% disagrees, 26% are in doubt, 24% agrees
and a minimum of 10% strongly agrees.

d. Are the spaces you are using planned or situated in a way

that spaces are close to each other like how a shower area is
close to the swimming pool area or any other space related?
24%

Strongly Agree

22%
10%

26%

18%

Agree
Maybe
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
23

The Pie Chart above states if the Hotel or the resort has a good and proper
planning schematics. Just as; 22% strongly agrees that it is planned, 10% agrees
that it is planned, 18% are in doubt, 26% being the largest percentage disagrees
that it is planned and then 24% strongly disagrees onto it.

e. Does the resorts and hotel youve been to promote a strong

sense of privacy and security?
10%
Strongly Agree

22%

18%

Agree
24%

26%

Maybe
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

The Pie Chart above states the level of security and privacy within the hotel and
resort they have currently been a part of just as; 22% strongly agrees that it is
secured and promotes privacy, 24% just agreed onto it, 26% are in doubt, 18%
disagrees and 10% lowest amongst all strongly disagrees.

f. Does the resorts and hotel youve been to uses natural

lighting and cooling or does it uses air-conditioning and more
lighting?
8%
16%
22%

28%

26%

Strongly Agree
Agree
Maybe
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

The Pie Chart above states if the hotel and resort they have been into uses airconditioning and artificial lighting rather than natural ways. Just as 28% being the
majority of the group agreed that most of the hotel and resort uses airconditioning. 26% agreed following the strongly agreed. And the, 22% are in
doubt, 16% disagreed and 16% minimum strongly believed that there is no airconditioning or usage of artificial cooling, ventilation and lighting.

24

iii.

Is it possible to reinvent the current trend of Hotel and Resort and does
adding a new facility make it better and effective?

a. Are you already satisfied with the current status of the

hotels and resorts youve been to?
10%
Strongly Agree

28%

17%
22%

23%

Agree
Maybe
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

The Pie Chart above states the satisfaction level of people with regards to the
current hotels and spas they have been into. 10% Strongly Agrees that they are
satisfied, 17% Agrees that they are satisfied, 22% are in doubt, 23% Disagreed
that they are satisfied and a leading 28% says that they are strongly dissatisfied
with it.

b. Do you think adding a new facility like a therapeutic spa or

any other will make it better and satisfactory?

29%

24%

9%

Strongly Disagree
18%
20%

Disgree
Maybe
Agree
Strongly Agree

The Pie Chart above states the if adding a new facility like a therapeutic facility or
as spa could make their satisfactory level higher and could it add up a new trend
making hotels and resorts be modified with newly enhanced facilities for the
benefit of the people. 9% Strongly disagreed onto it, 18% disagreed onto it, 20%
are in doubt of it, 24% agreed to it and the a leading 29% says that they are
strongly agreeing to the fact that the addition of such could make things a little bit
more better.

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Chapter II Research Focus

Rationale
The objective of this research focus is to create a resort that will be unique in
function and to be a good example of therapeutic resort. The mixture of wellness and resort
will not only just aim the ones that are in need of health care approach but also the ones who
seek new adventure. The target of this said proposal is to be world-class in its specialty as
well as be a prime example of how resort can be manipulated and turned into wellness centre
without sacrificing functionality.
The growth of tourism should be handled well and these tourists should be able to
enjoy their stay and be memorable. By providing them a therapeutic resort that is located
inside a province and not far or by the beach, this will change how tourists look at the whole
province since this resort is aiming to be well-known in its place, thus increasing the tourism
in that specific place. And in order to achieve these goals, innovations in design approach
should be idealized and the aim should always be to improve the tourism in that particular
area by introducing a distinct structure that will be both unique in design feature and
amenities.
Principles and Relevance to the Project
Therapeutic resort is the bridge that connects health and tourism. The modern
concept of a resort is that planned as integrated development with consideration given to its
compatibility with the natural environment and possible benefits to local communities. The
local communities that surround the resort including the residents should be part of the resort
planning process. The people should have the benefit to receive direct employment, operation

26

of commercial facilities, and improved community infrastructure and facilities. All this to
improve and maximize the opportunities the resort will have and will give.
There are basic principles that can be applied to resort especially to accommodate its
uniqueness. Land use zoning is applicable to resorts as a concept. Conservation is a basic
principle where the given land will be treated with special care, this involves beaches, ponds,
lakes, lagoons, historical sites, large trees and hill tops. Although, the given site will not be
near a beach, this principle will not be overlooked in this project since to develop an ecofriendly structure, the design language of the resort should be sustainable and should
maximize the use of land in relation to its functionality in order to avoid wasted
squarefootage
Tourism planning adopts ecosystem-based approaches in order to maintain the
integrity and essential values and services of ecosystems. An ecosystem-based approach will
greatly help identify the multi-source impacts of hotels and resorts. There is a good way for
siting and design of hotels and resorts. These are as follows:
1. Adopt an ecosystem-based approach in tourism development planning
2. Manage impacts on biodiversity from hotel development and attempt to achieve
an overall positive contribution
3. Design with nature and adopt nature-based solutions
4. Respect, involve and support local communities
5. Build collaboration among stakeholders
The principles have been developed based on the finding conducted by IUCN.
There is also a difference between the management of hotels and resorts which are good
guidelines to consider in order having a good idea on how to mix hotel and resort.
27

1. Visitor Market
- Hotels cater primarily to both business travellers and leisure travellers
- Resorts cater primarily to the vacation and leisure travellers.
2. Facilities
- Resort rooms are larger
- More closet space is needed for resorts
- Larger amount of land is required for resorts for recreational facilities
3. Location
- Hotels are located in urban areas
- Resorts are located in rural areas
- remoteness of the resort has an appeal to the traveller who seeks an
environment different from the urban environment
4. Recreation
- Resorts invests more on land and equipment for recreation than hotels
5. Seasonality
- Though hotels operate year-round, most resorts only operate based on season
due to location
6. Personnel Attitude
- While hotels are more business-like while resorts have to pamper their users.

Factors to Consider in Resort Development

1. Economic, this determines the profitability of the resort.

28

o Capacity - the more facilities & guests, the higher the profit, however
capacity is limited by physical limitations and ecological limitations
o Length of the Season - in special cases, season affects the flow of
profit for a resort
o Capital Investment - the cost of fixed assets for land, building and
recreational facilities is heavy which results to long payback period
2. Social, a resort should develop a good connection to its local community.
o They are the main source of labor
o They are local customers
o They provide community services
o Resort development would have positive & negative social changes
3. Environmental, considerations.
o Pollution - from fertilizers, pesticides, exhaust fumes, solid wastes &
sewage
o Conservation - resort development may damage the flora & fauna
o Aesthetics impact - resort development may alter the view & beauty
of the natural landscape
Resort Planning Principles
-

Fundamental Concepts
o Resort Environment - this will give the resort a notable look to the
people and also contrast to the tourists home environment

29

o Environmental Orientation - tourist can appreciate nature at

environmentally sustainable manner
o Community Orientation - tourist can interact with the local residents
that can encourage leaning of local culture
As for the spa feature of the resort, there is a summarized list of guidelines to be consider.
These principles to be taken into account during Spa Design can be summarized as follows;
these are according to Burcu Pehlivanolus Design Principles of Spa Areas in
Accommodation Facilities.
The place should have sufficient storage area (Areas where the laundry,
professional products and cleaning supplies will be positioned should have
sufficient space).
Cross-circulation areas should not be created in the place; i.e. the area should be
designed as dry semi wet wet. There should not be direct pass from a wet area
into a dry area, semi wet areas should be considered.
Capacity calculations of the places should not be mistaken, for example the
number of the cardio and stretching equipment in the fitness areas should be
properly calculated.
Suitable flooring should be preferred for the wet feet walked areas.
Sales areas should be pre-designed and stands should be positioned afterwards.
Privacy areas should be designed so as to avoid eye contact.
Factors to cause noise pollution in the place should be eliminated.
Design and location of the relaxation areas should be convenient.
Details and finishes of the shower areas should be clean.
30

 Design of lighting should be proper, the heat amount should not be low or high,
the color of the light should be properly adjusted.
Relaxing colors should be preferred in the place; however striking colors can be
used in design within the framework of the main theme in relation to the concept.
Ventilation should not make noise especially in the areas such as massage
rooms.
The place should be designed to be fit for the old and disabled.
Attention should be paid to the hygiene of the wet areas.

Application to the Project

Tropical design/ Vernacular Style
Architects have been using vernacular style lately because of its distinct character
that makes it more preferable to use in a resort design. This makes traditional design the
model for resort hotels. In
tourism industry, a past culture
has an overpowering effect on
design as a symbol of the
cultural heritage (Hassan,
2000), and traditional values in
considering ecological
architecture (Steel, 2005). The
sole objective of using
vernacular style to resort is to
31

attract as many tourists as possible because this style is very memorable at first glance and is
immediately looks relaxing from afar. Successful luxurious resorts in Malaysia adapted this
style for their resorts which eventually led to better business and tourism in the country. Also
the benefit of having the natural sustainability of vernacular style will be useful in terms of
its energy consumption and such. With proper orientation, vernacular style will be even more
effective since it will maximize the potential of vernacular style. In relation to tourism,
tourists like to visit places that they know has the appearance that the Philippines resort will
have especially for those tourists that came from a different country. Not only the resort is
full of culture in terms of design but also has the potential to boost tourism.
Control of Micro-weather
In addition, the resort will feature a well shaded environment to reduce heat gain
of the hotel building of the resort. This will be executed by using the landscaping
strategically and place the vegetations in favour to the resorts comfort. In a setting in the
middle of a province, controlling the weather will be towards a good direction in terms of
user comfort as it will reflect to the resorts whole user experience. This will also make the
spa pools to be properly shaded and to deliver a very tropical feel inside the resort making
the idea of having an oasis-like resort in the middle of the resorts locality.
The use of such technique in controlling the weather through vegetation will give its own
advantages such as:

32

Cleanses the air with

the help of the
vegetation available

Reduces the heat gain

of the buildings with
the use of green walls

It improves energy
efficiency by
controlling the
fluctuation of the
walls temperature

Aesthetically pleasing
to the eye that has the
potential to attract visitors
Chapter III Site Identification and Analysis

Site Selection Process

Criteria for Site Selection
-

The site must be near a major road for easy access

The given site should benefit to the project economically and in tourism

The site should be close from being urbanized or near an urbanized city to
attract mo users and possible visitors.

Easy accessibility to airports or major expressways for ease of travel

The site should be near residential place for easy promotion of the project
33

Description of Site Options

Angeles City, Pampanga
Angeles is a first-class highly urbanized city located geographically within the
province of Pampanga in the Philippines. It is bordered by Mabalacat to the north; Mexico to
the east; San Fernando to the southeast; Bacolor to the south; and Porac to the southwest and
west. The city administers itself autonomously from Pampanga and, as of the 2010 census, it
has a population of 326,336.
Angeles is served by the Clark International Airport in the Clark Freeport Zone.
As the former home of Clark air force base (then the largest United States military facility
outside of the continental United States), it was significantly affected by the pullout brought
about by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. The economy of Angeles was heavily
dependent on the American base at that time.
Climate: Angeles City
Under the Kppen climate classification system, Angeles City features a tropical
savanna climate that borders on a tropical monsoon climate. Angeles City experiences two
distinct seasons: a dry season from November through April, with a wet season from May
through October. From 1953 to 1991, the mean daily low was 73.6 F and the mean daily
high was 88.1 F, with June being warmest and January and February being the coolest.

34

Mabalacat City, Pampanga

Mabalacat, officially Mabalacat City, is a component city in the northern part of
the province of Pampanga, Philippines. The former municipality was officially converted
into a city following a referendum on July 21, 2012, and became the third in Pampanga
after Angeles City and City of San Fernando. According to the 2010 census, it has a
population of 215,610 people. The city's name is derived from the ancient "balacat" trees
which were found abundantly in the area.
Mabalacat has a land area of 83.18 square kilometres (32.12 sq mi). Roughly 60%
of the Clark Freeport Zone is located in Mabalacat, the rest in nearby Angeles City, where
the Clark main gate is located and which is served by the Clark International Airport with its
numerous hotels, casinos, golf courses, and resorts.
The largest barangay is Dau, which became a barrio in 1936 by virtue of
Presidential Proclamation Number 1. It is now a business center whose commercial output
runs parallel to that of downtown. A former terminus of the North Luzon Expressway, it is
the most urban and most populous area in Mabalacat, home to roughly 23% of the city's
population. San Francisco, the second largest barangay, along with San Joaquin, Santa Ines,
Poblacion, Calumpang and other barangays are categorized as urban in view of their
proximity to the city proper. Sapang Balen, with a population of 166 persons, is the smallest
barangay.
The city is also a major transportation hub; a number of major road networks
including the North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, and MacArthur
Highway cut across the region. At the southern part of the city is the Dau Bus Terminal,

35

which caters to passengers bound for Metro Manila and provinces in Northern Luzon such as
Tarlac, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Ecija, La Union, Bataan, and Zambales.
Porac, Pampanga
Porac is a first class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines, 26
kilometres (16 mi) west from the provincial capital San Fernando. According to the 2010
census, it has a population of 111,441 people.
With an area of 31,400 hectares, Porac is the largest town in Pampanga.
The Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) traverses this town, the exit of which is
located in Barangay Manuali. Notable residents include former governor and Senator Lito
Lapid, and former governor Mark Lapid. Porac was among the largest municipalities in the
archipelago before it was divided into separate municipalities. A portion of Mount
Pinatubo is in the municipality.
Porac has a hilly to mountainous terrain in the majority of its plains. Most rivers,
if not all, are heavily silted by mudflow due to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo and
succeeding lahar flows. Tourist spots include Darabulbul Falls (nicknamed Dara Falls) in
Jalung, Miyamit Falls in Sapang Uwak, and the hot springs of Sitio Puning, accessed through
Sapang Bato in Angeles City. Babo Pangulo offers a view of Porac and Mount Negron.
Porac also has some of the best resorts in Luzon such as Poracay Resort which was case
studied above and also a sports activity place called Sandbox which offers wide variety of
watersports related activities.
Climate
The town of Porac has two distinct climates, rainy and dry. The rainy or wet
season normally begins in May and runs through October, while the rest of the year is the dry
36

season. The warmest period of the year occurs between March and April, while the coolest
period is from December through February.

Site Options
Total of 209,676 square meters
Location

Angeles

City,

Pampanga

The site is behind the Angeles city, city hall

and Marquee Mall. The site is also near the
North Luzon Expressways Angeles city exit.
It is near a residential area which is good for
a resort to be near with.

Total of 38,754 square meters

Location:

Mabalacat

City,

consists of 4 titles
Pampanga
The site is right beside the
SCTEx and a major road
MacArthur highway. Located
37

near residential areas and also the

site is near the Clark
International Airport

Total of 45,728 square meters

Location: Porac, Pampanga
The site is near SCTEx as well.
Also it is nearby Sandbox which
is also an activity establishment
specialized in watersports. Porac
is a good place to create resorts
because of its open areas that
makes the place less congested.

Site Selection and Justification

Sites were properly picked to have each of their own strengths to compete for the
ideal site for a resort. The reason of picking the sites all in Pampanga is to increase the
tourism in the area. Pampanga is developing fast and the prosperity its getting is the perfect
opportunity to amplify it through tourism. By selecting a site for a resort not by the beach,
this will create a new landmark for the local community of the site that will get picked.
These cities and municipality were selected strategically to function well with the
available international airport in Clark Zone, Pampanga. Angeles City, Mabalacat City and
38

Porac Municipality have things in common such as access to highways and expressways as
well as economic background that will synchronize with the resorts business in the future.
And in order to select the best suited site, the three sites will have to go through a tight
ethical selection and evaluation.
Criteria will be made to emphasize the effectiveness of the selected sites that will
help determine which one suits to have the project be proposed to.
The criteria will be:
Accessibility (airport,expressway,roads) - 45%
Economy (tourism, etc) - 25%
Close to residential areas (population factor) - 15%
Near other tourist attraction (malls, other resorts, etc) - 15%

Site Criteria

Angeles City

Mabalacat City

Porac

Accessibility

30%

40%

30%

Economy

20%

18%

20%

Close to residential

14%

14%

13%

12%

13%

15%

76%

85%

78%

areas
Near

other

tourist

attraction
Total (100%)

Mabalacat City got the highest rating which makes it the best choice from the 3 selected
sites. Considering that the site picked in Mabalacat is just by SCTEx and having the
39

convenience of being near an international airport, in terms of accessibility, the site in

Mabalacat is the best choice. The site is also near a residential area which makes it easier for
the resort to establish a connection to its local community.

Site Evaluation and Analysis

Macro Setting
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its
capital is the City of San Fernando. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces
of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecijato the north, and Bulacan to the
southeast. Pampanga also lies on the northern shore of Manila Bay. Angeles City, although
geographically within Pampanga, is classified as a first-class, highly urbanized city and has a
government independent of the province. The province has a total land mass of 206,247
hectare. Its terrain is relatively flat with one distinct mountain, Mount Arayat and the
notable Pampanga River. The province of Pampanga has two distinct climates, rainy and dry.
The rainy or wet season normally begins in May and runs through October, while the rest of
the year is the dry season. The warmest period of the year occurs between March and April,
while the coolest period is from December through February. Farming and fishing are the
two main industries of the province. Major products include rice, corn, sugar cane, and
tilapia. In addition to farming and fishing, the province also supports thriving cottage
industries that specialize in wood carving, furniture-making, guitars, and handicrafts. Every
year during the Christmas season, the province of Pampanga becomes the center of a thriving
industry centered on handcrafted lighted lanterns called "parols" that display a kaleidoscope

40

of light and color. Other industries include its casket industry and the manufacturing of all
purpose vehicles present in the Municipality of Sto. Tomas.
Tourism is a growing industry in the province of Pampanga. Clark Freeport is
home to Clark International Airport, designated as the Philippines' future premier gateway.
Other developing industries include semiconductor manufacturing for electronics and
computers mostly located within the freeport.
Pampanga is also a place of good resort; one is Poracay Resort in Porac,
Pampanga. Taking advantage of the big land of Porac, the resort management was able to
build multiple pools. Another good example is the Sandbox in Porac as well, although it is
not a resort, it is still unique in its own way as its activities are ranging from bungee chords
jumps, wakeskate and more.
Map of Pampanga province

Mabalacat, Pampanga is the

third most populated
municipality in Pampanga, this
is where the 60% of Clark
Freeport Zone is located.
Which means the Clark
International Airport very near
Mabalacat
Angeles City is known for
being a highly urbanized city of
41

Pampanga which means it administer itself despite being within Pampanga.

Porac features some of the best resorts in Pampanga and with its massive land, it is very ideal
to place a new resort in Porac to further improve the tourism in Pampanga.

Site Evaluation
Mabalacat is politically subdivided into 27 barangays. The largest barangay is
Dau and is now a business center whose commercial output runs parallel to that of
downtown. A former terminus of the North Luzon Expressway, it is the most urban and most
populous area in Mabalacat, home of roughly 23% of the citys population. San Francisco,
the second largest barangay, along with San Joaquin, Santa Ines, Poblacion, Calumpang and
other barangays are categorized as urban in view of their proximity to the city proper.
Economy
Newly proclaimed city of the Province of Pampanga, Mabalacats annual income
of P504,149,053.16 as of 2011 were mostly generated from their municipal license fees, land
tax, Internal Revenue allotment, roads and bridges fund. Mabalacat City in 1997 have 2,447
registered business establishments, these establishments ranges from iron works to bakery
and a lot of trading companies. Dau has eleven banks that serve the financial needs of the
city.
Utilities
The city also has public utilities including the Mabalacat Water System,
Pampanga Electric Corporation II. Mabalacat also have three telephone companies, Datelcom
Corporation, Smart Communications and Digital Telecommunications Philippines,
Incorporated and a cable television which runs in Mabalacat solely the PRO-SAT.
42

Accessibility
The city has one of the major transportation hubs which connect the roads of
North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, and MacArthur Highway that cut
across the region. Dau has one of the biggest bus terminals that are bound for Metro Manila
and other provinces such as Dagupan, Tuguegarao and other north provinces.
Micro Setting
The Site

site

The site is located at barangay Mabiga, Mabalacat City Pampanga. SCTEx is right beside the
site as well as right beside a major road that crosses in Pampanga, the MacArthur Highway.
The site is also near Clark International Airport as shown in the map. MacArthur Highway is
one of the most accessible roads in Pampanga that anyone that has access to it can go
conveniently to the site without any problem.

The site is conveniently located near residential areas

A creek in the north part of site makes it easy to establish a property border

The site is relatively flat in surface and is near major highways and expressways
43

Mabalacat recently became a city, more opportunity an establishments will arrive in

the near future possibly benefiting the said project

The convenience of having the site near an international airport for tourists and for
them to easily book a room in the resorts hotel accommodation, making the process
easy and the travel time distance minimized

Mabalacat is near Angeles and Clark Zone which can give the tourists more
flexibility in terms of going to other places from the resort

The fact that it is near SCTEx makes it even more easily for tourist to travel from or
to the resort, may it be to south or to north

RESIDENTIAL
AREA

OTHER NON-THERAPEUTIC
RESORTS
CREEK

SITE

The site has a total of 38,754 square meters, almost 4 hectares. The site is near MacArthur
Highway and SCTEx making it easy to access from major roads. The site is relatively flat
44

and is ready for construction as the zoning of the city allows resorts to be constructed in the
site. Given the site in Mabalacat, the site is 20-30minutes away from the bus terminal in Dau
which makes it even more accessible for commuters coming from Manila, Bulacan or north
provinces like Tarlac, etc.
The site is also near to two other resorts which do not have hotel accommodations
and are non-therapeutic resorts. The addition of a therapeutic resort will give more variety to
the place making it an easy spot for tourist to travel. This can possibly increase the visitors
in that particular area as visitors will see a common area where non-therapeutic resort and a
therapeutic resort coexist, thus expanding their choices.

Site Development Options

Wind Path and Sun Path Analysis

SITE

Major winds and sun path

45

Sensory Analysis

SITE

The main source of noise is coming from the roads near the site. In the north part of the site,
the creek separates the site from other resort.

46

Proposed Site Development Plan

First scheme

Spa pools

Convention hall

Main hotel

Second scheme

Convention hall

Spa pools

Main hotel

47

Related Appendices

48

49

50

Works Cited
ALEST (International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism) (1990). From Traditional Spa
Tourism to Modern Forms of Health Tourism, Travel Research, 28(3): 38-39.
Cooper, Gillian, and Yves Renard. "Siting and Design of Hotels and Resorts." Convention on
Biological Diversity (2012): n. pag. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, Apr. 2012. Web. Dec. 2014.
Hassan, Ahmad S. "Development of Successful Resort Design with Vernacular Style in Langkawi,
Malaysia." Asian Culture and History. Www.ccsenet.org/ach, Jan. 2010. Web. Dec. 2014.
Hassan, A.S., & Ku Hassan, K.A. (2001). Konsep perumahan tradisional berkelompok dan
berdensiti tinggi di pantai barat Semenanjung Malaysia. Penang: Universiti Sains Malaysia
Press, (Chapter 3).
M. Cohen, Spas, wellness and human evolution (Book style with paper title and editor), in
Understanding the Spa Industry, Spa Management, 1st ed. Edf: M. Cohen and G Bodeker,
UK, Elsevier, 2008, pp.4
Okech, Roselyne. "Promoting the Spa Tourism Industry." Athens Journal of Tourism. N.p., Mar.
2014. Web. Nov. 2014.

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Pehlivanoglu, Burcu. "Design Principles of Spa Areas in Accommodation Facilities." International

Conference on Transport, Civil, Architecture and Environment Engineering.
ICTCAEE'2012, Dec. 2012. Web. Nov. 2014.
Stanford Research Institute (2008). The global spa economy 2007. Presented in New York City,
Dec. 2014
Steel, J. (2005). Ecological Architecture. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd.. (Chapter 1).

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