[Karl  Mendez - MALAYA – A Cultural Shift of the Filipino Diaspora  - COVER IMG] Sinulog Festival being celebrated with the proposed new archetype.

MALAYA – A Cultural Shift of the Filipino Diaspora

University/SchoolUniversity of Auckland School of Architecture and Planning
Lead ArchitectKarl Mendez
Design TeamKarl Mendez (Solo Project)

Set in the Port of Cebu from Cebu City, Philippines, the design proposal challenges the systemic Filipino Migration model implemented in the 1970s by proposing ​an alternative reality. It envisions an architectural port that transforms and reimagines an empowerment agency for overseas Filipino workers and diasporic generations by equipping these unsung heroes with the skill sets and knowledge required to voyage into the global arena with an understanding of their cultural heritage. The building becomes a beacon of hope as it acknowledges the past while looking bravely towards the future.