Boracay’s evolving architectural character
BY JASON BUENSALIDO

BORACAY Terraces is composed of a series of stepped structures which form a unique massing that is comparable to the famous rice terraces in Banaue.

Metro Manila’s skyline is composed of high-rise structures, cell-site towers, rundown warehouses, and even patched-up shanties. This is why from time to time, a typical Manileño would seek a change of scenery. So I took my staff on a company outing to the summer island of Boracay, which turned out to be thoroughly refreshing.
The last time I was in Boracay was around four years ago, and people have been telling me that a lot has changed. Even before getting to the island, I already experienced one such change. The boats now can no longer dock on Stations 1, 2 or 3. They are now merely used as reference points to locate the different venues in the island. The docking of all the boats is now at a centralized boat station at the tip of the island nearest Caticlan. This is actually a good move. Preventing boats from docking on the beachfront preserves the tranquility of both the beach and the views.

From the central dock, we transferred to a van which took us to Boracay Terraces, a high-end resort at the end of Station 1. It is owned by Steve Tajanlangit, who was gracious enough to have us as his guests. Boracay Terraces is one of the few resorts in Boracay with a strong architectural concept. The main structure is composed of a series of stepped structures. The rooms are stacked upon each other, each one set back a few meters from the one below, forming a massing that is comparable to the famous rice terraces in Banaue. The whole structure is skewed to about 45 degrees from the shoreline, providing breathtaking views of the sea to all of the rooms.
A lot of the structures along the beachfront have also improved. One of the latest additions to the beachfront resorts is Discovery Shores. The design lures your attention because of the all-white lofty design accentuated by a triangular bar jutting out of the main mass, whose shape is mirrored by a steel-framed canopy immediately above it. Beyond the lobby is what seems to be a linear courtyard where the main pool is located. Small lampposts line the different walkways, defining the circulation paths that interconnect the different parts of the resort. The linear courtyard is flanked by 3-4 storey structures that house the accommodations. The design is very classy, brought about by the white cubist forms complemented by dark window frames, steel balustrades, and skewed roof forms. This kind of design suits a place like Boracay as it only uses earth tones that blend with the natural landscape.

Other interesting structures include Patio Pacific (formerly Pink Patio), whose architecture is very Art-Deco with a tropical touch, something you would see in the beach city of Miami. Sun Village Central, Café del Mar, Bamboo Lounge and Sea Wind stay true to a native Filipino design, consisting of concrete earth-toned bases with cogon or nipa for their roofing. Aside from the recent Discovery Shores, modern structures are starting to sprout out as well, characterized by white tones, dark brown window trims and clean Asian lines. Some of these modern resorts are Zuzuni Boutique Hotel, Sand Castles and Asya Resort.
We also got to see the upcoming developments, which are mostly in the other parts of Boracay apart from the main beach. We saw Eco-ville, a resort complex complete with a convention center, pool amenities and accommodation buildings. We caught a glimpse of resorts that are currently under construction such as a Shangri-La development and a complex by DMCI. These last two resorts are monumental developments with first-class facilities—their staff housing alone could easily be mistaken for a high-end condominium.
The whole trip was truly very relaxing. It was a good break from the deadlines, meetings and architectural presentations we have in Manila. In fact, while jamming with an acoustic guitar on the beach, the thought of being a professional bum crossed my mind. If my typical schedule consisted of skimboarding during the day and jamming by night with no money issues, then I wouldn’t mind at all.

Jason Buensalido is the principal architect of Buensalido Architects. His designs have won him national competitions such as the Nayong Pilipino Masterplan and the Cultural Center of the Philippines Design Excellence Competitions. He placed first in the 2005 architectural licensure examinations.