A Proposed Redevelopment of Calapan city Recreational and Zoological Park/ Tecson, Martina Andrei L.

Bachelor's Thesis

College of Architecture and Fine Arts: Bachelor of Science in Architecture.-- Technological University of The Philippines, 2025.

Includes bibliographic references and index.

Oriental Mindoro, a province in the Philippines, is known for its rich natural
landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and cultural heritage. Ecotourism plays a vital
role in its economy, with Calapan City, its capital, emerging as a key gateway and
growing destination. One of its major assets is the Calapan City Recreational and
Zoological Park, a 30,132-square-meter site in Barangay Bulusan. The park is
divided into two primary zones: a Recreational Park for events, photoshoots, and
camping, and a Zoological Park housing animals and hosting exhibits.
Despite its potential, the park has become underutilized and poorly
maintained. It suffers from deteriorating enclosures, a lack of veterinary care,
untrained staff, and inadequate infrastructure. The absence of a clear spatial
separation between recreational and zoological zones results in uncontrolled noise
and human activity, negatively impacting animal welfare and visitor experience.
These issues limit the park’s role in tourism, education, and conservation.
This thesis proposes the site’s sustainable redevelopment through a
biophilic architectural approach, which emphasizes the human-nature connection
to promote health, well-being, and ecological harmony. Using a mixed-method
research strategy, including site analysis, stakeholder interviews, surveys, and
case studies, the project reimagines the park as a nature-integrated destination.
The design concept, titled “Re-Nature,” introduces a stilted, continuous
pathway that weaves through the park, preserving the natural terrain and reducing ecological disturbance. Biophilic elements such as natural materials, organic forms, native vegetation, and multisensory environments are embedded
throughout the design.
In alignment with the Provincial Tourism Development Master Plan 2022–
2027, this thesis offers a regenerative design vision that reconnects people with
nature. It transforms a neglected facility into a multifunctional, ecologically
responsive park that supports tourism, conservation, education, and community
well-being in Oriental Mindoro.