Urban Image and Responsiveness of Clark Freeport Zone

8/13/2019 Urban Image and Responsiveness of Clark Freeport Zone

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[URB N IM GE ND RESPONSIVENESS] Clark Freeport Zone

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I. IntroductionThe Clark Freeport Zone, situated in the

northwestern side of Angeles City and onthe west side of the Mabalacat city in the

province of Pampanga , is considered to be

one of the most prolific economic

backbones of the country. Formerly known

as the Clark Special Economic Zone, this

28,000 hectares facility was constructed by

the United States when they maintained a

significant military presence in the

Philippines; it was then known as the U.S.largest military installation outside the

American continent and became a home to

its 13thAir Force.

The said air base was reverted to the

Philippine Government in 1991 upon the

expiration of RP-US Military Bases

Agreement.

At present, Clark is being propped up as amajor hub for the operations of various

medium and large scale Asian companies

and a center for industry, tourism and

aviation in the country as well as a leisure,

fitness, entertainment and gaming center

of Central Luzon.

Fi gure 1: Clark Terr itorial M ap

(http://maps.google.com)

F igure 2: Clark Entry Pylon

The study seeks to analyze the emerging ur ban design theories in Clar k F reeport Zone in aid

of elements and other factors which would help in i denti fying its image and responsiveness.Thi s shal l be attained by conducting an on-site assessment and investigation on the exi sting

services and facil it ies in the area.


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II. The Image of Clark Freeport ZoneA.Paths

B.Nodes

The Manuel A. Roxas Highway (see

figure 1) is one of the mos

prominent paths in Clark Freepor

Zone. It is a major path where

vehicles pass through upon entering

the Main Gate in Angeles City. From

this highway, other roads can be

accessed such as the Andre

Bonifacio Avenue and the Jose Abad

Santos Avenue, which are also othe

major paths inside the Clark Freepor

Zone. Other prominent paths in

Clark include the Claro M. Recto

Highway, which can also be

accessed from the Manuel A. Roxa

Highway.

F igures 3&4:Manuel Roxas Highway

The most prominent node in the

Clark Freeport Zone is the Clark

International Airport, formerlyknown as Diosdado Macapagal

International Airport (see figure 5),

as there are different kinds of

activities taking place here. Another

node is the Clark Jeepney Terminal;

there are many activities taking place

here as well.F igure 5:Diosdado Macapagal Intl Airport


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C.Edges

D.Districts

Edges, in view of the physical

condition of Clark can be classified

into macro and micro scales,

respectively. For the micro scale,most of the paths can also be

considered edges as they separate one

district from another. One good

example for this is the Ninoy Aquino

Ave. which takes apart Air Force City

to residential subdivisions located

along the said highway.

However, for the macro scale, the

Perimeter Road (see figure 6) is anedge which clearly indicates a strong

definition between Clark and Angeles

City. What makes it more defined is

the presence of a perimeter fence

which makes Clark inaccessible from

other areas.

F igure 6: Perimeter r oad along Don Juico Ave.

F igure 7: Sacobia River

A district is an intangible

perception of a certain

place on the basis of the

dominant activity taking

place in a certain area.

That is, a district is not

determined by the physical

attributes or zoning of thearea, but rather on how the

people orient these places

as one.

Figur e 8: Vari ous Distri cts located in Clark


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E.Landmarks

F igure 9: Pur egold Duty F ree shop

located in Clarks shopping District

The area offers it users wide ranges of

opportunities brought about by the

emergence of various districts planned

together in accordance to their uses.

These districts can be classified as

shopping districts (Clark shopping

centers along Claro M. Recto Ave),

factories and offices (in Clark Premiere

Industrial Park and PhilExcel Business

Park), subdivision and condominiums

(Ritzville, Clark Hills Village, Clark

Housing Development etc.) and cultural( Clark Expo Filipino, Nayong Pilipino

and the Clark Museum)

Figur e 10: The Phi lexcel Business

Park is one of the eminent distri cts in

Clar k F reeport Zone as it houses

various off ices and factori es, whi ch

makes it the prolif ic economic

One of the most prominent places in the

Clark Freeport Zone is the Nayong Pilipino

(see figure 7). This is among one of the

places that pops into peoples mind when

Clark is being mentioned. This characteristic

of Nayong Pilipino is what makes it a

landmarkFigure 11: Nayong Pil ipino


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III. Responsiveness of Clark Freeport ZoneA.Permeability

Clark is permeable to both pedestrians and

vehicles. There are lots of factor that makes

it possible; both physical and intangible

elements. Wide road networks, freeways,

public transport terminals, visible road

signage, functional traffic light and shaded

pathways for physical factors make it

permeable. Meanwhile, the absence of

traffic congestion and the existence of a

green environment, clean air, vista and etc.for intangible factors.Figur e 12: M anuel Roxas H ighway

Clark is also very accessible from its nearby cities and provinces. It is accessible in

Angles City through the Manuel A. Roxas Highway and while in Mabalacat City

through the Gil Puyat Avenue. Also, near provinces like Tarlac, Bataan and Zambales

through the SCTEX ( Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway).

Road Network

Wide road network, presence of traffic lights, lamp post, jeepney drop offs, visible

road line, center islands, plant strips are some elements that is present in Clark Freeport

zones road networks that makes it very permeable.

Tertiary Roads

Primary Roads

Secondary Roads

Runways, Taxiways

and other roads

Proposed Roads

Figur e 13: Clark Road Network M ap


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Transport Terminals

There are several terminals

that are operating that has route inClark but most of them are only

available up to the boundaries or

certain portion only of Clark. But

There are jeepney terminals that

has route that travel inside the

Clark those are the Mabalacat

Public Market and Main Gate

Jeepney Terminal. Figur e 14: M abalacat Jeepney Terminal

F igur e 15: Fri endship Main Gate Jeepney Terminal

Directional Signage

Most of the road networks

surpass this element but in Clark

signages are visible and properly

located, that makes it permeable. It

helps the traveler to easily navigate

the location of their destination.

F igure 16: Example of directional Signage in

Clark


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Pedestrian Friendly Paths

Road networks are shaded in trees, with pedestrian lanes and provisions forPWD (Person with Disabilities). These elements make it very permeable for

pedestrian because of the ease and comfort they can give.

Figure 17: The Clark Parade Grounds is accessible to

vehicl es, bicycles and even to pedestr ians with the aid

of the access road cir cli ng around its perimeter

F igur e 18: Other areas in Clark, parti cularl y in the

development corp. of f ices, have allotted sidewalks with

ramps to make it accessible to the handicapped

persons.


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B.Variety

Clark is a sprawling , cosmopolitan metropolis that offers many places of interests

and host of events and activities accessible to a wide spectrum of tourists and visitors.

With a highly improved road networks and increasing flights at DMIA, Clark is

setting out to become the hub for business, aviation and tourism in the Philippines. It

also became a cradle for micro-tech facilities and BPO offices brought about by the

establishment of the PhilExcel Business Park and Clark Premiere Industrial Park.

Aside from those, the area is also known for the emergence of high endcondominiums and subdivisions which cater to the growing number of tourist arrivals

particularly foreigners who would want to put up their investments in Clark.

F igure 19: Clark F reeport Zone

offers users wide range of

facil iti es that would cater various

activities ranging from business

offices, shopping centers,

cultur al and recreational centers,

hotels, high end condominiums

and subdivisions


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Moreover, Clark is also endowed with landmarks and historical sites that offer a

nostalgic journey to the past such as the Nayong Filipino, Clark Exposition Center

(EXPO Filipino), and the Clark Museum.

F igure: Clark offers wide

vari ety of uses, some of wh ich

were the shoppi ng centers (as

shown in the figur e).

However, the establi shment of

SM Ci ty Clar k has caused

most of these shops to cl ose.

Image Courtesy:

http://zamboanga.com

The establi shment of

Phi lexcel Business Park aids

to the economic revenue of

Clark Freeport Zone as it

houses commercial off ices for

BPO and international f irms;

and medium scale factor ies

and warehouses. I mage

Cour tesy: http:/ /eco.ph

Clar k is also endowed with

landmarks and histori cal sites

that off er a nostalgic journey

to the past such as the

Nayong Fi lipino, Clark

Expositi on Center (EXPO

Fili pino), and the Clark

Museum. Image Cour tesy:

http://trekearth.com &

rei ndatu.word ress.com

Figure 20 : Arjan Duty Free Figure 21: DFS Shopping Center

F igure 22 : PhilExcel Business Park

F igure 23 : Clark Expo F ili pino F igure 24: Nayong Pilipino


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C.RobustnessConsidering the macro scale robustness, it can be clearly seen that Clark can be used for

many uses, as a cradle for light industries and commercial offices, houses sports, cultural

and other recreational facilities, transportation hub etc.

On the other hand, small scale may refer to particular places in the area which exhibit

robustness as it can be used in many ways other than its intended purposes. One

significant example is the Clark Parade Grounds.

D.RichnessRichness provides users variety of sense

of experiences such as senses of hearing,

taste, motion, etc.

The Clark Parade Grounds can be

considered rich as it appeals to sight,

motion and touch senses. The emergence

of jogging lanes and path walk around the

oval had allow people to experience

movement by initiating desire for them to

jog, walk and do various physical

activities.

Moreover, its scenic green backdrop

serves as an aid for a more refreshing

sight thus it also appeal to the visual sense

by providing a picturesque environmental

composition.

F igure 26: The Clark Parade Grounds

appeals to motion , touch and sight senses

Clar k Parade Grounds can be used

for various physical activities such

as jogging, Frisbee, baseball etc.

Moreover, i t is also being uti li zed as

open gr ound f or concerts and other

publi c events.

F igur e 25 : Clark Parade Grounds


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E.Visual Appropriateness

F igure 27: The Clark Premiere I ndustrial

Park (CPIP) Compound

On the other hand, the temperate

and breezy ambiance allowed the

people to experience a high on the

sense of touch.

Meanwhile, the emergence of

light industry factories in the

Clark Premiere Industrial Park

(CPIP) compound have caused

occasional occurrences of foul

odors from the smoke and fog

emissions brought about by their

activities.

Visual Appropriateness refers to the

context on how the building was

designed. It refers to the intangible

style protocol a certain building

personifies which can be directly

attributed to the generally accepted

taste and norms of how it was

designed.

The Clark Expo Filipino can easily

be identified as an exhibition center

due to its festive architectural style

through the choice of colors and the

variety of elements present on its

form.

F igure 28: The festive design of the Clark

Expo F il ipino signi fi es that the building is used

for cultur al purposes

Meanwhile, the building of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport is considered to

visually appropriate as its character posses the architectural determinant of an airport

terminal; wide horizontal scale, the presence of drop off area and the number of storey the

building has.


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F igure 30: The formal design

and curtain windows signi fy

that th is structu re is in tended to

be used as an offi ce bui ldi ng

F igure 29: DM IA. The hori zontal scale, the number of storey, and the emergence of passenger drop off ar ea

signi fy that thi s building is an airport.

F igure 31: Oxford H otel. The

hori zontal scale, the individual

windows signi fying separation

of un its, and the luxur ious

design character ize this

structure as a hotel bui lding


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F.LegibilityLegibility serves us a guide to allow people

understand a certain place, thus it serves as an aid

for way finding and place making.

It also creates a cue for a certain person to mind

map a place through its primary identifying

characteristics.

In case of the Clark Freeport Zone, most of the

structures are easily identified, as they were

clustered and zoned in accordance to their usage.

The following were considered to be some the

legible structures in Clark;

F igure 32: SM City Clark. I t is

proport ion to the natu re and serves as

a guide or landmark and its own

physical character istics on it. Sutherland Building IQOR Building SM City Clark Diosdado Macapagal Intl Airport

It can be easily perceived or identify that you

are in Clark due to the emergence of SM City,

which also serve as one of its landmarks and a

signal that you are already entering Clark

territory (Refer to figure __)

Meanwhile, the IQOR Building is legible in

terms of proportion to its site as it occupies the

most visually accessible portion of it, therefore

it can be easily identified and thus, used as a

landmark too which serve as aid for easy way

finding.

F igure 33: I QOR Building. The

said bui lding is legible in terms of

the site where it was buil t.

F igur e 34: The Clark Parade Grounds

is considered to be legible as it acts as

node to dif ferent entiti es situated in

the nearby area. Moreover, this also

serve as a landmark f or easy way

finding.


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G.PersonalizationClark being an area which offers

variety of uses employs a high level

of personalization. Shopping centers

are modified in order to attract more

customers , offices on the other hand

are more formal and dignified in

terms of design to entail the type of

activities done. Restaurants play with

different themes and displays

modernity on its exterior design.

Meanwhile, hotels and resorts are

more elaborate and pay attention to

architectural details and intricate

character pieces. Widus Resort and

Casino exemplifies a massive

ziggurat inspired faade. The Binulo

Restaurant on the contrary, is simpler

and showcases a white color

dominated facade.

Figur e 37: Off ices in Phi lexcel

Business Park are more formal

in their design.

http://clarksubicmarketing.com

Figur e 36:The Bi nul o Restaurant

design is simpler and showcases a

whi te color dominated faade

http://zamboanga.com

Figur e 35: Widus Resort and

Casino exemplifies a massive

ziggur at inspir ed faade

http://rgbgamescom

F igure 38: The Our L ady of Remedies

chapel in the Air for ce City epitomize a

character relative on the site to which it

was bui lt http: //kalbongdad.blogspot.com


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Assessment:

Clark Freeport Zone has a lot of things to offer to its users, and with this study, we are

able to point out that the area exemplify characteristics which makes it image able and

responsive. However, it is unfortunate to know that modern developments engineered purely by

consumerism were seen to be the solution in promoting urban growth in Clark. Little did we

know, that these would have an impact not only in altering the citys landscape but to how the

people perceive and picture it.

The area as it can be clearly pictured is better off with low density development, but

today, residential developments sprouted in the area like mushrooms which creates sprawl.

Looking further onto the image ability and responsiveness aspect of Clark Freeport Zone,

we are able to wrap up with the following assessment:

1. Districts are formed on the basis of how the people orient a certain place to be one.Place making and experiences of people were some of the contributing factors which

provides a framework to be one.

2. Most of the paths act like edges as they take apart one district from another, thoughthey also serve as connector which links them.

3. The image of a city is formed by the urban orientation of the people, therefore,familiarity is one of the factors in order to determine its parameters.

4. Districts are formed as they all complement each other. They are fashioned andplanned in order to meet the needs of the people.

5. A city may not be formed if one element is not present as they were all considered tobe inevitable to citys form.

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Urban Image and Responsiveness of Clark Freeport Zone

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