The project was incubated by the memories and histories of the site. This 80-year old house was the location of iconic Filipino movies. We believe in preservation of historical buildings and we are giving it adaptive re-use or a new purpose. This rich heritage and preservation of historical buildings is something we believe is very valuable – it is a new typology by merging living residential units to existing old heritage sites. Since the area is also a film triangular creative hub, similar to Hollywood and Bollywood, preserving this house and giving it back to the public as a living artifact- it will be converted into a Film Archives Museum focusing on 100 years of Philippine cinema. The concept of the building is like frame within a frame, and there are residential units on top of the old house. The outside frame acts as a concrete scaffolding that holds the building structurally, so there are no unnecessary columns in the residential units as it also frames the city. The Monument is made of 3-bedroom units, one unit per floor, stacked on top of each other showing the best vistas with hanging gardens and all bedrooms have corner views of the Sierra Madre mountains. The forest grand penthouse which sits perched on top is like a private garden island floating in the city.

Film Archives Museum is a blend of old and new, and it is sandwiched to the new built creating this importance of cultural identity. The funnel shape entrance from the street is made of bricks from the local existing soil of the site during excavation – a kind of romantic where the terroir of the land becomes the brick and walls of this very grand entryway of the museum. As you enter this vaulted funnel shaped made of localized bricks, you see this transparent flooring made of glass that gives natural lighting in the ruins (which are cinematic memory shrouds) but as well feels like a transparent curtain floor (a kind of film blinds that peep into the film sets) that rotates with sensors. This interesting play of light, shadow and movements with film engraved blinds gives depth and unexpected surprises and glimpse of a kind of theatrical scenery. The perforated metal façade of the parking lot area is inspired by the archived Filipino movie posters from 1919-present. We categorized them and articulated this camouflage pattern which is like a cultural interface. The dining area and the wooden staircase where most of the sets where staged are preserved as artefacts with video projections, and there will be a 50-seater screening room (located rooftop) that is very nostalgic since you can watch a film on top of the roof of the old house where your kiddie fantasies will come true. This unique project is how we should develop our cities – preserving cultural heritage and giving it a new meaning with sensuality.