Bench Tower
How can a plant in bloom transform a city skyline?
Bench Tower combines five programs—a 1,500-person event space, retail hall, parking garage, Grade-A offices, and corporate headquarters for the Bench Group—into an efficient tower with an iconic presence. Separate cores create different circulation loops for each of the programs, preventing bottlenecks. The building’s skin is made of soft-shaped metal latticework, designed with parametric design tools to create different levels of transparency across the tower, opening up views for the offices, maximizing natural ventilation in the parking zones, and reducing solar gain in line with energy and metabolic architecture principles.
Location
Bonifacio Global City, Manila, Philippines
Research Areas Parametric Design
Typology Commercial
Size
Medium
40,810.29 SQF
Status Complete
Project Team Carlos ArnaizXiao TanAlden ChingSiying HanYuqi WangWen Hao XuSanxing ZhaoMarie Isabelle Ngoga
We consider each project on its own terms and develop tailored responses. Learn about our vision and mission.
Optimizing the building skin
The density of the skin’s louvers and canopies are calibrated to the different conditions at the base and top of the tower. On the lower floors, more louvers and fewer canopies increase natural ventilation and frontal views. On higher floors—where there is greater wind exposure—fewer louvers and more canopies maximize parallax views while reducing solar gain.
Event space
A 1,500-person event space below grade can host performances and social gatherings, maximizing the value of the new building.
Our approach is strategically driven and informed. Click here to learn about our process.
Retail hall
The ground-floor retail area opens the building to the surrounding city, integrating it into the neighborhood and creating an active base.
Corporate lobby
A dedicated lobby and separate core for the office programs make for efficient circulation loops despite the building’s mix of uses.
Vertical canyon
A winding staircase cuts through the headquarters office space, enhancing connectivity and visual interconnection between its levels.
