Lio Masterplan
Does deconstructing traditional folk architecture create opportunities for a new architectural identity?
Lio Beach is situated between El Nido Bay and tropical forests on the island of Palawan. The masterplan deconstructs traditional Filipino architectural elements, stitching the built environment into a woven landscape to create a unique resort destination. Designed as a sustainable and car-free neighborhood, the site employs a holistic approach to development.
Location
El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
Research Areas Regenerative Health
Typology Hospitality
Size
Extra Large
462,762 SQF
Status Complete
Project Team Carlos ArnaizAlex TsengJessy Yang
We consider each project on its own terms and develop tailored responses. Learn about our vision and mission.
The resort focuses on public plazas that are inland extensions of the beach, each offering a different town experience. The smallest, on the western edge, is quieter. A central plaza holds family-focused offerings in terms of lodging and shopping. Finally, the largest one is lively and contains millennial-type spaces. This mixture of areas lets individuals curate their own experiences. Variety, scale, and form allow the masterplan to extend organically and bring in other developers. To this effect, CAZA created a 350-page zoning guidebook to encourage growth.
The masterplan responds to the wind and solar patterns, minimizing energy use and maximizing comfort. By looking at traditional folk architecture in the Philippines, the resort defines a new architectural vernacular and creates a sense of identity for the local community through modular, parametric design, and regenerative strategies that enhance resiliency and support distributive networks of development.
Our approach is strategically driven and informed. Click here to learn about our process.
Inspired by local context
Lio Beach Masterplan will be recognized worldwide as a distinctly Filipino tourist destination and sets a precedent for a contemporary architecture tradition along the island’s coastline.
