La Salle Botanical Chapel
How can a botanical garden bring back hope for a calamity-stricken community?
Set within the lush, regenerative landscapes of Botolan, Zambales, the De La Salle Botanical Gardens looms over as a visionary fusion of ecological healing and innovative design. Rising from a site shaped by a 20th-century volcanic eruption, the 7,500 sqm multipurpose facility includes a dynamic cluster of event spaces, a chapel, meditation grottos, and support offices—all interwoven by shaded pergolas that invite communal gathering.
Location
Botolan, Zambales, Philippines
Research Areas -
Typology Institutional
Size
Small
7,500 SQM
Status Complete
Project Team Carlos ArnaizNicolas Schlegel
We consider each project on its own terms and develop tailored responses. Learn about our vision and mission.
The architecture draws on organic forms, featuring dome vaults and catenary arches that echo the surrounding terrain. Materials like glass, concrete, and patented 3D-printed bricks—engineered to reduce the building’s carbon footprint by 70%—support both sustainability and structural elegance.
This interplay between technology and nature creates a space that encourages reflection, resilience, and connection. As a new civic anchor within a rewilding site, the Community Center sets a precedent for building in dialogue with both environmental recovery and cultural revitalization.
