Imaginative renovations

The newly renovated health center of Barangay 745 inspired from characters from Philippine mythology.

Odyssey: Seeking Adventures Through Timeless Local Folklores and Its Morals, the renovation missions of the graduating Interior Design (IND) students of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) was recently conducted for Barangay 739 and 752 Day Care Centers and Barangay 745 Health Center in the Manila streets of Arellano and Singalong in Malate, and Gonzalo in San Andres.

Odyssey, inspired by abundant Philippine folk stories, is a long journey full of adventures, aimed to recapture the hearts and minds of both the old and the young through literature and design through renovation, refurbishing, replacement, and repair.

The Interior Design Exhibit batch 2018 is composed of 62 students divided into three groups, and each selected venues in different nearby barangays.

MADE more conducive, the room is splashed with colors and characters from the story of “Malakas and Maganda.” “It started as a class requirement which helped us to maximize our skills and create substantial impact among the members of the community,” shared project leader Bianca Barican.

The class which headed the renovation for Barangay 752 Day Care Center replaced the old big cabinets into more compact shelves to have a wider sitting room for the pupils. The ceiling was repaired and designed with a butterfly wing to inspire children to be more creative and artistic. Their inspirations were from Philippine legends, Alamat ng Bulaklak and Paru-Paro.

Meanwhile, the unit for Barangay 739 Day Care center likewise changed big cabinets into colorful shelves to save space for more comfortable sitting. At the same time the daycare’s walls were painted with plants and animals to encourage curiosity, creativity and connection that interplays with tradition, nature, and contemporary life. The concepts behind these designs were Philippine origin stories.

STUDENTS designing the walls of the Day Care Center. On the other hand, the team for Barangay 745’s Health Center revamped the monoblock chairs into seats with foam for comfort, durability and ability to support weight. The walls were designed with images of ancient Filipinos and mythical creatures, following local myths.

Several fundraising campaigns such as garage sales and sale of student-made merchandise were held to ensure the success of the projects.

The transformations took a month to be completed. And, in thanksgiving for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of neighbors, the batch concluded the project by distributing food and treats for the kids and the senior citizens.

“To all who worked hard for the success of Odyssey and to those who we hope we helped make their lives a little brighter through their spaces, thank you for all the patience and cooperation for making certain that this project became successful. We all learned something from this heartwarming experience,” Barican stated.