In a city where shopping malls and office buildings often stand apart—each fulfilling one need but rarely offering a holistic experience—architecture student Ella Marie Pacete asked a simple but powerful question: What if we designed for how people actually live?
Her answer is “A Commercial Complex in Bacolod City”—but don’t be fooled by the name. This is not your typical real estate proposal. It’s a masterfully integrated, community-first destination that fuses commerce, lifestyle, and work into a single walkable, welcoming environment.
“At the heart of the project is a desire to enhance everyday life,” Ella shares. “I wanted to create a space where Bacolodnons can work, unwind, and connect—all in one place.”
And that place is unlike anything the city currently has.
The standout feature? Bacolod’s first-ever outlet mall, designed to bring accessible luxury and thoughtful retail experiences to the city’s growing middle class. But it doesn’t stop there. Imagine an outdoor cinema, a food court that spills into green space, and an indoor park where families can escape the heat without leaving the urban core.
Pair that with an office tower tailored to the city’s booming BPO and service sectors—complete with flexible workspaces, recreation zones, and wellness features—and you’ve got a commercial complex that’s actually built for the people using it.
“There’s a lack of inclusive gathering spaces in Bacolod,” Ella points out. “This project is my way of filling that gap with something intentional—something that reflects who we are and who we’re becoming.”
From wide, intuitive walkways to accessible design features like ramps, elevators, and community-centric zoning, everything about the complex invites interaction, comfort, and equity. And with solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and a double-skin façade for adaptive cooling, sustainability isn’t just a feature—it’s the framework.
But what truly elevates the design is its potential impact.
Ella envisions it as a catalyst for economic revitalization, drawing in local businesses and international investors alike. It supports Bacolod’s larger goal of becoming a smart and creative city—but does so by putting people first. Not just shoppers. Not just workers. But citizens.
“It’s more than a mall or a workplace,” she says. “It’s a place where culture, commerce, and community meet.”
And that’s the future Ella is designing for—not just buildings, but a better Bacolod.
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