In cities rapidly evolving to meet the demands of modern life, culture often struggles to find its place. But for architecture student Rodrigo Jr. S. Najarro, culture isn’t meant to play catch-up with progress—it’s meant to guide it.
His thesis, “A Master Development Plan for a Cultural Park in San Carlos City,” presents a bold yet thoughtful response to a cultural landscape that has long been underrepresented. While San Carlos City thrives in sports infrastructure, its rich traditions, artistic expressions, and historical narratives remain scattered, celebrated only in fleeting festival moments. Rodrigo’s design proposes something more permanent—a place where culture can root, rise, and flourish all year round.
Reclaiming Identity Through Space
Rodrigo’s motivation came from observing a visible cultural gap in the city. “Culture shouldn’t be sidelined,” he notes. “It must be nurtured, honored, and integrated into everyday life.” His master plan seeks to create a dedicated space that is both commemorative and forward-thinking—a cultural park where heritage, creativity, and civic life converge.
The proposal is more than infrastructure. It’s a regenerative framework grounded in vernacular architecture and ecological mindfulness, inviting San Carlos to not only preserve its identity but to evolve with it.
A Sunflower as Blueprint
At the heart of Rodrigo’s concept is a symbol both humble and profound: the sunflower. Inspired by the city’s beloved Pintaflores Festival, the sunflower becomes more than decoration—it becomes structure and strategy.
The “stem” of the layout represents the city’s cultural spine, guiding visitors through a heritage path that leads to an open-air exhibition garden, anchored by an old milling train—a nod to San Carlos’ agricultural and industrial roots.
The “leaves” symbolize the preserved and enhanced green spaces, providing ecological buffers, shade, and places for informal gathering. These zones represent the daily rhythm of the city—where people gather not for spectacle, but for shared experience.
And finally, the “flower”: a striking cultural building that faces east, just like the City Hall. Designed for performances, exhibits, creative workshops, and public discourse, it crowns the park as a symbol of collective growth, civic unity, and renewal.
Through this organic metaphor, Rodrigo creates a living system—a cultural park that breathes, responds, and grows with its people.
Designing for Presence, Not Just Performance
What distinguishes this project is its emphasis on continuous engagement, rather than event-based visitation. The design integrates indoor and outdoor spaces, ensuring that the park is as active on a weekday morning as it is during a major celebration.
Key features include: a 1,200-seat theater for performances and civic events; interactive workshops for local arts and crafts
Redeveloped baywalks and landscape improvements for daily recreation; and outdoor exhibition zones that highlight both historic artifacts and contemporary creativity.
Rodrigo envisions these spaces not as static amenities but as platforms for evolving identity—where local artists, elders, and young innovators alike can shape the narrative of San Carlos together.
A Living Cultural Catalyst
The park, Rodrigo believes, will become more than a destination—it will be a catalyst for inclusive development. By nurturing local pride and cultural continuity, it strengthens the social fabric of the city. By offering meaningful experiences to visitors, it supports sustainable tourism grounded in authenticity and respect.
At its core, the park is a gesture of resilience—a sunflower turning toward the sun, reminding the city to stay rooted in its past while reaching toward the future.
“This is my tribute,” Rodrigo says, “to the people who have shaped San Carlos, and to those who will carry its stories forward.”
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