Background

Situation: Product was launched in the Philippines amid the world’s longest lockdown. With a market numbed by the pandemic, how does a brand foster real connection with its Filipino audience? Around that same time, the city gov’t and business sector saw the urgent need for more parks and open spaces. Brief: Design an open space to reinvigorate community life in the city. Objectives: ● Integrate a design into a public space that’s conscious to the community needs ● Create a unique space for reconnection during unprecedented times. Budget: $60000++ Project scale and volume: Park occupies a major pedestrian connection between two high traffic nodes, transforming a 45 sqm corridor into a colorful walk with interwoven structures that undulate from the ground, forming seats, pillars, sunshades, and interactive consoles. The result is a park landscaped with color and sound experiences, providing visitors with bubbles of safe and sensorial sanctuaries outdoors.

Describe the creative idea (40% of vote)

The team set out to create a one-of-a-kind audio-sensory park that transcends social distancing by inviting connection through sound. A space where people could tune in to their feelings - and to each other. Using engineered sound, the micropark rouses feelings, triggers memories and sparks ideas. As one steps in, the audience is immersed in soundscapes from the brand’s rich content library. Each sound experience is carefully designed to complement yet build upon the city soundscape - adding a new layer of feeling and experience to a simple walk in the park. These immersive, multisensory experiences bring to life the themes of Nature, Love & Relationships, Thriller, and Suspense – inspired by beloved entertainment genres. All these reconnect the community to an array of emotions like joy, delight, peace, thrill and adventure -- at a time when the usual human experiences we share have been curtailed by the pandemic.

Describe the execution (40% of vote)

The micropark was designed to be fully immersive, sensorial, and interactive. Movement and proximity sensors were hidden along strategic points, each activating a unique sound experience that varies across 4 thematically distinct portals. These 4 zones represent well-loved entertainment genres, providing unique soundscape engineered from the brand’s content catalogue. Physical structures were prefabricated out of site to limit contact with the community. They were built using acrylic sheets and resin, finished with a weatherproof coating. All these elements were brought together to transform a 45 sqm. linear corridor into a colorful walk with interwoven structures forming seats, pillars, sunshades, and consoles. The result is a park landscaped with color and sounds, flanked by lush greenery that transitions smoothly from park to urban street. To this day, park continues to delight visitors eager to find safe and reinvigorating sanctuaries outdoors.

List the results (20% of vote)

Shortly after the audio-sensory park launch, an increase of 17,000+ average daily foot traffic was recorded by the Bonifacio Global City. Residents, families and diners came out to interact with the park and discover its many surprises, up until another surge in January disrupted outdoor life again. Despite fluctuating lockdown restrictions, the park continues to be a safe outdoor sanctuary for those who need it most.