ABSTRACT
This research examined the influence of cultural immersion on the perceptions of urban public spaces among architecture students of De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, emphasizing contrasting experiences in Barcelona, Spain and Metro Manila, Philippines. Utilizing Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory and Deardorff’s Intercultural Competence Model, a mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative methods. To evaluate design-related characteristics such as accessibility, safety, greenery, and urban amenities, Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to measure statistically significant disparities in perceptions of Barcelona and Metro Manila across all urban space aspects, with Barcelona consistently receiving higher ratings. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed no significant correlations between the extent of these disparities and students’ intercultural competency levels (H₀₂ accepted), nor between the differences and experiential learning levels (H₀₃ accepted). Qualitative findings showed that students appreciated Barcelona's human-scale planning, mobility, and inclusive public space design, while acknowledging cultural and legislative obstacles to immediate implementation in Metro Manila. Participants emphasized the context-specific adaptation of ideas such as pedestrian prioritization, inclusion, and cultural preservation, rather than advocating duplication. The study highlights the transformative yet context-dependent impact of global exposure on architectural thought and advocate for the integration of structured cross-cultural experiences into architectural education to promote inclusive and sustainable urban planning in line with international practices.
Keywords: Urban design, architecture, public spaces, Barcelona, Metro Manila, cross-cultural learning
INTRODUCTION
City planning is influenced by culture, history, politics, and climate. Global cities are under pressure to enhance livability and sustainability, providing architecture students with worldwide exposure that expands their design perspective. Morley (2025) evaluated the varied international implementation of City Beautiful principles, giving emphasis in expansive boulevards, colossal civic centers, and Beaux-Arts aesthetics within different political and cultural contexts. Through case studies from Asia, Australia, and other regions, he demonstrated how American-influenced urban design persistently shaped cities globally, adjusting to local circumstances and governance frameworks (Morley, 2025).
Urban design is essential in creating inclusive, sustainable, and habitable communities, especially in crowded urban areas such as Metro Manila. This research corresponds with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, particularly SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities, by investigating methods to enhance the safety, greenery, and accessibility of public spaces for varied demographics, including women, children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. The study conducts a comparative examination of urban spaces in Barcelona and Metro Manila to investigate the impact of planning techniques on accessibility, social inclusion, and public well-being. This research, also aligned with SDG 4, Quality Education, enhances architectural education by providing Filipino students with experiential learning and intercultural engagement opportunities (Szopińska-Mularz et al., 2025).
Rooted in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory and Deardorff’s Intercultural Competence Framework, it promotes reflective practice and global-local cognition in aspiring architects. The study also supports SDG 10 (United Nations, 2025), Reduced Inequalities by demonstrating how intentional urban design can enhance the social and geographic inclusion of vulnerable populations. Barcelona's successful urban models provide a significant reference for context-specific enhancements in Philippine cities, underscoring the transformative capacity of education, culture, and design in addressing sustainable development challenges.
Barcelona is recognized for its pedestrian-friendly design, heritage incorporation, and public space development, starkly contrasts with Metro Manila, where rapid urbanization frequently surpasses inclusive and sustainable planning methodologies. This study focuses on architecture students from the Philippines attending a summer architecture workshop at La Salle Barcelona. It aims to analyze how their firsthand experience of Barcelona's urban form influences their understanding of public space design in their home context. The study also seeks to identify what design elements, if any, they believe are adaptable to Philippine cities.
Barcelona's urban development is characterized by notable instances of spatial limitation and tactical change. Established as the Roman colony of Barcino in 15 BC, the city evolved within a dense, walled grid (Yoo & Lee, 2017). These walls were preserved for generations, particularly during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714, when the Bourbon government upheld the fortifications as a method of political dominance. This confinement resulted in significant congestion and unclean conditions by the mid-19th century (Roberts, 2019). Roberts (2019) noted that in 1859, engineer Ildefons Cerdà introduced the Eixample plan, an innovative urban design distinguished by wide, orthogonal streets, chamfered corners, and equitable access to light and open spaces, marking a substantial shift from medieval layouts. This design laid the foundation for modern Barcelona, which underwent substantial transformation during the 1992 Summer Olympics through coastal redevelopment, infrastructure improvements, and the creation of public beaches. Current initiatives, including the superblock model, exemplify the city's persistent commitment to sustainable, human-centered urban development (Fernández Núñez et al., 2025).
Saloma and Akpedonu (2021) conducted a critical examination of the lasting impact of early twentieth-century urban master plans in Metro Manila, including Daniel Burnham's 1905 Manila Plan and the 1949 Quezon City Plan by Frost and Arellano. Despite being rooted in the principles of the City Beautiful and Garden City movements; these plans were only partially executed. The authors emphasized two significant green areas, Rizal Park and the University of the Philippines Academic Oval, as partial implementations of these visionary design frameworks. They further illustrated that, despite the enduring existence of parks established under initial master plans, these spaces failed to achieve their intended objective of promoting meaningful social integration across diverse socioeconomic groups. Consequently, these locations transformed into unintentional public facilities where diverse urban groups congregated informally to fulfill fundamental requirements for recreation, relaxation, and social engagement. The authors argued that these "accidental" green spaces fulfilled essential social functions and demonstrated how even incomplete planning concepts created lasting spatial legacies that improved urban well-being, highlighting the intricate relationship between planning aspirations, implementation deficiencies, and emerging public usage patterns (Saloma & Akpedonu, 2021).
Katsavounidou and Sousa (2024) contended that contemporary urban planning frequently disregarded the requirements of vulnerable populations, particularly children, in favor of adult-centric development. They emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the marginalization of not only children but also other community members who benefited from accessible, human-scaled public environments, as a result of car-dominated settings, limited access to inclusive recreational spaces, and reduced exposure to nature. The authors underscored that inclusive urban design improved the quality of life for all by promoting the integration of unstructured green and gray spaces and the establishment of multigenerational public areas. These spaces fostered environmental awareness, mental and physical well-being, and social cohesion, thereby enhancing the resilience, equity, and livability of cities for a broader range of the population (Katsavounidou & Sousa, 2024).
Urban design is influenced by a multifaceted interaction of cultural, historical, political, and environmental elements, leading to varied planning results in cities worldwide. Given the rising demands for more livable and sustainable urban environments, international exposure is essential in shaping the perspectives of future architects. Barcelona exemplifies pedestrian-centric architecture, historical integration, and the construction of inclusive public spaces, whereas Metro Manila grapples with the repercussions of rapid urbanization and the incomplete implementation of initial urban master plans. Despite the aspirations of previous frameworks in Manila, such as the Burnham and Frost-Arellano plans, to create socially integrative and green places, the inadequate execution led to the emergence of "accidental" public amenities rather than deliberate, and inclusive design (Lazarus et al., 2024).
This study seeks to examine the impact of the immersive experience of Filipino architecture students participating in the La Salle Barcelona summer architecture workshop on their comprehension of urban public spaces. It aims to analyze how exposure to Barcelona's urban design influences perceptions of analogous areas in Metro Manila, uncover transferable urban design features, and investigate the impact of cultural immersion on architectural ideals and planning perspectives.
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