Our Research Practice

A research initiative to pursue the future cities and communities we strive to become

#1
Ideate

Vision

Innovate

WTA Labs develops and implements urban innovations, solutions and tools, towards responding to the dynamic demands of cities.

Insight

WTA Labs publishes research findings, resources and tools, enjoining multiple disciplines and perspectives, ensuring evidence-based insights and knowledge sharing.

Engage

WTA Labs amplifies grassroots perspectives through community engagement and participatory practices, ensuring impact and response.

#2
Align

Ethos

Social and Connected Cities

Our cities must be vibrant, social and connected where people can easily find ways to connect; towards breaking barriers to community-building.

Living Urban Ecologies

Our settlements must be able to live and thrive with and within its environmental context, where people are connected with nature, while both are resilient from the impacts and changes brought by climate change.

The Filipino Home

Our communities must be able to define its identities, aspirations and problems, find ways to enjoin individuals towards collective stake and action; defining what makes a place and a community — Filipino.

#3
Apply

Core Practice

Urban Innovation

Designing and testing creative urban solutions that respond to the complex challenges of Filipino cities and communities.

Critical Knowledge

Producing grounded, forward-thinking research that informs policy, practice, and public discourse on urban development.

Meaningful Exchange

Building deep, collaborative relationships with communities, institutions, and movements to ensure inclusive and people-centered change.

Tracing our Roots

2013

ALab Urban Initiatives

Shelter Design Magazine Company A quarterly magazine on architecture, design and urbanism, engaging Filipino and international minds.

2016

Urban Lab Initiatives by WTA

The Book Stop Project A network of pop-up libraries where books can be accessed, taken and contributed by everyone in the community. It can be sites of interaction, research and intimate cultural celebrations.

Learn more about The Book Stop here

2016

WTA Architecture and Design Studio

Anthology Festival, the biggest Architectural and Urban Convention in South East Asia

Anthology Festival An annual three-day convention celebrating architecture and design in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. For over eight years, it has brought together practitioners and stakeholders to spark dialogue, showcase innovation, and highlight the role of design in shaping urban life and our built environment. Now one of the country’s largest architectural festivals, Anthology has hosted over 6,000 participants and 550 speakers, fostering cultural exchange and promoting excellence in the built environment.

Learn more about the Anthology Fest here

2022

WTALABS

During the height of the pandemic, WTALABS, an architectural research production platform was born. Focused on sharing and promoting design processes as well as design and urbanist explorations, WTALABS was driven to bridge design to the people through open access and creative endeavors.