REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Mabini Campus, Anonas Street, Sta. Mesa
Manila, Philippines 1016

Proposed Children’s Wellness Hub: Fostering

Holistic Health of the Youth through

Complementary Architectural Interventions

June 22, 2019

College of Architecture and Fine Arts

Department of Architecture

Submitted By: Submitted To:

Santos, Aliah Gabrielle M. Ar. Luisita M. Gegajo

BS Architecture 5-2 Thesis Adviser

I. INTRODUCTION

A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

“The best way to make children good is to make them happy.” – Oscar Wilde

Children are the most valuable asset in a society (Yohannan, 2017), for they

represent a bright future of a nation. For this reason, nurturing them is essential towards

their healthy growth and development in order for them to eventually become

responsible and competent adults. Proper care, nutrition, education, early stimulation,

and learning contribute in achieving a child’s optimal health. Health does not only mean

attending to the external and internal physical factors of a being, rather it also considers

the soundness of one’s mind and spirit (Hinz, 2010). Holistic wellness refers to the

physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, and intellectual aspects of a child’s well-being

(Essays, UK, 2018). Related approaches for holistic wellness help develop a child’s

motor development, cognitive development, as well as their socio-emotional

development (Ashokan, 2015).

In the Philippines, children are reported to be more physically inactive due to the

practice of an unhealthy lifestyle according to a study done by the Food and Nutrition

Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (Garcia, 2015). Further

studies show that modern technology through various multimedia devices and its

exposure to children at an early age appears as a distraction that poses shifts in a child’s

lifestyle habits (Hagen & Nayar, 2014). Furthermore, this continued unhealthy lifestyle

would eventually lead to negative effects in health such as the risk of acquiring non-

communicable diseases (Santos, et al., 2014). Moreover, this could also affect children’s

performance in a social environment such as schools, as it affects attention and

cognitive learning. Another problem is the fact that different institutions in children’s lives
– school, family, peers – may provide support, yet create new expectations that puts the

youth into stress; especially in a situation of performance evaluation, for instance. It is

also important to address this; otherwise it may lead to anxiety and depression among

the youth.

Children need a healthy environment that is preventive yet promotive of their

holistic development. Architecture plays a role in the evaluation and design of such

environments, as design affects a person’s well-being. Therefore, this study seeks to

explore how architecture can curate environments that can foster wellness among

children through therapeutic and effective interventions.

B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In this age, more children are found to be leading an unhealthy lifestyle caused

by many factors. Some of which can be the prevalence of digital media and technology,

while others may be the effects or impacts of environmental circumstances such as

school, household, or the community. Therefore, through architecture and design, this

study aims to answer the following:

 What are the activities/programs to be considered in implementing holistic

wellness among children?

 How can parents/guardians contribute in fostering holistic wellness

among the children?

 What complementary interventions would be considered given that the

development does not focus on conventional medication?

 What are the therapeutic architectural interventions to be integrated into

the development? How will it benefit the users’ internal and external

health?
 C. JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

The present study is not a duplication of an existing study. The proposed

development is a study of the application of complementary and therapeutic

interventions in children’s holistic health as an approach to a wellness facility

design that has not been fully explored to its extents. Stereotypically, adults

are the common age group who go through stress due to everyday

responsibilities; hence, existing wellness centers provide activities and

programs that would usually cater to the said age group. However, wellness

of children – more importantly the aspect of emotional and mental wellness

along with other aspects that cannot be seen – is overlooked. It is important

for children along with their guardians to be aware of their child’s holistic

health as it linked to their growth and development, in which is linked to their

level of health as adults in the future.

According to Rep. Susan Yap, the State recognizes the vital role of the

youth in nation-building, and the promotion of their welfare and holistic well-

being is essential; hence, House Bill 7118 or the Philippine Commission on

Children Act of 2018 was approved by committees. The bill seeks to

strengthen public care for children through the establishment of linkages with

government and non-government agencies, as well as the establishment of

Local Councils for the Protection of Children (LCPC), linking the national

government with the local government units. Furthermore, if ever made law,

programs and policies for holistic child wellness will be implemented and

disseminated fairly through the local committees responsible.

II. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROPOSED STUDY

 Significance to the Users
The study shall cater to children’s needs in achieving physical, mental,

intellectual, emotional, and developmental wellness. Furthermore, it shall consider

family-oriented approaches as well, to ensure child nurturing and care even outside

the wellness facility.

Significance to the Society

The study may impact and contribute to the growth and development of children,

which would be of importance to the society through the children’s future

contributions to the community. Presently, the study may establish connection and

interaction between the children and the community.

Significance to Architecture
The study may help broaden the knowledge about complementary and

alternative interventions in wellness facility design, and its application on children as

target users – as the demographic might affect the requirements of space,

environment, and other related design disciplines.

III. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The goal of this study is to design a community-based children wellness hub that

caters to their holistic wellness through architectural interventions. To achieve this, the

objectives are the following:

 To identify activities and programs to be translated into built spaces enabling

the promotion of holistic wellness and development among the users.

 To consider guardian-child relationship and cooperation in determining the

activities necessary for the development.

 To seek activities (such as therapies) proven to improve a child’s optimal

health as considerations for complementary interventions.

  To integrate therapeutic and sensory architecture in spaces with the

consideration of a child-friendly approach in design.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

JOURNALS

Ashokan, V. (2015). Holistic Approach for Early Childhood Education

Retrieved from

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297714485_Holistic_Approach_for_Early_Childhood_

Education
Hagen, I., Nayar, U. (2014), Yoga for children and young people’s mental health and well-being:

research review and reflections on the mental health potentials of yoga

Retrieved from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00035/full

Santos, N., Tanchoco, C., Tan, R. (2014), Physical Activity Homework: A Program for School

Children

Retrieved from: http://122.53.86.125/Seminar%20Series/38th/physical_activity.pdf

THESIS

Hinz, B. (2010), Reinventing the Wellness Center.

Retrieved from https://archive.udmercy.edu/handle/10429/514

BILLS

Philippine Commission on Children Act of 2018, H.B. 7118, 17th Cong. (2018)

WEBSITES

Camero, J. “November is National Children’s Month”

http://congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=8608&key=children (accessed June 2019)

Essays, UK. “Holistic Development of a Child”.

https://www.ukessays.com/essays/young-people/a-holistic-approach-to-child-development-

young-people-essay.php?vref=1 (accessed June 2019)

Garcia, K. “All work, no play: How your lifestyle may affect your kid’s health”

https://www.rappler.com/brandrap/stories/87513-all-work-no-play-parents (accessed June 2019)

Yohannan, K P. “Children Are Our Most Valuable Asset”

https://www.speakingtree.in/article/children-are-our-most-valuable-asset (accessed June 2019)