Contemporary Art Center to Anchor Circuit Makati as a Leading Cultural Destination
When the Samsung Performing Arts Theater opened in Circuit Makati in 2022, the mall near the Pasig River quickly became a hotspot for the performing arts. Not to mention the presence of Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater, which has hosted all kinds of shows, from improv nights to straight plays, since its launch in 2016. And Ayala Land is not stopping anytime soon as it unveils its plans to build a massive Contemporary Art Center with a launch date in 2027. Together, these structures in Circuit Makati form the heart of a cultural hub that celebrates artistic expression in all its forms.
"Ayala has always been a major supporter of arts and culture and its transformative power to inspire and connect people for decades now. Inspired by the resounding success of Art Fair Philippines, which underscored the vibrancy of the local art scene and the need for a contemporary art museum, this project has been in the works since 2018 and was initially set for groundbreaking in January 2020. Therefore, it should have been built by now. However, as we all know, COVID-19 struck, and everything was brought to a standstill. We were advised to put the project on hold until the time was right. I am delighted to share that the right time did come and that the project was revived in late 2023," Mariles Gustilo, Senior Director for Art and Culture of the Ayala Foundation, told VIPs during an unveiling last Tuesday, November 26.
Contemporary Art Center Unveiling: (From L to R) Ayala Foundation President Tony Lambino, Ayala Foundation Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Land President and CEO Meean Dy, and Ayala Foundation Vice Chairman Jaime Z. Urquijo
That this grand reveal was held at the Alveo Circuit Sales Pavilion along Riverfront Drive was not a coincidence. Gustilo casually told members of the press during a Q&A that it was during a meeting a long time ago in that exact building that they pointed at the empty space across the glass window as the site of the soon-to-open Contempo. We know this area as the Globe Circuit Event Grounds, which will be part of Contempo's expansive gardens.
When asked what would happen to that green patch, Misha Quimpo, Ayala Land's Head of Planning & Urban Design, said that more open spaces and "more greens on the sidewalks" would open up in Circuit Makati. It could be remembered that before Circuit Makati became the dynamic mixed-use estate that it is today, the area used to be the Santa Ana Racetrack, a prominent horse racing venue established in the late 1920s to rival the Manila Jockey Club.
With officials and donors: (From L to R) Edwin Magsalansan (Sy2 + Associates), Darneil Perez (Arcadis), Caroline Marie Gorriceta and Mark Gorriceta (Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra), Tony Lambino (Ayala Foundation), Fernando Zobel de Ayala (Ayala Foundation), Architect Ed Calma, Michael Reyes (DCCD Engineering Corporation), Patrick Tangney (Frontier Towers), Jae Abracosa (Haworth), Jaime Z. Urquijo (Ayala Foundation), Meean Dy (Ayala Land), Kenneth Stern (Ayala Foundation), Kenneth Pua (KGPUA), and Senen Salvacion (DCI).
"The racetrack became a social hub hosting gatherings and dances for Manila's upper class. Its name today, Circuit, reflects both the site's racing heritage and its new identity as a vibrant center for art, culture, and entertainment," Meean Dy, President and CEO of Ayala Land, said in her speech.
"This is not just a great location. It is a crossroads where art and nature intertwine, creating an unforgettable backdrop that transforms every visit into a recollection of the past and an unforgettable experience. From a racetrack to a historic landmark, Circuit Makati and Contempo are not just buildings. They are beacons of transformation. Both aim to breathe new life into areas that otherwise may have been just ordinary. Contempo aims to do more than display contemporary artwork. It aims to inspire those who pass through its halls with curiosity and creativity. And imbue them with a feeling to experiment just a little more and dare to innovate a little bit more. So does Circuit Makati. It aims to regenerate communities and transform forgotten sites into vibrant cultural hubs, fostering pride and engagement among the people who live here. As Contempo now starts as a work-in-progress, so also is Circuit, still a work-in-progress. Imagine an unimpeded travel from the Makati CBD to Circuit Makati to meet creative-minded individuals. Art galleries opening their shops in our unique Circuit Lane, restaurants buzzing with animated exchanges, and artists-in-residence in the City Flats."
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Architectural rendering of the soon-to-rise Contemporary Art Center
Sustainability Meets Creativity in Circuit Makati
Contempo Art Center features both outdoor and indoor areas, with 2,500 square meters of gallery space and 400 square meters of educational space. Gustilo explained that there are going to be three main galleries with double-height ceilings. "Because as you know, contemporary art, you can hang things from the ceiling," she added. All exhibitions are temporary because Contempo "is not going to be a collecting museum, and plenty of public art is envisioned to occupy the open areas. "Because that's the idea: to allow people to interact with art freely across the space."
This vision is also obvious in Contempo's design, which is by renowned Thai architect Kulapat Yantrasast of Why Architects in collaboration with Filipino architect Ed Calma of Lor Calma and Partners.
"The way also our museum is currently designed, it has a village-like concept. So it's that special concept of the Philippines, of a village and how it's one community, right? This is technically what art does: it brings the community together. And because our artist was Thai with Japanese training and now practices in the US, he really has strong roots in Asia. And so that's why he decided to have those palm fronds, palm fronds design. One thing we also wanted for this design was how it should be inclusive and how it kind of spills over to nature. So you'll notice that there are galleries, but there's also an open space that blends into the garden after that, so there's also that aspect. We wanted that seamless blend between open space and the architecture of the building," Quimpo explained.
Scale model of the Contemporary Art Center
Contempo also aligns with the Pasig River Esplanade Project. It is almost a happenstance that Ayala Land already had this plan in place before the government initiative to create a 25-kilometer greenway along the Pasig River, which already started behind the Manila Central Post Office.
"Basically, the idea is when they started the [Pasig River Esplanade Project]. I think the way we understood it when we were briefed was that it started up there near the Manila Post Office. The idea is that the private sector is asked to participate. And we were already talking about this. The timing was great. This is our part in this area. The idea is that it will be like a nautical highway. There will be ferries ferrying back and forth. There will be areas where these ferries can stop. There will be footbridges that will allow you to go to the other side. Actually, we were quite thrilled by the plans. We felt very fortunate that we already had [the Contemporary Art Center]," Gustilo said.
"In urban planning, you want to create points of interest. We Filipinos, especially, are not so much into walking, right? It's something that we want to promote. But if walking by the Pasig River, there's some water there. It's a nice experience. At some point, you get to a museum that also has this nice open space. It's something that would encourage people to go down that lifestyle also. Imagine walking from Pasig to the museum. Or Manila to the museum, uninterrupted. That would be the dream," Quimpo added.
Ayala Land has also already earmarked land beside the museum should the national government push through with plans to have a ferry terminal in that area.
"It's a different form of transport that's sustainable. It's technically an unexplored mode of transport. We're providing that. I believe the plans also of Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is where the terminal is, there would be a bridge also. Because the concern is that you get off here, how do you get to the other side? They're going to build a bridge for biking and pedestrians only. That's what we've heard. We are preparing to receive them. We are working with both the government and the agencies that are in charge of this project," Quimpo further explained.
Contemporary Art Center: A Vision for the New and Now
Ayala Foundation, which runs the Ayala Museum and the Filipinas Heritage Library in the Ayala Triangle, will be handling the operations of the Contemporary Art Museum.
"It's a home for contemporary art, for artists to experiment and try things. And hopefully, there will also be residencies where people can experiment. So it's new, in that sense, it will allow new things to happen," Gustilo said.
While rooted in the Philippines, Contempo’s vision extends beyond national borders. It aims to become a regional hub for Southeast Asian art, fostering collaborations with Filipino and international artists through residencies, partnerships, and curated exhibitions.
"First, a Filipino, a place for our Filipino artists. But really, to play a regional part is very important. As you can see, many other museums across the region support Filipino artists. So we should have, I think, our own. That seems to be the broad direction," Gustilo added.
"I'm also part of the team that manages The Flats, the dormitory that's just near here. Last August, we started a residency program. We did it with some FotoMoto photographers. We also did it with some dancers. There are several more coming up. We're open to collaborating with galleries and other artists that we need to exhibit here in Circuit. That's definitely a possibility for us. Once Contempo opens, of course, there would be that synergy for that program as well, between us on the estate side and Contempo as a museum," Quimpo echoed.
Contempo is more than a building; it is a vision for the future of art and culture in the Philippines. By combining cutting-edge design, sustainability, and artistic innovation, it promises to be a landmark not only for Makati but also for Southeast Asia.
As Ayala Foundation Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala put it in a promo video: "This is a space that not only showcases contemporary art but also nurtures the creative spirit within us all."
