5 Heritage Structures That Have Been Restored and Given New Life

Many of Manila’s heritage structures have sadly been demolished to give way to modern use. In September 2014 alone, two historic landmarks—the Art Deco Michel Apartments and the Admiral Hotel— both met the wrecking ball. While the future of Manila’s few heritage sites may look grim, it’s worth taking a look at how the renovation and restoration of these structures can also be beneficial in this day and age.

Nielson Tower

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In the 1930s, the L. R. Nielson & Company made a government proposal to build an airport. Enrique Zóbel de Ayala, who got wind of the plans, put forth his parcel of land called Hacienda San Pedro de Macati and in July 1937, the Nielson Airport was inaugurated. The airport was the first in Luzon, and the biggest and best-equipped in Asia during its time. After years of operation, the airport relocated to Villamor Air Base and most of the Nielson Field eventually became what we now know as Ayala and Paseo de Roxas—save for the passenger terminal and control tower.

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In the years after, the historical two-story structure also became a police detachment, Ayala Corporation’s offices, a club–restaurant, and the home of the Filipinas Heritage Library. Today, the Nielson Tower is the location of chef Colin Mackay’s aviation-themed restaurant Blackbird.

Blackbird at the Nielson Tower, 6752 Makati Avenue, Makati City

Manila Army and Navy Club

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William E. Parsons’ Army and Navy Club was the center of Manila’s social life when it opened in 1911. During the Second World War, it was occupied by Japanese forces who used the building as a bomb shelter. Though it survived the war, the heritage building’s state began to decline shortly after. By the ‘90s and late 2000s, the building was declared a National Historic Landmark with hopes of a renovation. Nearly a decade later, the hotel reopened as the Rizal Park Hotel. The 110-room, five-star hotel and casino is operated by Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corporation.

Rizal Park Hotel, South Road Drive, T.M. Kalaw Extension, Ermita, Manila

Pasay’s “Chinese compound”

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The Henry Hotel Manila now occupies what used to be a Filipino-Chinese family’s residential compound. The one-hectare property was built in 1948, with originally 21 individual houses. Today, it stands as a hotel with the original “Liberation Style” exterior and gardens landscaped by National Artist Ildefonso Santos. The compound is also home to fashion designer Jojie Lloren, Albert Avellana and his art gallery Avellana, and Eric Paras and his furniture gallery A-11.

The Henry Hotel Manila, 2680 FB Harrison St. Pasay City, Philippines, Pasay, 1300 Manila

Luneta Hotel

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First opened in 1918, the Salvador Farre-designed Luneta Hotel was where Manila’s top society figures and several foreign dignitaries would cumulate. The hotel was known for its rich breakfasts and luncheons, and has been referred to as pleasant and romantic by Dwight Eisenhower. After the war, the hotel switched ownership several times until it was derelict. Plans were made to renovate the dilapidated hotel which only came to fruition in the mid-2000s. In 2014, the Luneta Hotel reopened after over seven years of restoration.

The Luneta Hotel Manila, 414 T.M. Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila

Casa Tesoro

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Originally built as a vacation house in the then-wealthy enclave of Ermita, Casa Tesoro has served as a soldier’s headquarters, post office, spa, nightclub, and various offices. It currently houses 1335MABINI, a contemporary art gallery that features “concepts of autonomy in globalization, correlating local and international artists to articulate synergies from this association of individuals.”

Casa Tesoro, 1335 A. Mabini Street, Ermita, Manila