Aldrich D. Remot, Carl Bryan M. Valdez

Adrian Justine A. Guce - Design Lead, Researcher, Architectural Visualizer, Layout Artist

Metro Manila’s EDSA corridor was once seen as a symbol of national progress, but now has evolved into a paradox: a civic void shaped by speed, congestion and infrastructural rigidity, rather than human presence.  The urban fabric surrounding its transport node lacks cohesive integration for pedestrians, cyclists, street vendors, PWDs, the elderly, and informal dwellers, making everyday access not only difficult, but often dangerous. 

EDSA reflects the cultural and psychological disconnect of public infrastructure in the Philippines and how it often prioritizes exclusivity with private vehicles over dignity, memory, and belonging. 

In-habiting the In-Between recognizes EDSA’s margins as essential public space, not leftovers. We will reclaim these thresholds so people can pause, wait, work, and move with dignity. This is not beautification. It is a practical act of care, redesigning infrastructure to center those most exposed: commuters, vendors, and PWDs; not to hide them, but to recognize them, serve them, and keep them safe. 

The proposal faces the city as it is. It accepts the in-between: between departure and arrival, visibility and invisibility, formal and informal – and sets a clear framework to turn EDSA from a traffic corridor into common ground. While the design takes a cue from the Nilad, the plant that gave Manila its name. Its layered structure informs a direct, modular link across EDSA. Like the Nilad’s roots, the system holds and connects, turning the “spaces in between” into steady ground for livelihood, connection, and community life. 

If the in-between lets a commuter move, a vendor work, and a wheelchair user pass – clean, safe, and seen, then EDSA has remembered what public means. 

Jershey Alyssa Giban. Allayssa Meneses, Ayannah Claire Acacio, Chrystal Ivy Frivaldo

EcoLink EDSA is our idea to turn Metro Manila’s busiest road into a true “People’s Avenue.” Right now, EDSA is known for traffic, clutter, and unsafe commuting. Even though it carries the most people in the country, the road still gives more space to cars than to commuters, making it hard to walk, bike, or travel safely. Our design, inspired by the coconut tree, solves these problems by creating a road that is safe, green, and people-friendly.

Like the roots of the tree, we will move all wires and utility lines underground to make the road safer and cleaner. The trunk represents the strong backbone of public transport, where MRT, buses, and jeepneys are given priority areas so travel is faster and more efficient. The leaves are the shaded sidewalks, bike lanes, and pathways that connect people to different transport modes, making transfers easier and more comfortable. The fruit stands for the real benefits: faster trips, safer streets, cleaner air, and small green spaces like pocket parks and car-free zones that give people places to rest.

In our three sites, these ideas are applied differently. At Roosevelt, plant strips, bike lanes, and ramped footbridge help organize the road and protect commuters as well as cyclists. In Cubao, we redesigned the bus stop without the footbridge but an 8-meter wide pedestrian crossing. At Guadalupe, we removed the 3-floor-tall footbridge and replaced it with pedestrian crossing. We organized connections between MRT, bus, and jeepneys to lessen stress and time needed during transfers. We also green-roofed the footbridges, elevators, and escalators for cooler, more comfy and safer access.

With these changes, EcoLink EDSA will improve walkability with wider tree-shaded sidewalks, accessibility with smooth transfers between all modes of travel, and safety with protected bike lanes and organized loading areas. Like the coconut tree, EcoLink EDSA is strong, useful, and designed for everyone.

Felino "Jun" Albano Palafox, Jr., Jasmin Mae Garcia, Robert Lance Salas, Jean Margaret Caayao, Zianne Caitlin Indanan

Despite being Metro Manila’s primary urban spine, EDSA remains constrained by three core barriers: unrealized land value, gaps in connectivity, and transport prioritized over experience. Station areas and adjacent parcels remain underutilized, failing to maximize density and diversity of land use that could support vibrant, walkable communities. 

The corridor suffers from poor linkages, with long and fragmented access routes that compromise distance to transit and destination accessibility, leaving commuters with disconnected and inefficient journeys. Finally, the existing built form prioritizes vehicular throughput over human-centered environments, resulting in a design that neglects pedestrian comfort, safety, and dignity. 

Collectively, these systemic barriers undermine walkability, limit inclusive urban growth, and prevent EDSA from becoming a resilient, people-centered corridor.

EDSA now stands ready to be rewritten — not as a highway for cars, but as a corridor for people.

Reimagining EDSA as a people-centered urban corridor transforms Metro Manila’s main artery into a dynamic civic spine where inclusive mobility, low-carbon infrastructure, and human-centered design converge. It restores dignity to everyday journeys, reconnects divided communities, and reclaims public space as a symbol of collective empowerment.

Just as EDSA once embodied the strength of people united, this reimagined corridor carries that legacy forward — shaping a resilient, equitable, and climate-responsive future for generations to come.

The EDSA corridor can shift from car-dominated planning to a framework that follows the Hierarchy of Road Users. This means unlocking station areas for vibrant mixed-use hubs, creating seamless and safe connections for walking and cycling, and designing transit spaces that go beyond mere movement to prioritize human comfort and dignity. In doing so, EDSA can put pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users at the top of the mobility ladder, making the corridor safer, more inclusive, and truly people centered.

Aljames Capillano

EDSA is more than just a road—it mirrors the everyday struggles and resilience of the Filipino masa. From traffic, pollution, and flooding to deeper social issues like homelessness and displacement, EDSA has long embodied the daily hardships of the ordinary Filipino. Now, it reveals another issue: car centrism, where vehicles are prioritized over people, pushing pedestrians to unsafe, neglected peripheries.

In response, the concept of “Daan ng Búhay, Daan na Buháy” proposes a transformative design that puts people at the heart of public space. It envisions EDSA not just as a transport route, but as a space where life can flourish. Divided into four key areas—Bangketa (sidewalk), Tawiran (footbridge), Gulong (EDSA Carousel bus stop), and Riles (MRT station)—the design integrates accessibility, safety, and community needs, assembling into the 3 key areas of the competition namely: Roosevelt and Main Avenue Bus Stop, and the Guadalupe Station.

Key elements include a people-centered wayfinding system using vertical signs, braille, assistive tech, and universal symbols to help everyone navigate the space with ease. Sidewalks are redesigned into four lines for vehicles, bikes, community spaces, and pedestrians. Communal blocks support MSMEs, play areas, restrooms, and even breastfeeding rooms—creating a dynamic, inclusive public realm.

Footbridges are looped, elevated connectors that ensure safe passage and space for vendors. The EDSA Carousel stops are redesigned with delineated zones for smooth passenger flow and essential amenities. MRT stations are revamped for accessibility, safety, and ease of use, with multiple entry points, elevators, clear signage, and safety barriers on platforms.

Ultimately, this people-first vision redefines EDSA as a space not just for movement, but for buhay. It is a call for dignified, inclusive, and safe urban spaces—built by and for Filipinos. Kung kaya sa huli, ang espasyo para sa tao ay dapat at tunay na maganda, masigla, at payapa.

Klarissa Joy Bejasa

The EDSA corridor, Metro Manila’s most iconic thoroughfare, has long been dominated by car-centric planning, resulting in overcrowded sidewalks, unsafe crossings, minimal greenery, and stressful commuting conditions. Walking is exhausting, waiting is uncomfortable, and pedestrians are exposed to heat, pollution, and noise, while flood-prone areas like Cubao further compromise safety and accessibility.

This project, inspired by the People Power Revolution, introduces People Power Urbanism, a design philosophy that reclaims streets, sidewalks, and even airspace for commuters. The proposal prioritizes pedestrians by widening continuous sidewalks, upgrading at-grade crossings, and reorienting bus stops for calmer, more intuitive circulation. Green infrastructure—including shade trees, rain gardens, linear parks, and landscaped rest pockets—reduces heat, filters air, manages floods, and provides psychological comfort. Overpasses are transformed into elevated green connectors, adding usable open space without disrupting ground-level flows.

Through these interventions, walkability is enhanced by creating clear, unobstructed pedestrian paths; accessibility is improved with inclusive, universally designed crossings; and safety is increased through separation from traffic, visual clarity, and traffic-calmed zones. Overall, the project transforms EDSA from a stressful, vehicle-dominated corridor into a dignified, human-centered urban space where walking, waiting, and commuting are safer, more comfortable, and ecologically balanced.

John Patrick Anthony L. Buensalido, Emereauldine T. Eliseo, Aramis A. Corullo, Ismael Dan Lheam L. Natanauan, Eiriel Merisse S. Aquino

“Kaya today?” A lighthearted phrase, often tossed as a playful joke, is also one that challenges our ability to deliver. For EDSA, it’s a question asked daily by motorists inching through two-hour traffic, commuters packed shoulder-to-shoulder in trains, and pedestrians navigating chaotic sidewalks.

The challenge of revitalizing Manila’s busiest highway is a tall order. With layers of operational constraints, competing interests, and social realities coming into play, the time and resources a full fix demands often feel too great to bear compared with quick measures. There lies the paradox: quick fixes risk adding to the problem, but the path to solving it begins with those same quick fixes.

A ‘better EDSA’ asks one to not only imagine a perfect version but to humbly accept this reality. The right approach is not to abandon these quick fixes, but to make them building blocks toward a single unified vision. You can’t build a linear park overnight, but you can start with pockets of greenery—small steps forming the bigger picture.

This project studies a system of scalable solutions, focusing on five key areas: commuter comfort, green-frastructure, intermodality, wayfinding, and public amenities—each shaping the experience of EDSA’s primary users. It is not a one-size-fits-all template. Instead, it presents a menu of solutions applied selectively, each tailored to address issues at varying scales and complexity. Breaking down the problem into smaller, manageable parts, some measures may resolve immediate operational concerns, while others set the foundation for long-term structural change. Together, they form a layered approach flexible enough to adapt over time.

By creating a plan both empathetic and optimistic, we can create an attainable roadmap to our version of EDSA: an uncompromising vision we can truly call—Kaya Today.

Ralph Luis Cardaño, Czyrone Angelo Galang, Mark Tyrone Cardaño, Juan Cosworth Briones

The People’s Avenue reimagines EDSA as more than just a highway, it becomes a vibrant, people-centric corridor built on accessibility, sustainability, and inclusivity. Modern BRT systems located within the study area i.e., Roosevelt, Cubao, and Guadalupe offer safe, comfortable, and efficient public transit. Wide sidewalks, protected bike lanes, at-grade crossings, speed tables, and green buffers create a sustainable and healthier environment for all. BRT platforms featured inclusive facilities like ramps, tactile pavers, shaded waiting areas, comfortable seats, bollards for protection, vending machines, toilets, and security cameras provide the improved commuter experience. Equipped with compliant directional signages, dedicated space for the BRT and bike users promote an invitation for shift towards public and active transport. Two (2) to three (3) driving lane along EDSA direct the vehicle users to a slower and safer travel reducing fatal risks. The Pasig River Esplanade along J. P. Rizal Ave reconnects the city with the river, integrating transport with nature through mangrove plantings that protect the riverbank, improve air quality, and provide a shared space to its users. By putting people first, The People’s Avenue transforms Metro Manila’s busiest road into a complete street with equal space for all.

Briñas, April Jane, Pangaliman, Chantal Paula, Rellon, Aaron Patrick. Rimorin, Alfred Louie, Talabong, Eleazar

EDSA, the primary arterial road of Metro Manila, is widely recognized for its critical role in the city’s mobility network. While it accommodates high volumes of vehicular traffic daily, the area also presents challenges in terms of pedestrian safety, accessibility, and overall livability. Observations included long walking distances, limited weather protection, underutilized bike lanes, and aging pedestrian overpasses. Current road layouts, bus stop locations, and traffic management practices were also noted to create inefficiencies and hinder smooth access to nearby amenities. Despite these challenges, subjects recognized EDSA’s importance as a central corridor and expressed the need for improvements that would make the area more user-friendly and inclusive. Imagine an EDSA where walking and biking are safe, dignified, and even joyful. An EDSA where the transport system works seamlessly and inclusively for everyone. The Concept: Recoloring EDSA #PatokEDSA looks for the spirit of the lost art of Metro Manila, the Patok Jeepneys. They are bold colorful icons of Filipino Creativity. While modernization brought efficiency, it has drained Vibrancy. Our concept seeks to recolor the avenue and to restore identity through a holistic palette of design strategies. Each color symbolizes a principle and strategy to bring back the colors of EDSA.

Alab (Red) - Pedestrian Activity

Sigla (Orange) - Revitalization of dead spaces into active social spaces

Tuntunin (Yellow) - Clear wayfindings

Luntian (Green) - Integrating Nature

Kanlungan (Blue) - Safe space for commuters, drivers, and motorists

Likha (Violet) - Honor FIlipino artisty through murals, turning EDSA into living canvas

#PatokEDSA reintroduces vibrancy into our most important avenue. This is not only about reducing traffic but restoring dignity, safety, and joy to millions of daily lives.