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New Clark City
Capas, Tarlac, Philippines

Envisioned as the Philippine’s first smart, resilient and green metropolis

Established as a new settlement on a former US army base, New Clark City offers a unique opportunity to demonstrate exemplary sustainable urban planning. It aims not only to reduce carbon emissions but also to create cooler, more comfortable spaces in our rapidly warming cities.

The new development is located in the Central Luzon Region, approximately 110km north of Manila. Its distinctive topography and unique altitude shifts make New Clark City less prone to flooding and more resilient to earthquakes and other natural hazards.

By prioritising exceptional transport connectivity, facilitating pedestrian movement and honouring the surrounding ecology through innovative planning and design, this project aims to enhance health, wellness and quality of life for residents and the wider community.

A direct train and road link will connect New Clark City to Clark International Airport and, eventually, extend south to Subic and Metro Manila. This transport corridor will integrate the port, airport and a multi-modal transport hub, significantly boosting connectivity and enhancing New Clark City’s appeal to investors.

New Clark City will become the new home of the National Government Administrative Centre as part of a nationwide initiative to centralise government activities, providing a backup HQ in the event of a natural disaster.

The city's innovation district aims to attract industries, particularly in manufacturing and agriculture, while a new university district will house the University of the Philippines, encouraging national and international academic collaboration.

A diverse mix of retail, commercial precincts, office and co-working spaces, residential developments, amenities, open spaces, and hotel and leisure facilities will complement the area's industrial land use.

The city is expected to cover 9,450 hectares, with a population of 1.2 million and the creation of 800,000 jobs. Plans are in place to transform the area into an airport-driven urban centre, supported by a significantly improved road network.

Central Park is set to become one of the largest urban parks in the Philippines

New Clark City's open space strategy is focused around Central Park, a new 44-hectare public green space. In the hot and humid Philippine climate, creating comfortable outdoor micro-climates is key to fostering lively and vibrant spaces. Like many of the hottest cities worldwide, plazas and parks in the area are primarily used in the early morning, late afternoon and evenings when the sun is less intense.

Due to their climate, Filipinos have a particular love for shade. A key characteristic of any successful open space is that it must be "maaliwalas," meaning it should be breezy yet shaded, comfortable, quiet and relaxing.

To achieve this, our design focuses on a combination of elements that can positively influence the microclimate and extend the park's usability. These include sun and shade, wind, water, vegetation and physical shade structures.

The park is part of a primary network of interconnected city canals and river channels, forming a natural ‘green-blue’ grid across the city. This network provides attractive and safe recreational spaces for the community and plays a vital environmental and resilience role by reducing the urban heat island effect, while also creating biodiversity corridors and habitats as part of a broader management strategy.

"By combining a strategic geographical location with a focus on progressive and sustainable planning principles, we hope to set a global gold standard for liveability, with the first district providing a blueprint for the rest of New Clark City."

Monique Suksmaningsih, Practice Principal

"By combining a strategic geographical location with a focus on progressive and sustainable planning principles, we hope to set a global gold standard for liveability, with the first district providing a blueprint for the rest of New Clark City."

Monique Suksmaningsih, Practice Principal

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