Reimagining Identity: PUP BSID Class of 2026 Debuts Public Showcase Honoring Manila’s Iconic Glyphs
MANILA, Philippines — The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design (BSID)
graduating class of 2026 from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines is set to transform commercial space into a cultural sanctuary with the launch of their public mall exhibit after a successful fit-out renovation at Barangay 634, centered on the theme “Manila Glyph: Celebrating Manila Lived Icons and Symbols.”
The exhibition offers a sophisticated spatial exploration that merges the rigid, geometric elegance of Art Deco interiors with the fluid, historic narratives of local glyphs and everyday urban symbols. By stepping into a highly trafficked public sphere, these emerging interior designers aim to challenge how modern Filipinos interact with history in their day-to-day environments.
The theme is born from a desire to anchor contemporary interior design in authentic local identity. Rather than viewing heritage as a static relic of the past, the PUP BSID Class of 2026 treats it as a living, breathing language. Particularly, the exhibition harmonizes two distinct visual vocabularies: the streamlined, monumental lines of Art Deco, which is a style deeply woven into the architectural fabric of historic Manila, and the organic, symbolic forms of different lived icons.
These icons represent the shared memories, community landmarks, and everyday realities of the city’s inhabitants. Through carefully curated spatial layouts, material selections, and improved functionality, the exhibit demonstrates how thoughtful design can turn dense urban environments into meaningful and harmonious environments. By revitalizing these essential community spaces, the project showcases how restorative design can inject distinct local character into public infrastructure while directly serving the people’s psychological and functional needs.
The exhibition seeks to move beyond traditional historical observation, allowing visitors to feel the city’s narrative through the space itself. By weaving the Manila Glyph concept into an Art Deco structure for Barangay 634, the graduating class demonstrates that public, community-centered design can be both deeply dignified and culturally profound. Furthermore, by bringing both the intensive design process
and the final output directly to the public stage, the exhibitors allow everyday people to see exactly how thoughtful space planning affects their daily lives and offers an inspiring foundation for how to develop future Filipino interior design.In doing so, the display unfolds as a love letter to the streets people walk daily, reminding them that a city’s soul is not found in grand, distant spaces, but woven into the fabric of the humble local hubs that have held each person’s shared lives, and proving that beautiful, deeply considered spaces should never be a luxury reserved for a few, but a rightful standard for the communities people live in every day.
Hence, the public is invited to step inside this immersive spatial experience and discover how the environments we share shape our daily experiences.
Event Details
● What: Manila Glyph: Celebrating Manila Lived Icons and Symbols
● Where: Ayala Malls Circuit Main Mall Events Center
● When: June 30, 2026 to July 3, 2026
● Admission: Free and open to the public during mall hours.
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