TO bring healing and hope to the young residents of Bahay Pag-asa in Cavite City, interior design students from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) renovated the facility’s recreational and livelihood areas. Dubbed Sigla, from the Filipino word for vigor, the student-led initiative fosters community, creativity and well-being.
Founded in 2009, Bahay Pag-Asa Dasmariñas provides protection, guidance and rehabilitation support for children in conflict with the law (CICL). Located within the 27-hectare campus of De La Salle University Dasmariñas, it creates a restorative and therapeutic environment for boys aged 15–18 who have been alleged or found to have committed offenses, offering them a chance at societal reintegration.
The student-artists launched a service-learning project to refurbish the institution’s 25-square-meter Bakery Kitchen and 38-square-meter Recreational Hall, implementing design strategies under the supervision of Benilde Interior Design Program chairperson IDr. Katherine Anne Correa and industry educators, IDr. Karol Ann Antonio, IDr. Hannah Kirsten Dumlao, and IDr. Patrick Roy Javier.
According to the group’s statement, the facility “embodies the momentum of newness and wonder when hope first appears, and the force that carries young individuals forward as they rebuild their dignity, confidence, and direction.”
Sigla embraces the beneficiaries’ lived experiences: their personal histories and urban roots shaped by self-expression and resilience, as seen in the design’s layered textures, bold contrasts, dynamic lines, and raw intentional elements.
The team said that these influences “gave the space character and edge, reinforced the idea that change does not require forgetting where one came from, and affirmed each individual has a distinct identity and presence.”
The design inspiration’s keyword, “hulma” (mold), reimagined the space as a foundry for transformation where the residents’ potentials are nurtured with guidance so they can carry their stories forward with resilience and renewed determination. The refurbished areas exhibit an industrial Bauhaus style of exposed structure, clean lines, and functional forms, symbolizing discipline and clarity. Natural wood and soft textures introduce warmth and care.
Psychological color theory was applied for stress reduction. Cool hues like blue and green induce a relaxing atmosphere, a shift from the usual institutional ambience.
In the Bakery Kitchen, where residents make pan de sal, physical and psychological frictions were minimized to maintain a safe and productive environment. Since this is a high-energy zone where persons, tools and heat are in constant motion, partitions were implemented to create a linear workflow. Pendant lights were positioned over the workstations for direct task lighting.
To maximize consistent airflow, dividers were placed in the Recreational Hall, which serves both as a Music Room and a Study Area. Contrary to solid walls, this alternative allows for cross-ventilation in the communal expanse, while defining clear spots for various activities.
Flush-mount fixtures were installed in both locations to offer consistent and shadow-free ambient illumination and foster an open atmosphere. Special lighting fittings were applied to balance operational precision with therapeutic comfort.
The center’s layered lighting cultivates a cozy and adaptable sanctuary. Track lighting provides directional versatility for various communal activities, while drop lighting creates intimate focal points.
The Recreational Hall panels absorb and diffuse the sounds for acute sound optimization. The high-quality soundproofing, by making the residents’ recordings sound professional, “provides a sense of privacy, ensuring that they feel safe and uninhibited when expressing themselves through music or spoken word,” the group said. TMT