The renovation of the Manila Metropolitan Theater is in full swing, and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) just shared the blueprints for the restored theater. The plans show a draft of what the Met will look like when it is restored to its former glory, and features decorative moldings and plans to recreate architect Juan Arellano’s original colored tiles.
Take a look at the blueprints below:
Earlier this month, the Met celebrated its 85th anniversary by opening its doors on December 14 for performances from different groups, and the launch of a coloring book and an exhibition featuring its history.
In August of last year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released P9.48 million for the renovation of the Met, an 84 year old cultural treasure and one of the very few Art Deco structures in the Philippines still standing.
This was done after DBM released P270 million to the NCCA to buy the building from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
According to former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, the restoration of the theater will boost tourism and support economic growth. NCCA Chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. added that it will be a mini Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), and will be a “people’s theater.”
Architect Gerard Lico, who is in charge of the restoration, says that they will preserve the iconic parts of the theater like the lobby, main auditorium, and ballroom, while the rest will be developed through adaptive reuse. When it opens, it will feature spaces that can be used for dance studios, workshops, libraries, a theater, a cinematheque, and exhibition halls.
The NCCA said that the renovation will be finished in two years.
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