Geolette Marie Esguerra

Metro.Style Living Filinvest Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel

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Sometimes your much-longed-for sanctuary is right where you live. That’s what we discovered inside Filinvest City, where the pace of urban life meets a rare quiet. The Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, a strikingly poetic structure surrounded by trees and open sky, has received one of the top honors in global placemaking: the 2025 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Asia Pacific Award for Excellence. As the only Philippine project to be awarded, the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel embodies Filinvest’s commitment to building civic spaces that are meaningful, environmentally responsive, and deeply integrated into the urban fabric. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751386343354Copy of Metro.Style Article (8).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>A quiet sanctuary in the heart of the city. Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel stands as Filinvest City’s spiritual anchor.</div>Built with care, the chapel was shaped by a strong focus on community. It offers a quiet spot in the middle of movement. Designed by Hiroshi Nakamura &amp; NAP Architects from Japan, alongside local and international craftsmen, the space blends natural elements with cultural and spiritual purpose. For Filinvest, this shows their belief that even in fast-growing cities, there should be room for reflection.Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel was selected as one of only 14 winners out of 43 entries across the region, and notably the only Philippine project to be recognized this year, thus marking a significant milestone for both Filinvest and the country. This awards program is a regional extension of the ULI Global Awards for Excellence, which has been recognizing excellence in land development since 1979.“This recognition from ULI Asia Pacific means so much to us–not just for the beauty of the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, but for what it represents,” shares Don Ubaldo, Head of Townships. “More than a landmark, it stands as a space of service and community. It affirms that we’re on the right path—creating places that bring people together and serve a greater purpose. We proudly share this honor with everyone who helped bring this vision to life.”<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751386574692Metro.Style Filinvest ULI Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel 3.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Filinvest representatives receive the ULI Asia Pacific Award for Excellence at the ULI Summit in Hong Kong. (L–R) Belinda Bentley, Managing Director of 9Springs and co-chair of this year’s awards; Tracey San Pablo, Sr. Project Development Manager – Filinvest City; Bonna Crisostomo, Sr. Project Development Manager – Priming and Innovation; and Chris Law, Founding Director of Oval Partnership and co-chair of this year’s competition.</div><div>Biophilic Architecture</div>Nestled on a hill, the biophilic and minimalist structure is a breath of fresh air, where one can easily go for reflection in the midst of the fast-paced rhythm of urban life. The Chapel is integrated into the Green System of Filinvest City, which features several interconnected parks, allowing people to easily access the chapel grounds. This provides an inclusive and open atmosphere that promotes the oneness of faith and community.The project was designed by Japan’s Hiroshi Nakamura &amp; NAP Architects, well-known for their work in religious structures integrated with nature. The Chapel eaves feature stained glass windows designed by Helen Whittaker, Creative Director of Barley Studios in the UK, and manufactured by Kraut Art Glass, the oldest stained glass manufacturer in the country. The chairs are manufactured by a Cebu-based furniture company, Pacific Traders. The cross and religious sculptures at the altar were designed by Filipino artist Daniel Dela Cruz.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751386740073Metro.Style Filinvest ULI Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel 2.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Surrounded by verdant greens, the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel has received multiple international accolades for its innovation in architecture, structural engineering, and landscape design.</div><div> </div><div>A Spiritual Anchor for the Community </div>Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel is rooted in Filinvest’s vision of creating a spiritual anchor that unites and uplifts the community as they live their lives and pursue their dreams. Since its opening in 2023, the chapel has experienced an increase in attendance. It has also partnered and participated in charitable causes and advocacies, including its support for Elsie Gaches Village, the country&#x27;s largest residential care facility for children with developmental disorders.Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel amplifies Filinvest City’s philosophy of building inclusive, sustainable, and resonant urban spaces. It is a reflection of how the city is thoughtfully designed, integrating into its developments a Live-Work-Play philosophy, so that it complements its communities, while maintaining functionality and sustainability.As the sole Philippine winner in this year’s ULI Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence, Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel stands as a powerful symbol of architectural and civic excellence in the country. This recognition reaffirms Filinvest City’s position as a forward-thinking urban district that champions meaningful placemaking and civic pride at the heart of development.<div> </div><div>To discover more of Filinvest City, visit <a href="https://filinvest.com/about-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://filinvest.com/about-us</a>. For chapel inquiries, follow the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel on <a href="https://web.facebook.com/lourdeschapel.alabang/?_rdc=1&amp;_rdr#" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a> </div>

Filinvest’s Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel was designed by Japan’s Hiroshi Nakamura &amp; NAP Architects, stained glass windows by Helen Whittaker of Barley Studios and manufactured by Kraut Art Glass, chairs by Cebu-based Pacific Traders, and religious sculptures by Filipino artist Daniel Dela Cruz

Filinvest’s Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel was designed by Japan’s Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Architects , stained glass windows by Helen Whittaker of Barley Studios and manufactured by Kraut Art Glass , chairs by Cebu-based Pacific Traders , and religious sculptures by Filipino artist Daniel Dela Cruz

A Chapel in the Philippines Honored on the Global Stage

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A Chapel in the Philippines Honored on the Global Stage

Marie Yu

Published Jul 01, 2025 11:00 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 02, 2025 01:48 AM PHT

Read More:

Filinvest City

Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel

ULI Asia Pacific Award for Excellence

Philippine project

Hiroshi Nakamura

NAP Architects

Biophilic Architecture

Civic spaces

Community

Placemaking

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