This presentation examines the spatial and sociological dimensions of Philippine correctional facilities through Ray Oldenburg’s concept of the Third Place, analyzing how spatial configurations influence normalization, reformation, and reintegration in accordance with the Mandela Rules. Initial findings reveal that while purpose-built prisons enhance structured compliance and efficiency, they often curtail organic socialization and spatial adaptability. Conversely, older facilities often foster informal communal spaces that are essential to psychosocial well-being, social identity reconstruction, and self-actualization.
Insights from this study shall inform the development of a draft uniform correctional design manual, sponsored by the UNODC, advocating participatory and flexible design strategies that intentionally integrate Third Places. Embedding such principles within national planning standards ensures alignment with normalization objectives and promotes environments conducive to rehabilitation, reformation, and reintegration.
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Cesar Augusto Concio
National Consultant, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Philippines
Mr. Cesar Augusto Concio III is a practicing architect in the Philippines specializing in retrofitting and adaptive reuse of existing buildings and repurposing of space programs. He is also a lecturer and the thesis coordinator at the College of Architecture, University of Santo Tomas. Currently he is a national consultant for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime where he is tasked to help draft a uniform correctional design manual based on ethical prison architecture and the Nelson Mandela Rules. He has also assisted the UNODC in facilitating prison design workshops, as well as transition planning and spatial repurposing of different prisons in different parts of the Philippines.
He has an MA in urban design and planning from the University of Sheffield and has taken short courses on the topics of architecture and power, and retail planning and management from the University of Cambridge and Harvard University respectively.
