In Tboli, South Cotabato, a proposal is reimagining the town plaza as a vibrant skatepark and pocket park. Led by architect Czar S. Subang of Studio Zar, the proposed Tboli Xtreme Park envisions a space where youth culture meets Tboli heritage. Though still conceptual, this project promises a transformative public space – a landmark celebrating both extreme sports and indigenous identity.
A Visionary Public Space and Landmark
Tboli Xtreme Park is poised to redefine what a rural plaza can be. Rather than a static monument, it offers a dynamic venue alive with activity. The design positions the skatepark as an extreme sports facility and civic landmark in one. It could become a magnet for local youth and a point of pride for the town. In cities worldwide, skateparks have evolved into inclusive gathering places for all ages – Tboli could see a similar transformation. Grandparents might watch from benches while children play nearby and teens hone their tricks. This Xtreme Park would add a new dimension to daily public life.
Weaving Culture into the Design
The park’s design artfully blends subculture with heritage. Tboli artistry, especially the T’nalak textile, inspires the scheme. The T’nalak is a handwoven abaca cloth with intricate patterns believed to come from weavers’ dreams. It traditionally features only black, white, and red, with motifs rich in meaning. In the skatepark concept, ramp layouts echo the T’nalak’s rhythmic geometry, and concrete surfaces could integrate Tboli motifs. Even the color scheme is meant to mirror the textile’s palette – gray-black surfaces accented by white and red. By infusing the venue with indigenous cues, the park becomes a canvas of cultural expression as much as a sports facility. Skaters will ride on Tboli stories, demonstrating how contemporary design draws on local symbols to express identity.
A Community-Driven Process
Czar Subang’s team worked closely with the local government and the Koronadal Go Extreme riders group to shape the concept. Local skaters and BMX riders contributed ideas on design features and layout, ensuring the park will truly serve its users. Such participation follows a key principle from skatepark advocates: if kids are eager to share ideas, they should be part of the process – not sidelined. In Tboli, this collaboration has fostered local ownership, aligning professional creativity with grassroots insight.
Inclusive Layout and Multifunctionality
Although designed for action sports, the park is envisioned as a welcoming public space for all. Its layout interweaves skate zones with open areas and pathways to invite non-skaters to linger. Smooth promenades and gentle slopes let parents with strollers and elderly residents move through the site without barriers. The park is also planned as multifunctional – when wheels aren’t rolling, the plaza can host community events. This flexible approach allows “complementary uses that benefit the entire community,” extending the space beyond skateboarding.
Cutting-edge Recreational Design Entwined with Tradition
Tboli Xtreme Park shows that even a small municipality can have cutting-edge recreational design entwined with tradition. Rather than a generic skatepark, this concept is tailored to local culture, where “tradition and innovation intersect” by design. By reimagining vernacular art through a modern lens, the project creates a space distinctly of its place and people. In doing so, it positions architecture as a tool for community empowerment – catalyzing social transformation while celebrating local identity. It offers a hopeful glimpse of how design can be a vessel for cultural expression and youth empowerment – a concrete dream weaving past and future together on Tboli soil.
First seen at the Philippine Architecture and Allied Arts Festival 2024, Tagum City.