As part of the World Urban Parks Symposium 2026, we’re sharing this presentation by Atty. Rhenan G. Diwas, Head of the City Environment and Parks Management Office in Baguio City, Philippines, exploring how relationships shape meaningful public spaces.
Through the SOUL framework—Study the Place, Observe Relationships, Understand Meaning, and Link Design to Relationships—the presentation offers a practical approach to discovering place identity before making design decisions. Examples from Baguio City illustrate how parks can strengthen connections with nature, celebrate everyday cultural practices and support different ways of belonging.
Whether you couldn’t join us in Istanbul or would like to revisit your notes, this material invites you to consider how understanding people, memory and community life can guide park design.
Explore the presentation and discover how understanding the soul of a place can help create parks that communities cherish.
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