“The Value of Chocolate” by WTA Architecture and Design Studio Named FAV 2025 Finalist

In anticipation of the Festival des Architectures Vives (FAV) 2025 on June 10-15, WTA Architecture and Design Studio stands among the 10 finalists to transform iconic landmarks in Montpellier, France. Revolving around the theme of “La Gourmandise,” the San Juan-based team will showcase “The Value of Chocolate” at the 15th century private mansion Hôtel de Griffy’s courtyard. Their temporary architectural installation inspired by the Filipino game pasabit is set to unravel chocolate’s cultural significance and underlying socioeconomic realities.

The Festival des Architectures Vives’ Nearly 20-Year Legacy

Since 2006, FAV has welcomed visitors from different parts of the world to an architectural tour that shines a light on Montpellier’s notable sites. By allowing a new generation of architects to install temporary works in the city’s historic structures, they intend to spark a dialogue between old and modern architecture.

This year’s 19th edition, the festival pushes architectural boundaries to stimulate the sense of taste. The theme La Gourmandise, which directly translates to “gluttony,” is reinterpreted as a vibrant force for creativity, where materials, forms, and spaces are manifested as a tangible celebration of desire. Each installation is designed to be visually consumed and intellectually savored to offer a sensory delight as rich and satisfying as any culinary experience.

Underscoring this innovative sensory direction, FAV has fittingly named Montpellier’s own talented pastry chef, Clara Jung, as its patron. Beyond its creative ambition, the festival also upholds environmental awareness and sustainability through a rigorous environmental charter and a partnership with materials reuse organization, Mas Réemploi. All installations must utilize recycled materials and creative reuse and even have the option to access materials from the organization’s online catalog.

From a pool of over 90 submissions, the selection committee narrowed the field to just 10 teams. A total of 23 architects make up the five French and five international teams, including WTA Architecture and Design Studio as the only Asian finalist. These selections will present concepts ranging from culinary inspirations and sensory experiences to everyday objects and food systems.

Uncovering the Value of Chocolate

For WTA Architecture and Design Studio, chocolate is the best way to interpret FAV 2025’s entrancing theme. According to Principal Architect William Ti Jr., this confection quickly became the ideal subject to relate Philippine culture and its interconnected global history.

A Sweet Story of Childhood and Luxury

“[This brings] nostalgic memories of the balikbayan boxes stuffed with chocolate from relatives coming home from abroad, combined with chocolate being the sweet treat luxury for any child globally,” the architect states. He further added that chocolate was once valued greater than gold in the past, particularly in Mesoamerica.

Drawing on this deep insight, WTA Architecture and Design Studio devised a display inspired from the Filipino game pasabit. This is a suspended, grid-like frame, heavily adorned with sweets that children would eagerly jump to retrieve. But instead of hanging actual chocolate bars, the team chose to put up wrappers of a local sustainable chocolate brand Auro. Interestingly, auro is a Tagalog word for “gold,” which gives the installation another layer of representation and connection to the main concept. 

When viewed from a specific angle, these fragmented suspended wrappers cleverly form the illusion of a French two-euro coin. Aside from resonating with the concepts of childhood, commodity, and currency, it also subtly connects the piece to the event’s venue. 

The Installation’s Flip Side

Much like a coin, the installation itself possesses two distinct sides. While one celebrates chocolate’s allure as a sweet, luxurious delight, the other exposes the harsh realities hidden within the cacao trade.

Ti Jr. shared that they also want to spotlight the persistent inequalities faced by cocoa farmers resulting in poverty and unfair wages amidst rising demands for production. He emphasizes, “The symbol of a coin being perfectly regular but made of imperfect fragments is a metaphor of the chocolate trade’s cyclical but imbalanced nature for the cocoa producers involved.”

Moreover, the reflective surfaces of the wrappers creating an imperfect mirror for the viewers is another deliberate design element that invites self-reflection. The principal architect detailed that the distorted reflection is “a way of telling the viewer that they are part of the cycle.” The visual journey, shifting from a flawless image at a distance to a mosaic of fragments upon closer inspection, prompts an introspect on our role as consumers.

“As the viewer approaches, the clear circular shape upon entry becomes fragmented,” Ti Jr. explains. “[Then] they will realize that the singular object is actually made of several hanging objects. And only after reading the description is the narrative revealed and the message conveyed.”

Bridging a Modern Installation and a Heritage Location

Given that the Hôtel de Griffy is a protected heritage site, one of the challenges was to suspend the installation without causing any permanent damage or alteration to the existing structure. This meant strictly avoiding methods like bolting, drilling, or directly affixing anything to the historical walls or architectural elements.

To overcome this, WTA Architecture and Design Studio consulted with previous entrants of the site to study their past construction methods. They then came up with a solution to build a Fasclad-sponsored lightweight yet sturdy aluminum frame. This frame is secured by tension cables at each of its four corners to provide stability. These cables are then wrapped around a concrete balustrade at the roof level, anchoring the installation to the building.

As for the architectural installation, it was intentionally constructed and fully assembled in the Philippines for two key reasons. Firstly, the pre-assembly aimed to minimize potential errors and ensure a smoother setup within the sensitive heritage environment. Secondly, it allowed the team to compare the piece against the vibrant local backdrop before its display in the historic French courtyard. 

Furthermore, the very design of the installation was also influenced by the practicalities of material transport. So, WTA Architecture and Design Studio considered the construction method and prioritized a simple design that would withstand long-distance travel and time. 

This foresight extends to the entire lifecycle of the installation, as WTA Architecture and Design Studio also prepared detailed dismantling and materials disposal plans.

FAV 2025: A Platform for Design Narratives

Being chosen as a finalist in FAV 2025 is a pivotal moment for WTA Architecture and Design Studio to introduce Filipino architecture to the global discourse. They regard it as an opportunity to offer a fresh perspective and unique voice on the international stage. But most importantly, the festival is an influential platform to tell a compelling story that will leave a lasting impression on the viewer.

“For us, telling a story through narrative is important,” Ti Jr. muses. “It is our way of highlighting a disparity in the cocoa industry disguised behind a glimmering object. We wanted to touch on a concept that was both relatable to a worldly audience, but also showcase the country that we represent.”

Photos from WTA Architecture and Design Studio

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