The CAREscape project is an international collaboration between the University of Plymouth (UK) and the University of the Philippines College of Architecture, supported by the British Council’s International Collaboration Grant. As one of only three grant recipients in East Asia, the project brings together architects, artists, and researchers to address climate change, health equity, and vulnerability in urban communities, with a particular focus on Manila. CAREscape seeks to reimagine future healthcare spaces that are climate-resilient, inclusive, and grounded in local culture and community values.

Structured in three phases, the project begins with community-based deep mapping and storytelling in Manila to surface lived experiences of climate impacts and healthcare access. This is followed by cross-disciplinary collaboration between UK and Philippine architects and artists to develop speculative, multisensory design proposals for resilient healthcare environments. The final phase culminates in exhibitions in Manila and London, presenting maps, models, and artworks that foster international dialogue on climate-adaptive healthcare design.

Beyond design outcomes, CAREscape positions art and architecture as critical tools for provocation, reflection, and collective action. By centering local knowledge, particularly from vulnerable communities, the project demonstrates how creative research and cultural exchange can challenge inequities, rethink notions of care, and inform more just and resilient healthcare systems in the context of accelerating climate change.