Cover The Carl Jung Centre Library in Karrivin Plaza, Makati City
The Carl Jung Centre Library in Karrivin Plaza, Makati City
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Tatler analyses the CJCC Library’s design—merging nature, art and psychology for contemplative learning
Tatler explores the inspiration, design sensibility and continuing evolution behind the Carl Jung Circle Center (CJCC) Library. It is envisioned by chairman emeritus Rose Yenko as a “library in a garden, or a garden with a library.” The manner in which this vision integrates natural, artistic and psychological elements into a contemplative environment that supports the study and practice of Jungian and depth psychology is noteworthy. Drawing inspiration from Provence, Sonya’s Garden and Yenko’s own residence, Taw-hay, the library embodies an intersection of place, psyche and community.
Carl Jung viewed the human mind as a dynamic, meaning-seeking system that extends beyond individual experience. He proposed that people share a collective layer of the unconscious, containing symbolic patterns and archetypes that emerge through dreams, myths and creative expression. Personal growth, in his view, requires acknowledging and integrating these unconscious dimensions; a lifelong process he called individuation. Jung emphasised that psychological well-being depends on maintaining equilibrium between opposing inner forces such as logic and emotion or light and shadow. By engaging with symbols and imagination, individuals can move toward greater wholeness and a deeper understanding of both themselves and the shared human condition.
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Above A door painted by Oliver Roxas with a lady in a gold leaf background
Above Humadapnon paper puppets
A door painted by Oliver Roxas with a lady in a gold leaf background
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The contemporary relevance of reflective environments
In an age marked by accelerated digital communication, psychological fragmentation and the commodification of attention, environments that cultivate contemplative engagement and mindful presence have become increasingly vital. Institutions such as the CJCC Library respond to what Anthony Giddens calls the “reflexive project of the self,” the modern individual’s ongoing effort to construct meaning within conditions of uncertainty and rapid change. Such contexts provide a counterbalance to the overstimulation of contemporary life by encouraging sustained thought, aesthetic perception and inner coherence. They function not merely as repositories of knowledge but as collective settings for learning and restoration, where individuals engage in shared processes of interpretation and psychological growth.
In this sense, the CJCC library exemplifies what Henri Lefebvre described as the production of the lived environment: a material and symbolic expression of cultural values and psychic needs that enables renewal, reflection and the rehumanisation of intellectual practice. The library was conceived as both an intellectual and reflective space. The design integrates the serenity of natural environments with the depth-oriented ethos of Jungian psychology, as explained by Yenko. The resulting structure functions not merely as a reading room, but as a site for introspection, dialogue and aesthetic engagement.
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Above Cookie Guerrero’s floral ottoman
Above The Red Book sits proudly on the shelf, a substantial contribution from Dr Dido Gustilo-Villasor
Cookie Guerrero’s floral ottoman
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Design inspiration and development
The library’s design draws heavily from Mediterranean and Filipino influences. Its color palette and material selections were inspired by the pastoral beauty of Provence, the lushness of Sonya’s Garden, and the organic textures of Yenko’s Taw-hay home. Though still “a work in progress,” the library has achieved much of its envisioned ambiance. Additional shelving, designed to house plants contributed by members such as Rutth Gerochi, will continue to enhance the botanical aspect of the interior.
The CJCC Library’s collection reflects the intellectual breadth of its community. Its holdings encompass Jungian and depth psychology, relational and family systems, wellness studies, psycho-spiritual growth and Philippine mythology, culture and history. The library’s contents were built through collective generosity: members and affiliates “donated (albeit painfully) their loved Jungian books.” Notable donations include the complete 20-volume Collected Works of C. G. Jung from Dr Steve Aizenstat, founding president of Pacifica Graduate Institute, The Red Book and a substantial contribution from Dr Dido Gustilo-Villasor. According to Sony Shamdasani, the editor and foremost scholar on The Red Book, it is seminal because it documents the inner experiences from which Jung’s major psychological theories emerged.
Art is a central element of the CJCC Library, reinforcing its symbolic and psychological dimensions. The entrance features a door painted by Oliver Roxas with a lady in a gold leaf background, while nearby hangs Cesar Caballero’s Shower of Ducks painting. Inside, Reni Orayani’s Rainbow Hearts, Roxas’s depictions of an owl and tiger, and Jose Alain Austria’s artwork on the conscious and the unconscious create visual metaphors aligned with Jungian archetypes.
Further works by Amado Ongtuaco, The Eight Koi and The Kite Flying with Family, embody themes of abundance and harmony. These, along with Cookie Guerrero’s floral ottoman and Tina Lebron’s tinwork depiction of the Holy Family, situate the library within a broader dialogue between art, psyche and place.
Above A circular table sits at the centre of the composition
Above The chandelier provides a striking counterpoint to the wood
A circular table sits at the centre of the composition
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Spatial collaboration
The inclusion of French doors, Yenko notes, is “to add a sense of expanse to our 40-square-meter space.” It serves as a central architectural gesture. Their installation was made possible through the support of CJCC members Mara Coson and Oliver Roxas. The spatial design was developed by architect Sarah Canlas and her team, who ensured coherence in the layout, lighting and structural systems.
The CJCC Library stands as a collaborative and evolving environment where intellectual engagement and inner reflection coexist. It embodies the synthesis of artistic, cultural and psychological principles in physical form. Visitors frequently remark on the sense of calm, balance and inspiration within the space, suggesting that the library successfully fulfils its purpose: to serve as a place for reflection, creativity and renewal, where learning and contemplation are integrated into daily experience.
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