Last semester, Foundation University architecture students had the privilege to participate in a couple of Visayan events honoring bamboo as the ‘new’ modern building material. Gaining increased recognition for its sustainability, versatility, affordable price and beauty — bamboo is the new ‘hot item’ in construction. At the end of September, both Dumaguete and Iloilo hosted bamboo workshops featuring the sturdy grass and highlighting several winning designs of Foundation students:
Organizers of the Regional Bamboo Forum at Bethel Guest House on September 27 wanted to do more than just talk about bamboo. They were keen to put their words into physical form and found willing partners in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Municipality of Dauin. Philippine Bamboo Foundation, Inc (PBFI) and Buglas Bamboo proposed a competition to design waiting sheds along the national road in the “Bamboo Town” of Dauin. First and fourth year Foundation University architecture students were happy to comply.
The design required a comfortable waiting area protected from rain and sun, sized approximately 2×3 meters and 3 meters tall, with bamboo as the primary building material. DTI financed the project under its initiative to promote economic activity and employment in the countryside. PBFI and Buglas Bamboo Institute, both located in Dauin, provided construction expertise and quality bamboo product. Foundation students came up with 28 design schemes, including scale models and cost estimates. On Sept.27, all designs were on display for attendees to admire. Three winning designs were eventually selected for construction in Dauin which is underway.
The challenge was to design affordable, secure, modular housing for poor families living in Philippine cities. The Hilti Foundation, as part of a large, multinational construction company, has a keen interest in developing resilient and sustainable solutions to the housing boom across Southeast Asia. Financing a competition to come up with creative solutions is one way that they can conduct research for future development. Although Hilti is known for heavy construction equipment and large-scale modern projects — it is notable to see that they are taking a greater interest in bamboo, particularly in the design of affordable, contemporary housing.
Led by Architect Instructor Leandro Sobredo, third-year Foundation architecture students divided into two groups to come up with two design entries that satisfied requirements. The students drew up floor plans, elevations, perspectives and actual scale models of their final designs for submission to the competition.
Group A — “Nipa-Inspired” Design (James Ventula, Rey Ian Casalla, Kerr Arvin Bambo, Gean Michael Von Libetario, Anthony Ray E. Infante
Hilti’s jury was comprised of professional architects, engineers and social workers as well as slum dwellers — which made for a very interesting discussion! In the end, Hilti chose to award two winning designs — both submitted by Foundation University students!
As compensation for their effort, the class was gifted US$1,500 and two students were invited to attend the three-day design workshop in Iloilo at the end of September. As with the competition, the workshop strove to bring together design professionals and students with informal settlers from all over the Philippines. Together these groups were charged with coming up with a practical, comfortable and safe solution to low-income housing. Before year-end, the Hilti Foundation plans to build two demonstration houses in Iloilo — based on the winning designs. (Ray Villanueva)
