Senior architecture students at Foundation University will be getting a chance to ‘practice what they preach’ starting June through a program that provides them hands-on experience in selected communities in Negros Oriental using locally-available materials.
Estudio Damgo (Dream Studio) is the first design-build studio of the Philippines, patterned after a similar program for architecture students in the University of Washington.
Led by Filipino-American instructor Ray Villanueva, fourth and fifth year architecture students at Foundation will be charged with the task to guide a project from design all the way through actual construction.
The short-term goal of the studio is to provide architecture students hands-on experience using native, sustainable, and alternative materials to construct their own design with community input and support.
Long-term, the aim of the studio is to provide the client with a unique, sustainable and affordable asset. The project will last one entire school year and will be the final project for participating seniors. “The students will not graduate until construction is finished,” Ray said.
As because Estudio Damgo will be an ongoing course for all senior architecture students, the University will continuously search for new projects for its students.
Ray said he is excited to introduce Estudio Damgo to the Philippines, as he learned so much from his own design-build studio experience back in the US. “My classmates and I spent eight months designing and constructing two homes for two Native American families.”
He said putting theory into practice is definitely the best way to learn. “It is also fitting for the University Town of Dumaguete to lead the way in getting students out into the province for hands-on experience. I look forward to seeing Estudio Damgo projects go up all over Negros Oriental some day.”
Over the past few weeks, Ray has been meeting with community leaders from La Libertad, Bais and Valencia to research potential projects for this first year.
He said communities have been asked to provide land and whatever materials or labor they can put towards the project while Foundation University will host community meetings, provide free design consultation and ultimately be responsible for the construction of the final project.
Business leaders, government and other sponsors will be asked to contribute funds and materials towards the project so that a community who might not have their own resources will nevertheless gain access to a well-built and treasured asset — or in other words, “a dream come true.”
Ray said he hopes to choose the final project by the end of May, just in time for class to begin. This ensures Foundation University architecture students of the chance to put theory into practice, gaining invaluable experience along the way. (Amy Villanueva)
For details, please email ray.villanueva@foundationU.com.
FU enrollment is now open, classes begin June 11. Campus is open Monday-Friday, 8:00am until 5:00pm and Saturday, 8:00am until 12:00pm. The FU faculty and staff of the nine colleges and the Graduate School are on-hand to help advise you every step of the way.
