Sustainable Architecture for the Philippines

Sustainable is a word known to many nowadays that has been constantly

chained with “green”. Sustainable architecture, also known as “green
architecture” is the
Is the Philippines ready for sustainable design?

Under the new generation, the firm has placed even more emphasis on sustainability and
environmentally-responsible construction practices, although in truth, traditional Filipino
architecture has always been “green.”
“The bahay kubo was the original sustainable house,” says Angelo Mañosa.
“In its form, it already embodies all the design principles we think of as ’green.’ It is made of
low-cost, readily available indigenous materials and it is designed for our tropical climate:
the tall, steeply-pitched roof sheds monsoon rain while creating ample overhead space for
dissipating heat, the long eave lines provide shade. The silong underneath the house
creates a simple, utilitarian space while allowing ventilation from below through the bamboo
slat floors. The large awning windows, held open by a simple tukod (sturdy rod), provide
cross ventilation and natural light. All of the materials used in it are organic, renewable and
readily available at little cost. And yet it is strong enough to withstand typhoons. The bahay
kubo even survived the ash fall from Mt. Pinatubo, when more ’modern’ houses collapsed.”

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It was only in the 20th century that foreign architectural models began, with little regar for our
tropical clmate.
The results were predict
The results were predictable: enclosed buildings with glass windows required air
conditioning, or else they became unbearable ovens in summer. New building facades
were soon streaked with watermarks, because their flat roofs weren’t designed for our rainy
season. Despite these drawbacks, the trend toward foreign architectural style persists.

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keep the design principles and elements that work, but design contemporary homes for
today’s needs and lifestyles: Hence, ’beyond the bahay kubo.’”

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“In its form, it already embodies all the design principles we think of as ’green.’ It is made of low-
cost, readily available indigenous materials and it is designed for our tropical climate: the tall,
steeply-pitched roof sheds monsoon rain while creating ample overhead space for dissipating heat,
the long eave lines provide shade. The silong underneath the house creates a simple, utilitarian space
while allowing ventilation from below through the bamboo slat floors. The large awning windows,
held open by a simple tukod (sturdy rod), provide cross ventilation and natural light. All of the
materials used in it are organic, renewable and readily available at little cost. And yet it is strong
enough to withstand typhoons. The bahay kubo even survived the ash fall from Mt. Pinatubo, when
more ’modern’ houses collapsed.”
These same design elements were carried over when the bahay kubo evolved into the bahay na bato
during the Spanish colonial period, he continues, because they worked. The bahay na bato was
simply modified to suit a more urbanized lifestyle.
It was only in the 20th century with the advent of modernism that foreign architectural models began
to be adopted wholesale, with little regard for our tropical climate. The results were predictable:
enclosed buildings with glass windows required air conditioning, or else they became unbearable
ovens in summer. New building facades were soon streaked with watermarks, because their flat
roofs weren’t designed for our rainy season. Despite these drawbacks, the trend toward foreign
architectural style persists.

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many of today’s designers have begun to reexamine the humble genius of the bahay kubo and its
elegant approach to the challenges of climate.

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“From the point of view of a modern architect, the bahay kubo provides a surprisingly practical
template for designing sustainable, climate-conscious, energy-efficient houses and buildings,” says
Mañosa.
“Of course, we’re not suggesting that you live in a bahay kubo or a bahay na bato, although some
people do. What we’re saying is, keep the design principles and elements that work, but design
contemporary homes for today’s needs and lifestyles: Hence, ’beyond the bahay kubo.’”

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There have been changes in land use that causes the increase in land temperature which greatly
affects the sustainability of our resources. These events reshape the way of our daily lives therefore
change must be done now. The Philippines is at most risk to climate change and is fifth most
vulnerable country to the impacts of climate change despite being low emitter of greenhouse gases.
The Philippines is also rapidly urbanizing. Buildings consume more than 36% of energy, these
account for 36% of electricity consumption, making the cost of energy in the Philippines very steep
and one of the highest in the world.

Changes in land use causes the increase in land temperature

Affects the sustainability of our resources
Reshapes the way of our daily lives
This should be done now
The Philippines is at most risk to climate change and 5th most vulnerable
country to impacts of climate change despite being a low emitter of
greenhouse gases
The Philippines is also rapidly urbanizing
Buildings consume more than 36% of e
These account for 36% of electricity consumption, making the cost of energy
in phils very steep and one of the highest in the world.

The govt is also advocating green building. In 2011 the climate change
commission adopted the climate change action pln for 2011-2019 which
includes green building as strategy for sustainable towns and cities.
In 2014 the green building ordinace was adopted by mandaluyon city
Green building was a new concept that had not gained ground. There were
only a handful of green buildings. The approval of te city
In june 2015, the green building code was igned and implemented.
We have
We have an economic system that is trapped
architecture that seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by efficiency
and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space and the ecosystem at
large.
ddresses the negative environmental and social impacts of buildings by utilizing design methods, materials,
energy and development spaces that aren’t detrimental to the surrounding ecosystem or communities. The
philosophy is to ensure that the actions taken today don’t have negative consequences for future generations
and comply with the principles of social, economic and ecological sustainability.

Today
THE burdensome cost of electricity is pushing more households to adapt
sustainable living through the use of energy-efficient products in homes.

“The Philippines has the highest per kilowatt hour (kWh) rate in Southeast
Asia so it’s not just because you want to jump in the bandwagon of
sustainable living; it’s more of a necessity because electricity is so expensive.
When people choose to live green or do energy-saving stuff, it is because
they want to save money,” Philippine Geogreen, Inc. Chief Executive Officer
Liza Crespo told BusinessWorld in an interview

As we strive to keep up

There have been many buildings constructed here and there

Now more than ever There is a need for green revolution

Remarkable increase in construction activities, the building industry aims to reduce through green
architecture

Developing country such as ours

Sustainable
Now imagine all that

Green building involves a qhole bulding approach to sustainability

Minimal impact, maximum sustainability

Becoming more aware of this

Save the environment

**** repurposed wood/salvaged wood, renewable building materials

Being able to take advantage for the rain – flushing the toilets

mAY cost higher at the onset, t

the recurrence in the long run are invaluable

what could be more impt than saving the very earth we live in

save energy, ensure that the buildings can be maintained properly

not only changing landscapes shaping lifestyles, uncompromised and contemporary attainable

the next generations are sure to reap the benefits of green architecture

be mindrul of environmental concerns

Bugnot said sustainable cities are not built overnight and by

governments alone. She challenged Filipinos to take part in building
more resilient and sustainable cities in the country. Bugnot
said sustainable cities are not built overnight and by governments
alone. She challenged Filipinos to take part in building more resilient
and sustainable cities in the country.

is less about spending on technological solutions and more about making intelligent design
choices.
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***** convince the governments to do more to save the planet

Establish and promote ways that profession could become more eco friendly

Where is green architecture in the Philippines

Making our community a great place to work and live

ARGUE THREE REASONS WHY THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE

SUPPORT TO YOUR CHOSEN FIELD

1 DEPRESSION
-
-
-
2 TO UNITE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION BUILDING A BETTER LIFE
-
-
-
3 SAVE THE EARTH, RESTORE THE FUTURE
-
-
-
We design, we shape the lifestyle of

In the State Prison of Southern Michigan in the 1970s, there was –quite by accident- an
experiment exploring some of these ideas. Because the way the prision was built half the
prisoner’s cells looked out over rolling farmland and trees, and half looked out onto bare
brick walls. An architect named Ernest Moore studied the medical records for these different
groups of prisoners (who didn’t differ in any other way), and he found that if you were in the
group who could see the natural world, you were 24 percent less likely to get physically and
mentally sick.

WE WANT TO FEEL ALIVE, WE WANT IT AND NEED IT BADLY,

BUT YOU FELT ALIVE, RIGHT?
The scientific evidence is clear that exercise significantly reduces depression and anxiety,
because it retturns us to our more natural state.

“There is another theory put forward by scientists about why being in the natural world seems to
lift depression for many people, Isabel said to me. The biologist E. O. Wilson—one of the most
important people in his field in the twentieth century—argued that all humans have a natural
sense of something called “biophilia.”

It’s an innate love for the landscapes in which humans have lived for most of our existence, and
for the natural web of life that surrounds us and makes our existence possible. Almost all animals
get distressed if they are deprived of the kinds of landscape that they evolved to live in. A frog can
live on land—it’ll just be miserable as hell and give up. Why, Isabel wonders, would humans be the
one exception to this rule? Looking around us, Isabel says: “Fucking hell —it’s our habitat.”

Excerpt From: Hari, Johann. “Lost Connections.” Bloomsbury. iBooks. This material may be
protected by copyright.

“It’s been known for a long time that all sorts of mental health problems5—including ones as
severe as psychosis and schizophrenia—are considerably worse in cities than in the countryside,
but the psychological effects of being cut off from the natural world have only begun to b e studied
properly in the past fifteen years. A group of scientists at the University of Essex in Britain have
conducted the most detailed research into this question so far. They tracked the mental health of
more than five thousand households over three years. They wanted to look at two types of
households in particular—people who moved from a leafy green rural area to a city, and people
who moved from a city to a leafy green rural area. They wanted to know —Would there be any
changes in how depressed they got? What they found was clear: the people who moved to green
areas saw a big reduction in depression,6 and the people who moved away from green areas saw a
big increase in depression.” Excerpt From: Hari, Johann. “Lost Connections.” Bloomsbury. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.
Stoker, B. (2000). Dracula [Kindle HDX version]. Retrieved from http://www.overdrive.com/

Hari, Johann (2018). Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – And The Unexpected
Solution. Bloomsbury

Hari, Johann. 2018. Lost connections: uncovering the real causes of depression-- and
the unexpected solutions.

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architecture/

https://www.doe.gov.ph/energist/rp-vulnerable-climate-change

“We’re hoping that we bring it down to the mid-level that’s why we’re working
with our suppliers to make it more accessible to everyone,” she added.

To encourage more people to use green products, Ms. Crespo said the
government could start giving incentives or get tax rebates, similar to what is
done in other countries.

“I hope that eventually, the government will look at it as an important thing to

do in order to encourage people to go green,” she said.

“Slowly, people are getting into it, and they’re finally seeing the light in going
green. We still have a long way to go honestly, but we’re getting there. Like
now, the products are more available and accessible to a lot of people, and all
these other technologies are easier to purchase. I think we’re slowly starting
to catch up. I’m hoping that this kind of awareness will pick up in the next few
years,” she noted.

can all this progress also translate to a greener future for the city?

In a cyclone-prone country like the Philippines, the issue of sustainability must be take seriously and
with urgency. Libraries should lead the way and take an active role by providing creative and ethical
examples to their communities (Genovese, Peter, Albanese, 2011).