Evolving RP architecture

MANILA, Philippines - Going green may not be a new concept after all as far as the Philippine architectural  scene is concerned.

Long before “green architecture”  became a byword, Filipino architecture, as depicted by the nipa hut (bahay kubo) and the so-called stone houses (bahay na bato), has been characterized by the use of earth-friendly construction materials as well as designs that are energy efficient, allowing natural light and ventilation to come in.

Although Philippine architecture has long evolved and incorporated the influences of the Western world, it has found itself going back to the basics.

Jonathan Gan, principal architect and managing partner of Jonathan O. Gan and Associates, notes that modern green architecture as practiced in the Philippines today still remains true to the traditional green concept of more open spaces, natural light, and ventilation, while at the same time considering cost and space efficiency of the design as dictated by the developer.

His firm had more than a decade of experience in providing architectural, interior and engineering designs for commercial retail and food, residential, office, institutional, industrial, tourism and mixed-use development projects. It was awarded as BCI’s Top Ten 2005 Market Leaders in Architecture.

Alongside green architecture is the incorporation of sustainable design concepts which envision a healthy built environment, reducing the overall impact on human beings and the natural environment through the efficient use of energy, water and other natural resources, reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation, Gan added.

The firm’s design head, Arch. Conrad Erfe, emphasized that the incorporation of green building concepts in every design is important. “It does not only promote environmental awareness among developers but also lessens the threat to the environment,” he said.

The group’s energy efficient designs, which consider among other things proper building orientation (sun paths and prevailing wind directions to utilize and maximize natural light and ventilation, allowing active cooling), can be seen in some of their more recent projects , like Il Terrazzo in Tomas Morato, Quezon City, and A-Venue in Makati City. Its other projects include Puregold Price clubs, Fontana leisure park, the Xavier School sports center in San Juan, Wils Tower Mall (of tv host Willy Revillame) in QC to name a few.