A champion for green architecture

MANILA, Philippines - When the environmental movement first gained traction as a response to global warming, few would have foreseen its positive impact on the building industry, which has since addressed its polluting ways with a more eco-friendly approach to erecting structures: Green architecture.

“Green architecture is a confluence of technologies and techniques, ranging from outdoor landscaping to the use of natural construction materials,” explains architect Francis Xavier Santaromana, one of the leading green architects in the Philippines. “It is a tool for us designers to help save the earth, and preserve it for future generations to come.”

RESPONSIBLE DESIGN

Santaromana recalls that his eco-consciousness started when he was still an architecture student at the University of the Philippines: “My awareness of responsible design goes as far back as my undergraduate studies, which touched on the growing clamor for sustainability in my field.”

Two decades after leaving the campus, Santaromana now infuses green elements in his buildings as the principal architect for FL Santaromana Designs. “My firm has applied an energy-efficient and sustainable design approach to most, if not all, of our projects. These include the De La Salle Zobel campus buildings, the Punta Fuego resort homes, and the Canyon Wood mountain vacation cottages,” he says.

SUSTAINABLE RECREATIONAL FACILITY

In fact, Santaromana is gaining recognition for his sustainable buildings, like the De La Salle Zobel sports pavilion, which placed first in the commercial design category of the recently held “EcoArt, EcoWatch, EcoBuild” design competition.

The contest, held by Hunter Douglas, the world leader in green architectural products and window coverings, was seen by Santaromana as a testing ground for his eco-friendly aesthetic. “My team has practiced green architecture in essence, but the Hunter Douglas competition was the first time we extensively documented its impact per application,” he says.

“The Hunter Douglas applications made the edifice of our building ‘greener.’ We also ensured that the green elements were not merely decorative, but really made the space more comfortable for future users and more resource-efficient for the owners,” says Santaromana, explaining the general plan for the gymnasium.

Further, Hunter Douglas is one of the few companies who have the authentic green seal, since it is LEED-certified, thus ensuring that architects using their products would not be detrimental to the environment.

ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS

One of the prizes Santaromana received for his winning entry was a trip to the Netherlands to visit a Hunter Douglas manufacturing facility. “The Hunter Douglas plant was so clean and organized. I was able to see how they used zero-waste production to create their eco-friendly products.” Santaromana was also awed by the Hunter Douglas Rotterdam plant, one of its nine plants in the Netherlands and one of the company’s very first manufacturing plants in the world. Established in the 1900s, the facility is modern yet the edifices are wonderfully preserved, prompting the Dutch government to declare it a national heritage structure.

Back in the Philippines, Santaromana routinely uses the same Hunter Douglas products for his green residential and commercial developments: “We often use Luxalon ceilings because they are great for sound absorption and indoor temperature control. We are also considering window shadings that are useful in our tropical climate. To date, those that we have installed in our projects are still in their original state and have not needed repair or replacement.”

Aside from their first-rate functionality, Hunter Douglas products also fit seamlessly into the green architectural themes of Santaromana. “As an assurance, we promise our clientele an airy and bright space — and we get a lot of praise when they see the final outcome. Through a mix of organic design and Hunter Douglas products, we are able to brighten up the rooms with just the right amount of light, and cool them through natural ventilation,” he says.

NEW GREEN SOLUTIONS & STYLES

According to Santaromana, a naturally lit, passively cooled building uses up less energy without compromising comfort inside the space. He also addresses the concern of building owners about high material costs by pointing out the long-term viability of green architecture in terms of high durability, reduced energy costs, and improved well being for the inhabitants.

The award-winning architect also believes that the current and continued advancement of green architecture is driven by collaboration. “Our partnership with Hunter Douglas and other similar firms paves the way for developing new green solutions and styles for eco-friendly buildings.”

By working with world-class partners like Hunter Douglas as well as honing his eco-friendly aesthetic, architect Francis Xavier Santaromana is opening up the green architecture movement to the Filipino public, with him at the design helm.

Hunter Douglas is the world market leader in window coverings and a major manufacturer of architectural products. For more information on Hunter Douglas window fashions, visit their showroom at #33 Jade Place, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City, or call 924-0220.