2015 MADE Architecture Competition finalists announced
MANILA, Philippines - The Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI), through its Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE) program, held its final judging of the 2015 MADE Architecture Competition last Aug. 14 at the Penthouse of Metrobank Plaza.
Four entries, namely, “South Laguna Prime,” “Tanikala,” “Bamboo Tells,” and “Sibol,” competed during the final judging where entrants presented the designs to the members of the final board of judges.
The participants for this year were asked to design an international hot spring and wellness center resort complex in Los Baños, Laguna where Mount Makiling is at the southwest foot and Laguna de Bay is bordered on the northeast, making it a perfect eco-tourism hub. The concepts and designs must also feature a facility that highlights the natural hot spring and art and culture center.
The entries passed the following criteria: creativity of concept and its translation; reflective of Filipino culture with global appeal; use of innovative and appropriate technology; socio-economic sustainability or adapting green architecture and cost effectiveness.
During the final judging, the national finalists underwent a rigorous process of presenting the concept and design to the board of judges whose questions measured the depth of their works.
On the finalists’ works
“My works try to elevate the traditional and conventional by infusing new ways of form-finding, space-programming and construction. The studio is forward-looking but still deeply rooted in tropical concepts that shaped our structures and spaces in the past and in a continuous search in re-defining Filipino architecture in the present and future contexts,” says architect Gerard Joson of his entry “Sibol.”
Architect Jayson Mata, the designer behind the concept of “Bamboo Tells” whose villas are presented as a refreshing twist the bahay-kubo highlighted how his design is aligned to socio-economic sustainability and to green architecture adaptation. He said, “Bamboo will be primarily used for landscaping that serves both aesthetic and source of materials for long-term strategy. Bamboo is locally available, in the region and in the whole country. That means cost effectiveness of material sourcing.”
Architect Yonni Habulan demonstrated “Tanikala” whose design inspiration was taken from the local cultural representations and handicraft such that the structure is as if molded by hands. It fosters links to create contextual coalescence, thus achieving a clear sense of place. The design is also a reflection of Filipino culture. “We always push for the cultivation and progression of Philippine architecture. We strive to translate project briefs into modern interpretations of the Filipino idiom.”
The South Laguna Prime’s building orientation plays the most basic yet vital role in creating an energy-efficient green building. Architect Angelo Serrano shared his inspiration for his physical design solution. He said, “When we looked at the project, the first question we asked ourselves was how do we relate this on the bigger scale? We took inspirations from the natural formations in Laguna, the Laguna Volcanic Field, and developed the concept through a marriage of architectural approaches to the social and natural characteristics of Laguna.”
The grand prize winner of MADE will be announced and awarded on Sept. 24, at the Le Pavillion, Pasay City during the 2015 awarding ceremony and exhibit opening of the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence National Competition in Painting, Sculpture, Architecture and Interior Design. The winner will receive P400,000.
