Filipino wins P3.5M for bamboo house design at international contest 

MANILA, Philippines — A 23-year-old Ateneo de Manila graduate won the grand prize of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ (RICS) Cities for our Future competition.

Out of the 1,200 entries submitted from all over the globe, Filipino Earl Patrick Forlales bagged the competition's prize of £50,000 or over P3.5 million for his entry CUBO, a bamboo house design that aims to solve Manila's slum housing crisis.

CUBO modulars can be grouped together to create a sense of community. Screenshot from YouTube/RICS

Since bamboo is abundant in the Philippines, Earl chose to create his design using bamboo as an affordable and an environment-friendly solution for the modular housing units, which he designed for construction in only four hours. Among the house's other features include reduced heat gain due to space between roof and ceiling; inclined roof for easier rain water drainage and collection; cross ventilation through properly positioned window and door; and elevated floor to prevent floodwater from entering. 

The modulars can be grouped together in different arrangements, so families can take advantage of community kitchens, bathrooms or offices.

"CUBO started as nothing more than an idea, conceived while spending time at my grandparents’ house – it is incredible to think that it now will become a reality," Earl said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

CUBO's concept captured the attention of the judges in the competition, including RICS president John Hughes. 

"The world’s cities are growing all the time and there is a real need to make sure they are safe, clean and comfortable places to live for future generations," Hughes said in an online video interview with ABS-CBN.

"There were many exciting, original designs among the submissions, however Earl’s idea stood out for its simple, yet well thought through solution to the world’s growing slum problem," he added.

According to its online profile, RICS was founded in London and is a professional body that accredits professionals within the land, property, construction, and infrastructure sectors worldwide.

RICS’ Cities for our Future contest aims to find solutions that address the urban world’s problems.

Earl said he will use the prize money to create a team to work for CUBO's prototype and model units. 

He hopes that his design will be supported by government and private sectors to help ease the country's housing problems.