Philippines
Philippine Architectural Design ParadigmsCopyright 2013
Architecture Advocacy International Foundation (AAIF), Inc.
Philippine Architectural Design ParadigmsThe term "design paradigm"
refers to exemplary design solutions that create "design trends"
and is used within the design professions, including architecture,
industrial design xxx to indicate an archetypal solution e.g. a
Swiss Army Knife is a design paradigm illustrating the concept of a
single object that changes configuration to address a number of
problems. Design paradigms have been introduced in a number of
books, where Architect Christopher Alexander's A Pattern Language
is thought to have first popularized the term.
Design paradigms can be used either to describe a design
solution, or as an approach to design problem solving. Problem
solving occurs through a process of abstraction and
characterization of design solutions, with subsequent
categorization into problem solving types. The approach is akin to
the use of metaphor in language; metaphors are used to help explain
concepts that are new or unfamiliar, and to bridge between a
problem we understand and a problem we don't. Design paradigms then
can be seen as higher order metaphors. xxx ______(December
2012).Design Paradigm, Wikipedia.
At least five (5) distinct architectural design paradigms are
under present consideration and these are:0. P.D. No. 1096, the
1977 National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP)-compliant
Architectural Design;0. Architectural Design for the Tropics
(Hot-Humid Philippine Climate);0. Sustainable Architectural
Design;0. Climate Change-Adaptive Architectural Design; and0.
Disaster-Resilient Architectural Design.
While each of the above offers a distinct architectural
solution, these can all still be melded into one cohesive solution,
which is probably something that mainly Registered and Licensed
Architects (RLAs) are capable of achieving.Architectural Paradigm 1
: NBCP-Compliant Architectural Design P.D. No. 1096, otherwise
known as the 1977 National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP)
is a national development control that is currently implemented and
enforced by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
through Acting Local Building Officials (ALBOs) or duly-appointed
Local Building Officials (LBOs) at the LGU level. Under said law,
the DPWH Secretary, in his capacity as the National Building
official (NBO) appoints the ALBOs or LBOs, a power apparently not
delegated to the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) nor to local chief executives (i.e. mayors and
governors of LGUs). The NBCP is supported by its 2004 revised
implementing rules and regulations (IRR), its referral codes (RCs)
and its derivative regulations (DRs). RCs are laws or regulations
that are in direct support of the NBCP, consisting of but not
limited to the following laws, codes or their successor laws/
codes:R.A. No. 9514, otherwise known as the Fire Code of the
Philippines (FCP) of 2008 and its latest implementing rules and
regulations (IRR) and derivative regulations (DRs); B.P. No. 344,
An Act to Enhance the Mobility of Disabled Persons by Requiring
Certain Buildings, Institutions, Establishments and Public
Utilities to Install Facilities and Other Devices, and its latest
IRR and DRs; Latest version of the Architectural Code of the
Philippines and its DRs; Latest version of the Structural Code of
the Philippines and its DRs; Latest version of the Philippine
Electrical Code and its DRs; Latest version of the Mechanical Code
of the Philippines and its DRs; P.D. No. 856, Code on Sanitation
and its latest IRR and DRs; P.D. No. 1067, A 1976 Presidential
Decree Instituting a Water Code, Thereby Revising and Consolidating
the Laws Governing the Ownership, Appropriation, Utilization,
Exploitation, Development, Conservation and Protection of Water
Resources, otherwise known as The Water Code of the Philippines,
and its latest IRR and DRs; R.A. No. 9275, The Philippine Clean
Water Act of 2004, and its latest IRR and DRs; R.A. No. 9003, The
Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and its latest IRR
and DRs; R.A. No. 8749, The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 and
its latest IRR and DRs; P.D. No. 1586, Establishing an
Environmental Impact Statement System, Including Other
Environmental Management Related Measures and for Other Purposes,
and its latest IRR and DRs; the ICAO SARP and the CAAP MoS for
Aerodromes in the case of airport (or heliport/ helipad, as
applicable) selection, planning, design, construction,
administration, operation and maintenance; and the various
Professional Regulatory Laws (PRLs) such as R.A. No. 9266 (The
Architecture Act of 2004), R.A. No. 544 (The Civil Engineering Law
of 1950, as amended by R.A. No. 1582 of 1956), etc., including R.A.
No. 8981, otherwise known as the Professional Regulation Commission
(PRC) Modernization Act of 2000, and their latest IRR and DRs.
DRs are mainly executive issuances that are in direct support of
the NBCP and its RCs, consisting of but not limited to the
following documents: Memorandum Circulars (MCs) issued by the DPWH
Secretary (in his capacity as the NBO) directly to ALBOs/ LBOs
nationwide; DPWH Department Administrative Orders (DAOs) as well as
other DAOs issued by other agencies that deal with aspects of the
natural and built environments; Resolutions by the appropriate
agencies, including those by the Professional Regulation Commission
(PRC) and its Professional Regulatory Boards (PRBs); National
Administrative Orders (AOs); and National Executive Orders
(EOs).
Faithful and satisfactory compliances with the 1977 NBCP, its
2004 revised IRR, its RCs, its DRs and the pertinent permitting
processes are absolute necessities to help save both the built and
natural environments from further degradation and to help in the
proper and full implementation and enforcement of the 1977 NBCP, a
valid and subsisting law. The basic compliances deal with: zoning
classification with statements of principal, accessory and
conditional uses;allowed building occupancy and building type; lot
type, configuration and access systems; road right-of-way/ RROW
width (stating arcade width if applicable) and the total lot area
(TLA); on-site and off-site analyses, with particular attention to
topography, slopes, hazards, etc.;building and site/ grounds
orientations with respect to sun, wind, rain/ storm, noise,
pollution sources, odors, view corridors (and privacy
satisfaction);treatment of the mandated legal easements (MLE);
floor to lot area ratio/ FLAR (same as floor area ratio/ FAR),
gross floor area/ GFA and total gross floor area/ TGFA; applicable
setbacks (including incremental setbacks); firewall compliances (as
needed);basement level compliances (as applicable, particularly on
the matter of setbacks from property lines);open and covered
parking compliances (including public transportation
connectivities);percentage of site occupancy (PSO) and allowable
maximum building footprint (AMBF), including clear indications of
the total open space within lot (TOSL) and the unpaved surface area
(USA) that shall assist in surface water flow retardation (to
prevent accelerated/ flash flooding) and percolation into the
aquifer; applicable building height limit/ BHL (including Civil
Aviation Authority of the Philippines/ CAAP restrictions or other
agency restrictions as applicable); allowable maximum volume of
building (AMVB); outermost face of building (OFB), outermost limits
of building projection (OLBP) and the angle of angular plane with
respect to the road right-of-way (RROW); the architectural and
space programs; wall/ window orientations and wall to window ratio
(WWR); site development (including urban design) features; use of
natural light and ventilation, particularly of day-lighting and
passive cooling;elevator traffic calculations and zoning (as
applicable); building and site/ grounds colours and textures,
particularly those that are absorptive and reflective of light and
heat (that should illustrate the RLAs appreciation of tropical
design as the same applies to Philippine buildings); graphics,
signage and way-finding provisions; anddesign sensitivities i.e.
gender, children and the elderly, persons with disabilities (PWH,
physical, mental, emotional, etc.), ethnicity and indigenous
peoples, people with differing lifestyles/ preferences, religion,
etc. The foregoing are only basic architectural plan and design
features of the building that should ideally form part of an
architectural permit application to be prepared by RLAs, an
ancillary permit to the building permit. Should the separate DPWH
IRR on sustainable building design be promulgated, the RLA shall
also be responsible for a number of sustainable building features,
as well as features that address issues and concerns pertaining to
climate change adaptation and disaster resilience. The RLA's
description of the proposed buildings sustainable design features
must necessarily include descriptions of the embodied energy levels
of construction and finishing materials proposed for use in the
building, carbon footprint calculation for the building and its
users over a certain period of time, energy and water conservation
features (to include rainwater harvesting if possible), solid waste
management provisions (collection, storage, recycling, reuse,
disposal), etc.The architectural permit application, once imposed
by the DPWH, must clearly show that the proposed building fully
satisfies all the spatial requirements and all the applicable
national and local development controls (DCs). The architectural
permit application and its support architectural documents must
also show thecalculations for architectural life safety code
compliances, particularly those mandated under R.A. No. 9514 (The
2008 Fire Code of the Philippines/ FCP and its 2009 IRR). Also for
inclusion is the satisfaction of the mandated compliances with B.P.
No. 344 (Accessibility Law of 1983) particularly with respect to
parking slots, ramps, elevators and toilets for persons with
disabilities (PWD). Additionally, the pertinent information on
architectural design features that address specific user needs and
sensitivities must be included e.g. gender, age, ethnicity,
religion, etc. as well as urban design features e.g. including
lists of street furniture, way-finding provisions and directional
signages as well as statements of the proposed treatments of
transitional spaces between the public domain (e.g. RROW) and the
building grounds and enclosed building spaces. Even if the same may
not yet be required by the DPWH, it is best that the foregoing form
part of the architectural documentation fo teh project. A major
component of the architectural documents package shall be the
project description which must contain information on the users and
the indoor and exterior spatial provisions created to address the
activities to be housed/ sited in the proposed building or
structure or its site/ grounds, a statement on the aesthetic
blending (or stark contrast) of the building/ structure with its
environs, a general statement on the overall quality of the
materials for use on the building, statements on the space planning
(SP) and architectural interiors (AI) of the building, statements
on the urban design (UD) of the building and its site/ grounds and
the affected portions of the public domain (such as RROWs and MLEs)
as well as on the perceived effect of the building on the local
environment and an initial estimate of the building/ project cost.
Fire Integrity of the Building/ Structure
For a mixed use building, uses/ occupancies which can all be
subject to incidences of fire, explosion, fumes, leakages, etc. and
potential acts of sabotage or other forms of public disorder can
cause extensive building/ structural damage. As such, the upper
floor levels must be protected from such threats through the
provision of key fire integrity provisions that can help localize
fire and smoke spread and penetration only to the affected floor/s
or level/s below. For this reason, non-circulation/ access openings
that vertically traverse the building (from basement through deck
roof levels) shall be avoided as much as possible e.g. light and
ventilation courts/ wells, atrium courts, and the like. Building
and Grounds Fit-outFurniture and Movable ItemsThese are large
movable equipment, such as tables and chairs, used to make an
enclosed or outdoor space suitable for living or working; the
movable articles in a room or an establishment that make it fit for
living or working; may also be referred to as furnishing; the
possible examples of furniture in a typical Philippine building
are: tables/ desks/ work benches (modular manager/ clerical/ work
stations, conference, training, coffee, tea, side, etc.), back
cabinet/s and side returns (as necessary), pedestal drawers, filing
cabinets, assorted chairs (i.e. gang, visitor, clerical, junior/
mid-level/ senior manager/ conference/ high chairs for counter
operations and occasional/ accent chairs, cafeteria chairs/ stools
and the like), sofas (1-/ 2-/ 3-seaters), beds with/ without
headboards and the like; movable or demountable counters (low,
medium or tall heights as applicable) with assembly-type shelves/
compartments (including trash collectors) and the like; movable
items such as figurines (as applicable), decorative items such as
vases and the like, directional/ indoor traffic barriers (with
escutcheon plates), trash containers/ bins, plant-holders and the
like; small accessories or fittings that attach to both the exposed
and concealed surfaces/ spaces of furniture items and the like.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The foregoing classification of Furniture
specifically excludes Street Furniture such as park benches,
pedestrian barriers, waiting shed seats, telephone booths, police
callboxes, ATM terminals, pedestrian barriers, streetlights,
signage poles/ pylons, projecting signs, canopies, covered walks or
other legally located/ sited items such as electrical/ telephone
poles and telephone boxes found/ permitted within the sidewalk
portion of the road right-of-way (RROW).FurnishingsThese are
furniture, fittings, and other decorative accessories (such as
curtains and carpets) for a building or room; a piece of equipment
necessary or useful for comfort or convenience; an object that
tends to increase comfort or utility, especiallyan article
offurniturefor the interior of a building; fabrics used for
curtains, upholstery, or floor coverings and the furniture,
appliances, and other movable articles in a room or building; the
possible examples of furnishings in a typical Philippine building
are as follows : fixed stations such as reception desks/ counters,
appliances such as integrated desktop computers and peripherals,
television and stereo sets (where applicable), movable task
lighting devices, ceiling-mounted or wall-mounted fans (as needed),
water dispensers, airpots, coffee-makers, vending machines
(possibly by others) and the like; movable/ transferable/
demountable assembled articles such as non-illuminated or
self-illuminated directional signages, directional information and
similar graphic devices, assorted shelves/ shelvings, cafeteria
kitchen and pantry equipment including stoves/ ovens/
refrigerators; fixed counters, cabinets or closets with fixed
shelves/ compartments (including dedicated task-lighting devices as
applicable), sanitary fixtures (tissue and paper towel dispensers,
sanitary product dispensers, diaper changing boards, etc.) and the
like; fittings such as pipes/ tubings/ drains connected to
non-capital equipment and plumbing/ electrical/ electronic/
mechanical fixtures and the like; and other decorative accessories
such as curtains, drapes, blinds, shades and carpets/ carpet tiles,
paintings, wall hangings, sculpture (large/ medium/ small), and
decorative/ accent lighting devices, with complete fittings and
accessories, and the likeFixturesThese are pieces of equipment or
furniture that is fixed in position in a building or vehicle;
articles attached to a building or land and considered legally part
of it so that such items normally remain in place even when the
building owner moves out; something securely fixed in place or
attached as a permanent appendage, apparatus, or appliance
e.g.plumbing fixtures; the possible examples of fixtures in a
typical Philippine building/ grounds include the following:
visible, remote-operated and/or tangible/ operational devices or
provisions that are fixed in position in (i.e. permanently attached
to) a building and which partake of finishing items, such as
plumbing fixtures (water closets, urinals, lavatories, water
fountains, etc.), electrical fixtures (general and task lighting,
area lighting for grounds, exterior building lighting including
up-lighting or down-lighting, indoor and outdoor switches/ manual
controls and convenience outlets, etc.), electronic fixtures
(indoor and outdoor/ rooftop cameras, speakers, sensors, monitors,
card-access or biometric access terminals for secure areas,
automated main gates and doors, etc.), mechanical and related
auxiliary fixtures (sprinkler heads, indoor climate management or
control terminals/ stations/ switches, etc.), and the like; and
architectural fixtures such as large fixed/ sectional mirrors,
finish hardware items, wall (or floor) safes and the like.
EquipmentThese are the necessary items for a particular purpose or
activity; equipment (solid state), apparatus, gear, materiel,
outfit, paraphernalia and the like; materials needed for a purpose
such as laboratory apparatus; all the fixed assets other than land
and buildings of a business enterprise; tangible property(other
thanlandorbuildings) that is used in theoperationof abusiness;
examples of equipmentincludedevices,machines,tools, andvehicles;
the possible examples of equipment in a typical Philippine building
are: visible and tangible/ operable apparatus, gear, materiel,
outfit, paraphernalia, tools relating to architectural, structural,
electrical, electronic and auxiliary (telecommunications/ audio/
video/ building management system/ BMS), mechanical, sanitary,
plumbing, fire-fighting functions/ operations of the building e.g.
integrated computer systems including peripherals, ticketing system
including cash registers and official receipt or trip ticket
printers, point of sale (POS) reporting system (as applicable,
possibly for both ticketing/ parking and commercial leased spaces),
public information/ notification/ address systems including
departure and arrival information systems, inter-modal to bus
communication system (including tracking/ monitoring system),
inter-modal parking and covered private vehicle parking systems
including card dispensers, parking fee collection booths/ counters,
manual and electronic barriers/ booms, manual traffic devices such
as removable barriers e.g. cones, blocks, wheel locks and the like,
electronic overhead parking space availability indicators,
electronic/ emergency directional signages, and the like. IMPORTANT
NOTE: The foregoing classification of EQUIPMENT specifically
excludes CAPITAL EQUIPMENT such as elevators, escalators,
walkalators (level or inclined), other types of conveyors (as
applicable), transformers, generator sets (gensets), automatic
transfer switches (ATS), fan coil units (FCUs) and air-conditioning
condensing units (ACCUs) in case of package-type air-conditioning
systems or cooling towers and air handling units/ AHUs (in case of
centralized air-conditioning systems) and their support devices/
provisions requiring separate housing such as machine rooms and the
like. FittingsThese are small parts on or attached to a piece of
furniture or equipment; items, such as a stove or shelves, that are
fixed in a building but can be removed when the owner moves out;
may also be referred to as furnishing.AccessoryThis is a thing that
can be added to something else in order to make it more useful,
versatile, or attractive; something nonessential but desirable that
contributes to an effect or result; secondary, subordinate or
supplementary item; an adjunct or appendage; the possible examples
of accessories in a typical Philippine building include: figurines,
free-standing sculpture or accent/ mood lighting devices, small
accent furniture pieces, throw pillows, table runners, candle
holders and other dining/ tabletop implements, non-fixed mirrors,
rugs and non-fixed carpets, carpet protectors, provisions or small
items made of acrylic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or fiberglass such
as suspended/ hanging trays, etc.Fit-OutThe placement/ positioning/
siting of equipment into a room or building so that the same can be
used for a particular purpose or long-term activity. Architectural
Paradigm 2 : Architectural Design for the Tropics (Hot-Humid
Philippine Climate)Buildings/ StructuresClimate and Solar
Orientations:In the Philippines, the prevailing winds are the
heavy, very wet and destructive southwest monsoon winds (the
habagat) which blows from March through September and the cool,
pleasant but equally strong northeast monsoon winds (the amihan)
which blows from November through mid-February; October is usually
the transition month; in some parts of the country, particularly
along the eastern seaboard i.e. the Philippine Sea and the Pacific
Ocean, the easterly winds are quite strong while in the western
part of the Philippines i.e. in the vicinity of the West Philippine
Sea, the north wind (the daplak) is also quite strong;The
Philippines is visited by anywhere from 15 to 22 storms/ typhoons
annually, some of which are super-typhoons, with wind speeds in
excess of 225 kph, with gustiness in excess of 270 kph, coupled
with very heavy rains and storm surges, all of which are very
destructive;The long axis of buildings must run along a North-South
(N-S) direction inasmuch as the actual sun-paths actually run along
a southeast to southwest (SE-SW) direction for about seven (7)
months a year i.e. circa September through April and along a
northeast to northwest (NE-NW) direction for about three and
one-half 3.5 months a year i.e. circa May through August (reference
Figures 1 and 2); the one and half months in between are transition
months, part of which has the sun traversing an east to west
direction twice a year;TopographySites with slopes in excess of
eighteen percent (18%) are by law considered NON-buildable and must
NOT be made to host habitable buildings, mainly due to the
instability of the soil; andSite grading and cut-and-fill building
solutions must be kept to an absolute minimum to retain the topsoil
as much as possible.Energy and EmissionsPassive Design: Passive
design is working with the environment to create the most optimal
conditions inside a structure, taking advantage of the behavior of
the sun and wind patterns simultaneously reducing the need for
mechanical lighting and air-conditioning, thus effecting energy
conservation. In the tropics, the main principles are avoiding heat
gain, encouraging natural ventilation, making use of natural light
and creating cool outdoor areas. ______(undated/ unpublished)
DPWH.Orientation: The placement of the building on the site and the
arrangement of the rooms inside it should be oriented in a way that
windows and walls allow maximum airflow, penetration of natural
light while being easily shaded from direct sunlight.Orienting for
Minimum Solar Heat GainOrienting the building for minimum solar
heat gain must take into account the general sun path for the
Philippines as well as changes pertaining to site conditions all
throughout the year and designing to have all the walls shaded from
direct sun all year round. It may be desirable to allow more
sunlight to enter, depending on building use. Certain hospital
wards, solaria, childrens playrooms and sun porches need plenty of
sun, either during the whole day or at preferred hours of the day
because of its medicinal properties and anti-bacterial
characteristics. In factories and laboratories, the total exclusion
of the sun is essential for the protection of both chemical
materials and employees working within. In offices and classrooms,
direct sunlight causes serious problems like visual discomfort and
eyestrain due to uneven illumination and reflected glare.
Therefore, in designing a particular device of sun control, the
following should be given careful thought to find the most
satisfactory working compromise: Protection of opening against
other weather elements;Initial and maintenance costs of control
devices;Exterior appearance;Minimization of noise penetration
through openings;Arrangements for privacy, if
required;Non-obstruction of the view from within; andAccessibility
for the cleaning and maintenance of windows and the sun control
device itself. Orientation for Maximizing Air FlowBuildings should
be oriented to make the most of prevailing winds. ______(undated/
unpublished) DPWHPassive VentilationEnergy intensive
air-conditioning can be greatly reduced by designing in a way that
maximizes natural ventilation . Windows, doors and vents must be
aligned in a reasonably straight line to allow air flow through the
building.Internal obstacles such as internal walls should be
minimized to allow unimpeded ventilation.Natural ventilation should
be maximized by:Exposing windows to the prevailing winds in the
locality during the hot months if there are no constraints to such
orientation and/or to a western or eastern orientation to reduce
solar heat loads;Properly sizing and locating the window opening
for maximum cross ventilation and/or speed up prevailing
breeze;Adopting the venturi principle in air movement to increase
rate flow inside buildings;Adopting the stack effect principle
where appropriate.Making proper layout of the buildings to avoid
being in the wind shadow; andProviding buildings with at least 2.0m
setback from the property line making provision for open courts or
yards where feasible. ______(undated/ unpublished) DPWHPassive
CoolingThe ceiling cavity of a building may also provide an
effective means of replacing hot air with cool air from outside
using convection. Roof ventilation can be provided through the use
of spinning vents placed on the roof top to draw out hot air from
the ceiling cavity due to their spinning motion, or a ridge vent
placed at the highest point that allows collected hot air at the
highest point to flow out. These are aided by installing vents in
eaves or in ceilings to allow cooler air in and promote better air
flow through the roof vent. ______(undated/ unpublished)
DPWHThermal massThermal mass refers to the capacity of a material
to absorb, store and release heat. The use of materials with lower
thermal mass such as non-banned timber is preferable on walls
directly exposed to the sun. The use of lightweight materials like
timber enables the building to cool faster. The use of heavy
textures of non-timber materials i.e. that create light and shadow
features on walls directly exposed to the sun may help achieve the
same effect. ______(undated/ unpublished) DPWHNatural
lightingDesigns should maximize the utilization of natural lighting
in order to minimize the use of artificial lighting during daytime,
thus effecting energy conservation and has been shown to increase
productivity particularly in workplaces. Natural lighting or
sunlight should be used to best advantage by:Providing rooms with
adequate window opening with area of at least ten percent (10%) of
the room area served; windows should be glazed and opening directly
to a court or open spaces;Providing skylight where
necessary;Providing setback or open courts as required in P.D. No.
1096; andProviding means of controlling direct sun rays into the
building such as overhangs, vertical or horizontal sun baffles,
etc. Natural lighting can be enhanced by aligning ceilings and
internal walls to maximize reflection of light sources, as well as
using light colors on floors, walls, and horizontal surfaces. This
must be balanced with strategies to manage heat gain and glare.
______(undated/ unpublished) DPWHEnergy Efficient Systems and
AppliancesBuilding fit outs, if possible, should install the
energy-efficient appliances and systems to minimize building
operational costs. These include the following:Air-conditioning
Systems;Lighting Systems; andWater Heating Systems.Renewable
energyInvesting in systems that make us of renewable energy, and
renewable energy generation systems help lessen greenhouse gas
emissions and increase energy security.TransportSustainable
building design encourages active and public transport by building
users. This helps lessen the carbon footprint of the building and
its workers and visitors. This can be done by:Situating the
building near public transport routes;Providing safe and user
friendly paths for walking and cycling as access to the building;
andProvide facilities that encourage walking or cycling to work
such as: showers, lockers and bicycle parking facilities.
______(undated/ unpublished) DPWHWater and WastewaterWater
Efficiency;Rainwater Tanks;Recycled Water; andManaging
Stormwater.Indoor Environment QualityLight quality and views to
outside; Temperature Control; Noise;Air Quality;Low Toxicity Indoor
Environment: Paints, FlooringMaterials: Various materials are the
subjects of environmental regulation, and consideration should be
given to these in the design of new and renovated buildings.
Noxious building materials, including some types of urea,
formaldehyde, foam, insulation, must not be used. In renovation
projects, Architects should be aware of asbestos and industrial
chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Another
material subject to extensive regulation is lead paint.New as well
as recycled materials considered to be environmentally sound are
being used on construction projects. Gypsum board can be ground and
used as spray insulation, and some glass can be recycled and used
in windows. Some masonry, metal and aluminum can be reused. Not
only is such reuse environmentally sound, but it can be
economically beneficial as well. ______(undated/ unpublished)
DPWHArchitectural Paradigm 3 : Sustainable Architectural
DesignSustainable architectural design for sites/ buildings/
structures/ projects (also often referred to as Green
Architecture), is actually not a new architectural design paradigm
as it has been practiced by many architects and designers for many
decades but were only not collectively referred to as such until
recently. Conventional architectural design of buildings/
structures/ projects could considerably improve through the
following (but not limited to the following) provisions, to wit: 1.
Sites/ Groundsa)land and site sustainability considerations during
construction activities i.e. plans and documentation needed for
site excavation, sedimentation and erosion control, air pollution
control, etc.;b)use of organic soil treatment
products;c)minimization of over-paving through the requisite
compliances with valid and subsisting laws, rules, regulations,
guidelines, standards and procedural manuals pertaining to physical
planning e.g. NBCP, Water Code, Sanitation Code, etc.;d)management
of shadows cast by the proposed buildings on adjacent lots and
buildings/ structures; ande)miscellaneous considerations i.e.
rainfall information and hydrologic (and flooding) characteristics
of the site including flood risk assessment mitigation studies (if
available); public passage-ways i.e. secure pathwalks and bicycle
lanes and bicycle parking plan (if provided); community
connectivity (amenities, facilities, services and utilities/ AFSU);
waiting sheds and other key street furniture; vehicle use, maneuver
and parking plans (open, semi-covered and covered); landscaping
plans (hard and soft scapes); green roofs and heat insulated
areas;2. Buildings/ Structures a) energy conservation and
management i.e. compliances with the latest Department of Energy
(DoE) guidelines on energy conservation and management i.e.
lighting and power design, etc.; use of light-emitting diodes
(LEDs), compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and similar energy-saving
illumination devices (provided the proper disposal methods are also
in place), etc.; extensive use of natural lighting and ventilation
matched with the use of sun-shading devices; use of renewable
(non-fossil) energy sources where applicable i.e. sun, wind, wave,
current, hydro, dendro (forest products), hot springs, animal,
biogas/ compost, solid waste, etc.; b) water conservation and
management i.e. reduction or optimization of domestic water
consumption i.e. use of low-flow plumbing/ sanitary fixtures and
equipment, etc.,; domestic wastewater reuse or recycling;
stormwater management and rainwater harvesting i.e. collection,
storage, treatment, use, reuse, recycling, disposal, etc.,
wastewater treatment i.e. use of compact/ compartmentalized sewage
treatment devices or sewage treatment plants (STPs); etc.; c) solid
waste management i.e. waste management plan; material recovery/
segregation facility (MRF/ MSF); use of non-burn waste to energy
(WTE) or waste to worth (WTW) technologies that utilize local and
foreign advanced technologies compliant with the PH Clean Air Act
of 1999;d)indoor environment quality considerations e.g.
non-smoking areas; minimization of emitted volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) by materials specified for the building/
structure/ project; air-conditioning refrigerant management;
prevention of sick building syndrome through the generous use of
naturally available light and ventilation to prevent growth and
spread of harmful microorganisms indoors; e)correct wall to window
ratio (WWR) for natural light and ventilation purposes;f)green
roofs and heat insulated areas;g)construction waste management
program i.e. material collection/ storage/ reuse/ recycling/
disposal; waste diversion/ reduction; h)considerations of embodied
energy in the construction and finishing materials specified for
use in the building/ structure/ project;i)minimization of
over-building through the requisite compliances with valid and
subsisting laws, rules, regulations, guidelines, standards and
procedural manuals pertaining to building design e.g. NBCP, Fire
Code, Water Code, Sanitation Code, etc.; j)fire and life safety
considerations (including flame retardation and flame spread
characteristics of materials specified for the building/ structure/
project); k)correct building orientation and correct material,
texture and color selection to manage reflected light and heat
caused by the building/ structure/ project and light and heat
absorptions by the same i.e. light colors reflect light and heat
while medium to dark colors absorb light and heat, making dark
colors not only uncomfortable for those staying indoors but also
result in high artificial cooling requirements/ energy usage/
operating costs indoors; the use of dark colors and masonry walls,
which absorb large amounts of heat, combine to produce the oven
effect for the building interior; and l)carbon foot-printing of the
building/ structure/ project and all its end-users.Climate
Change-Adaptive Architectural Design Climate change is brought
about by global warming through the unchecked use of fossil fuels
(chiefly coal) by industrialized countries. These have warmed our
oceans and have given rise to supertyphoons (with some also saying
that foreign military activities have something to do with it). The
Philippines (PH) is the wall that protects Southeast Asia and parts
of East Asia as the PH is the first landfall of Pacific Ocean-bred
supertyphoons i.e. which grow weaker only after passing the PH,
thereby protecting the rest of Asia. Given this reality, climate
change adaptation and disaster preparedness/ resiliency for
buildings should now be the norm for PH buildings and structures.
For exposed sites/ buildings/ structures/ projects i.e. those
located along low-lying coastal areas, sited at mountain/ hill
slopes or bases, sites constantly battered by strong monsoon and
storm winds and similar locations, these new architectural design
paradigms could start by modifying portions of conventional
architectural designs into the following (but not limited to the
following), viz:1. Sites/ Groundsa) less paving around the building
to help retard surface water flow i.e. through percolation into the
ground, inasmuch as the collected surface water contribute to flash
flooding at lower elevations within a community; andb)proper
setbacks and compliance with mandated legal easements (MLEs) along
waterways to maintain floodwater at a low level i.e. narrower
waterways translate into higher flood levels;2. Buildings/
Structures a) use of concrete deck roofs instead of sloped metal
roofs; however, while this assures that the building/ structure is
climate change-adaptive, there are other key considerations such as
the capital expenditure for waterproofing and maintenance as well
as considerations of the amounts of the reflected light and heat of
light-colored finishes for the concrete deck roof i.e. dark colors
cannot be used as these shall absorb considerable amounts of heat,
thereby affecting the operation and comfort levels inside the
building; b)if the use of metal roofs cannot be avoided, provide
much steeper roof slopes for metal roofs (because flatter slopes
are easily penetrated by strong winds); c) use of roof that is
sloped at all four (4) sides (since typhoon winds come from all
directions) i.e. cuatro aguas; d) use of very short eaves i.e. the
roof extension outside the exterior wall of the building or
residence, usually provided for shade and aesthetics (inasmuch as
long eaves cause uplift which open up the roof cavity to more/
extensive wind damage); the short eaves could be paired with medias
agua (shed roofs) over windows and doors; e) gutterless roofs (as
leaves and debris clog up the drains, downspouts and catch basins
and the accumulated water cause the undrained roof to collapse;
this has to be partnered with a trench drain, sand pit or a sand
and gravel bed at the ground below to absorb the falling water; f)
controlled roof cavity and/or ceiling cavity openings to relieve or
equalize pressure inside and outside the building during strong
winds i.e. a certain amount of wind has to be let in the building/
structure to relieve and/or equalize air pressures; g)for
flood-prone or flood-risk areas, the use of the lower level as a
multi-use, flexible use space (that can be flooded), and which can
be connected to the upper level/s of the building through stairs or
ramps (for use by PWDs or large domesticated/ farm animals); andh)
use of stilted or floating building technologies, if technically
and financially feasible, if safe and if locally
available.Architectural Paradigm 5 : Disaster-Resilient
Architectural Design For sites/ buildings/ structures/ projects
sited in urban areas and exposed buildings/ structures i.e. those
located along low-lying coastal areas, sited at mountain/ hill
slopes or bases, sites constantly battered by strong monsoon and
storm winds, those to be sited along inland waterways and inland
water body foreshore areas, and similar locations, the new
architectural design paradigm could start by modifying portions of
conventional architectural designs into the following (but not
limited to the following), viz:
1. Sites/ Groundsa) avoidance of areas with low elevations as a
site for a high density development or a large building/ structure
since the site is more likely to be flooded, even with the
introduction of engineering interventions e.g. interceptor or
diversion trenches/ canals, which may be very costly; b)use of the
existing built environment for shielding a building/ structure i.e.
proper use of surrounding taller buildings/ structures as elements
to bear the brunt of strong winds and rains, thereby protecting the
proposed lower/ smaller buildings/ structures;c)use of deep-rooted
trees with potentially medium-sized crowns and similar elements in
the natural environment for shielding a building/ structure i.e. to
bear the brunt of strong winds and rains, thereby protecting the
proposed buildings/ structures;d)designation of a both open and
covered refuge areas within building complexes or within
communities for use in times of extreme events or natural/ man-made
disasters; ande)proper setbacks and compliance with mandated legal
easements (MLEs) along waterways to maintain floodwater at a low
level i.e. narrower waterways translate into higher flood levels;
2. Buildings/ Structures a)avoid constructing basements whenever
possible i.e. especially basements built up to the property lines,
which expose the foundations of existing buildings and roadworks;
per the 2004 Revised IRR of P.D. No. 1096, the NBCP, basement walls
are to be set back with the same dimensions of setbacks required
for the ground surface;b)tall buildings must not have firewalls as
all sides must be available for rescue efforts during fires or
earthquakes; per the 2004 Revised IRR of P.D. No. 1096, the NBCP,
setbacks for tall residential, mixed use or commercial/ office
buildings i.e. Residential 5 (R-5) zoning classification are to be
set back with the same dimensions of setbacks required for a
single-detached residential building in a low density residential
(R-1) zone;c)tall buildings shall be provided with safe refuge
zones or floors for evacuating building occupants; these areas
shall have stronger structural reinforcement and fire protection
features if compared with regular floors;d)all emergency, exit and
public doors servicing rooms or areas with users numbering twelve
(12) or more occupants must all swing outward;e)all fire lanes and
emergency/ fire exits, passageway and stairs shall be maintained
free of all forms of obstructions and fitted with emergency
lighting devices all the way to the refuge floors and/ or the
street below;f) avoidance of use of non-fire rated substances and
materials for buildings, particularly those that produce toxic or
harmful fumes during fire e.g. polyvinyl chloride (PVC) doors and
jambs, etc.;g)use of medium-weight movable materials as furniture
pieces i.e. those that can readily serve as sturdy flotation
devices;h)elevated floor finish line (FFL) at say 0.60 meter (m)
minimum above sidewalk level for carports and for main entrances
for low-rise structures e.g. residences in known flood risk
areas;i) positioning of convenience outlets above table surface
height i.e. say about 0.85m above finished floor line
(FFL);j)possible positioning of the main power panel at a reachable
height just below the finished ceiling line (FCL);k)use of jalousie
windows, which are designed for use in the tropics, and which could
serve as a fast means of escape (but requires security provisions
such grillework or similar devices); l)a fast emergency escape
system using maintenance gondolas or possibly even zip lines
mounted on roofs of tall buildings directed at refuge floors/
levels of adjoining tall buildings or open refuge areas may need to
be devised; m)design of low-rise buildings for survivability i.e.
controlled detachment of a designated survival room/ pod from the
main building/ structure for purposes of flotation or similar
survival action/ procedures; n) use of low-cost to optimum-cost
devices or technologies than can readily convert seawater, brackish
water, inland waterway water, wastewater, etc. into domestic water
fit for cooking and drinking (potable water) i.e. solely with the
use of renewable energy i.e. sun or wind to power the conversion
process; o) use of stilted or floating building technologies, if
technically and financially feasible, if safe and if locally
available; andp)adoption of other applicable climate
change-adaptive architectural design features e.g. concrete deck
roof or high pitched metal roof that slope on all sides (cuatro
aguas), with the least eaves length, gutterless, controlled vents
in the ceiling and roof cavities to help equalize air pressure
inside the building/ structure, windows and doors fitted with sheds
(media aguas), etc. Nothing follows.page 2 of 23