// YP Design Challenge: Ideas for Sustainable Communities

The JF Ledesma Foundation Inc. (JFLFI), in collaboration with the Asian Rural-Urban Development and Peace Institute, Inc., organized its own YP Design Challenge for young professionals and students in the Visayas and Mindanao region. (JFLFI is the partner organization of TAO-Pilipinas which spearheads YP activities in Visayas and Mindanao while TAO-Pilipinas organizes those in Luzon.) The design competition was themed “Incremental Housing Design and Development for the Slum Dwellers: The YP-VisMin MDG Challenge.”

The team from West Negros University Civil Engineering Department garnered first place for their entry which used interlocking reinforced eco-blocks made of recycled plastic mineral water bottles filled with sand and cement mortar. The team is composed of Engr. Rey A. Ramos, Ryan Christopher Leyte, Marfalo Sungkip, Annie Montales, and Betha Lou Rufin.

Second place award went to Danilo Ravina of the University of San Carlos Technological Center – College of Architecture. Architect Ravina’s design solution comprised of building the structure in five phases/increments namely, phase 1: structural frame and roof; phase 2: masonry works; phase 3: wall framing, cladding, doors and windows; phase 4: floor; and phase 5: utilities.

Third place was awarded to the team from Mindanao University of Science and Technology composed of Anne Barillo, Rico Doydora, Jay-Ar Lituañas, Ricsie Lucero, Juricel Magsigay, and Beginno Monsanto. Their design was a one-story housing unit made of composite and readily available construction materials (concrete, steel, and wood).

The awarding ceremony for the winning teams was conducted by JFLFI in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental last December 2009. For more information about the YP Design Challenge in VisMin, email Ms. Maricel Binghay at jflfi@yahoo.com.

TAO-Pilipinas’ YP Design Challenge was one of the projects featured in the “The Green Path” Gallery of the Construction Show Manila 2009 (MANILACON 09) at the SMX Convention Center. The exhibit, which ran from September 3 to 6, 2009, showcased projects that execute principles in green architecture and sustainability.

The YP Design Challenge was a design competition conducted by TAO-Pilipinas in 2008 and participated by various architecture and engineering schools in Metro Manila. It comprised of two design challenge categories, Sustainable Shelter and Portable Playground.

The winning and notable entries for the 2008 YP Design Challenge were featured in issue no.5 of TAO-Shelter Magazine. Click here to view PDF file.

To order TAO-Shelter magazine (at Php125.00/copy), email your request to rp@tao-pilipinas.org

The following are the scheduled exhibits for the winners and the finalists of the YP Design Challenge:

March 30-31, 2009 – UP-ALL Anniversary, ISO-Ateneo Campus, Quezon City

April 21, 2009 – PHILSSA’s DFID Project Launch, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ortigas Center, Pasig City

April 22-23, 2009 – PHILSSA Anniversary, ISO-Ateneo Campus, Quezon City

For those interested to host the YPDC exhibits, you may contact Ms. Geraldine Matabang at (632)441-0998 or email yp@tao-pilipinas.org.

The winning and notable entries from the 2008 YP Design Challenge: Ideas for Sustainable Communities will be on exhibit at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines – College of Architecture and Fine Arts (PUP-CAFA) on February 24 (Tuesday) until February 27 (Friday). The YPDC exhibit is being presented as part of the celebration of PUP-CAFA’s 9th Anniversary Foundation Week. It features the presentation boards of the winning entries in the Sustainable Shelter and Portable Playground categories, along with the entries’ scaled models done by architects/model-makers Edra Belga and Ave Casono.
The travelling exhibit has been previously mounted at the SHEC (St. Hannibal Empowerment Center) Phase 2 Housing Project, Green Papaya Art Projects, and during the Shelter Design and Development (SDD) International Course at Imperial Hotel.

The Jury Deliberation Report for Portable Playground Category is now available for downloading. Here are some excerpts from the report:

Judging Criteria

Prior to the Jury Deliberation scheduled last December 05, 2008 at Room 101 of the University Hotel in UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City, the jury panel agreed that eligible entries will be judged on the following criteria and scoring weights:

Criterion # 1: Appropriate and safe play spaces (max. of 25 points)
The design should provide adequate spaces for appropriate and safe play experiences of children and create opportunities for teaching children the value of environmental responsibility.

Criterion # 2: Mobility (max. of 25 points)
The playground unit should be mobile and transportable to other areas of available open space in a community.

Criterion # 3: Cost-effectiveness & Sustainable Construction (max. of 25 points)
The playground unit should be cost effective and should be built using sustainable construction materials and techniques. Designers should consider use of local materials, tools/equipment and labor and construction methods, durability and ease of maintenance and repair.

Criterion # 4: Socio-cultural sensitivity & Affordability (max. of 25 points)
The design should be socio-culturally sensitive and affordable, has high possibility of being constructed by people’s organizations like SHEC and SAPSPA.

The jury shall select winning designs and designate First, Second, and Third Award according to the following standard:

First Award – with at least a final score of 90 points
Second Award – with at least a final score of 80 points
Third Award – with at least a final score of 70 points

If necessary, the mobility (criterion 2) score will be used as the tie-breaker. The jury may also decide to give out special awards for some entries.
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Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the YP Design Challenge – Portable Playground category!

Last December 5, 2008, the jury panel for Portable Playground selected six (6) finalists from twenty-five (25) eligible submissions and awarded three (3) Jury Awards. The jury was composed of Arch/EnP. Faith Varona of TAO-Pilipinas, architect and animator / film director Ellen Ramos, and artist-designer Robert Alejandro.

Jury Awards
(PhP 10,000 prize each entry)

Most Potentially Implementable Design
Ana Marie P. Abrilla
Team members: Annelyn B. Lacson, Lea Constantina S. Cruz
5th year BS Architecture students, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM)

Best in Mobility/Transportability
Nathaniel Sheridan Balauag
Team members: Tracy Joanna M. Abergas, Jerome A. Palting
3rd year BS Architecture students, Far Eastern University (FEU)
Adviser: Arch. Ma. Carmen Yatco

Best in Visual Appeal for Children
Phyll Patrick L. Seva
Team members: Christine Angela A. Oafallas, Ken Reandelar
3rd year BS Architecture students, Far Eastern University (FEU)
Adviser: Arch. Alpher De Vera

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The Jury Deliberation Report for Sustainable Shelter Category is now available for downloading. Here are some excerpts from the report:

Judging Criteria

Prior to the Jury Deliberation scheduled last November 10, 2008 at Room 101 of the University Hotel in UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City, the jury panel agreed that eligible entries will be judged on the following criteria and scoring weights:

Criterion 1: Clearly show use of sustainable design features and appropriate building technologies (25 points max.)

• energy efficiency
• disaster-resilient building design
• rainwater harvesting
• waste management

Criterion 2: Original and innovative (25 points max.)

• application of new knowledge, new application of existing knowledge, or the unique mix of existing and new knowledge

Criterion 3: Cost-effective (20 points max.)

• use of local materials and tools/equipment, labor and construction methods
• ease of maintenance and repair

Criterion 4: Environmentally-sound construction (20 points max.)

• choice of building materials
• environmental impact of the building design

Criterion 5: Socio-culturally sensitive and affordable (10 points max.)

• affordable (as defined by BP 220 Minimum Standards for Socialized Housing Implementing Rules and Regulations Section 4. C and RA7279 Urban Development and Housing Act Section 3.a)
• high possibility of being constructed by people’s organizations

The jury also applied the following rules in selecting eligible entries:

1. Late submissions on the date of the deadline (i.e. those received after 5:00pm of Oct.24) shall have point deductions from the entry’s total score. For every 30 minutes of late submittal, 1.0 point shall be deducted. For example, the if the entry was submitted at 6:45pm and garnered a total score of 83.75 points, 4.0 points will be deducted and its final score would be 79.75 points.
2. Entries submitted after the Oct. 24 deadline will be disqualified.
3. Entries that did not conduct the required community area visit will be automatically disqualified.
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TAO-Pilipinas is pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the YP Design Challenge – Sustainable Shelter category. The jury panel composed of Arch/EnP. Arlene Lusterio of TAO-Pilipinas, Arch/EnP. Dinky von Einsiedel of CONCEP Inc. and PIEP, and Engr. Ramby Nolido of RA Nolido Construction Corp., deliberated on November 10, 2008 and selected the winning entries from among 22 submissions.

Selection of winning entries were based on the following criteria: Sustainable Design Features (25%); Originality and Innovativeness (25%); Cost-effectiveness (20%); Environmentally-sound Construction (20%); and Socio-Cultural Sensitivity and Affordability (10%).

First Award (PhP 20,000 prize)
No First Place was awarded by the jury.

Second Award (PhP 12,000 prize each)
Second Place was shared by two entries.

Mark Cris Abarquez
Team members: Leonard Bryan T. Tecson, Johmar E. Beley
4th year BS Architecture students, Far Eastern University (FEU)
Adviser: Arch. Antonio C. De Vera

Jasmine M. Soriano
2008 BS Architecture graduate, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)

Third Award (PhP 8,000 prize)

Randy A. Amonoy
Team members: Jerome T. Dañas, Ildefonso M. Madiano Jr.
5th year BS Architecture students, Technological University of the Philippines (TUP)

Special Award for Innovation (PhP 5,000 prize)
Special Award was given by the jury for an entry that showed outstanding efforts
in specific aspects of the design proposal.

Alvin C. Trinidad
4th year BS Architecture student, University of the Philippines (UP)
Adviser: Arch. Nicolo Del Castillo

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Registration for the YP Design Challenge categories Portable Playground and Trash Transformation will be open until November 20, 2008. Submission period for entries for both categories is until November 28, 2008.

Those who have already joined the Sustainable Shelter category may also register for Portable Playground and Trash Transformation without having to conduct another community area visit.