A BRIDGE as a traditional all-purpose hub.

The transformation of Manila’s urban waterways into dump sites and residential areas for informal settlers posed a challenge to 23 budding innovators from the country’s leading architecture schools. In response, they gathered to create a design solution that would hopefully address the issue.

“It is all about relationships,” noted De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Design and Arts (SDA) Environment Studies Cluster Associate Dean Architect Maria Cynthia Funk, who served as one of the guides. “When you throw something away, it means that you do not have a relationship with it anymore. But the truth is, whatever you throw does not go away, it just goes somewhere else.”

Funk elaborated that the residents’ decision to throw their garbage into the waterways reflects their lack of relationship with their surroundings. “The estero is currently the receptacle for the solid and water wastes of four cities in Metro Manila. We can ask everyone to do their part and help our communities to be its guardians,” Funk continued. “It’s a feat but we can start now.”

THE student innovators share their ideas.

The group was comprised of innovators Philip Nathan Jude Sy from the University of the Philippines Diliman; Marcelo Luteria, Al John Carl Ramos, and Francis Gester Fernandez from the Adamson University; Abigail Vinluan, Rovianne Santiago, Michael Angelo Reyes, Leslie Anne Vital, Hana Richelle Tan, Maria Julia Andrei Malicdem, Marielle Joy Villamayor, Oscar Kevin Castro and Jianne Libunao from the University of Santo Tomas; and Jon Russell Sy, Sebastian Francisco, Giuseppe Luigi Abcede, Katrina Ruiz, Louie Nathaniel Kiu, Noelle Alido, Eunice Miracle Clemente, Carla Andrea Rosario, Matthew Jonathan Gan and Liam Anthony R. Tangan from the DLS-CSB.

They were mentored by a panel of industry practitioners and educators including Bamboo Architecture Expert and Consultant Ar. Christian Salandanan, UP Architecture’s Ar. Gerard Joson, and Benilde’s Ar. Lyle La Madrid, Ar. Harry Serrano, Ar. Joel Deocaris, Ar. Cesar Concio III and Arnold Rañada.

The team took an intensive two-week Global Summer School (GSS) 2019 at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), a Barcelona-based center for research, education, production, and outreach to meet the challenges in the human habitability for the early 21st century, accredited by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC).

GSS, “an international platform defined by multi-scalar investigation on the implications of emergent techniques in planned environments,” is annually joined by various teams located in key cities around the world, referred to as nodes, with GSS 2019 participated in by Barcelona, Quito, Pune, New York, Budapest, Monterrey, Shanghai, Melbourne, Tehran, Beirut, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Dubai and Manila. The Manila Node explored advanced design and fabrication techniques through parametric software and digital fabrication tools. The architects-in-the making tackled the challenges in designing complex structures and how parametric software can help rationalize the construction process.

SIMULATING a solution to the estero problem.

WORKING with the young people in the community.

In their research, the group discovered that the estero has two additional parallel bridges that connect the residential area to the street. “One of the bridges is covered and people really stay there to hang out. The GSS students thought that if the residents really want to hang out at the bridge, why not make the space bigger?” Funk queried.

The students maximized their skills and came up with a prototype using bamboo and digitally fabricated bamboo connectors, a simulation of their desired solution — a large scale parametrically designed pavilion that will connect the two existing bridges together and will serve as a common ground where people can play, eat, and hang-out.

“The idea is that it establishes a space for the people to share,” Funk stated. “A well-designed public area would inspire our community to take care of their own surroundings. If this becomes what it ought to be, people will learn how to create relationships, build community and respect one another.”

With the help of plastic drums and 250 bamboo poles, the students were able to manually transform their design concept into one-fourths of the actual output and placed the base platform and the first segments above the waters.

The installation process also espoused the concept of modern-day bayanihan among the residents who wish to see change and inspired a group of out-of-school youths who are willing to help continue the project.

Now that the research is done and the design solution has taken shape, the team hopes that the respective planning offices and local government units, as well as the private sector, are encouraged to help in pushing through with the completion of the project.