Students introduce futuristic concepts, address climate realities

Young trailblazers from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) recently showcased their revolutionary ideas in the fields of architecture, product design and urbanism, which may contribute to building community-centric solutions and shaping a sustainable future.

Organized by the School of Environment and Design (SED), the first edition of the Benilde Architecture and Design Innovation Prize (BADIP) gathered groups of students from various programs to present groundbreaking concepts that reflect their creativity and address climate action.

“We’re hoping that this could spark some of your interests in interactions, design thinking and social design,” SED Dean architect Harvey Vasquez noted. “We wish that you may use this as a springboard to further develop your ideas afterwards, that this will not be the end, but the beginning of this kind of thinking and advocacy.”

The Island Heat-themed competition was held in partnership with visionary leader and benefactor of the Benilde HiFi Peter Garrucho Jr. 

The winner was After Hours: Pagsiga sa Suga by Team Jiro, a project which delves into the potential uses of piña fabric spun from pineapple leaf waste. The material functions as a shield from the harsh sun. It is a cooling device to boost the country’s shift to nighttime living. It is likewise a solar power tool which harvests and stores energy to illuminate busy night hours. 

Under the mentorship of architect Philippe Jiro Coronado, the winning group was composed of Kara Danielle Co from Industrial Design (ID), Reina Cruz and Eljin Ray Wagan from Multimedia Arts (MMA) and Robert Kervine Tan and Maia Martin from Architecture. 

Transient Tales by Team Enzo was hailed as the runner-up. It aims to incorporate intentionality and slowness into the urban infrastructure of Mandaluyong, which often prioritizes efficiency, fast traffic and rapid transit. The proposal is set to change how people experience the city — to offer orientation, safety and moments of rest through modular designs and recycled materials. 

Vince Rosales and Krystine Valenzuela from MMA, Christina Juliana Eugenio from ID and Keith Gorgonio and Hans Oliver Chua from Architecture comprised the team. They were under the guidance of faculty member Jose Lorenzo Raphael Belandres.  

Everyday Futures: Ephemeral Architectural Innovations for Human-Centered Tech-Enabled Living by Team Moses reimagines the modern city of Manila through systems which adapt and evolve. It includes Atmos, an inflatable adaptive pavilion with artificial intelligence-assisted architecture and kinetic flooring. It also incorporates Giga, a street-side device which turns used cooking oil into biodiesel for sustainable fuel use. 

This thesis by Architecture students Juan Pablo Nunag and Mikael Matthew Hilapo, wound up in the third place. The pair was advised by architect Moses Gabriel Fetalvero. 

The panel of esteemed jurors were urban anthropologist architect Leonido Gines Jr., educator architect Isola Tong and sustainability advocate architect Freddy Bautista. Benilde Architecture Program chairperson architect Ven Lawrence Quizon was likewise present during the event.