Lafarge, U.P. spur initiatives for sustainable low-cost housing designs

THE private sector and academe have taken steps to ensure that housing and building designs in the years to come will be Filipino showcases in sustainable development.

The University of the Philippines College of Architecture Foundation for the Built Environment Inc., represented by its chairman Nathaniel von Einsedel, UP College of Architecture Dean Jose Danilo Silvestre and Lafarge Cement Services Philippines Inc. (LCSPI), represented by its president Samir Cairae, forged an agreement to set in motion a way of making future architects internalize green practices in building and home designs. Under the memorandum of agreement, the foundation will hold an open-design competition that will welcome entries on two categories: (1) professional, which combines a team of architect and engineer, and (2) student. The UP College of Architecture will work with the foundation in formulating and implementing the competition.

Winning designs and subsequent construction of the prototypes will be promoted as the template specifically designed for low-cost housing projects in the coming years.

As the exclusive sponsor of the project, LCSPI will be providing the cash prizes and cover other cost related to staging the competition, advertising and promotions of the event and post documentation of the competition.

A postcompetition monograph to be produced by the UPCA faculty will subsequently provide a modern builder’s guide to sustainable home-building.

Forming part of the celebration of the UP Centennial, this effort underscores UPCA’s determined commitment to develop and promote environmentally sustainable architecture in the Philippines.

AT the MOA-signing are (from left) Lafarge VP Renato Sunico, Prof. Bronne Dytoc, UPCA building science laboratory head; UPCA dean Danilo Silvestre, UPCA environmental architecture lab head Prof. Nicolo del Castillo and Lafarge CEO Samir Cairae.

Cairae said that Lafarge views construction as an integrated process and its relationship with architects starts as early as the architect’s plans and transcends the technical and business framework between manufacturer and project manager.

To ensure a straightforward approach, an architect specializing in sustainable construction  is a permanent member of  Lafarge’s stakeholder panel which takes a critical view of Lafarge’s approach to sustainable development, as well as help develop an even more innovative and progressive approach to its business. In 2006 Lafarge became the only company in the construction-materials sector to be listed on the 2006 “100 Global Most Sustainable Corporations in the World.”

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Lafarge, U.P. spur initiatives for sustainable low-cost housing designs

THE private sector and academe have taken steps to ensure that housing and building designs in the years to come will be Filipino showcases in sustainable development.