Stardust

With Global Warming in the forefront of all the issues today, it’s inevitable not to think that the earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, droughts and extreme temperatures we are experiencing nowadays are the impacts of what they call the Green House Effect.

And just like in the movie of Al Gore, knowing that the polar ice caps can melt and sea level can rise anytime, is really an inconvenient truth to know.

Faced with this dilemma that’s like a ticking time bomb, Hunter Douglas, the world market in window coverings and major manufacturer of architectural products, decided to raise people’s environmental awareness through its EcoArt, EcoBuild, EcoWatch: A Global Awareness design competition.

Last August 7, 2008, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ortigas, Hunter Douglas revealed the winners for their competition under the theme “EcoArt, EcoBuild, EcoWatch: A Global Awareness”.

President of Hunter Douglas Philippines Gigi Lapira explained that by using less energy and water during building construction and occupation, green buildings can actually lessen environmental footprint of both residential and commercial structures. Green buildings are structures that incorporate designs, technologies, and materials that minimize their environmental impact.

Architect Edgar Reformado, Chairman of Green Architecture Movement believes that Green architecture has a bright future here in the Philippines.

“We observe that in our forum, there are a great attendance of architectural students very much interested into the practice of the green architecture. That’s why in the future, we will have green architects, so there is a bright future for the green architecture,” Architect Reformado positively said.

After extensive deliberation, Hunter Douglas finally came up with the list of winners and new breed of green designers in three different categories.

For the residential category, Architect Albert Yu bagged the first prize with his Tagaytay Resthouse entry. Coming in is Kenneth Uy and Michael Pena for the 2nd and 3rd places respectively.

For the commercial design category, Architect Francis Xavier Sta. Romana won the top prize for his reimagined De La Salle Zobel Sports Pavilion. Albert Yu placed 2nd while Architect Jose Siao got the 3rd place.

Meanwhile, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila students Annelyn Lacson and Vavic dela Pasion placed first ahead of University of Santo Tomas’ Paul Gastrock, 2d runner up and University of the Philippines’ Kaithleen Irene Mojica and Nikol Bande, 3rd runner up, in the student design category.

The Excellence in Green Building award was given to Architect Francis Xavier Sta. Romana for his outstanding project concept that best represents Hunter Douglas’ ideals for Green buildings.

“Through the EcoArt, EcoBuild, EcoWatch competition awards competition, Hunter Douglas recognized the efforts of designers to create designs that champion the ideals of modern green buildings—and realizes the company’s vision of “Saving the Earth, one building at a time,” said Lapira.