The Rise of Mars

MARS is the name of our class in fourth year high school. For a long time my contact was only my best friend, Dondon, who stayed in Davao. Later, however, a friend in Washington DC found me in Friendster. Last summer, Dondon also arranged that I meet with one other former high school classmate. After some exchange of ideas we agreed to gather the rest of the guys for a reunion.

I created a Yahoo group for this purpose and we managed to enlist another. I was hoping to search all the social network sited in the internet (Multiply, Facebook, Friendster...) to find the rest. I also planned to visit their homes in Davao. Unfortunately I was not able to find time before summer break ended. Now that the semester's break is here, I renewed my plan.

I didn't have to do so much. One of the first members bumped into one of our batch mates while on a business trip in Makati. This guy happens to be in contact with several other guys. He gave me email addresses and cellphone numbers. The ripple effect has started... I was also contacted by another friend who found me in Friendster... Amazing!

I didn't know I can replicate what I did with my college batch. This group is now super organized with a monthly get-together and a system for communicating with each other. I'm now organizing a get-together this December for my high school batch. There are suggestions to include the other sections of the fourth year batch. It's going to be a lot of work but I guess it's worth a try.

What really prompted me to write this blog is an email I just received. It came from a classmate in grade school. He is now in the US. He tells me that he is in contact with several other classmates in grade school.... uh oh...

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I became the hinge for all these guys. Our family have stayed in the same house since I was in grade school. I also had the habit of bringing the whole class to our house for parties, sleepovers, or simply to hang out. Anyway, I better start organizing my search for grade school classmates as well... Good luck to me... =)

My NCA Chronicle

The National Conference of Architects started a day early for me. Two of my companions in the graduate studies, Jun and Agnes, flew in before Day O. We actually had it all planned. Our other companion, Connie, arranged for us to stay overnight in Chemas Resort in Samal Island. Another part of this crazy group is Karl but he could not come early so he missed our first day escapades.

From the airport, Jun and Agnes went to Poblacion Restaurant behind Victoria Plaza. We all met there for breakfast. We then went to Connie's office for last minute preparations. To get to Chemas, we had to take a boat inside the Waterfront Hotel, one of Davao's first class hotels. Chemas is a great place to relax. Anyone going to Davao should include this place in their agenda. We also managed to get a good bargain on some pearl jewelries. Connie was attending a seminar on hospital design so she couldn't join us during the day.She joined us during dinner time and stayed overnight. She brought her car along.

We were supposed to leave early the following day but Connie's car got stuck in the mud just outside the gate of the resort. With the help of the locals, we managed to get the car free after almost an hour. It was my first time to use the barge to cross the sea between Samal Island and the city. Connie had to rush to her hospital design seminar so after we checked in our hotel I brought Jun and Agnes to a walking tour of the city. Jun and Agnes asked two of their friends, Randell and Ces,  to tag along. We first went to People's Park, then walked to the City Hall and Cathedral. I then brought them to Aldevinco where native products were sold. We ended in Gaisano Mall to take lunch and buy some toiletries and needed items.

Most of the delegates have arrived. Karl arrived around lunch time but we didn't go out again until dinner time. This time, Connie had finished the seminar so she brought us to Jack's Ridge. We then went to Studio Onnie, a comedy bar in Torres Street. Connie's husband, Eming, requested for his favorite performance which we really enjoyed a lot. Karl and I were thinking of bringing these comedians to Cebu for one of UAP's events.

The following day was the conference proper so we stayed in the hotel all the time. What is memorable on this day is the announcement that the Mayor had signed an Administrative Order enforcing the RA9266. The vice-mayor also announced that they are working on the paper works to set up a City Architect's Office in Davao! Before we broke up in the evening, our group had a lot of fun during the raffles especially because Agnes won a box of pomelo.

For the second day of the conference, we decided to sign up for the eco-tour. It was a wise decision. We first went to the Philippine Eagle Preservatory, then to the Malagos gardens where we watched a very entertaining bird show. We had our lunch in Malagos gardens. Across it is the Puentespina gardens, famous for their orchids and other ornamental plants. Our last stop was the crocodile farm. After the closing ceremonies in the hotel, we all went back to the Crocodile Farm for the Fellowship Night. It was fun! It was overflowing with beer as well! Davies was also very generous with their raffle prizes. We were very happy when someone from our group won the HongKong trip for two!

Agnes, Karl and Jun left the following day. Their flight was at 9:20am. After seeing them off my attention was diverted to a group of friends who were not due to leave until 4:40pm. These guys were part of our basketball team for the sports fest so they didn't get a chance to tour around Davao. I brought them to Aldevinco and the fruit stands so they can buy their "pasalubongs", then toured them to People's Park. We then ate in Whaw. I didn't know that there was such a thing as a "tuna chicharon" until one of the guys bought some for "pasalubong".

When they left for the airport I headed home as well. I spent the rest of the day setting up the internet connection in the house so I can get in touch with everyone else.

This is the last NCA. Area assemblies will replace it starting next year. I can not wait for another opportunity like this one to have fun with friends again.

Presenting.... !

I was the lone audience during the presentation of project outputs of the graduate students taking up urban heritage and conservation. Other than supporting my friends who were presenting that time, my other intention was to observe and give suggestions regarding the improvement of the program.

My observations can be categorized into three areas: presentation, methodology, and analysis. I realized that I have so much to tell about each area so I decided to deal with them in different write ups. This blog deals only with the first area: presentations.

I have always emphasized the importance of doing research but now I realized that students should also be trained to present their research. Just as we try hard to sell objects, we should also learn to sell our ideas. What use is a brilliant idea if it only ends up in a folder or a filing cabinet?

Using presentation software like Microsoft PowerPoint is a great help but this should be treated like cue cards to guide the presenter. I always feel sleepy every time the presenter writes all his script on the slides then reads them verbatim! What the heck - have they never heard of "bullet points"? The presenter is simply sending the message that he is not prepared.

Another observation is the need to go direct to the point. Many students get nervous when presenting their report so I expect them to make it as short as possible. Unfortunately for them (and for us audience) the tendency is to drag the presentation by roaming around the bush. The best is just to state the problem, the process for solving the problem, then the solution (see figure 1). What normally happens is that the problem is not clearly defined, then comes a winding discussion of topics remotely related to the problem, then suddenly the solution is presented out of nowhere (see figure 2).

Figure 1

Figure 2

There is also the need to know when to talk, and when not to talk. Sometimes the panelist prefers that the presenters do not reply to his comments. When presenting, common sense is a great ally. Unfortunately, common sense does not work if the presenter is tired or sleepy. This is why I always advise students never to cram the night before presentations. They can answer better with common sense than with memorized items (which they have the tendency to forget).

I guess these are the basic points to bear in mind when presenting, at least from what I observed in the presentation...

Research vs. Design

The graduate students who submitted their thesis proposals this semester were advised to revise their work and thus were given more time to work on it. The main problem: their proposals were on "design" and not on "research."

This development supported my observations regarding the undergraduate thesis program of the University of San Carlos (USC) and that of the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT). I heard many claims that the CIT thesis is better than USC. What bothered me was that the claims were made by USC students. Were the claims based on how the thesis programs were run or on content?

After a series of interviews I concluded that the CIT thesis is not a "thesis" per se but a major project. As a major project most requirements are technical (actual lot descriptions, financial study, construction details, etc.). These requirements are the main reason why USC students consider CIT thesis better. They do not find these requirements in the USC thesis program.

I always tell students that in a thesis what you are actually doing is to prove a point. You ask a question, hypothesize, then prove or disprove your hypothesis. This is why a proposal to design a facility can not be considered a Design Thesis. In USC, proposals like these are referred to as "plates." This is why it is very common to hear panelists say that the thesis being presented is "like a plate."

Some possible Design Thesis would be:

• A study of the applicability of a particular Design theory on a particular project
• Finding the causes of success or failure of an architectural project
• Evaluating a proposed architectural project as to compatibility with its site or context
• Predicting trends and patterns in design or user behavior

Unfortunately the distinction between research and design is not yet clear to majority of both faculty and students of USC. It is not surprising since most architects don't engage in research. This is why I proposed that the bias for research become a distinctive mark of USC products. This, however, still has a long way to go. (By the way, I sent a copy of my suggestions for the Vision/ Mission of the USC CAFA-AD to the dean and the chairman [see blog]. I'm just waiting for feedback from any of them.)

So, does this mean that the CIT thesis is not at par with USC's? Can we now consider it as having lower standard? Certainly NOT! When we designed the graduate program of USC CAFA, the original intent was to have two options: thesis or major project. These two are at the same level. They have the same level of difficulty. They only differ in approach. It is more fitting to refer to them as different "categories" rather than "levels". The latter seems to connote that one is above the other.

During the meeting with the coordinators of the graduate thesis program and the students, when the decision to postpone the proposal hearing was explained, I was very happy. The discipline for research is starting to take root. I just hope that everyone learns to appreciate it.

A Vision for USC CAFA-AD

Background

For those who are not familiar with the acronym, USC CAFA-AD stands for University of San Carlos - College of Architecture, Architecture Department (whew!). The "AD" is not part of the official acronym, but I had to add it since this blog is about the Architecture Department.

Our chairman asked the faculty to share their ideas to help craft the vision and mission statement of the department. He made the request two months ago and there were a couple who submitted "something." One shared a write up on what should be in a mission/vision statement, the other shared the mission/vision statement of another school to serve as example (or to be copied?).

The truth is, the topic had been on my mind since college years (duh!). People were comparing USC with CIT then. I remember arriving school at 6am and decided to make use of my time by thinking about what could be USC's cutting edge. A friend had suggested that I bring out a pen and paper if I go into this "mode", so I did. When the school bell rang at 7:45am I looked at my paper and saw the following words: RESEARCH, URBAN DESIGN.

The Vision of Research

The department should be known for a research-based process in design. It does not need to be an innovator, it does not need to be set up as an R&D institution, although its doors are wide opened to innovation. The discipline of research, however, must be instilled in each one, including the undergraduate students. This serves as the mark of the department, its way of doing things.

The Mission of Urban Design

The department should be known and respected for a particular field. It should, in fact, become an authority recognized especially by the government, not only locally but nationally. It can specialize in urban design with a bias in creating sustainable communities and a deep respect for heritage.

The Statement

The official vision/mission statement can be: A research-based design institution with a deep respect for heritage and committed to building sustainable communities.

Rationale

The resources in the department right now seem to favor this proposed vision and mission. We have architects who are experts in urban planning, heritage conservation, landscape architecture and related fields. We have also established three units: the Institute of Planning and Design, the Heritage Studio, and the Architecture Computer Center (for GIS, CAD/CAM, Statistics). There is also the graduate program, as well as the undergraduate thesis program. Finally, there is the facility - a new building thus open to any configuration. We can also add the open mindedness of the faculty members as well as their influence in social circles and the government.

Interior Design

Research discipline, respect for heritage and sustainable practices are also compatible with the Interior Design program which now falls under the Architecture Department. In fact, it is good to emphasize that these concerns are not confined to the public realm.

Caveat

This is not official. These are just my thoughts. I will try to send this to the chairman for his consideration. For all I know, the faculty might throw it out of the window... but then again, they might not.

Sustainable South Bronx

http://www.ssbx.org/staff.html
Founded in 2001 by life-long South Bronx resident, Dr. Majora Carter, SSBx addresses land-use, energy, transportation, water & waste policy, and education to advance the environmental and economic rebirth of the South Bronx, and inspire solutions in areas like it across the nation and around the world.

Sundance Channel : Architecture School

http://www.sundancechannel.com/architecture-school/#
The six-part series from creators Michael Selditch and Stan Bertheaud follows a group of students at Tulane University's prestigious School of Architecture as they submit competing designs for an affordable home in Katrina-battered New Orleans. The stakes are high: the winning model will be built during the course of the school year and put up for sale, enabling one fledgling architect to begin his or her career with a high-profile splash.

Open Architecture Network : Improving living standards through collaborative design.

http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org/
The Open Architecture Network is an online, open source community dedicated to improving living conditions through innovative and sustainable design.

Technicalities... and a Piece of my Mind!

I had to delete a blog upon a request. It has become a bit controversial, it seems. I am not able to follow all the discussions since most of those who posted deleted their posts after some time.

There is a valid point raised regarding technicalities. It is true that my blog offers a logical explanation on how thesis presentations with very few sheets manage to make a passing grade, but it is a different story when a policy of minimum number of sheets exists. I realized though that it is not necessary to go into this detail because I saw a very clear flaw in this policy. The greatest weakness is the fact that the policy is not written down. As such, it is nothing but hearsay no matter how loudly we argue for or against it.

I post these blogs so everyone can make an intellectual discussion on the issues at hand. This is one way for the system to improve. Without these dynamics, if everyone prefers just to backstab and argue "ad hominem" (taking things personally), the faulty system continues as well as the grumblings.

We're on a higher level here. Those who are not mature enough (emotionally or intellectually) should refrain from joining in the fray.

Comes the Rain

At 3pm today I left my apartment to go to school. It's the final exam week and today, Monday, is supposed to be a free day. The thesis coordinators, however, decided to go ahead with their scheduled deliberation for thesis proposals. Unfortunately for me, one of the group I am advising is scheduled today. Most of the advisers don't bother to join the deliberation but I decided to support the coordinator's policy as well as support the students I am advising.

Since I live near the school, I walked. Along the way some students called me and we decided to have snacks together. I was quite early so I took my time. As the first group of students left another group arrived. We chatted leisurely. One of the students asked me about my plan to go to Singapore. I was surprised that she knew. She said that one of the guys I hang out with lately told her. The guy told her that they should make full use of me while I have not left for Singapore yet... The word he used was actually "abuse"....

The story of my life....

I pondered long and hard... and decided to let go... let go of my friendship with students... I have nothing more to say about it...

Vertical Landscapes?

Recently I posted an article from the TreeHugger website which featured buildings covered with plants. There were a lot of people who expressed interest in it, at least I received many feedback in school. Most of them asked about the types of plants that can be used here in the Philippines. There were also those who asked about any projects in the Philippines that has these features.

I passed the questions to a friend who is an advocate of Permaculture. Unfortunately he has no answers for me yet. He suggests that we simply observe what types of plants grow on walls and make cuttings.

His suggestion made me wonder whether landscape architects and LA students consider green walls as part of their practice. Is there such a thing as a "vertical landscaping"? How convenient it would be for our landscape department in school to take on the task of cataloguing all the plants that can be used for this purpose.

The best way is to throw this idea to our graduate students specializing in landscape design.... a possible thesis?.... hmmm...

CAFA Circus

CAFA is really turning out to be a circus. There are just too many colorful characters around... not to mention the fancy appearances.... The gay community has flourished, and has become very expressive. One of them even comes to school with a fancy head band which he changes everyday. Everyone else is simply... comfortable.

A couple of days ago, while I was busy going around the building I suddenly realized something which made me stop in the middle of CAFA's lobby... The freshmen has taken over the whole building! Everywhere I look they're there. They all feel very comfortable. No inhibitions. High profile.... a stark contrast to the higher years.

When we transferred to the new building five years ago I wondered what culture would emerge in CAFA. There are cultures which can be institutionalized as initiated from the top. There are those that simply formed out of everyday activities and concerns. On the first part, I took part in defining the culture that CAFA should take, but its success will depend on the other part. Together they will form the unique character of CAFA which the students will unconsciously carry with them when they leave. The character that will mark them as USC-CAFA and which will consequently make (or break) the image of the college.

So far, the process has been slow, as expected. For now what has emerged is a circus. It will mutate into something else after some time. In my estimation, the batch of first year students now will be the trailblazers.

Nights in School

This week I spent three nights in school to accompany a group of fourth year students who worked on their plates. The college allows the students to work overnight provided that they process the necessary permit forms and that a faculty member accompanies them.

I'm not the design teacher of these students but I happen to be the convenient choice. Aside from the fact that I am single, I also live just across the school. In fact, I seem to be the only choice for this role... uh oh...

Anyway, after three nights of sleeping on chairs and tables I should be happy to go back to my bedroom. Unfortunately, the painters have started to work on my bedroom so I was forced to stay in the living room until they finish. That means sleeping on our bamboo sofa... Aside from lacking sleep, my muscles are really feeling weird... Lately my colleagues and friends have spotted me falling asleep anywhere in the campus. I hope no one thought of taking pictures...

Aaah... I miss my bed... zzzzzz....

Somebody introduced me to the green wall technology and I was very attracted to the idea. I'm now thinking of putting a green cover on a small commercial building my family owns in Davao. When I shared this idea to my parents they couldn't understand what I wanted to achieve. They thought everything was weird. Oh well, I'll have to educate them very slowly on this aspect. It's hard to teach old dogs new tricks.
The article below came from TreeHugger. I just want to share them with everyone. Happy reading! =)
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11 Buildings Wrapped in Gorgeous Green and Living Walls

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.24.08

Design & Architecture

Flower Tower by Edouard François
Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “A doctor can bury his mistakes, but an architect can only advise his clients to plant vines.” It turns out that his suggestion is also a good idea for creating handsome buildings. And who wants to hide an investment in green away on the roof when you can hang it out for everyone to see?
Vertical gardens reduce cooling loads in summer by shading buildings; this “blanket effect” also cuts heating loads in winter, with the green layer acting as extra insulation. As the plants grow, they trap carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, and soak up such pollutants as lead and cadmium. Green walls absorb noise; help reduce the heat island effect, keeping cities cooler; and provide a habitat or insects and spiders, which in turn feed birds and bats. And, as Wright noted, these interventions can hide a lot of ugly buildings. (Read article in Azure on Green Walls)


Green Façades by Edouard François
Randy Sharp of Vancouver's Sharp and Diamond describes two kinds of green walls: green facades, where a trellis structure is attached to the ground, and living walls, where the wall becomes the growing medium.
Edouard François is the master of the green façade, saying "'Man can live solely within architecture. He needs a complex building which must be decorated. Only in this way can he be happy.' Indeed, in François' view, working with nature offers a welcome complexity: 'Watch a tree. It has a thousand branches, it moves, grows, changes colour!' Green facades are much simpler as they are planted in the ground and do not need elaborate watering systems.
More on Living Green Facades from Edouard François

Edouard François is also working on Eden Bio, featuring 100 terraced units set within dense organic gardens, with stairways enclosed in greenery. ::Eden Bio by Edouard François

Sharp and Diamond's Vancouver Aquarium
Randy Sharp of Sharp & Diamond, designed the Vancouver Aquarium’s 50-square-metre green wall of polypropylene modules filled with wildflowers, ferns and ground covers. It has a modular grid of wall panels, a soil or felt growing medium, and irrigation and nutrient-delivery system and a support structure; these are the virtually universal features of a living wall. That isn't a lot to grow on, but Sharp notes that there are many native plants that cling to rocks and shallow soils and survive harsh winters. The trick is to blow all of the water out of the system before it freezes, and the plants go dormant. More on Randy Sharp's Award-winning Vancouver Aquarium wall: 2008 Award-Winning Green Roofs and Walls

Patrick Blanc and Le Mur Végétal
But the reigning king of the living wall is Patrick Blanc. He invented a version that he calls Le Mur Végétal, or Plant Wall, a dense sheet of vegetation that can grow against any surface, or even in midair. It works by doing away entirely with dirt, instead growing plants hydroponically in felt pockets attached to a rigid plastic backing. His most famous is at the Quai Branley Museum; Read more at A Really Green Building: Quai Branley Office Wing

Blanc also built a big wall at Madrid's newly opened CaixaForum museum. It is 24 metres high and takes up one wall of the square in front of the building. It has 15,000 plants of 250 different species and has become an instant drawing card to the area. Read more at Madrid Gets a Vertical Garden Too

He is even working on a boat design with Dutch architect Anne Hotrop. "The effect of the plants will be double. First, they will make the houses look like green hills floating on the water. This underscores the idea of the landscape approach. Second, the plants produce oxygen, compensating for the CO2 produced when the houses are manufactured." More on Floating Homes Made From Coffee Cups with Green Walls

Ann Demeulemeester's Store in Seoul by Mass Studies
Designed by Korean-based architecture firm Mass Studies, this four-level structure is a grassy oasis of nature in an otherwise gray and dense city. The perennials (clover, says one source) are planted into something Mass Studies bills a "geo-textile." According to Pavingexpert.com, these are "woven, non-woven or knitted, permeable sheets, usually, but not exclusively, non-biodegradable." More at Undulating Living Facade at Seoul Shop

Oulu by Evangeline Dennie
Named for the cultural epicenter of northern Finland, Oulu adds a shock of green to Williamsburg's bricks and asphalt. Unlike the other bars in the torrent that's hit the neighborhood, Oulu features a living facade and a thoroughly green design. More at Interview: Oulu's Designer, Evangeline Dennie

Topiade by Gas Design Group for Louis Vuitton
Gas Design Group, made up of Gregory Polleta and Sung Yang, with Clino Castelli, have designed Topiade, an "overlay facade," for existing Louis Vuitton stores.
It appears to be a new kind of intermixing of living walls with topiary. This is wonderful because everything Louis Vuitton does gets knocked off instantly. Soon all of Canal Street in New York, Spadina Avenue in Toronto, countless cheap shopping streets around the world will sport green living facades. More at Topiade by Gas Design Group for Louis Vuitton

Sao Paulo Office Building With Green Walls by Triptyque
Triptyque has built an office building in Sao Paulo that proudly wears its services on the exterior with a very industrial aesthetic, but is also full of planted "pores", complete with a misting system. They write:
"Like a living body, the building breathes, sweats and modifies itself, transcending its inertia. The walls are thick and covered externally by a vegetal layer that works like the skin of the structure. This dense wall is made of an organic concrete that has pores, where several plant species grow, giving the facades a unique look." More at Sao Paulo Office Building With Green Walls by Triptyque

Parabienta Green Wall from Shimizu
Shimizu, one of Japan's great construction dynasties with Minoru Industries, has developed a rather interesting one that looks good and seems relatively affordable at 80,000 yen per square metre, about 80 bucks per square foot. This "wall surface afforestation system" (parabienta) is light, can be designed in different patterns and grids, and cools the building significantly. More at Parabienta Green Wall from Shimizu

Living walls clean the air, humidify and provide oxygen. ELT, noted before for their exterior living walls and roofs, has introduced pre-packaged sets of systems so that you can grow your own. ELT Indoor Living Wall Kits

TreeHugger just can’t get enough of verdant architecture, whether it’s green roofs from Chicago to China, or living walls. However while we’ve been concentrating on greening the exterior surfaces of buildings, the German company Indoor Landscaping have taken their grass inside. They describe their work as ‘a connection between man, enclosed spaces and open nature... Nature should become tangible for people even within buildings, our plants change with the seasons, they age within the architecture enhanced in character and charm. More at Indoor Landscaping – Growing Green Inside

Grass Your Wall, by Ustatic
How about a green air-purifying grass wall in your apartment? Believe it or not, it’s possible without having a mess thank to these grass panels from Argentinean company Ustatic. The “Wall Grass” is a system of grass rectangular panels, which function with a structural substrate, a humidity retainer substrate with small conducts that warrantee the homogeneous distribution of water in the entire surface, and a basement formed by the grass’ roots, which add support. More at Grass Your Wall, by Ustatic