In celebration of its 10th year in recognizing outstanding local architects, construction research firm BCI Asia Philippines raised the bar of its Top 10 Awards this year by not only acknowledging sustainable projects in green architecture, but also addressing the housing demands in the country.
Along with the annual award-giving body held last June 24 at Fairmont Hotel, Makati, the BCI Foundation launched a web-based construction market platform for the poor called the FairBuilding Network. It aims to aggregate projects for those who are in most need by reaching out to NGO (nongovernment organization), social housing and affordable housing developers, and other broad projects that should be financially supported.
“The FairBuilding network is a kind of marketplace where projects are benefiting the poor,” BCI Media Group CEO and founder Matthias Krups said. “It’s a first of its kind and a pioneer development.”
The FairBuilding project is supported by No One In Need Foundation Inc., Boysen Paint, Phinma Properties and some forerunners in the construction industry. It can be checked through its website, www.fairbuilding.org.
Biggest winner
Meanwhile, Asya Design Partner was declared biggest winner of the BCI Asia awards as it has been listed as one of the top architectural firms in the country for 10 straight years.
Asya Design principal and chair Albert Yu said they have been recognized probably because the company has long been dedicated to green architecture since then.
Yu said: “We as architects have to play a role of balancing everything so that we can build structures that are nature-oriented. We want the environment to work with us as well.”
Aside from Asya Design, other architects included in the Top 10 are Aidea Philippines Inc., Casas + Architects, Edward Co Tan + Architects, GF & Partners Architects Co., Jose Siao Ling & Associates, Pimentel Rodriguez Simbulan & Partners (PRSP), R. Villarosa Architects Partners & Associates, RVP Design & Development Consultants Inc. and Visionary Architecture.
The Top 10 Developers are as follows: Ayala Land Inc., Robinsons Land Corp., Megaworld Corp., Nuvoland Philippines Inc., Century Properties Group Inc., DMCI Homes, Federal Land, Filinvest Land Inc., Rockwell Land Inc. and SM Prime Holdings Inc.
The awards were based on how sustainable and environmentally conscious the firms were in conceptualizing their designs.
“A smaller project that has a higher green content may surpass a larger project with less or no green content,” said Dean Borg, BCI country manager.
Aside from the FairBuilding launch and awards night, there was a World Home Depot technical forum on the same day which kickstarted the whole-day event.