AYDA2020: Excellence despite the pandemic

by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 5, 2021 | Business

The COVID-19 pandemic did not prove to be a barrier to excellence in this year’s submissions to the Asia Young Designer 2020 (AYDA2020) competition.  If anything, it may have even helped the students in coming up with innovative and empathic designs.

The theme for this year is FORWARD: HUMAN-CENTRED DESIGN.  It reflects the need for designers to provide practical and socially conscious design solutions for a rapidly growing population in a globalized world.  It encourages our students to create designs that transcend beauty – designs that also respond and empathize with the needs of the humans the spaces are being designed for.

More than 400 entries were received this year and so many designs were so inspiring that our judges had such difficulty trimming them down.  After reviewing all the boards and design statements and much discussion, they were able to choose the top 10 in Architecture and Interior Design.

AYDA2020 Panel of Judges

Every year, notables in the Architecture and Interior Design industry are brought together to assess the works of our talented students and to award the prize and internship opportunities.  Here are our judges for AYDA2020:

In Architecture:

1. Ar. Leo Pariñas, President & CEO of LPPA Design Group (Head Judge)
2. Ar. Boon Che Wee, Director at GRA Architects Malaysia
3. Ar. Ana Mangalino-Ling, Partner & Associate at JSLA Architects
4. Ar. Nina Bailon-Arce, Partner at Arce-Bailon-Arce Architects
5. Ar. Ma. Benita Regala, Department Manager at Housing Technology Development Office National Housing Authority
6. Ar. Eduardo Casares, UAP Chairman Committee on Commissions
7. Ar. Renato Heray, UAP National President and Owner of RAH Architecture and Landscape Corporation
8. Ar. Richard Garcia, Vice President of Visionarch

In Interior Design:

1. IDr. Cara Marcelo, Founder of CMM Interior Design and Consultancy (Head Judge)
2. IDr. Chat Fores, Founder of Chat Fores Design Studio
3. IDr. Fendarie Su, Founder of Santa Fe Interior Architecture SDH BHD
4. IDr. Cynthia Almario, founder of Atelier Almario
5. IDr. Ivy Almario, founders of Atelier Almario
6. IDr. Michael Pizarro, Founder of Michael Pizarro Interior Design

Architecture Top 10

BALSAHAN by Joana Marie L. Ramirez of Mapua University

Capipiza Fish port is already the ‘known’ fish port in Tanza Cavite, which is far from the facilities of Navotas Fishport the Countries’ premier fish port of the Philippines. The income level of this community is lower than many other groups engage in the urbanized cities. Also, in many cases, these people are below the poverty line. The income annually depends only on the seasonality of fishing. The earnings are distributed in an uneven pattern, which often inhibits savings and leads to indebtedness.

To address the problem in line with architecture, the fish port will be designed which will help them not only to provide additional income sources, rather to function as a sustainable market too.

COMM[UNITY] by Kim Russel Manjares of Lyceum Of The Philippines University – Cavite

The project “COMM[UNITY]” is designed to act as a means of sensing challenges and problems faced in the urban landscape by creating a space that promotes creativity and innovation using street culture as a bridge to unite the people. Street culture transcends social classes, communities, cities, and even borders.

This gives it the unique ability to fill in the gaps by leveraging diversity thus creating equal opportunities.

ECOPOD by Reyanne April P. Cepriano of Bulacan State University

In response to the current pandemic, Ecopod was designed to provide a sustainable alternative additional educational space to schools in need and to enhance existing opportunities for temporary classrooms, providing a temporary space that is genuinely intended for teaching and learning which can be built alongside existing schools, in parking lots, or any area available.

Ecopod is a combination of the word “eco” which means not harming the environment and “pod” which is another term for the small social bubble. Ecopod is a sustainable structure that is designed for smaller groups to limit interactions and practice social distancing inside a room.

ESKINITA by Yson Karl M. Dañez of Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Derived from the words eskinita meaning “alley” and kita or “profit”, the project aims to create a centralized street market unit by taking advantage of the space above the road. It aims to give a platform for street vendors and blooming small businesses to grow especially amidst this pandemic.

ESTERO RECYCLING HUB by Napoleon Marion Clarke F. Mui of the University of Santo Tomas

The community of Estero dela Reina consists of informal settlers that have no proper means of disposing of their waste. Some are seldom visited by garbage collectors due to the fact that they are not considered as legal residents, hence adding to the pollution of the waterways. Consequently, they are forcibly trying to be relocated which can threaten their already existing culture along those canals.  The recycling hub aims to provide both a sustainable solution for their living problems as well as be a structure that relates to their existing bond which is the kanto culture.

The concept for this project is taken from the existing conditions that are present in their community: informalities and random arrangements that make them socialize with one another. One of the things that makes people participate more is by making them comfortable through the familiarity with the informal environment that they are already used to.

GREEN ON GRID: THE TRIANGLE HOMES by Dhennies Rivas of Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology

The triangle homes are homes which means a place of emotional needs, like family and relationships that everyone can build up. Home and house are different from each other, house is a place, home is we can feel loved.

The simple idealization of what the human needs are one of the keys for the structure to be possible. How it can bring the on-grid to off-grid? The idea for the simple design is an off-grid. The location of the design is an on-grid.

HU-MANGROVES PROJECT by John Briggs H. Gime of Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute Of Science And Technology

Hu-mangrove project is a prototyped floating structure that grows and expands its numbers, creating a self-sustaining community as time passes by. Each floating pod will cater to up to 20 to 30 family dwellers. It has mixed-use spaces for living, working, and livelihood activities. The project has modular types of unit that depends on the number of families.

These units will suit and fit the different cultures and lifestyles of every family of the neighborhoods. The community has a flexible platform at the center that can convert into different spaces depending on what the community needs, which serve as social, recreational, working, educational, and commercial use.

PROJECT N.O.A.H. by Erol Kim Mandocdoc of Batangas State University

Project N.O.A.H. (Nurturing New Onset of Architecture for Humanity) will give them the new concept of living in the future. The idea of the whole project came from the famous Bible story of NOAH’s Ark that in disasters such as storms and floods, Lives had been saved by building an ark. Evolving the concept from the Bible’s story, I have come up looking forward to what our future can provide.

SILONG by Paul John A. Jandoc of the University of Baguio

Silong is a regenerative development that represents “pag-asa” or hope. Inspired by the sunrise as a symbol of longing, the development is full of bright, vibrant, and natural colors also of bamboo, the main building material used.  The overall idea is to strengthen the community bubble and to find ways for the community to commune and interact, not only with each other but more especially with nature.

Silong is intended to be a shelter, whether a housing facility, an evacuation center, or a place of activity. Ultimately, it is meant to be a continuous experience between the natural and the built environment, eliminating the notion of boundaries.

THE CUBE: REHABILITATION OF DIVISORIA by Nikko S. Regalado of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

Creating a new place to cater to Divisoria vendors and people with no class barriers, a platform that welcomes people from different backgrounds to discover and to interact while reducing carbon dioxide emissions using algae.

The Cube embraces informality as it encourages foot traffic bringing more vibrancy to our city and encourages our urban setting to become a more people-oriented and more walkable city. Treating vendors as people, not problems by providing a dignified space by proper planning.

Interior Design Top 10

BAGASSE MOUNTAIN RESORT by Margaret Therese S. Hagad of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

Bagasse Mountain Resort is a sanctuary of wilderness and wellness in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, Philippines. The resort explores the relationship of neuroscience and interior design to give emphasis on spatial memory to create sustainable, corporeal, and human-centered design considerations.

Starting from this perspective, a reflection is proposed on how memory as a tool and measure of human knowledge can offer solutions to problems in sustainability and hospitality.

BAKHAWAN by Ryan Japhet A. Gablines of the University of San Carlos

The concept takes inspiration from the reverberation of a Badjao’s tambol. With each tap is a call that we need to listen to and channel it through spaces. From circular forms, the design was morphed by connecting the circular spaces with organic pathways, which reflects the rich culture of the Badjao and the sea.

The circle which symbolizes the community also resembles wholeness and unity (Adams, 2013). Surrounding the entire space are growing mangroves, which serve both as a home for marine ecosystems and a natural barrier against strong tidal waves (Lugo & Snedaker,1974).

COMPLEJO DE PLAZA by Jazel Lynn P. Ong of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

As buildings continue to rise, public spaces such as plazas are reduced and neglected. Considering the high land values and bid rents of the plaza complex, decision-makers and real estate developers increasingly try to fill the complex with business establishments, but in the process, they also try to destroy, remodel and block the landmarks surrounding it to maximize land use.

Complejo de Plaza is about incorporating and considering the important components of an urban open space that can improve the social community and provides a significant contribution to the economy and environment.

KABAGTAO by James Marie Kyle O. Colina of the University of San Carlos – Cebu

Kabagtao is a new rise of a developing community that is for the people who reside near the bodies of water. It is derived from three Bisaya words, namely: “Kabag-ohan” which is new, “Lutaw” for floating, and “Tao” for human beings.

A combination of three concepts and resulting in a new approach that is built within the currents which mainly is for the purpose of a new future civilization.

MEMORABILIA by Jazzy Caroline Q. Kho of the University of Santo Tomas

Memorabilia, coming from the Latin word memorabilis, is an English term that means “matters or events worthy to be remembered”. Memorabilia, located in Pampanga, Philippines, is a memory care facility for people who have Alzheimer’s disease. It aims an eco-friendly insight for the patients to feel.

The design is a domesticated environment that recreates a friendly Filipino neighborhood to help treat or ease the patients’ memory loss. The concept of this design is to give off a village type aura where each patient lives in a calming Filipino neighborhood, whilst the theme of these houses are patterned to when these patients were in their teenage years.

PARAISO: THE ECO-SITIO by Renzo V. Montenegro of the University of San Carlos

Paraiso: The Eco Sitio aims to integrate members of the informal waste sector formally into the waste management system and provide them with socially inclusive opportunities. It also aims to empower them and provide them with income improvement which can also accompany the developing waste sector in the country by establishing recycling and material recovery facilities.

This project will help acknowledge the informal waste sectors’ contributions and provide proper ranks for them as they have the capacity to improve and develop our waste management system. This will not only help alleviate them out of the poverty line but also help with the environmental crisis in the country.

PIERIDAE CANCER CARE CENTER by Alyssa Len A. Rodriguez of the University of Santo Tomas

It is proven how cancer diagnosis could provoke an existential crisis and a number of difficult emotions including anxiety, fragility, fear, and disconnection. The concept of the Pieridae Cancer Care Center provides a blueprint that aims to alleviate the death sentence, by negating the negative effect of receiving one.

The center avoids tropes of institutional or hospitality interiors and instead focuses on a sense of domesticity that is flexible enough to accommodate people of all ages, gender, and backgrounds. The center, in the overall aspect, highly democratizes the luxury of comfort. Located within the premises of PCSI (Philippine Cancer Society Inc.) and with the help of other local cancer support organizations, the center will respond to the need for cancer caring centers in the Philippines.

PUNTA SALAG: SILOY ECO-RESERVE by Ynes Sofia A. Manguerra of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

Punta Salag is a combination of 2 terms that stem from some of the biggest influences of the Filipino roots. “Punta”- a Spanish term for “Point”, and “Salag”- a Cebuano term for “Nest”; when combined together, the elegant phrase translates to “Point Nest”- creating the name “Punta Salag”.

Punta Salag is an eco-reserve that is located in the small town of Alcoy, Cebu. The municipality is home to one of the most unrecognized yet beautiful birds that are endemic to the island of Cebu, the Black Shama. Locally, the bird is referred to as the Siloy.

PUYANAN by Lauren Ghenrich L. Khoo of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

Puyanan is a Cebuano term that translates to “Habitat” or “Circular Dwelling” in English. This Pavilion will be housing all of Cebu’s culture, history,  and heritage, for users to experience and enjoy. The aim of this is to give its users the ultimate retail experience and hopefully, together with, have a part of Cebu instilled in them — for them to bring culture from one home to another.

TUKLAS by John Earo J. Roque of the University of Santo Tomas

A library and center for Kapampangan culture slot into the ruins of the abandoned Gabaldon School building built in the 1900s makes up Tuklas. A dedicated space for the community where people can gather, learn, and reconnect to their roots.

The establishment is chosen for its rich history and its accessible location from notable Schools in the province of Pampanga.

Winners of AYDA2020

Each of the top 10 finalists a cash prize of ₱10,000 plus opportunities for internship.  On top of that, recipients of special awards receive additional prizes.

The Gold Award recipient will receive a cash prize of ₱50,000, internship opportunities, and will also represent the Philippines in the upcoming regional competition where he or she has the chance of winning the Platinum Award and be declared the Asia Young Designer of the Year.

The Silver Award recipient will receive a cash prize of ₱30,000 plus internship opportunities.

The recipient of the Best Green Innovation Award will receive a cash prize of ₱10,000.

The recipient of the Best Colour Choice Award will receive a cash prize of ₱10,000.

The recipient of the People’s Choice Award will receive a cash prize of ₱5,000.

The Best Mentor Award is given to the mentor of the Gold Award winner.  He or she will receive a cash prize of ₱10,000.

The award for Best Supporting College/University is given to the school with a finalist and has sent in the most entries.  They will receive a cash prize of ₱10,000 plus paint vouchers worth ₱10,000.

The award for Best College/University is given to the school of the Gold Award recipient.  They will receive a cash prize of ₱10,000 plus paint vouchers worth ₱10,000.

Special Awards

The recipients of the Best Colour Choice award are:

The recipients of the Best Green Innovation Award are:

The People’s Choice Award is garnered from votes made by their supporters on Facebook.  They are:

The Best Supporting College/University goes to the school of a finalist who has sent in the most entries to the competition.  In both Architecture and Interior Design this award was given to De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

Major Awards

The Silver Award is given to the finalist who placed second in their category.  They are:

The Gold Award is given to the finalist who placed first in their category.  They are:

Paul John Jandoc and Margaret Therese Hagad will represent the Philippines at the upcoming regional competition where they have the chance to win the Platinum Award and get declared the Asia Young Designer Award for the Year!

The Best College/University goes to the school of the Gold Award winner.  At the same time, the Best Mentor Award goes to the mentor of the Gold Award winner.  They are Ar. Tim-Paul Villanueva of the University of Baguio in Architecture and IDr. Karol Ann Antonio of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Interior Design

Congratulations to all the winners! You make us all proud.

For more information about the Asia Young Designer Award, visit the website at https://www.youngdesigneraward.ph/ and the social media accounts as follows:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nipponpaintaydaph
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nipponpaintaydaphl/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/aydaph