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conscious living: talking brown

After being gone for almost a week (two days for work in Bacolod and four days for vacation in Camiguin), I’m now like a crazy person trying to catch up on work. I don’t even know where to start! It’s that stressful day after a fun vacation…

While I finish my scheduled posts for the week, let me share with you this lecture from our friend and former professor Arch. Nicolo del Castillo on how green design is closely related to culture and climate. This is probably his Cliff’s Notes version of the “Designing with Nature” course under the masters program of UP College of Architecture. Hope this will serve as an eye-opener to all of you. df

conscious living: this month’s produce

We all appreciate gardening in the light of beautifying our “domestic landscape”, purifying our air, and cooling our surroundings (through trees). How about gardening for food?

In the concept of sustainable living, we are encouraged to provide ourselves with some of the basic necessities: water through rainwater collection, electricity through solar power, and food through edible gardening.

My parents are both probinsyanos (from the province). In the province, most households do not just plant for aesthetic reasons. They also plant for food. Think of it as having a multi-functional garden. That’s why here at home, we have some trees that are fruit-bearing—avocado, langka (jackfruit), mango, and cashew. All of them were grown by my parents from seed! We had to wait for around five years before the trees started bearing fruits.

For the past two months, our family (plus neighbors and friends) are enjoying this season’s Indian mangoes (top photo) and cashew (photo above). A lot of people don’t know (including me) that apart from the nuts, the cashew fruit can also be eaten. It has a sweet taste that is partially mapakla (acrid), so not everyone would appreciate it.

By June/July, we’re expecting to harvest everyone’s all time favorite—avocados! Guacamole, anyone? 

conscious living: water-saving tips

[photo via tigris777: hardy bougainvillea remains pretty amidst the el nino dry spell]

Here in the Philippines, we are knee deep in el niño season. Water has not just become a precious commodity, but an expensive one too. While we are being advised to conserve water in our everyday use, we (designers, builders, and future homeowners) can take this further and reflect it in the designs of our homes and buildings.

1. HOLD OFF ON THOSE WATER FEATURES

Pools and ponds can definitely add charm to a place. Having a personal swimming pool in your home is certainly a luxury. However, these water-features are resource consuming. The volume may not be huge, but the water still needs to be changed regularly. Plus, they are not as easy to maintain. I’ve seen many a grotto with a dry, dusty and neglected pond. Also, if not designed properly, water-features can add humidity especially during high temperatures, making the air stuffier than normal.

2. PLANT A HARDY GARDEN

One of the biggest sources of water consumption is watering the plants and lawn. To reduce the amount of water spent while retaining that garden, plant hardy species that require minimal watering (ie. Carabao grass over Bermuda grass). Do not be restricted with cacti. Ornamental plants such as bromeliads, draecena, bougainvillea (above), hibiscus (gumamela), sanseviera, and yucca are equally drought-resistant.

3. INSTALL WATER-SAVING TOILET FIXTURES

There are toilet fixtures in the market today that promote water-conversation. Self-closing faucets at sinks are heavily favored in commercial spaces (like malls) today. Furthermore, waterless urinals are prevalent in male washrooms. There are shower heads that have adjustable settings for water-saving. Water closets have dual-flush systems that consume water depending on the person’s use.

4. HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE RESOURCE

Why not tap the rain as alternative source of water? Install a rainwater collection system. Not your usual water-barrel-under-the-downspout (though that would be a simple and affordable way), modern systems nowadays collect rainwater from roofs and run-offs from the grounds and collect the water into underground cisterns. The collected water then passes through a filtering system to make it drinkable (potable), or use as is (non-potable) for watering the plants, cleaning the car and flushing the toilets.

Why not recycle what you already used? Set up a wastewater recycling system. Waste water or greywater from bath, laundry and kitchen sinks (not from water closets please) are collected, filtered and re-used for non-potable sources. –green guide

space matters: art + home

I don’t think our Cebu trip is complete if we weren’t able to visit at least one home in the city. My college friend, Zina, suggested her uncle’s home, but didn’t give any details about the design of the house. She just told me, “My uncle has a really nice house,” and I simply took her word for it. I just didn’t know what she exactly meant by “nice”, hehe.

We were pleasantly surprised to find out that the house is more than just “nice”. The design goes beyond style and aesthetics. It integrated features for sustainability (green design) and accessibility (universal design). Plus, the house is also home to an interesting collection of artworks.

This is the home of Dr. Ted Gonzales, an ophthalmologist, who also happens to be an art collector and a design enthusiast. The site was previously occupied by his parents’ house which, unfortunately, got burned several years ago. His interest in design and architecture grew during the time when he and his partners were building clinics. He learned so much about design and construction from those projects, which he later on applied into building his own home. In fact, Ted was the one who technically conceptualized and designed the house with the help of Google Sketchup. He still closely coordinated with his architect to check whether the design complies with building standards, and to draw up working drawings for construction.

A big part of his design was inspired by the book Off The Grid: Modern Homes + Alternative Energy by Lori Ryker. Therefore, a lot of green features were integrated into the design. One, which is also the first thing that I noticed upon entering the house, is the use of louver glass windows (jalousie) all throughout the house to maximize the openings for ventilation. I personally like louver windows because I think they’re the best and most appropriate for tropical climates. While louver windows are often perceived as baduy in the Philippines, they are widely used in Australia especially in the design of many modern homes (see homes with louver windows here). Apart from providing 100% ventilation, their louvers could be adjusted/angled, instead of totally closing them (like in the case of casement and sliding windows), to protect the interiors from rains and strong winds while still allowing some amount of air to flow through. The clerestory windows above the living area are also in louver type. They allow hot air to rise and exit from the interiors and provide generous natural light during the day. Another green feature is the rainwater cistern built under the garage. Water collected here is used for watering the plants and for flushing the water closets.

Because Ted lives with his parents, the interiors, particularly the ground floor, have provisions for accessibility. The parents’ room is located near the entrance-living-dining areas, convenient enough for the older couple who have limited mobility. A ramp replaced typical steps leading to the adjacent bathroom under the stairs.

The rail-free staircase, an interesting focal point of the interiors featuring mangkono (Phil. iron wood) planks, leads to Ted’s space at the second floor. Starting from the staircase up to the hallways, he displays his collection of artworks, from paintings, sketches, and sculptures, mostly from artist Raymund Fernandez.

[Image above: This is a replica of Picasso's Guernica which was used for a stage play in Cebu. Part of the play was a reenactment of what happened to the painting--the words "KILL LIES ALL" were spray painted onto the artwork during a protest againts Richard Nixon's pardon of William Calleyin 1974. Read about it here.]

His den at the second floor is like a mini-apartment which includes a living area with a sleeper (sofa bed), a dining area, a small kitchen and a bathroom. Apart from being Ted’s workspace, it also functions as a small entertainment room where he hosts small gatherings, and as a spare room for guests. Opposite the den is Ted’s bedroom which is also fitted with a working desk and a bathroom.

[Images above: (left) Raymund Fernandez's "Ninoy", which is part of his Alpiler Series. Read about it here. (right) Nude drawings displayed in the masters bedroom.]

Apart from the design of the house and his collection of artworks, Ted is also proud to share that the house was built within a limited budget. He did this by making the design simple and functional. Also, a lot of his furniture pieces were flea market finds, like the leather chaise lounge and coffee table at the den (photo above).

Ted’s love for art and design coupled with a realistic and practical mindset allowed him to create a beautiful, functional and equally comfortable home. [Thank you again Sir Ted for welcoming us to your home. And for introducing us to dried langka and pineapple!]

conscious living: cool spaces 06 – elevate, ventilate, insulate

A green space is a space that is built with the local climate in mind. Our country is a tropical climate. And one of the major difficulties of tropical climates is cooling interior spaces.

Cooling a space mechanically generally takes up as much as 50 percent of the electricity bill. By cutting down on your use of the air-con, not only do you save energy and money, but also any greenhouse gases that may have been emitted by the production of electricity. This series looks at the various ways of being comfortable without turning on the energy.

ELEVATE, VENTILATE, INSULATE

We can learn a lot in designing for the local climate by looking at our own vernacular houses. Design elements from these houses are perfect examples of how to passively cool your own space.

Bahay Kubo: Illustration by Arch. Stanley Fernandez

Elevate

The most famous of these vernacular houses (at least in Luzon) is the bahay kubo. The bahay kubo has an elevated flooring. Air is freely allowed to pass through underneath and in between the bamboo slats of the floor, ensuring interior circulation.

The elevation also ensures that the floor will not have the same temperature as the ground (in those cases where the ground has absorbed the heat of the entire day).

Ventilate

Ever wonder what the vents on the roof eaves are for? Their purpose is to remove the heat accumulated underneath the roof. The space between the roof and the ceiling serves to trap the heat and prevent it from directly entering the rooms beneath. Conversely, the bigger the space, the bigger is the capacity to absorb more heat. That excess heat has to be ventilated.

Old houses have high-pitched roofs (and high ceilings) for that function. Indigenous tropical houses from around Southeast Asia, including the very popular Balinese style, call for high-pitched gable roofs (inverted V). At both ends of the roof, vents are placed to allow the wind to pass through completely. The steep slope also prevents roof leaks during heavy downpours.

Insulate

The bahay na bato (typical houses found in Intramuros and Vigan) has a ground floor made up of thick adobe walls. The walls kept the temperature so low that the space was sometimes used as cold storage for perishable items.

Adapting to modern times, the thicker and denser the wall material, the better it can absorb and prevent the heat from entering the space. Try using a thicker section of concrete hollow blocks. Other cladding materials such as adobe or bricks are also ideal due to their abundance, and if lucky, can even be quarried and produced from the site itself.

Previous: proper orientation, maximize openings, cross ventilation , stack effect, sunshades

conscious living: cool spaces 05 – sunshades

Bahay kubo in CELL, Cavite

A green space is a space that is built with the local climate in mind. Our country is a tropical climate. And one of the major difficulties of tropical climates is cooling interior spaces.

Cooling a space mechanically generally takes up as much as 50 percent of the electricity bill. By cutting down on your use of the air-con, not only do you save energy and money, but also any greenhouse gases that may have been emitted by the production of electricity. This series looks at the various ways of being comfortable without turning on the energy.

Sunshades

One of the most efficient ways of preventing direct sunlight from entering spaces is providing sunshades.

Sunshades are horizontal or vertical elements that are strategically placed at windows and other openings to directly block the sun’s rays at any given time of the day. Sunshades can also protect the exterior face from added heat gain, keeping the interior cool. There are certain structures that even placed them on the roof!

Window overhang. Photo by Jacob Termansen from Tropical Style by Gillian Beal (2003)

Sunshades come in all shapes and sizes. They can be large fins at the sides of a window or a group of flat louvers covering it entirely. They can also be a lattice or mesh covering the entire structure. They can be made of steel, aluminum, concrete or wood. Plants, specifically vines and hanging varieties, can also be allowed to creep over exterior supports (and if it’s a fragrant, flowering kind, can generate a nice scent inside when the wind passes through).

Vertical louvers. Photo by Jacob Termansen from Tropical Style by Gillian Beal (2003)

Here is the rule of thumb for the use of sunshades. For north or south-facing windows, use horizontal sunshades due to the vertical position of the sun. For east or west-facing windows, use vertical sunshades due to the low angle of the sun at mornings and late afternoon.

The size and design of sunshades can be computed based on the orientation, location and size of the window. Just ask your capable designer (make sure he/she knows the formulas). Or you can download The Solar Tool from the internet (http://ecotect.com/products/solartool).  Try the trial version for free!

Wide roof eaves of the Manosa house

If you have a limited budget, think about redesigning the biggest sunshade you may already have – the roof eaves! Lengthen the roof eaves to at least two meters. Consider lowering and extending the roof line (if your roof is sloped) to at least eye level and partially protecting your windows. That way, even while standing up and the sun is low on the horizon, you will not experience glare.

Previous: proper orientation, maximize openings, cross ventilation , stack effect

Next: elevate, ventilate and insulate

conscious living: cool spaces 04 – stack effect

A green space is a space that is built with the local climate in mind. Our country is a tropical climate. And one of the major difficulties of tropical climates is cooling interior spaces.

Cooling a space mechanically generally takes up as much as 50 percent of the electricity bill. By cutting down on your use of the air-con, not only do you save energy and money, but also any greenhouse gases that may have been emitted by the production of electricity. This series looks at the various ways of being comfortable without turning on the energy.

Stack Effect

Hot air rises. Cold air sinks.

In essence (and without getting too technical), this is what stack effect means in tropical climates. It is a scientific fact that air movement in interior spaces follows these directions: up for hot and down for cold.

How does stack effect influence the design of spaces?

Illustration by Arch. Stanley Fernandez

Let’s start with a typical room. Having taller or higher windows allows hot air to escape above. It also implies that a higher ceiling is beneficial in keeping the heat as far away from the living zone.

(This is also the main reason why air-conditioning units should be placed above or near the ceiling, so the cold air could naturally sink and not overwork the motor. Overworking the motor leads to consuming more energy. But we’re advocating natural ventilation here as much as possible.)

If the building or house is multi-story, the ground or lower levels are usually cooler than the floor right under the ceiling. Place the important spaces (or where you spend the most time in) on the cooler levels.

In his own home, National Artist for Architecture Bobby Mañosa located the bedrooms on the ground floor. To him, having a cool, comfortable space to rest and sleep in is more essential. The living room, dining room and kitchen are located above (which are quite open and ventilated too).

Stack effect can also be used to divert the hot air out of the space. Chimneys or flues can act as passages for heat to rise and escape. Since chimneys are quite impractical in this climate, stairwells become the main avenue for the hot air. Ensure the release of hot air by providing egresses above the stairwell. The openings can be operable louvers or clerestory windows.

Previous: proper orientation, maximize openings, cross ventilation

conscious living: cool spaces 03 – cross ventilation

A green space is a space that is built with the local climate in mind. Our country is a tropical climate. And one of the major difficulties of tropical climates is cooling interior spaces.

Cooling a space mechanically generally takes up as much as 50 percent of the electricity bill. By cutting down on your use of the air-con, not only do you save energy and money, but also any greenhouse gases that may have been emitted by the production of electricity. This series looks at the various ways of being comfortable without turning on the energy.

Cross Ventilation

We discussed the importance of natural ventilation last week in cooling spaces. By having ample sizes and proper orientation of openings, natural ventilation can be introduced. But how does it really work?

Cross ventilation is forcing the wind, with its cool exterior air, into the space, and forcing the hot interior air out. The two important elements (aside from the wind) in inducing cross ventilation are the inlet and outlet.

Cross Ventilation: Illustration by Arch. Stanley Fernandez

The inlet and outlet are the openings we talked about last week, whether they are windows, doors, vents or other openings. The inlet is where the wind enters the space and the outlet is where it exits. To have air movement inside the space (comfortable enough like a cool gentle breeze), there must be an entrance and an exit for the wind to cross to.

Ideally, these two openings should never be side by side. (There happens to be no space to “cross” through.) Their locations should be either at opposite walls or perpendicular to each other. Consequently, it is always best for rooms to have at least two sides facing the exterior to satisfy this condition.

The inlet opening should at least face the direction of the prevailing wind. (That’s why we tackled proper orientation of spaces!) If for some reason it can’t, you can somehow redirect the wind to the inlet by placing “blocks” to bounce the wind right into the opening (of course, just not as efficient).

Try not to put blockages in the path of the wind from the inlet to the outlet. Push those tall furniture and decorative dividers away. And no, light partitions even if they are perforated, will greatly diminish the air speed inside the space. To have the maximum effect of cross ventilation, air flow should be unimpeded.

Previous: proper orientation; maximize openings

Next: stack effect

conscious living: cool spaces 02 – maximize openings

A green space is a space that is built with the local climate in mind. Our country is a tropical climate. And one of the major difficulties of tropical climates is cooling interior spaces

Cooling a space mechanically generally takes up as much as 50 percent of the electricity bill. By cutting down on your use of the air-con, not only do you save energy and money, but also any greenhouse gases that may have been emitted by the production of electricity. This series looks at the various ways of being comfortable without turning on the energy.

Maximize Openings

Natural ventilation is one of the most efficient ways to cool the interior space. It involves creating internal air movement, just strong enough to feel comfortable but weak enough not to blow all the paper around. By circulating the air inside the space, the hot air is pushed outside and the cool air is carried inside.

Last time, we tackled the proper orientation for your desired space. There are two important directions to consider for our country: northeast and southwest. Generally, at any time of the year, prevailing winds travel from these two points. Northeast monsoon (hanging amihan) occurs during the cold months and southwest monsoon (hanging habagat) starts during the summer months. PAG-ASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) even has localized data on prevailing wind directions specific to cities and municipalities. By having ample windows and openings facing these directions, we can have guaranteed air movement to enter the space.

To maximize ventilation, one also needs to maximize the openings. Having large operable (that you can open) windows is ideal. Increase the size of your windows. Lower the height of the window sill while extend the height of the window up to the ceiling line. Old ancestral houses even have window openings at the top and bottom of regular windows called ventanillas to allow as much air as possible. These can have louvers or screens instead of unobstructed openings to preserve the privacy of the users.

The optimum type of window to specify is the one that maximizes the opening; that means it can be fully opened 100%. Sliding windows for instance can only have a maximum opening of 50%. Awning-type windows have 60-70% openings. Casement types (swing-out like cabinet doors) have 100 percent openings. Jalousie windows or louver types can also have 100% openings, plus having the distinct advantage to adjust the air flow by manipulating the panels.

To screen or not to screen? Common insect screens restrict air flow by as much as 50 percent. There are imported types that impede less, but they are generally more expensive. If the space is not that critical or located atop a high-rise building, I suggest opening up your windows. Use screens only on sensitive areas like bedrooms and nurseries. Besides, there are house plants that deter mosquitoes and other insects.

So maximize natural ventilation for your spaces and minimize your energy costs for cooling.

Previous: proper orientation

Next: cross ventilation, stack effect

i saw design: ang pinakamagandang bahay sa balat ng lupa

Green Guide told us about this exhibit in UP Theater culminating the design competition entitled “Ang Pinakamagandang Bahay sa Balat ng Lupa” (The Most Beautiful House on the Face of the Earth). It showcases the winning designs for both the Student and Professional categories, as well as other remarkable entries. A joint project of the UP College of Architecture and Lafarge Semento Pilipinas, the competition aimed to redefine the concept of “the beautiful house”. With a focus on sustainable architecture, entries provided complete architectural designs for a medium-income house to be built on a 200-square meter lot inside the UP Diliman Campus.

Apart from the green strategies that the winning entries consciously incorporated into their respective designs, I also noticed that they all came up with interesting forms for the architecture of the house. I think it was from the book Green Architecture (sorry I forgot the author. Maybe you can help me, Green Guide?) where I read that green designs should not only propose sustainable design techniques and strategies, but should also provide a new face, a new aesthetics to accompany the philosophy. The new visual form makes it easier to promote to everyone the concept of sustainability by becoming a symbol for the message, as well as a source of inspiration.

(The winners for the Professional Category, from left to right: Borloloy House by John Patrick Buensalido, et. al.; EcoKubo by Nestor Arabejo, et. al.; and [X] House by Jose Eduardo Calma, et. al.)

I agree with the judges’ pick for the first place. What I love about its design is its unique form–unpredictable, sculptural, and organic.

(The winners for the Students Category, from left to right: Tulad ng Dati House by Laurence Angelo Angeles, et. al.; Pinakamagandang Bahay by Mark Angelo Virtucio, et. al.; and Cube-O House by Deneice Yuson and Zada Ong.)

Among the winning designs for the Student Category, I especially like the Cube-O House. I can imagine the trellis filled with flowering white thunbergia!

The PMBBL exhibit runs until Oct. 23, Friday, at the Forefront Gallery of the UP University Theater.

*images of the winning entries are from the PMBBL monograph