Hotel Atlantis Light Show

Here's a slideshow of the trial run for the Atlantis Light Show. Enjoy!

Buy Rey a Beer :-) if you liked this slideshow, so I could post more!.

Review Questions: Professional Practice 02

Part 2 of ProfPrac Quiz. Enjoy!

 

Professional Practice 02 » Quiz Question Maker

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Go Green Fair

Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa will be holding a Go Green Fair on 27-28 March 2009 wherein we are promoting awareness of our green initiatives through a series of seminars and exhibitions to encourage corporations and the local community to be environmentally responsible.

This also significantly falls on Earth Hour which is observed Worldwide on 28 March 2009. We are delighted to invite you to participate in this event. This will be an opportunity to showcase your exceptional products and promote your green initiatives.

For further queries, you may get in touch with Gwen Hufano, our Events Manager at (632) 231 6287 or email at gwen.hufano@shangri-la.com

PROGRAM for GO GREEN CEBU FAIR
MARCH 27, 2009 ( FRIDAY)
9:00H- 10:00H- Opening Ceremony
- Welcome Remarks from the GM
- Ribbon Cutting and TREE PLANTING as Opening of the Exhibitors
-Invited Media
9:00 - 17:00H - A speech from Secretary Jose Atienza Jr.
-First Session
What is Go Green all about?
Introduce Go Green in Cebu?
- ( Schedules of other speakers to be finalized)
10:00H- 17:00H - Exhibit ongoing
MARCH 28, 2009 ( SATURDAY)
10:00H- 17:00H - Exhibit ongoing
13:00H- 17:00H - Second Session on Green Initiatives; Last Day,
17:00H- 20:00H - Cocktails for all invited guests and Speakers for the
Launching of Green Meetings at Shangri-La
20:00H -21:00H - Participate on the Earth Hour Worldwide
MARCH 29, 2009 ( SUNDAY)
9:00H- 17:00H - Last Day of Exhibit

Review Questions: Professional Practice 01

Here is a sample quiz for Professional Practice (RA 9266, Code of Ethics, SPP Documents, Architects Guidelines, General Conditions, Contract Documents, Global Practice) which is given in the morning of Day 1 as well as in Day 2 (Design Exam) of the Architects Licensure Examination. Try this quizzes as part of your review.

There are 15 questions in this Quiz. You may repeat the quiz by refreshing your browser and different questions will appear.. Enjoy!!!

PASSWORD: atlascped


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Thesis Research Topics

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Create Your Badge The following are examples of research topics which you can inject in your thesis project:

Office Building Design
- Application of modular building system in office building design
- Integrating the 60L Five Elements for Sustainable Green Building Design for Office Buildings (http://www.60lgreenbuilding.com/design.htm)

Healthcare Facility Design
- A psychosocial approach to design of health care environments (http://epubl.luth.se/1402-1757/2004/06/index-en.html)
- Creating “neighborhood” concept in mental health facilities (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/02/06/bc_st-pauls20060206.html)

Educational Facilities Planning and Design
http://www.coe.uga.edu/sdpl/research.html
- The Feng Shui of School Design (http://www.coe.uga.edu/coenews/2001/NYTFengShui.htm)
- Caring Spaces, Learning Places: Children’s environments that work (http://www.coe.uga.edu/sdpl/articlesandpapers/reviewcaringspaces/caringspaces.html)
- Creating a Sense of Place in Schools (http://www.nps.gov/dsc/dsgncnstr/gpsd/ch6.html)
- Sustainable Design for Schools (http://www.nps.gov/dsc/dsgncnstr/gpsd/ch6.html)
- High Performance School Building Design (http://www.sbicouncil.org/workshops/schools.htm)
- Integrating Learning Environments (http://www.coe.uga.edu/sdpl/archives.html)
- Developing Personal Space in Schools (http://www.coe.uga.edu/sdpl/articlesandpapers/melissasmith.html)
- Developing Settings for Learning (http://www.coe.uga.edu/sdpl/research/setting(1)2003.ppt)
- Environmentally friendly design elements in schools (http://asumag.com/mag/university_top_ten_facility/)

Sports Facility Planning and Design
- “Green-field” Sports Facility Design (http://www.dbia.org/secure/dateline/1110_tellier.pdf)

Leisure Facility Planning and Design
- Holistic Approach to Leisure Facility Planning and Design
- Creation of Destination Clubs: New Trend in Resort Development

Exhibition Halls Planning and Design
- A Philosophic approach to design of an exhibition building (http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-20326487.html)

Residential Facility Planning and Design
- Adapting the Radburn Concept in Design of Retirement Villages
- Planning for “Cool Communities”

These are just initial examples. I will update this whenever I come across an interesting topic. Pls. feel free also to post a comment and provide suggestions to any topic

Preparing a Thesis Proposal

The PUP Thesis Project is a two-fold undertaking by the graduating students of BS Architecture. The Thesis would be a Research / Design Project with a research project focusing on any architectural concept / ideas / principles / design approach that would be applicable to the Design Project. The research undertaking would generate new ideas in designing particular building types that would make the design endeavor more innovative and creative.

Research and Design both involve processes of discovery that would lead to new knowledge. Furthermore, Design is closely associated to Creativity. “Being creative is seeing the same thing as everybody else but thinking of something different.” It can be defined as the ability to take existing objects and combining them in different ways for new purposes. Creativity can produce novel and useful ideas and solutions to everyday problems and challenges.

The Research Project is aimed at gaining knowledge that would upgrade the quality of our built environment and for the advancement of the architectural profession. The Design Project, on the other hand, is viewed as an activity that would generate proposals in changing something that already exist into something better.

The first step in the Thesis Project is the preparation of a Thesis Proposal. The students will have to identify possible design projects to work on as well as introduce the research project that they will relate to the design project. This is not an easy task and before a student can come up with a credible proposal, one should have done the following:
• develop a perspective about the breadth, depth and scope of architectural discipline
• develop an awareness of general issues, opportunities, and concerns within the discipline through readings of articles concerning current architectural practices
• choose an area of specialization from the general issues and concerns.
• become familiar with specific issues, opportunities, and concerns within the area of specialization
• develop queries that speculate on the issues, opportunities, and concerns within the area of specialization

The student can start initially by identifying an issue of local, regional, national or even global concern as starting points for determining a specific research problem, say Housing Backlog. The next question would be - why is there a housing backlog? It continues with a search for possible cause to the problem that could have architectural significance – it is due to the inadequacies of conventional building materials and systems to cope up with house production targets. The problem now has become an architectural concern. A possible architectural intervention can be deduced from the above statements – House production rate can substantially increase if housing components can be standardized. With that, the general problem has now been reduced to an architectural problem focusing on the derivation of standards for housing components. This can still be, however, trimmed down to a more focused and specific derivation of standards for low-cost housing components.

From the above process, a possible Design Project could be “A Housing Prototype for a Low-Cost Community for North Rail Settlers” and the Research Project could be “Derivation of Standards for Low-Cost Housing Components”.

Other example of Thesis Projects that could be similarly undertaken is as follows:
1. Proposed Marikina Center of Performing Arts (A Neural Network Analysis of Auditoria Design).
2. The SM Call-Center Complex (An investigation of indoor environmental factors that may influence comfort and health of workers in office buildings)
3. School for the Deaf and Blind (Design of technology-based learning environments)
4. Redevelopment of Tahanang Walang Hagdan (Modeling human expertise in designing building solutions for homes of persons with disabilities)
5. Proposed Quezon City Jail (An Analysis of the Physical Environment in Juvenile Justice Facilities: the Physical Environment in a Complex System)
6. The Intramuros Hotel (Acknowledging and evaluating the social and aesthetic values of heritage landscapes)
7. The Mactan Meditel (Thermal comfort and hybrid ventilation)
8. Sports Medica Mall (An integrated medical, sports and shopping complex)

The PUP Architecture Thesis Projects seeks to support and enhance the study of sustainable and energy-efficient building practices in Architectural Education. Thesis students are encouraged to explore the use of new materials and strategies for building, and the integration of aesthetics and technology for high-performing, cutting edge architecture.

The objective of this integration is to encourage students and develop excellence in architectural planning and design that integrates environmentally responsive design strategies.

Register Now for the 7th International Public Markets Conference

Project for Public Spaces is very pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 7th International Public Markets Conference, which will be held on April 24-26, 2009 in San Francisco, CA. The conference will showcase the vital role markets play in reconnecting local economies and communities.

San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area are known for a rich array of markets and a local and international population who patronize them year-round, indoors and out. The event will take place in and around the area's famous markets, public spaces and neighborhoods, enabling participants to see first hand the Ferry Building Marketplace and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. Along with stimulating workshops and networking opportunities, the conference will feature tours of the area's best markets and receptions featuring local and delicious foods and wines.

First-class speakers from around the world will be on hand to deliver lectures, workshops, and breakout sessions, and some 300 participants are expected representing diverse fields such as market management, community organizing, healthcare, government and real-estate development. For this, our 7th conference, we are expecting our largest international participation to date.

For more information and to register, please click here

Questionnaire on UAP Doc 207: Design-Build Services

As part of the on-going revisions for the UAP Documents on Standards of Professional Practice, I am reproducing here the suggested questionnaire which were distributed during the UAP Area B Assembly 2009. This would be of help in getting the status of architects involved in construction and will aid in the necessary revisions.

This will just take a few minutes of your time but your responses are very important. Thank you.

1. Are you, as a practicing architect, a member or part of a construction entity?


2. Have you as an architect, worked in tandem or in joint arrangement with a construction entity?


3. Are you, besides being an architect, a licensed constructor?


4. Are you in favor of architects constructing their own design through general contracting?


5. Would you agree to a notion in the National Architects Code UAP Doc207 Design-Build Services to lay down the guidelines for architects involved in construction, including their own design, with safeguards provided to protect the interest of all parties concerned?


6. You are a member of what area in the UAP?


Thank you very much! Please go to the other survey on the professional fees on how much is to be charged by the architect for professional services, UAP Doc 208

Revising UAP Documents: Doc 201-208

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Create Your Badge The accredited professional organization for architects, United Architects of the Philippines is in the process of revising the Standards of Professional Practice covering UAP Documents 201-208. The Architects Code of Ethics (UAP DOC 200) was the first to be revised and was approved by the PRC almost two years ago and revision to the other documents governing professional practice is also in the process of discussion and completion.

During the recent UAP Area B Assembly last Feb 1-4 on-board Negros Navigations' MS San Paolo, spearheaded by the VP for Area B Domingo Ll. Tablizo, Jr, FUAP, a presentation on the proposed revisions was conducted by the head of the special committee on revisions. Immediate Past President of UAP, Edric Marco Florentino, FUAP enlightened member architects of area B into the draft revisions and encouraged members to provide inputs to get a more responsive standards Filipino architects will follow.

The revisions committee started with Doc201 and at this time the different sub-committees handling each of the documents have already more or less completed their draft and are to be submitted for further comments. The last document 208 is still in the early stage of revisions and the committee is soliciting ideas from member architects. The assembly is the first of such round-table discussions to be conducted all over the country.

The existing Doc208 provides the standards for professional fees to be charged to different types of projects. It classifies the complexity of projects undertaken and the type of services which architects normally provides to clients. It lists down 9 categories for architects services and the corresponding minimum professional fee. This is the most controversial document since many architects are violating the provisions of this part of the Architects National Code.

Here are some of the initial reactions/proposals given during the presentation:
a) Can the category for residential projects be subdivided into simple, medium and complex same as other structures?
b) How would you properly define category 1(simple), category 2(medium), and category 3(complex projects)?
c) Structural designing in the old law was changed to structural conceptualization. Is this a service which architects should also charge?
d) Why not separate architectural component from engineering and charge only for architectural? -so client will understand that not all that is paid to the architect goes to their pocket.

I provided this forum to get more responses from Filipino architects who are familiar with Doc 208 and to get more insights into what should be done and how it is to be done, as well as how much should be charged for the particular category of projects and services. Please feel free to provide your comments.

(related article: A simplified guide to architects fees in Austria and Germany)

In addition, I have provided a poll below to determine what should be the rates for the first 4 categories.

Group 1: What should be the minimum basic fee for Type 1 Projects (simple-minimal or no interior wall partitions)?


Group 2: Min. basic fee for Type 2 projects (medium-complex)?


Group 3: Min. basic fee for Type 3 projects (complex projects-with special equipments/requirements inside)?


Group 4: Min. basic fee for residential projects?


PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW.

Joint Statement of the Heritage Conservation Society and ICOMOS Philippines on the Dingras Church

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Create Your Badge The Tale of Two Facades
The Planned Demolition of our the Historic Dingras Church Facade

A call to arms and a sound of alarms! Once again, a historic structure in our country is threatened. What makes it even more alarming is that it happens in the same province, Ilocos Norte in almost the same period of time. First the planned demolition of the Laoag Central Elementary School, a perfectly usable, intact and beautiful example of 1920's education architecture in exchange for a mall, and now the proposed demolition of the centuries old façade of the Church of San José de Dingras to be replaced by what would most likely be a poor replica of the former.

What gives? Dingras is one of the most picturesque facades in the country not due to its Baroque grandeur, but because of its perfectly beautiful proportions, the patina of the ancient bricks and more importantly its enduring and eternal visage of a ruin. The church of Dingras like most colonial churches in the country experienced numerous re-buildings during its course in history, and like similar structures in Ilocos have conflicting information. An earlier structure, presumably made of light materials was built before 1620, which was damaged during the earthquake of November 11 of the same year. Another conflicting report this time by Captain Don Lucas Mariano de Ochoa, together with his barangay heads in 1710, mentions that the church of Dingras had been constructed by their minister Fray Alonso Cortes OSA 30 years ago, c. 1678-1680 and that by the year of writing, 1710, only the brick walls remained. Noted Church historian Regalado Trota-Jose on the other hand mentions a brick church being built in the late 1670's collapsing in the earthquake of 1707. Whichever information is correct it is presumed that this solid structure may be surmised as the second church of Dingras.

This structure may have undergone rebuilding but was subsequently consumed by fire in 1838, which also gutted the whole town. Father Pedro Galende OSA mentions that in 1879, Fray Damask Vieytez OSA built the present church, which is described as being huge and massive. But Trota-Jose corrects this by stating that the church was built sometime during the priorship of Fray Vieytez from 1846 to 1854, the year the said builder died. The church again underwent renovation, this time fixing the roof and replacing it with metal sheets during the incumbencies of Fray Ricardo Diaz OSA (1879-1893) and Fray Fidel Franco OSA (1894-1898), whom Galende identifies as Saturnino Franco. Fire and earthquake again destroyed the church in 1914 and 1931, which made the structure unsafe and subsequently abandoned. A smaller concrete structure was built on the plaza across the street, which served as the house of worship for the town. The ruins of the old church remained standing throughout this time and became a beautiful and nostalgic setting for pictorials and even concerts. In the past decade the church has been re-opened and masses again have been conducted inside the refurbished and retrofitted structure.

The architecture of Dingras is also significant not only in the annals of Philippine architectural history but more importantly Ilocos Architecture for this together with the facades of the churches of San Nicolas, Piddig, and the original pre-1984 facades of Sarrat and Vintar follow the manner and character of the Vignola masterpiece of the Church of Il Gesu in Rome. Sadly with the proposed demolition of this façade gone would be this fine example, with only that of the Church of San Nicolas serving as the only remnant to this once popular style.

Why demolish this ancient brick façade? It would appear that the ruin is precariously leaning on to the newly built gym like shed built by the parish during the early parts of this century. After standing and buffeting typhoons, earthquakes, wars, pollution and other unknown forces, the façade, though showing its age is still massively strong and with the proper methods of conservation and shoring would allow it to continue gracing and serving the populace of Dingras and people who appreciate and understand the meaning of continuity.

Other leaning facades have been shored up and made safe for people to appreciate. One does not need to travel far to see how, through a concerted effort, a historic ruin was saved and even elevated to become not just an icon of a community but a whole promotional tool of a region, a people and a country.

Macao's world renowned ruins of the Jesuit Church of Saint Paul are a prime example of how a façade could be shored up, strengthened and saved for generations to come. Began in 1602, the church like those in the Philippines suffered numerous travails in its colorful history. In 1835 fire destroyed the church leaving only a pile of rubble and a wonderful façade standing. Restoration efforts in the early 1990's resulted in supporting the ruins by building a concrete inner stencil that would serve as a reinforcement of the Baroque façade. Today, the ruins of St. Paul are the must see tourist destination aside from the Casinos that litter today Macao's quaint islands.

What was done in Macao, can be done in Dingras. Economically speaking it may even be more prudent to just build a retaining inner wall than to tear down a heavy masonry façade and rebuild it following the same lines and specifications of the original. Artistically and technically speaking, the methods, know-how and artistry of today compare poorly to the craftsmanship of the 19th century. Finally, do the people of Dingras understand the repercussions of loosing a vital piece of their heritage even if the façade were to be replaced by a replica! A replica remember does not replace the original, for whatever reason one gives. The best is still the original, and a replica is but considered a fake.

One wonders why this project is even being considered. True, the need to shore up the façade is pressing. The safety of anyone visiting this shrine of faith is the paramount concern of the parish. But do the necessary agencies both local and national know of the proposed demolition of this historic façade! If they do, are they inept enough to even suggest the demolition instead of alternative processes of rehabilitation of a vital monument! One wonders again at the ineptitude of government and the people elected therein in suggesting the opposite of the complete conservation, preservation and rehabilitation of such vital infrastructure. Though the building is a private structure, its heart and soul lie deep in every Catholic and Filipino that roams the land.
--
Heritage Conservation Society
G/F Museo Pambata Building
Roxas Boulevard, Ermita
Manila, Philippines
Tel. +632 521 2239
Fax. +632 522 2497