ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE:

REINTRODUCING BAMBOO AS RESPONSIVE HOUSE DESIGN

A Research Proposal Presented to

The Faculty of Engineering and Architecture Department

Pangasinan State University

Urdaneta Campus

In partial fulfillment of the

Requirements for the

Bachelor of Science in Architecture

Submitted by
Sharina Jane J. Eugenio

August 13, 2019

ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 2

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Bamboos are used for a great variety of purposes, especially in East and

Southeast Asia. The only continents that do not have native bamboo are Europe and

Antarctica. The main reasons why the impoverished use bamboos more often, especially

in the countryside, are: ease of accessibility, and fast replenishment. Particular species of

bamboo can grow at a rate of 91cm (36 inches) in a single day. Meanwhile, the

dendrocalamus asper species in the Philippines can grow at the rate of 10 cm per day. In

fact, bamboo is deeply entrenched in our culture. Our prime example of vernacular

architecture, the bahay kubo, is made of it. Bamboo is a grass that thrives in tropical and

sub- tropical areas. Bamboo is flexible in the wind. Also, bamboo’s strength lies in its

nodes, which prevent its walls from cracking. A 50-centimeter cut o bamboo can resist up

to 20 tons of compression, meaning a big truck can rest on four poles without breaking. A

3-meter cut of bamboo, the usual length used or housing construction, can withstand

about a ton of load.

Ecologically responsive buildings are becoming a major issue today. It is

because Earth’s climate has changed throughout history. Since the world is no longer the

same old one because of rapid climate changes caused by Global warming, adjustments

on design for human dwellings must also be considered perhaps prioritized. Climate

responsive architecture take into consideration seasonality, the direction of the sun (sun

path and solar position), natural shade provided by the surrounding topography,

environmental factors (such as, wind, rainfall, humidity) and climate data (temperature,
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 3

historical, weather patterns) to design comfortable and energy efficient homes.

Responsive architecture can be defined as the ability of a building to adapt and respond to

the needs of its occupants through adaptable design. A climate-responsive building

design reflects the weather conditions in the precise area where the building is

constructed. The design utilizes data on the region’s weather patterns and accounts for

factors like seasonality, intensity of the sun, wind, rainfall, and humidity. Responsive

architecture is an evolving field of architectural practice and research. Responsive

architectures are those that measure actual environmental conditions to enable buildings

to adapt their form, shape, color or character responsively.

Impacts from climate change are happening now. These impacts extend well

beyond an increase in temperature, affecting the ecosystems and communities around the

world. Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment.

Global climate is projected to continue to change over this century and beyond.

Temperatures will continue to rise. The temperature rise has not been, and will not be

uniform or smooth over time. More droughts and heat waves everywhere are projected to

become more intense and cold waves less intense everywhere. Summer temperature are

projected to continue rising and a reduction of soil moisture. Sea level will rise. Global

sea level has risen by about 8 inches since reliable record keeping began in 1880. It is

projected to rise another 1 to 4 feet by 2100. This is the result of added water from

melting land ice and the expansion of seawater as it warms. Typhoon will occur more

often. In the next several decades, storm surges and high tides could combine with sea

level rise and land subsidence to further increase flooding in many regions.
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 4

It is necessary to conduct this research to find out the qualities of bamboo

buildings and reveals if this type o dwelling would correspond with the climate change.

The reintroduction of bamboo could create a more integrated and responsive design

approach. Thus, this research intends to explore the sustainable and green aspect of

bamboo dwellings in creating a responsive building design for inevitable effects of

climate change.

Disturbing effects of Climate change is inevitable and it is about time to adjust

and adapt its effects. Fortunately, architecture has something to offer to at least let people

adapt with the changing environment. The consideration and application of Responsive

design may provide the solution in order to correspond and adapt the inevitable effects of

climate change. Most professionals recommend the probable ways to achieve responsive

design which is reintroducing bamboo and promoting elements and features of vernacular

architecture such as the use of stilts on buildings

Buildings on stilts or pile dwellings are buildings raised on piles over the surface

of the soil or a body of water. This type o Building is no longer new in the field of

architecture. Stilt houses are built primarily as a protection against flooding. In the

Neolithic and the Bronze Age, stilt-house settlements were common in the Alpine and

Pianura Padana regions. In June 2011, the prehistoric pile dwellings in six Alpine states

were designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. According to archeological evidence,

stilt-house settlements were an architectural norm. The raised floor design of these

buildings involves issues such as ventilation, thermal comfort, lighting, safety, and

security as well as other aspects.

ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 5

The origin of bamboo and stilt dwellings including its qualities will be examined

in order to verify its effectiveness to help people adapt the changing environment. This

paper will include needed acts to find out how come bamboo and dwelling on stilts are

being recommended by most experts. This paper will also identify the cause and effects

of climate change to determine the level of condition for architectural adaptation.

Statement of the Problem

The concern of this study is to find out how do bamboo house design with stilts

serves as a responsive design in adapting with climate change.

Specifically, this study aims the following:

1. Are the people familiar to stilt and bamboo house? What are the reasons why

early people build their houses/dwellings with stilts?

2. What is the appropriate height of the stilts to protect the house from extreme

floods?

3. Why bamboo house design with stilts correspond with the environmental effects

of climate change?

Scope and Delimitations of the Study

This study ought to find out responsive design solutions in order to adapt with

climate change. In this paper, the focus will be only on the efficiency of bamboo house

design with stilts as responsive solution.

ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 6

To the professionals:

This study will serve as a guide or architects and designers in identifying the

effectiveness of bamboo house design with stilts to achieve responsive solution in

adapting the effects of climate change.

To the Government:

This will serve as a useful tool of Philippine Urban and Rural areas in

identifying responsive design approach that would correspond with the environmental

condition.

To the Public:

This will become awareness to the public with the advantages which bamboo

house design with stilts may offer in order to achieve responsive design.

Likewise, it will serve as a tool and exquisite example for planning and

designing climate responsive house design.

ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 7

Definition of Terms

Responsive Design- It refers to architectural practice and research that measure actual

environmental conditions to enable buildings to adapt their form, shape, color or

character responsively.

Vernacular Architecture- It refers to architecture characterized by the use of local

materials. Vernacular buildings tend to be overlooked in traditional histories of design.

Climate Change- It refers to significant changes in global temperature, precipitation,

wind patterns and other measures of climate that occur over several decades or longer.

Stilt- In Architecture it refers to poles, posts or piles to allow a structure or building to

stand at a distance above the ground. In flood plains, and on beaches or unstable ground,

buildings are often constructed on stilts to protect them from damage by water or shifting

soil or sand.

Sustainable Design- Refers to architecture that seeks to minimize the negative

environmental impact of buildings by efficiency and moderation in the use of materials,

energy, and development space and the ecosystem at large. It needs critical thinking for

the methodology of the design that would be used in laying out design solutions to the

problem.

Green Design- It is the use of environmental sources as materials for the design solution

to answer the problem.

Thermal Conductor- Refers to the transfer of heat or thermal energy between particles

of matter that are touching.

Insulator- Refers to a material that does not allow a transfer of electricity or energy.
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 8

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Alternative Energy. (n.d.). Alternative Energy Solutions for the 21st Century.

Retrieved from http://www.altenergy.org/oldgrowth/bamboo.html states that the use of

bamboo as a construction material is not new and many countries have been using it to

build homes for centuries. Generally, when we think of a house made of bamboo the

picture that comes to mind is a small hut in a village. But this concept is fast changing

because of the global demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable building

materials. Bamboo’s unique and efficient natural design makes it a good building

material. A number of things like functionality, availability and expenses have to be

considered when choosing a building material. The natural structural design is bamboo is

unique, it is hollow inside and the fibers run longitudinally hence less material mass is

required when compared to timber which has a larger material mass section. When

considering the load bearing mass, it functions as I -shape cross section. Bamboo can also

be shaped according to the building requirements. Bamboo which grows in a box gets a

square shape and can be used for connecting items. It can be bent after freshly cut and

will remain in that shape after drying too. A few species of bamboo have same strength

ratio of steel and almost twice the compression ratio of concrete. The 1999 earthquake in

Colombia witnessed destruction of all concrete buildings but houses that were built from

bamboo stood still and untouched by the earthquake.

The most important quality of bamboo is its environmentally friendly quality. It is

renewable and bamboo forests can be grown in a few years. Its naturally waxy surface
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 9

does not require painting; making it safe from health hazards caused by paints (they

contain toxic substances). Bamboo can be smoked in its own resin making its surface

impenetrable to insects thereby protecting it from insect infestation. Bamboo can be

grown in a variety of climates and houses made of bamboo do not require use of other

materials like concrete, steel etc. Pesticides and other chemicals need not be used while

cultivating bamboo making it more eco-friendly.

There are several advantages of bamboo that makes it a good building

material.Bamboo’s strong natural fiber makes it superior to hardwood. The versatile

quality of bamboo makes it a good material for flooring, roofing, concrete reinforcement,

scaffolding (used in Hong Kong for building skyscrapers), piping and for walls. Bamboo

is very flexible and hence when it grows it can be defined to grow into specific shapes. Its

shock absorption capacity makes it a great building material for earthquake resistant

houses. Bamboo houses can also stand hurricane with wind speeds of upto 170mph. It is

light in weight and thus transportation of bamboo is easy. Unlike other materials which

require the use of cranes and heavy machinery, none is required when building with

bamboo. When bamboo is properly maintained it can last for a very long time like wood.

Bamboo is cheap and readily available in areas where it is cultivated. Transportation of

bamboo is also cheaper than other materials.

Rebecca Gross. (January 7, 2015). Stilt Houses: 10 Reasons to Get Your House Off

the Ground Retrieved from https://www.houzz.com/magazine/stilt-houses-10-reasons-to-

get-your-house-off-the-ground-stsetivw-vs~35270725. Stilt houses date to prehistoric

times and can be seen in a variety of forms worldwide. New about them are the

innovative and diverse ways in which they are being designed and built. Stilt houses are
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 10

well suited to coastal regions and subtropical climates. They protect against floods,

maximize views and allow homeowners to build on rocky, steep or unstable land. They

also keep out animals and vermin, provide ventilation under the house and minimize a

house’s footprint.

To build over water. Inspired by Japanese architecture and its emphasis on

integration with nature, this house in Maine engages both the land and water elements of

its lakeside location. The living space of the house juts out over the water, supported by

14 structural steel columns. This not only makes for an unusual living space, but it also

lessens the house’s mass and footprint on the fragile shore.

To ventilate underneath the house. Many of the original homes in Queensland,

Australia, are elevated on wood “stumps.” This allows for ventilation and cool air to flow

under the house, protects the main structure from termites and other pests, and enables

the natural flow of water in times of torrential rain.

To enhance sustainable design. On Australia’s Sunshine Coast, this house has

been designed with space and energy efficiency in mind. It is a series of geometric

volumes neatly fitted together on varying levels with stilts of differing heights. This has

created areas of shade and sun that naturally warm and cool the house throughout the day.

Much of the home was built on stilts to minimize its environmental impact before, during

and after construction.

To protect against floods. Biloxi, Mississippi, on the Gulf of Mexico, is prone to

floods. To mitigate any flood damage, this house is elevated on 20 concrete pilings and
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 11

wooden stilts. The raised position also takes advantage of views over the bay and

provides space underneath the house to shelter vehicles and equipment.

Caruncho, Eric S. (2012-05-15). "Green by Design: Sustainable Living through

Filipino Architecture". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Makati, Philippines: Philippine Daily

Inquirer, Inc. Retrieved 2013-10-16. The nipa hut or bahay kubo, is a type of stilt

house indigenous to the cultures of the Philippines. It is also known

as payag or kamalig in other languages of the Philippines. It often serves as an icon

of Philippine culture. Its architectural principles gave way to many of Filipino traditional

houses and buildings that rose after the pre-colonial era. Nipa huts were the native houses

of the indigenous people of the Philippines before the Spaniards arrived. They were

designed to endure the climate and environment of the Philippines. These structures were

temporary, made from plant materials like bamboo. The accessibility of the materials

made it easier to rebuild nipa huts when damaged from a storm or earthquake. They are

still used today, especially in rural areas. Different architectural designs are present

among the ethnolinguistic groups in the country, although all of them are stilt houses,

similar to those found in neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and other

countries of Southeast Asia.

The Ifugao houses called Bale were usually similar in architectural designs but

they differ in decorative details depending on the tribes. The Ifugao house is sturdily

crafted of timber from amugawan trees raised on four posts, which was buried 50

centimeters below the ground and locked in with stones. The four wooden posts that rest

upon the pavement and support two wooden girders, which also supports three wooden

transverse joists. The floor joists, floor silts, vertical studs and horizontal beams rests on
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 12

the post and girders at about head level from a cage. The floor boards were fitted between

the joists. The wooden sides of the house slant outward and rise up to the waist, this

forms the lower half of the wall. The upper half of the wall is formed by the inner side of

the roof. This creates a dark, windowless chamber which suggests a womb. The roof

system rests on the "house cage". The steeply pitched pyramidal roof is covered with

thick layers of thatch or cogon, insulating the house from the heat of the sun and from the

torrential rail.

In the Sulu archipelago, native houses are diverse. The stilt houses of the Tausug

people are adapted to a coastal lifestyle. Traditional Tausug stilt houses have

recognizable "horns" on the roof, the only architectural style in the country to possess

such a roof style. Inland Tausug architecture is similar, but have bases similar to the

bahay kubo.

Rizal Shrine (Dapitan) is a collection of five houses of bamboo

and nipa originally built by José Rizal.[10] It shows different styles that could emerge from

Nipa Hut architecture. One of the most famous is Casa Redonda: An octagonal stilt house

that served as the quarters of Rizal's students and a clinic.

A kelong is an offshore platform built predominantly with wood, which can be

found in waters off Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. Only a handful remain

around Singapore due to rapid urbanisation.

Kelongs are built by fishermen primarily for fishing or fish farming purposes, although

larger structures can also function as dwellings for them and their families. In Singapore,

some kelongs also structurally, kelongs are often built without the need for nails,
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 13

using rattan to bind tree trunks and wooden planks together. The decks of some kelongs

have open spaces with nets that hang partially in the water, allowing for captured fish to

be kept live until they are sold or cooked. JSTOR (May 2018).

Siam Culture Park. Thai Style Houses in Four Regions. Retrieved October 4,

2013, from http://www.scppark.com/place05.php. The traditional Thai house is a loose

collection of vernacular architectural styles employed throughout the different regions

of Thailand. Thai houses usually feature a bamboo or wooden structure, raised on stilts

and topped with a steep gabled roof. Using renewable natural

materials including timber and bamboo, the dwellings are often built without the use of

metal including nails. Instead pre-cut holes and grooves are used to fit the timber

elements into one another, effectively making it a 'prefabricated house'.

REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES

Amy Frearson. (30 November 2012 ). Low Cost House by Vo Trong Nghia

Architects Retrieved from https://www.dezeen.com/2012/11/30/low-cost-house-by-vo-

trong-nghia-architects/. This project started as voluntary work, responding to the serious

housing issue for low income classes in Vietnam, Vo Trong Nghia Architects told

Dezeen. The architects came up with a concept for a house with a lightweight steel

structure, before building full-size prototypes of a house and office with layered walls of

corrugated polycarbonate and bamboo

Translucent envelope and bamboo louvers filter harsh direct sunshine in the

tropical climate. The interior is filled with diffused light and reduces the need for

artificial lighting, dramatically reducing electricity consumption. There is also a gap

ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 14

between the roof and the wall, which has the function of evacuating the hot air. As the

whole space is naturally ventilated there is no need for an air conditioner to be installed in

this house. A pent roof was designed to collect rain water for daily use in the dry season.

Utilizing blessings of nature, dwellers can save great amount of energies, resources and

therefore money.

Amy Frearson. (3 September 2012 ). Wind and Water Bar by Vo Trong Nghia

Retrieved from https://www.dezeen.com/2012/09/03/wind-and-water-bar-by-vo-trong-

nghia/. This project was one of the first we featured by Vo Trong Nghia, who recently

told Dezeen that bamboo would be the "green steel of the 21st century". A structural

bamboo arch system was designed for this dome; 10m high and spanning 15m across.

The main frame is made by 48 prefabricated units, each of them is made of several

bamboo elements bound together. The building uses natural wind energy and the cool

water from the lake to create natural air-ventilation. On the top of the roof there is a hole

with a diameter of 1.5m for the evacuation of hot air from the inside. Lengths of bamboo

are bound together and bent into arches to create the supporting structure for this thatched

dome, which sits in the middle of a lake in the Binh Duong Province in Vietnam and is

used as a venue for music performances, local meetings and other events.

Ashleigh Davis. (25 September 2013). Blooming Bamboo Home by H&P

Architects Retrieved from https://www.dezeen.com/2013/09/25/blooming-bamboo-

house-by-h-and-p-architects/. Vietnamese studio H&P Architects has built a prototype

bamboo house designed to withstand floods up to three metres above ground. H&P

Architects used tightly-packed rows of bamboo cane to build the walls, floors and roof of

the Blooming Bamboo Home, along with bamboo wattle, fibreboard and coconut leaves.
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 15

Elevated on stilts, the house is accessed using wooden ladders that lead to small decks

around the perimeter. The area beneath can be used for keeping plants and animals, but

would allow water to pass through in the event of a flood. "The house can keep people

warm in the most severe conditions and help them control activities in the future, also

contributing to ecological development as well as economic stabilisation," said the

architects.

In Vietnam, the natural phenomena are severe and various: storm, flood, sweeping

floods, landslides, drought, etc. The damage every year, which is considerable compared

to the world scale, takes away about 500 persons and 1.2%-GDP-equally assets and

reduces the involved areas' development. This pulled monolithic architecture is strong

enough to suffer from phenomena like 1.5m-high flood. Currently, H&P Architects is

experimenting the model to suffer 3m-high flood. The space is multifunctional such as

House, Educational, Medical and Community Centre and can be spread if necessary.

Amy Frearson. (28 June 2013). Bamboo construction for Haiti wins Foster +

Partners Prize 2013 Retrieved from https://www.dezeen.com/2013/06/28/bamboo-lakou-

by-john-naylor-wins-foster-partners-prize-2013/. Bamboo is a popular material for

architects working on humanitarian projects in Asia and beyond, thanks to its sustainable

nature, low cost, strength and flexibility. Presented annually to an Architectural

Association diploma student who best addresses themes of sustainability and

infrastructure, the prize is awarded to John Naylor for his Bamboo Lakou project, which

combines a sustainable bamboo-growing infrastructure with the development of the

vernacular "Lakou" communal courtyard typology. In a proud culture such as Haiti,

preaching a new form of building to the construction sector is riddled with problems," he
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 16

explained. The material properties of bamboo provide design opportunities to provide

resilience to hurricanes and earthquakes, and affords an assembly logic which intends to

communicate a parallel understanding of bamboo's application beyond the building site.

This rematerialisation of a construction industry and subsequent demand, aims to

engender bamboo growth in Haiti, a material with wider ecological benefits.

Alyn Griffiths. (21 March 2014). Bamboo cladding surrounds house in the

Philippines by Atelier Sacha Cotture Retrieved from

https://www.dezeen.com/2014/03/21/bamboo-cladding-surrounds-house-in-the-

philippines-by-atelier-sacha-cotture/. Bamboo poles were used to clad the facade and

surrounding walls of this house in the Philippines by Swiss-Filipino studio Atelier Sacha

Cotture. Explaining the choice of bamboo, the architects said: "It is a low cost and

sustainable material that grows intensively locally. This material has been historically

used in the country for the fabrication of handicrafts, native architecture and utilitarian

objects." The material was treated to protect it from mould and pests, before being

stained and varnished to enrich its natural tone and increase its resilience. The bamboo-

covered doorway leads from the street into a dark corridor clad in a type of local granite

called Araal, which is also used to cover chunky supporting columns at the ground floor

level of the house.

Angel Yulo. (5 September 2018). Bamboo’s Big Break Retrieved from

https://bluprint.onemega.com/author/angel-yulo/page/4/. Bamboo for social housing?

Base Bahay shows us how it can be done.

While bamboo is making a big impression in the international architecture scene, the

tropical grass is serving social justice in the Philippines

ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 17

“I am tired, really tired, of hearing people say bamboo is the timber of the poor,”

Luis Lopez, an engineer who hails from Colombia, made this point during

the Artkitektura Festival 2018. In his home country, he oversaw the projects of award-

winning architect Simón Vélez, making sure that the acrobatic sweeps of bamboo arches,

overhangs, and domes were structurally sound. In 2014, Lopez moved to the Philippines

to continue his research on the applications of bamboo in social housing with Base Bahay.

No material is exclusive to the rich or the poor. Looking around Metro Manila,

one can see iron and cement present in the glass-sheathed skyscrapers of central business

districts as well as the patchwork walls and roofs of informal settlements. The poverty

lies not in the material, but in the lack of refinement from the available technology used.

The main reasons why the impoverished use bamboo as a building material more

often, especially in the countryside, are: ease of accessibility, and fast replenishment.

Particular species of bamboo can grow at the rate of 91 cm per day. Meanwhile,

the Dendrocalamus asper species in the Philippines can grow at the rate of 10 cm per day.

In fact, bamboo is deeply entrenched in our culture. Our prime example of vernacular

architecture, the bahay kubo, is made of it.

Bamboo is a grass that thrives in tropical and sub-tropical areas. The only

continents that do not have native bamboo are Europe and Antarctica. Both timber and

bamboo are made of cellulose but their anatomies are different. Unlike trees which grow

radially and whose strongest portion lies at the core, also called the heartwood, bamboo

only grows vertically one node at a time once poles reach their maximum diameter. Also,

bamboo’s strength lies in its circumference.

ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 18

“It’s almost like reinforced concrete,” said Lopez. “Nature solved the problem of

bending millions of years ago by putting more ‘rebars’ in the perimeter of bamboo so it is

flexible in the wind.” As bamboo is dried and treated, the formation of small cracks

between two nodes is normal. This is just the natural consequence of a difference of

density of the exterior and interior of bamboo, at about 900kg/sqm and 200kg/sqm

respectively. A 50-centimeter cut of bamboo can resist up to 20 tons of compression,

meaning a big truck can rest on four poles without breaking. A 3-meter cut of bamboo,

the usual length used for housing construction, can withstand about a ton of load.

Research from different groups and universities has proven bahareque’s

resistance of earthquakes, a daily occurrence in countries lying along the Pacific Ring of

Fire. However, on top of seismic shifts and heavy rainfall, the Philippines experiences

another kind of environmental threat uncommon in Columbia—typhoons with wind

speeds over 200 kph.

In 2012, with the Base Bahay team at U.P. Los Banos, Lopez endeavored to

test bahareque houses in the Philippine climate. They designed models using our local

bamboo or kawayan tinik with ISO-standard walls and connections. Since a wind tunnel

test was way over their budget, the team decided to utilize a real typhoon.

Three houses were set up in Ginubatan, Albay, in 2013. One house, built by

Lopez, utilized all the proposed reinforcements and bolts for the bamboo frames which

were protected by a cement shell. Another house experimented with

laminate sawali instead of concrete. A third house was left to the discretion of local

builders, who were shown full specifications yet value engineered the model with less
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 19

bolts and fasteners. Then, in July 2014, Typhoon Glenda hit, with the eye of the storm

crossing the site.

The weather station, which the team set up beside the houses, was felled by

Glenda with the last recorded wind speed at 185 kph. Surrounding weather stations noted

maximum speed at 220 kph. A PAGASA Resiliency Study recorded that bamboo houses

collapse in wind speeds over 100kph while concrete hollow block (CHB) houses collapse

at 220 kph.

The bahay kubos near the site were blown down, but the three model houses

remained standing after the storm with slight damage only on the house built under

specification. The three test houses also withstood collapse during Typhoon Ruby which

arrived December of that year with over 200 kph wind speeds. Base Bahay then applied

for Accreditation of Innovative Technologies for Housing (AITECH) with the National

Housing Authority in 2015.

Since then, Base Bahay has completed 400 social housing units around the

country in collaboration with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Gawad

Kalinga. Single-storey residences have floor areas ranging from 24 sqm to 30 sqm. There

is even a two-storey model with a floor area of 55 sqm. “But our model goes beyond

building bamboo houses. When you’re in a country where bamboo grows everywhere,

you give farmers jobs. In the process, we educated them on how to select, harvest, treat,

and transport bamboo,” added Lopez.

Today, there are three bamboo treatment plants set-up in Negros Occidental,

Tarlac, and Bukidnon processing a total of 4000 poles per month. It takes about a month
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 20

an a half to build a duplex hose. Around 2000 people have been given homes and 1000

jobs were generated through the bamboo treatment and farming facilities. The foundation

is currently working on their most ambitious project yet: over 500 housing units in Silay,

Negros Occidental.

With the local low-cost housing backlog at 5.5 million, the Base Bahay team has

their work cut out for them. It is well and good that our local bamboo weathered the

storms and has finally been given its big break.

Roda Masinag. (28 November 2018). The creator of a low-cost house made of

bamboo to tackle the chronic shortage of affordable housing in the Philippines is aiming

to have his prototype ready for public viewing by March. Retrieved from

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/bamboo-houses-filipino-designer-unveils-plan-

to-solve-his-country-s-slum-crisis. In coming up with the design, Mr Forlales realised

that the 'bahay kubo' or stilt houses were something that Filipinos were very familiar with.

To make his design eco-friendly, he opted to use bamboo as his primary building

material. Bamboo is an ideal material because it releases 35 per cent more oxygen than

trees and can be grown on poor quality land and harvested annually without leading to

soil degradation. The bamboo used in his design is treated and laminated, meaning its

lifecycle is 10 times longer than normal bamboo. “Bamboo is natural insulator so you

don’t usually get the heat that you usually get from shipping containers. There is also less

need for energy to cool the place down,” he said. The standard unit is a 12sqm studio that

can accommodate two people, which could be expanded up to 48sqm depending on the

family’s needs.
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 21

“The CUBO housing units will have tilted roof that captures rainwater and

reduces heat gain, and elevated stilts that prevent floodwaters from entering the home,”

he said. John Hughes, competition head judge and RICS president said: “There were

many exciting, original designs among the submissions, however, Earl’s idea stood out

for its simple, yet well thought through solution to the world’s growing slum problem.”

About one-third of the Filipino capital Manila's 12 million people live in slums, possibly

the most in any urban area in the world. Over the next three years, an additional 2.5

million migrant workers are forecast to move to the city. Campaigners estimate that the

backlog for government housing in the Philippines is about 5.5 million.

ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 22

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Method/ Design

The method use in this research is descriptive research. According to Spencer

(2007) it is a fact finding study adequate interpretation of the findings. Finest description

defines descriptive research as that investigation which describes and interprets what it is.

It is concerned with conditions or relationships that exist; practices that prevail; and

beliefs and processes that are going on, effects that are being felt or trends that are

developing.

Research Setting/ Environment

This study is applicable and can be adapted in areas, wherein they experience the

effects of climate change that was stated above.

Data collection of this study will be conducted at Pangasinan State University-

Urdaneta City Campus. Wherein, 50 respondents (40 students and 10 faculty members)

of the questionnaire will be randomly selected. Students will be randomly chosen to

answer the questionnaire to share their experiences and opinions about the topic. Also,

faculty members of College of Engineering and Architecture was chosen to answer the

questionnaire because in every project, Architect is in charge in designing and planning

while Engineer evaluate and inspect structural designs.

Data Collection Instrument

The normative investigation will be used in collecting data. This is concerned

with identifying and detailing some elements. Subsequently the current research is status
ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 23

study, the normative investigation was the most appropriate method to use in gathering

data.

The instrument to be used to collect data was the questionnaire. This will be

used because it gathers data faster than any other method.

Statistical Technique Used

The problem of the research study is to be tallied and tabulated in frequency (f)

and percentage (p) table using showing the formula below.

P= f/n (100%)

P= Percentage equivalent

f= Number of respondents

n= total number of respondents

ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 24

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A. Theses and Dissertations

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ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 25

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ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 26

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ADAPTING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 27

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