St.

Vincent College of Cabuyao

Barangay Mamatid, Cabuyao City, Laguna

Ecotourism Design

A good design is essential for the full enjoyment of ecotourism sites. A well-designed
ecotourism facility promotes environmental preservation, cultural sensitivity, inclusion, gender
sensitivity and safety. In countries located near the equator, it is advisable to follow tropical design
principles.

Good Design Principles

A well-designed product us easy to use, technologically, innovative, ethically made, and
environmental-friendly. The last two characteristics enable guiltless enjoyment of the product.
These design principles should also be applied in making an ecotourism facility.

A well-designed ecotourism facility should enable the exploration of a place and create satisfying
experiences. It should be ethically made and must be environmentally sounds. An ecotourism
facility must be compatible with a place’s natural and cultural values. It should not destroy the
natural appearances of the site nor introduce themes that reduce its authenticity and
indigenousness.

Sustainable Building Design

There are five major principles of an environmentally sustainable building design.

1. Healthful interior environment – materials and building system should not emit toxic
substance in the building. Interior must be revitalized and cleaned with filtration and
planting
2. Energy Efficiency – energy use must be minimized through energy-efficient cooling,
heating, and lighting systems.
3. Environmental Forms – the design of the buildings must be suitable for the ecology of
the site, the nature of the region, the climate and local culture
4. Use of ecological materials – the materials to be used in construction must also minimize
destruction of global environment by having low embodied energy, which is the amount of
energy that came into sourcing, production, and delivery of materials
5. Good Design – means the efficient, sustainable, and elegant relationship of function,
circulation, form, mechanical system, and construction technology have been achieved.

Ecotourism Facility Design

The design and appearance of the ecotourism facility should be compatible with the
landscape and local conditions. The overarching design philosophy of the facility should be
climate-sensitive and exude a strong “sense of place”. A sense of place is the feeling of being
in a unique and authentic setting as compared to what one feels when in a replicated site. Creating
a sense of place involves accentuating all the sensory elements that make the place unique-sight,
sound smell, texture, and taste.

The aspect and orientation must optimize insulation, ventilation, and heating and cooling.
Landscape features must be reflected in design thorough scale, form, color, and texture of the
facility. One design aspect in this regard is to mimic/biomimicry the surroundings areas including
the parts of the facilities. While many ecotourism planners advocate biomimicry and the use of
indigenous materials, some planners like ecotecture where buildings are made of more modern
materials like glass, cubic in shape, and do not look that “natural”
 St. Vincent College of Cabuyao
Barangay Mamatid, Cabuyao City, Laguna

Tropical Design
In a tropical country like the Philippines, tropical architecture is most applicable. The main
principles in designing a tropically responsive building are:

1. Heat gain minimization during daytime and heat loss maximization at night in hot seasons
2. Site selection according to micro-climatic variables
3. Building structure optimization with respect to thermal storage and time log
4. Control of solar radiation
5. Regulating air circulation

Safety Consideration
1. Danger zones in an ecotourism park must be clearly marked. The roofs of
cottages, visitor center, lodges, and other covered structure must be able to
withstand 150kph.
2. An ecotourism facility should be prepared for emergency situations.
3. Situate facilities away from wildlife habitats to avoid close encounters of human
and potentially dangerous animals.
4. Designate trails of biking an hiking to prevent park users from wandering into
potentially dangerous areas
5. Single entry unisex bathrooms rather than multiple stall restrooms are preferred
because they prevent attacks from strangers because of better visibility.
6. Parking lots must be on level ground.

Cultural Sensitivity
The ecotourism facility must apply cultural sensitivity in the provision and design of
facilities. Toilet’s facilities must accommodate cultural and religious preferences.

Gender Sensitivity
The needs of everyone must be taken into consideration in the design of facilities. Woman
and LGBTQA+ visitors should have their own comfort rooms. Toilets for women must have more
toilet cubicle than toilets for males. Some areas are more liberal than others wherein gender-
neutral toilers are installed for male, female, and people of any gender identity. However, more
conservative societies will only install separate toilets for male and female.