Angelica Faye L.

Layug
PLANNING 2: FUNDAMENTALS OF URBAN DESIGN AND COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE-Section B71

Bring the community into the process

When Alejandro Aravena was asked to build housing for 100 families in Chile ten

years ago, Alejandro Aravena looked to an unusual inspiration: the wisdom of favelas

and slums. Rather than building a large building with small units, he built flexible half-

homes that each family could expand on. In this video, I realized that as future master

planners we should always consider a lot of things. One of the things that we must

consider is the spaces of the area. When designing a large-scale area like a hotel,

apartment, condo, and more we must divide the space in a way where it can still be

functional but at the same time appropriate to what is needed. What I mean by

“functional but at the same time appropriate to what is needed” means that each area is

enough for the purpose of the space.

Another thing that we should consider in planning is how will this project react to

any natural calamities, is it sturdy enough? can this project protect the area from a

flood? Is it unshakable when earthquakes occur? Will it fall once a typhoon arises? In

planning and designing we must always consider this aspect so that we can assure the

people who will utilize this project that it is built safe and strong. Also, master planners

must always remember the legal responsibilities of an Architect whether, in charge of a

visual facade or entire project planning, architects offer support and counsel that

surpass design specifications. All designs that we propose must be aligned with our

building codes because as master planners we must follow this code to assure that

everything is legal and safe.

As future master planners, we must learn how to think outside the box. For all

information that we receive for our project, let us not be satisfied with what is given to
Angelica Faye L. Layug
PLANNING 2: FUNDAMENTALS OF URBAN DESIGN AND COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE-Section B71

us. Allow yourself to dig deep to know everything for your project. With this, you can

easily solve any problems that may occur because you studied every detail that the

area has. What I mean by this is let us plan and design a project that not everyone will

think is possible like what Alejandro Aravena did to his housing in Chile. Always think of

something that everyone can benefit from but at the same time appropriate and can

complement the area.

I was fascinated with the idea of Alejandro Aravena’s Forest for Geographical

threat approach because it is true that the best material for our project is life itself. You

can see a lot of good factors about this because it can save a lot and produce a lot.

Therefore, we must always input Green Architecture into our project because it

can help the earth in a way that we can align it as a protection against geographical

threats. The video that was presented by Alejandro Aravena says a lot about

Architecture and it made me realize that the things that we are tackling right now as a

student is very crucial to our profession. With this video, I understand why we must

learn how to understand the flow of the spaces and how to divide it appropriately. I also

understand why we must study Tropical Design to understand the needs of a structure

for any calamities. I understand why we must study Urban Design and Community

Architecture so that as future Master planners we are prepared and competent to

design a community where people will utilize and their life is in our hands to be safe.