ORATA, Anthony R.

GESTS01X

ARC222

Architectural Project Proposals utilizing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

 Project Proposal 1: Redesigning the City Of Manila using Mixed-use development

The City of Manila has been facing environmental problems such as air and noise pollution and
poor sanitation due to congested buildings, overcrowding population, displaced communities,
and poor housing. To solve these environmental issues, this project aims to re-plan the City of
Manila using Mixed-used development, in which 2 or more residences, including homes and
commercial buildings, will be mixed or be built together in a specific area to prevent functional
segregation and overcrowding in one specific area in the city. Low-cost and sustainable housing
will be also included in the project to improve the housing layout in the slum area to achieve
good sanitation, particularly in the Tondo, Paco, and Recto area

 Project Proposal 2: Philippine General Hospital Facilities Extension Employing

Biophilic Design

Recently, medical practitioners from PGH have been calling out the need for the improvement of
PGH facilities, particularly the need to increase the number of hospital wards and beds. This
project seeks to propose an extension of healthcare facilities, particularly hospital wards, and
research facilities while employing the Biophilic Design. Biophilic Design is an architectural
approach that aims at natural and artificial landscapes and the built environment that reconnects
the innate connection of humans to nature. Moreover, studies have shown that many healthcare
facilities have been employing Biophilic design due to its effectiveness in increasing the health
and well-being of patients.

 Project Proposal 3: Iloilo Regional Rehabilitation Center for Mental Health

Studies have shown that there is a severe lack of facilities and resources for mental health
services in the Philippines (Lally et al., 2019). Lally et al. (2019) mentioned that the only two
tertiary psychiatric care facilities in the Philippines (the National Center for Mental Health in
Mandaluyong City and Mariveles Mental Hospital) only contain 4,700 hospital beds due to
overcrowding, poorly functioning units, chronic staff shortages, and funding constraints.
Unfortunately, this issue has been ongoing even after the pandemic.

To date, there are about 51 psychiatric care facilities nationwide licensed by the Department of
Health. Only two (2) out of the 51 facilities are located in the Visayas region. To solve this issue,
the proponent aims to propose a healthcare facility dedicated to Psychiatric care and Mental
Health and shall be located in the strategic city of Iloilo to cater mental health care of a different
demographic. In response to maintaining the health of the users, the Bio-Architecture concept
will be applied.

 Project Proposal 4: National Research Center for Alternative and Traditional Medicine

 Project Proposal 5: A Retreat House Using Therapeutic Architecture

In the inadequacy of mental health facilities to cure mental health problems and other related
diseases, certain structures and areas such as theme parks can be alternatives in improving
mental health. To improve the mental health of individuals of different ages and resolve the
increasing level of suicidal rates in the country amidst of lack of mental health facilities, a retreat
house will be proposed utilizing the concept of Therapeutic Architecture.

SDG 4: Quality Education

 Project Proposal 1: Philippine High School for the Arts Campus Extension

The Philippine High School for the Arts is a specialized public high school in the Philippines that
focuses solely on arts education. It provides opportunities for gifted young people in various
fields of visual and performing arts, as well as students who are passionate about pursuing an arts
education. The school's only campus is located at the National Arts Center in Los Banos, Laguna,
and receives thousands of applications each year. Unfortunately, due to a lack of facilities and
government funding, only around 40-50 students are accepted.

Recognizing the increasing demand for arts education, this project aims to build an extension
campus to accommodate more students. The proposed PHSA campus will incorporate 21st-
century learning methods and expand the curriculum to include multimedia, literary, and social
science fields of study.

 Project Proposal 2: Elementary School Proposal Employing 21st-Century Learning

through Interactive Architecture

Interactive Architecture aims to create interactive spaces that create a cognitive environment in
which users are involved in reconnecting and collaborating and gain enjoyment while acquiring
sets of knowledge and information.

In connection with this, the goal of the 21 st century is to make students develop high-order
thinking skills, effective communication, collaboration, creativity, and application of learning in
real-life situations. This learning skillset will be effective by using the principle of Interactive
Architecture in redesigning or proposing a school intended for young learners. The goal of this
project is to propose a primary school design with the concepts of Interactive Architecture to
apply contemporary learning. For instance, designing a centralized and open plan of a classroom
with a variety of seating options based on the learning preferences of students. Moreover,
educational playgrounds and interactive outdoor areas are encouraged for this project.

 Project Proposal 3: Community Library Hub in Remote Areas

The lack of school facilities such as libraries and laboratories is the main concern of schools in
the remote, which is resulted from lack of funding. This affects the learning capabilities of
students living in remote areas, which may result in a low literacy rate.

In response to the declining literacy rate, particularly to the reading comprehension abilities of
students in these areas, a Community Library Hub will be proposed utilizing sustainable
architecture by harnessing the available resources in the area and ensuring the preservation of the
natural environment. Moreover, pop-up libraries and mobile bookshelves will also provide to
extend the reach of the library throughout the community.

 Project Proposal 4: Harnessing Bamboo as an Acoustic Material for Libraries and

Classrooms

Bamboo has been used as a building material due to its robust structure and tensile strength. It
has been used for walls, roofs, dividers, bridges, support structures, and even as an acoustic
material. There have been studies showing the sound absorption quality of bamboo with a length
of 2 cm has an average absorption coefficient of 0.95 at frequencies above 3 kHz.

Utilizing the structural capabilities of bamboo, this project aims to propose an acoustic material
out of bamboo for libraries and classrooms to minimize external noise and improve the quality of
discourse between the students and instructors.

 Project Proposal 5: Alternative Learning System (ALS) School Proposal with Digital
Learning Hubs

The Alternative Learning System is sought to provide opportunities for out-of-school youths
and adults to acquire functional literary skills, equivalent to what is given to formal
education. With the need and demand for digital learning, this project aims to enhance the
learning styles among ALS schools by fusing 21 st-century learning to bridge the gap between
the academe and career. By this, digital learning hubs for ALS schools will be proposed,
which include digital equipment intended for learning such as audio-visual media units and
computer sets. An open interior concept will be applied to create collaborative learning
among the learners.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

 Project Proposal 1: Low-Cost and Sustainable Market Stall Design for Divisoria Night
Market
 Project Proposal 2: Cultural and Community Centers for Lumad People Integrating
Vernacular Architecture
 Project Proposal 3: Adaptive Usage of Historical Buildings in Escolta, Manila
 Project Proposal 4: Affordable and Sustainable Housing for the Slums in Paco, Manila
 Project Proposal 5: Transformation of Luneta Children’s Park Using Interactive and
Educational Design Approaches