FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts

Nicanor Reyes St. Sampaloc Manila

Using Sustainable materials and Providing Innovative Designs of

habitation in Public Housing as Shelter for homeless
Baras, Rizal

In partial fulfillment of the requirements

RESMEAR: Research Method for Architecture

Researcher:
Ma. Andrea D. Arao
Section 4

Adviser
Ar. Verna Lucia Sarraga

Consultant
Ar. Verna Lucia Sarraga

Date: September 2022

 TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
Background of the Problem and Statement of the Problem …………
Definition of the Problem ………………………………………………….
Research Focus ……………………………………………………………
Goals & Objectives …………………………………………………………
Scope and Limitations ……………………………………………………...
Significance of the Study …………………………………………………..
Definition of Terms ………………………………………………………….
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

The Philippines is known for its large population and a high percentage of poverty,
which includes homeless people, because most of them came from rural areas or
provinces that do not have job opportunities, people migrated to Metro-Manila to
pursue their dreams and look for work, causing them to become homeless. To
solve this problem, the government should offer public housing to those without a
place to live in order to remedy this issue. Their objectives are to offer homeless
persons refuge and alternate means of reducing the number of families without
shelter.
However, supplying public housing is now a challenge because the desired
number of housing units hasn't been reached yet, and because the weather has
an impact on the quality of the housing. The project will take into account the style,
kind of housing units, and use of sustainable materials in the design and planning
of housing units that will serve as the shelter for the homeless as a means of
resolving the existing issue.
As a result, the goal of this research is to offer remedies for the existing
situation that will contribute to a decrease in the number of individuals who are
homeless as well as to develop an alternative strategy for improving the design
and planning of housing units to make them more sustainable.

2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

According to statistics, Manila is home to one million homeless individuals, most

of whom live on the streets and underneath bridges. Additionally, the majority of
the homeless individuals in the Philippines traveled to the provinces and to Metro
Manila in search of job opportunities, but they ended up quitting being homeless
and becoming informal settlers instead. The government supplies a handful of
public housing units, but most residents move elsewhere since it is too far from
their places of employment and financial security. In order to provide for their
family, they must leave the public housing and risk their health and safety.

According to the research, the main issue with homeless people is that they
cannot afford to rent public housing because the majority of them do not have
stable employment and their income is insufficient. One of the issues with
government-provided public housing is that it lacks running water, some of the
homes lack doors, windows, and roofs, and the neighborhood is vulnerable to
natural disasters like floods. As a result, there are more people who are homeless,
and government-funded public housing is wasted since it is not finished and
planned properly.

3. DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM

The project will offer public housing for those who are homeless, but it must be
situated close to a place where people can work and participate in activities where
they can make money. It also needs to be situated in a place that is not affected
by floods or other natural disasters. Additionally, homes will be planned based on
their requirements and regular activities. In order to live longer and be resistant to
disasters, the house will be constructed of sustainable materials. The project will
supply electricity and water in addition to the house's design and construction
materials because these are a family's fundamental needs. The housing type is
most often a bungalow for a single family and a duplex for a big number of families.
In addition to accommodation, the project will include open spaces on the property
for kids who want to play in a safe environment, an exercise facility, a family
gathering spot, a connection to nature, and social interaction among each family
residing in the housing.

Since it is a residential project for homeless families, it will offer

accommodation that meets their needs, including bedrooms, bathrooms, modest
living spaces, and kitchens. In order to make the project feasible, we should supply
details regarding the project site, the necessary specifications, and our desired
dwelling design planning. The project differs from conventional public housing in
that it uses sustainable materials, such as bamboo and fiber-reinforced mortar for
the walls and bamboo and metal sheets for the roofing. It also meets all of the
resident’s needs, including those for power and water. Additionally, research is
required on project details like topography, wind and sun directions, and others.
Then, after collecting information on the project site, move forward with the
planning and designing while taking into account the needs of the users who will
use the project as well as requirements like occupancy, zoning, and setbacks of
the site.

This project aims to generate new communities, provide people with a safe
and secure environment, encourage the use of sustainable materials, provide safe
and secure public housing, and finally create sustainable, inventive, and
environmentally friendly space. The proposal encourages social interaction among
residents, such as communication, as well as an architectural solution for the
design of public housing in the future.

4. RESEARCH FOCUS
The purpose of the study is to improve architectural design and planning by
analyzing the structure and construction of public projects in order to set future
design standards and objectives. Included in this design process are:
a. General Design Requirements
b. Functional Elements (Plumbing and Electrical)
c. Use of Sustainable Materials
d. Circulation of Activities
e. Finish Specification
f. Green Architecture and Sustainable Design
g. Fire and Safety Protection
h. Ventilation
5. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of this project is: to prevent and end homelessness, housing opportunities
helps to create a safe, livable community, to give safe and healthy housing in all
aspects of level of life that is suitable for their basic needs.

While the objectives of the public housing project is: Make enough rental and
ownership housing available, in order to fulfill present and future demands;
Maintain high-quality rental and owner-occupied homes for families with all types
of requirements and income levels; Eliminate legal and administrative obstacles to
the creation and maintenance of housing for all income levels and needs; Enhance
neighborhood health and safety; Encourage the development of sustainable
communities with mixed-income housing, employment opportunities, facilities, and
transit; Encourage the development of living communities that respect the
distinctive residential areas of the City and feature a variety of dwelling types, high-
quality design, and scale, and assure that housing possibilities are available to all
locals without discrimination on the grounds of race, ancestry, sex, nationality,
ethnicity, culture, sexual preference, civil status, familial status, age, disability
(including HIV/AIDS), and student status.

6. SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The scope of the research includes the design, form, and use of each space in the
project, the materials used in construction and design, the types of homes, what
spaces are needed by people and are supplied in the project, the number of people
accommodating the project and each house, who are the users, and the
improvement of housing design planning.

The research's limitation is how much the public housing project actually cost.
Additionally, the number of materials in each home is determined by the market's
needs and supply.
Since the majority of public housing in the Philippines is unplanned and
abandoned, this project research is appropriate there.

7. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH

The research will modify existing expertise in designing and planning public
housing in the Philippines, and the project will offer all of the necessary housing
requirements. Given that the current design and planning for public housing are
ineffective for the needs of the population, this project may serve as a model for
future designs and plans.

The typical issues with public housing, such as the use of non-sustainable
materials, the lack of running water, the placement of the housing, which makes it
vulnerable to disasters, and the lack of spaces that are required in a community,
will encourage planners to think of new solutions. The project's target audiences
include architects, planners, researchers, and students of architecture. The project
will benefit homeless individuals, students, employees, LGBT people, and those
with disabilities.
Request for Thesis Adviser