Holcim Awards 2005 - Asia Pacific - Encouragement

Ivatan Agricultural Campus, Itbayat, Philippines

Type of project:
Architecture (education)

Start of construction:
not forseen

Principal authors:
Artessa Niccola D. Saldivar-Sali, civil engineer, and Aaron Julius Morado Lecciones, student at the University of the Philippines

Comment of the Holcim Awards 2005 Jury for Asia Pacific
This project is given merit primarily because of the effort to directly involve local stakeholders in the decision making process for a regional development plan as well as its implementation. Also significant are the negotiations already made with government authorities to insure the quality of the “resident’s concept.” Evidenced is a commitment and willingness to confront difficult issues directly in the attempt to provide for social equity.

Ecological concerns are also brought to the foreground with the call for regionally sourced materials and recycling of natural resources. Of equal interest is the scope of the project in that is involves a considerable set of specifications for increasing the performative capacities of the existing landscape. The foreseen economic scheme is ingenious in that it not only accounts for the possible increase of agro-tourism to the region, but also proposes to incorporate tourists in the maintenance of the enhanced life cycle of the environment.

Also commendable is the proposal of energy efficient public buildings on the site that intend to address the lack of employment in the chosen context. The project is convincing in its aesthetic sensitivity to the indigenous culture.