We’re Back: University of Northern Philippines Shortlisted for WAF 2023 Student Charette!

We’re back in the WAF Student Charette game! The University of Northern Philippines is shortlisted for their BALAY ARAPAAP design proposal, an “inclusive informal learning center for the remote island of Puro Caoayan.” With Ar. John Derick R. Dasugo as their mentor, Team Philippines is comprised of eight student members:

• Bayle, Marvin G.
• Delgado, Anthony C.
• Fabie, John Mark Niño C.
• Gacusan, Jade G.
• Paet, Jaimeeh Khariz
• Peralta, Gianne Paula A.
• Ponce, Raiven Ameri D.
• Quiming, Trishia Mae P.

The six shortlisted teams for the WAF 2023 Student Charette are as follows:

• University of East London – The Trinity Project
• Interior Architecture El Salvador – HexaVita
• University of Northern Philippines – BALAY ARAPAAP: An Inclusive Informal Learning Center for the Remote Island of Puro Caoayan
• Architectural Design and Theory Research Center, Southeast University – Echoes of Yore: Old Elements as Campus Catalyst
• The University of Auckland – Papakäinga Ngätiawatanga – A Catalyst for Stability in Uncertainty
• Manchester Metropolitan University – Introducing “Park2” A Catalyst for Parkinson’s Well-being and Research

This year, the WAF Student Charette invited students to address any of the following contexts:

• The enabling of potential (schools)
• The encouragement of community (libraries, local centers)
• The promotion of health (sports centers)
• The delivery of healthcare (hospitals, medical centers)
• The provision of comfort (hospices, refuges)
• The provision of support (housing with care)
• The inclusion of nature (biophilic/bioclimatic design)
• The nourishing of civic life (streets, squares, parks, public spaces)
• The benefits of connection (stations, bridges, airports)
• The inspiration of culture (galleries, concert halls, museums)
• The provision of sustainability (long life, loose fit, low energy)

This marks the Philippines’ return to the global student program after its first shortlist placement and grand prize win in 2013 with the University of San Carlos‘ (Keshia Stephanie Lim, Miguel Jorge Rocha, Jon Medalla, and Kathleen Canlas, mentored by architects Buck Sia and Alex Medalla) Village in a Box. Their entry answered the question: “How can architecture respond to our changing modern society, where people live longer, and traditional family structures are changing?” by “re-inventing the medium-density housing typology to accommodate changing social demographics.”

A Refresher on the WAF Student Design Charette

Student teams (up to eight people plus one or two tutors) were invited to submit proposals related to the theme ‘Catalyst’ by 11 August 2023.

Six to eight teams will be invited to take part in the charrette, which is supported by Broadway Malyan, the international architects headquartered in London with offices across the world, including Singapore.

The theme is intended to stimulate thinking about ways in which design can accelerate beneficial change in respect to challenges facing society generally, or individual fulfillment.

What happens next?

Before WAF

• The team will need to make their own arrangements to attend the Festival at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore from 28 November – 1 December 2023
• All teams and their tutors (one or two) will be provided with complimentary three-day delegate passes
• A final briefing will be provided at 5 PM on Tuesday 28 November in Singapore, venue to be advised
• This briefing will provide an additional element that teams will need to incorporate into their final proposals

At the Festival in Singapore

• Working areas for all teams will be provided in the Festival hall 
• Basic design materials (paper, marker pens, etc) will be made available
• Teams will have two days to finalize their proposals
• On the morning of Friday 1 December teams will present their ideas to an international jury
• Presentations should be 10 minutes maximum, followed by 10 minutes of question-and-answer
• The panel will select a winning team, which will be invited to the Gala Awards Dinner on Friday night

Other matters

• All teams will receive a certificate of attendance as finalists in the charrette
• Selected work will appear in the post-festival online Winners Supplement
• Any queries should be emailed to Paul Finch, Programme Director, World Architecture Festival (paul.finch@emap.com)

#KantoWAF2023

Kanto is once again proud to take part in this celebration by becoming an official WAF media partner for a third time.

The 2023 World Architecture Festival will happen from 29 November to 1 December at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Singapore. Best of luck, team Philippines! •

worldarchitecturefestival.com