By Estrella Z. Gallardo
Design Against the Elements (DATE), the first-ever global architectural design competition for disaster-resilient communities, was announced on January 14, 2011 at the Upper Mall of San Miguel Corporation Head Office Complex.
DATE was conceptualized with the intent to mitigate the effects of the natural disasters brought about and worsened by Climate Change, particularly on the marginalized groups of society who are most at risk since they lack adequately planned and well-built shelter.
“We want to be able to mitigate the effects of the destruction caused by natural disasters, which contribute to the perpetuation of poverty as they result in loss of life and property,” said Shelter Foundation founder Illac Diaz.
The competition which has attracted 119 architectural designs from over 30 countries including the Philippines, is a collaboration among United Architects of the Philippines, My Shelter Foundation, the Climate Change Commission, San Miguel Properties, Inc., and the Quezon City Government.
The competition was launched on March 5, 2010, Registration was until November 19, 2010, Preliminary judging and exhibits of entries was on December 9, 2010, Final Judging was on January 13, 2011 and Announcement of Winners, January 14, 2011.
The winning design, which receives a cash prize of US$ 10,000 will be called the “House of San Miguel” after the patron saint San Miguel Corporation, the parent company of San Miguel Properties, Inc., which co-funded the corporation.
Design Against The Elements (DATE) Winners: Professional Category 1- House of San Miguel (First), 187-C1 Johanna Ferrer Guldager, Denmark; 2nd Prize – 178-C1 Samuel John Williams, England; Special Award–Energy, 111-C1 Romolo Nati, Italy; Special Award–Green Design 223-C1 Vasanth Packirisamy, India; Students/Graduates C2 1st Prize 171-C2 Dao Thanh Hai, Vietnam; 2nd Prize 101-C2 Martin Schorn, Austria; Special Award – Energy 238-C2 Karen Michelle Gill, USA; Special Award–Green Design 127-C2 Stefan Borisov Vankov, Germany.
