- Details
- Category: Properties
- 15 Apr 2014
- Written by Amor Maclang
WITH the Philippines continuing to be at the receiving end of the harsh, unpredictable impacts of climate change, building for the worst and rebuilding after widespread devastation have become the new norms for land developers and stakeholders in the local real-estate sector.
It is a widely known fact that the Philippines has long been one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. In October of last year, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Bohol and other areas in central Visayas, killing 200 people and destroying more than 10,000 houses. And who can ever forget that fateful day on the 8th of November 2013, when Supertyphoon Yolanda ripped through central Philippines, wiping out entire towns, flattening houses, buildings and all other structures in its path, claiming thousands of lives and leaving over three million Filipinos homeless.
Unless something is done to remedy this harrowing situation or at least help the people adapt to the rapidly changing environment and the depressing loss of shelters, among others, natural disasters will continue to hinder progress both for the Filipinos and the Philippine economy in general.
The challenge that local property developers continue to face today is how they can help promote sustainable responses to address the impacts of worsening climate change. And we were able to take an excellent look at what could possibly be one of the most innovative ways to do just that when we came across the Butterfly House—a pioneering invention that will redefine disaster and risk mitigation in the context of real estate and property building.
Durability, security and a high-quality solution
The Butterfly Housing System was one of the featured attractions during the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions’ (Citem) Manila Fame held last month. It was a brainchild of Filipino-American businessman Rogelio “Vonz” Santos and was co-designed by designer Budji Layug, and architect Royal Pineda of Budji+Royal Architecture + Design.
The Butterfly House is a steel-framed temporary housing structure that can be folded for compact shipping and storage, and unfolded into an immediately liveable structure. It was named as such because it unfolds like a butterfly and can be quickly deployed in disaster-stricken areas.
The design fundamentals of the Butterfly House are based on being proactive, reactive and comfortable, all of which we were inspired by both the aftermath of Yolanda and the apparent need for a more innovative approach to housing millions in a huff. The Butterfly House solution can address the gap of a scalable low-cost yet high-quality interim shelter solution for displaced families.
Learning from the past
Constructing new shelters onsite in response to disasters is labor- and time-intensive, taking days and even weeks to complete a single structure. Hence, meeting demand can take up to months or even years to reach most of the people that are in need.
Tents were the first to be deployed as a quick-response solution, but these materials ended up being used beyond the intended time period. This resulted in dilapidated tent city settlements—something that, sadly, continues to this day. In such cases, sanitary conditions and security are compromised, leaving women, children and the elderly susceptible to illness and vulnerable to predatory activity.
“After Typhoon Yolanda, we learned that many structures, no matter how well-built, are still subject to nature’s awesome power. While one can continue to build and build in an attempt to develop what they would consider ‘disaster-proof’ housing, one has to also consider that the extent and frequency of natural disasters in the Philippines along with massive poverty requires a solution that is low cost and scalable,” said the Butterfly House team. “The Butterfly House poses the questions: Do we necessarily have to defy nature? Rather, can we flow with it better? That said, what if it was possible, with enough lead-time, for one to simply ‘fold’ their Butterfly House. It places people in evacuation mode, which is the proper response. At the same time, a folded Butterfly House becomes a large chunk of compressed steel that, once the storm is over, has a higher potential for structural survivability.”
The advantage of the Butterfly system over other housing solutions is that it is manufactured in Manila, ensuring the consistency and quality of each unit. Unlike bunkhouse construction, the Butterfly system eliminates the possibility of housing built below standards. And because it was designed and developed in the Philippines, it was specifically made with affordability in mind. It can also become a permanent housing solution once reinforced with concrete.
The Butterfly House comes in three configurations: 1) An 11-sq-m single unit, free-standing shelter; 2) A single unit with added bathroom; and 3) A 25-sq-m full-family configuration equipped with bathroom. Pricing varies according to size, as well as exterior paneling. However, developers say the single unit, which costs about P50,000, will suit most immediate needs.
Since the Philippines experiences over 20 typhoons a year and periodic earthquakes, it is prudent to have a solution that can be redeployed quickly to house those in need, providing the security, stability, comfort and sanitation. This kind of innovative response is just as important as helping distressed families rise from adversity.
No comments:
Post a Comment