New architecture for a greener world

Written by Anjo C. Alimario / Photos by Roy Domingo

Sunday, 21 March 2010 17:58

As more and more countries try to foster a safer place for everyone, the Philippine construction industry is doing its share in helping create a “greener” world. In many ways, the Philippine World Building and Construction Exposition (Worldbex) has increased the country’s competence in providing tools, materials and expertise aimed at a sustainable and eco-friendly architecture. With 15 colorful years in existence, Worldbex has gotten bigger and better every year but its goal has always remained the same. According to Joseph Ang, founding chairman of Worldbex Services International (WSI), the exposition aims “to become a venue where innovations are introduced, global ties are established, and new opportunities are opened.” Worldbex started in March 1996, participated in by 15 countries and 375 exhibitors. No less than former President Fidel Ramos graced the event, which was attended by more than 30,000 visitors. On its 10th year, 23 countries with 384 exhibitors highlighted the Worldbex, and 80,000 people visited the expo. This year, despite the lingering effects of the global financial crisis, over 20 countries and a record 880 exhibitors took part in the event, with the theme “Constructing the Future Green Communities through Efficient Technologies and Materials.” Exhibitors took this theme to heart. “Being green is not just being green in color. We comply with regulations. We are ISO-accredited. We recycle our waste water,” said Arnel Nacor, Mariwasa assistant vice president for sales and marketing of Siam Ceramics Inc., which is participating in Worldbex. “This is our major exhibition. Every year we participate in several major exhibitions but this is the biggest,” he added. Mariwasa has allotted 20 booths to launch its new designs and innovations. “This year we are launching about 20 new designs and, at the same time, to let the public know about our being accredited to Green Choice Philippines,” Nacor said. Mariwasa was a recent recipient of the Blue Sky award, the first in Asia, given by the United Nations because of its renewable technology. “This [zero-waste renewable] technology reduces the carbon footprints, which in turn protects the environment,” Nacor explained. According to him, Mariwasa pioneers in producing the country’s first and only ceramic tiles that are considered as “green tile.” “We have high expectations, since we know that this event is a well-attended and well-organized event and the biggest one. Hopefully we are able to get our message across that we’ll be able to create the awareness that we want about the green product…and we would like them to appreciate the designs that we are launching,” he added. Puyat Industries, meanwhile, is promoting its APO RealWood products at Worldbex, such as the latest engineered toog or Philippines rosewood, a hardy and renewable material to suit designers’ needs. There is also Puyat Steel’s Satori roofing tile, which combines the aesthetics of glazed terra-cotta roofing material but lighter in terms of weight. For its part, Wilsonart International is showcasing various laminate products that have aesthetic advantages—scratch-resistant and easy-to-clean—and are eco-friendly. “For those who want to have the look and feel of exotic and domestic woods without harming the real thing, laminates are the best choice,” brand manager Carl Ang said. The green trend was already evident in previous Worldbex events. Last year Pacific Paint (Boysen) Phils. Inc introduced KNOxOUT Paint, an eco-active paint that purifies air and take out harmful pollutants, while Charter Chemical & Coating Corp., which makes Davies Paints, has come up with Bio-Fresh, used indoors, and Megacryl, a latex paint used outdoors. Launch pad During this year’s opening ceremony, Patrick Wall, US Commercial Service senior commercial officer, noted that many companies he knew from the early years of the expo started with small presentations of their products; now they have significantly larger booths. That’s because companies that are introduced at the expo have become well known given that Worldbex is considered a good source of information and technology for the industry. An important part of Woldbex is a conference, which featured international and local speakers who talked about sustainable development. Among them was architect Timothy Wong, who discussed that sustainability and mass housing need not be like oil and water, stressing that concepts can be combined to create lasting and environment-friendly designs. Local architect Amado de Jesus Jr. presented his paper on “Green Architecture and Climate Change” that made buildings positive agents of climate change with eco-friendly retrofitting for older buildings and maximizing energy efficiency in new structures to achieve carbon neutrality. Addressing the very timely issue of disaster-readiness of structures, architect Felino Palafox Jr. tackled about urban planning in architecture and engineering to address disasters toward safer cities, towns and communities. WSI managing director Jill Ang said Worldbex, which runs until March 21, has become more relevant especially with its current focus in green architecture and sustainable development. “We’re challenging builders and construction experts to useless resources and to build with more ingenuity,” she said. In Photos: Jonard Yu, Akari product manager, shows Akari’s energy-saving lighting products at the opening of the Philippine World Building and Construction Exposition at World Trade Center in Pasay City.