Senior Mapua Architecture students Dexter Pangan, Czarrina Hernandez, Kendrick Supnet, and Erik Joshua Isip topped the 2019 Young Builders Challenge (YBC) with their proposal- Haraya: A New Typology for K-12 Schools. It is a playful school layout that aims to enhance the learners’ experience through active social interaction and to reduce construction and maintenance costs by using renewable local resources.

In an interview, Supnet said, ” We realize that the schools’ design lack some elements  that would make it more conducive for learning and encouraging students’ imagination. We believe that by creating better facilities, we can provide better education for students. I am so happy that our team got this opportunity  to share our ideas through this competition. I consider our win as a wake-up call for future builders on how important it is to focus on sustainable construction, as well as in promoting education.”

The Mapua Students bested 13 entries from eight schools all over the country. They received a total of Php 80,000 and Php 20,000 for their school. Meanwhile, Juniors Marc Joseph Espino and Cheaster Marie Seville of UP-Diliman College of Architecture won second place with a proposal for a modular and lightweight concrete house that is highly replicable and adaptable to the changing needs of the Urban poor.

Bagging the third spot is a proposal for a prototype coastal community center by Ben John Basco, Christian Barrameda, and Paulo Piolino of Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology-College of Architecture and Fine Arts (EARIST-CAFA). The proposed center would act as a base of operations for evacuation during storm surges.

Holcim Vice President for Communications Cara Ramirez commended the winners and all the participants for the Outstanding Design Concept by stating that the country’s sustainability has never been more imperative than now. To instill this kind of mindset to our future builders in their formative stage is a step up to our future ahead.

The Young Builders Challenge (YBC) aims to encourage aspiring builders to have a more holistic approach to building and encouraging them to ensure projects are not just economically viable but also environmentally and socially beneficial.