Published on Monday, 01 January 2007 00:00

Written by Christopher Cruz dela Cruz

Green building has been promoted in the past few years as the only logical way to design and build. It offers a host of strategies that enable the building to harmoniously coexist with the natural environment. It emphasizes the need to take advantage of renewable resources, the reduction of raw material use and energy used and other techniques that assists in the conservation and preservation of the natural environment. 

Public acceptance of green building has increased over the years due to its obvious benefits. Green building leads to improved health of occupants; it reduces environmental impact, projects a positive image for the project’s stakeholders, and reduces operating costs due to lower utility bills.

However, at present most building designers and constructors are preoccupied at looking for strategies that utilize state of the art technologies, giving the impression that green building is expensive. Furthermore, if this process neglects traditional design and building techniques, there is the possibility of existing cultural contexts becoming endangered. The significance of a place should be respected and preserved. Heritage conservation is green building. It should not be treated as two separate issues.

In the Philippines, green building practices have been utilized in the past. The bahay kubo is the perfect example - a modest house made of indigenous materials which is easy to construct and easy to repair. The house is raised from the ground. It does not disturb the condition of the site. As a passive cooling measure, there are vents above the windows protected by the roof eaves that allow free passage of air in even when it's raining. Small shuttered windows below the large windows, called ventanillas, may be left opened when the large windows are closed, such as at night. Its windows, when opened, serve as an awning to shield the interior from the elements.

The house’s high ceiling clearance allows good internal circulation. High pitched roofs made of nipa serves as a natural insulation material to lower the temperature inside the house; the roofs also drain rainwater away from the main house. The house is basically a one room affair. Its main room serves as the living, dining, and sleeping area. Its small size makes it easy and cheap to maintain. This compact house adapts to the climatic conditions of the area and makes good use of locally available materials.

Another example from the past is the bahay na bato, a housing model used by the Spaniards who learnt that their housing models from Spain did not last very long in the earthquake-prone country. The bahay na bato is properly designed for earthquakes, heat, heavy rainfall and the tropical climate. Made of volcanic stone (adobe) and hardwoods, it is more resistant to fire and allows the principalia and ilustrados to utilize stylistic elements from Europe and Asia. This 17th century house had two storeys: a ground floor with very thick walls and an upper storey made of wood with overhanging balconies (volada). The thick adobe walls were sturdy enough to support the second floor and serve as a thermal insulator that effectively lowers the temperature at the lower floor.

The lower floor houses the zaguan – a space for storing the family carriage and a processional cart used during the feast of the patron saint. Chinese traders who used the bahay na bato used the zaguan as an office, workshop or as a store. The volada on the second floor receives much of the sunlight during the day with the main living areas basking in the ambient natural light. Large windows are installed on all sides with ventanillas to allow free passage of air. These windows whose panes were made from capiz (a flat translucent shell), allow diffused natural light to the main living areas even when it is shut. The azotea is a hanging garden and a recreation area where people may relax and have tea in the afternoon. A cistern (aljibe) is used to store rainwater that has been filtered with sand and gravel.

These great environmental practices have long been forgotten, but they are evidence that real green building practices do exist. The industry must revisit and rediscover them to save the environment.