Monday, April 14, 2008 Advocating green design By Arch’t. Karl A.E.F. Cabilao, UAP
His spontaneity, articulateness and smoothness in the delivery of words never fail to enthrall and effectively enlighten anyone who listens to him talk. Who is he?
Manila-based Arch’t. Miguel “Mike” Guerrero III is truly not just a sought-after architect but also as resource speaker.
He was recently in Cebu as speaker for a seminar with an unlikely group of professionals—doctors specializing in neuro-rehabilitation. But that’s another story.
His recent visit opened an opportunity to touch base and speak to his Cebuano colleagues in the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) during the joint meeting of the Lapu-Lapu and Sugbu chapters.
His topic, “Green Architecture,” is close to his heart. The “green” architect is currently the managing partner of Asian Architects and is very active in the UAP.
He is currently serving as the executive director for Professional Practice of the organization. He is also one of the first 12 Apec architects in the country. Asked to define green architecture in simple words, he answered that it’s all about “appropriate design.” For Guerrero, “green design” is definitely more than just color and the use of plants.
It is about using appropriate techniques in building design and construction that would place significant consideration on the natural environment.
Sun.Star Cebu (SSC): What prompted you to become an advocate of green design and architecture?
Mike Guerrero (MG): I have been a nature-tripper all my life. Seeing the beauty of nature, one is drawn to the desire to perpetuate and sustain that beauty. As an architect, working with the built environment, I can see that our responsibility to build with nature is essential.
SSC: What is the most significant impact of well-designed homes or buildings to environmental protection and sustainability?
MG: Comfort for the building users and occupants, and energy efficiency.
SSC: What specific environmental problem do you consider as most serious?
MG: Water shortage may be the most serious. Water is vital to life.
SSC: How far are our buildings now in terms of being environmentally friendly? What buildings here in the local scene would
you consider as prototypes for green design?
MG: We are still in the infancy of green architecture in the Philippines. All buildings in the country claiming to be green usually have components of green architecture or appropriate design. Since there is no rating system in the Philippines to determine that a building is green, it would be difficult to identify green buildings.
SSC: How would you make the concept of green architecture more accessible to the local professional and clients?
MG: Primarily through an advocacy of awareness. At the UAP-Green Architecture Movement, our primary market is the architects themselves. And through the architects, we can reach out to the public at large.
We do this through seminars and implement green architecture in our design projects.
