Estudio Damgo IV: Welcome Center at Dumaguete City Port Terminal

Estudio Damgo's fourth project: a Welcome Center at Dumaguete City's Port Terminal.  Renderings courtesy of Foundation University's Department of Architecture

After several design reviews with the Philippine Port Authority, Foundation University Estudio Damgo's fourth project for a Welcome Center is approved.  Fifth year architecture students have finalized the design just as the first semester closes.  It is currently semester break and Estudio Damgo students are putting together their last set of drawings and construction details for the City of Dumaguete and the Port Authority for construction.

I've been involved on Estudio Damogo IV's project since August, when I returned as a Fulbright Scholar and consultant for the program.   The Welcome Center was well underway when I came on board.  Student's had already performed the research and secured their partnership with the Philippine Port Authority.  They prepared a conceptual master plan for Dumaguete's Port Terminal and a schematic design for the proposed Welcome Center.  The master plan is divided into phases: the Welcome Center is part of the Phase 1 efforts to improve the port and serve as a gateway landmark for visitors.  The Dumaguete Port is the largest port in Negros Oriental and provides travelers a first impression to the province.  Dumaguete City is the capitol of Negros Oriental and it is known as "U-town" because it hosts 7 universities and colleges, and it serves as one of the largest student population in the Central Vasayas outside of metro Manila.

Foundation University's architecture students will be putting their mark on a prominent site in Dumaguete City with the proposed Welcome Center.  A chance to showcase innovation in design using local materials derived from Filipino culture and unique to Dumaguete, is a rare opportunity for students and for the Filipino community to witness.  This is an ideal site to feature Foundation University's emerging architecture program, at the port's front door and "city of gentle people".        

View the links to see the proposal and a flyover of the site.

Welcome Center Proposal Video

Dumaguete Port Flyover Video

View from the water

View from the port gateway

Interior view

Foundation University Estudio Damgo IV team members with Philippine Port Authority engineers.  Owner's review for the Welcome Center at Dumaguete Center Port Terminal.

Estudio Damgo team members and the Port Authority engineers discuss the design for the proposed Welcome Center.

Estudio Damgo Site Visits and Surveys

Estudio Damgo IV students visit Estudio Damgo I, Dungga Classroom, located in the rural mountain village of Maluanay Valencia.

As part of the research extension program, Foundation University is conducting post-occupancy evaluations on the first, three Estudio Damgo structures to improve future projects for its long-term success. Led by research faculty, Ma'am Geraldine Quinones, former Estudio Damgo project manager, Anna Koosmann, and assisting Estudio Damgo student alumni, are gathering qualitative data from community residents, beneficiaries, and barangay council members from each project site.

Dungga Classroom

Dungga Classroom was the pilot project for FU's architecture design-build studio.  It's been over two years since the building was turned over to the community in March 2013. Overall, the building is in great condition.  The bamboo structure is showing only minimal signs of weathering and the only serious issue we found was one of the exterior, structural poles is infested with bees.  The building has received positive feedback from the community, indicating an increase in student attendance and the space is used for monthly parent-teacher meetings.  Also, the building now supports a feeding program organized by the city's Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).  The community has embraced the structure and is maintaining it, which has led to additional site improvements at the school grounds.

Estudio Damgo IV student, walks on a new concrete path which was added to the school grounds within the past year.

An outdoor kitchen has been built next to Dungga Classroom.

DSWD's tarpaulin sign for the feeding program at Dungga Daycare.

At Estudio Damgo's second project we took surveys from 7 Core Shelter community members.  The surveys reveal that the residents are satisfied with the multipurpose hall design and performance of the structure after one year of use.  During the survey discussions, the president of Core Shelter, Jona David, expressed her gratitude for the building.  She reflected that before the multipurpose hall was built, residents would meet in one of the houses to hold community meetings.  There are over 50 households in the community.  The homes are small, one-room spaces that hold no more than 10 people comfortably.  Before, not all residents felt welcomed to join the discussions.  If they did attend meetings, residents would stand in the street or outside the window to participate.  Now, community meetings are filled with 50-60 residents at each meeting.  The multipurpose hall can accommodate at least one representative from each household to participate in under one roof.  The president emphasized, by having a neutral space, it has largely benefited the community to resolve conflicts.  Before, conflicts between two families would be addressed in a third-party home.  Now, the multipurpose hall creates a neutral and safe space to have meaningful  discussions, creating harmony among the community.  It was also expressed that the residents prefer to use the multipurpose hall to resolve issues rather than going to the barangay hall.

Estudio Damgo II, Multipurpose Hall for the flood survivors at Core Shelter.  Residents are growing vegetable starts in pots along the exterior of the building.

Using the multipurpose hall, Ma'am Gerldine Quinones, discusses the survey with the president of Core Shelter, Jona David.

Estudio Damgo alumni assist the research and building assessment.

After assessing the condition of the building structure, remarkably the bamboo columns and truss members are weathering well after one year.  The research team has taken notes on areas to maintain and repair, so that the community to make full use of the building, like: access to medical services and adult training.

Estudio Damgo's third project was just launched and turned over to the beneficiaries on July 6, 2015.  The two month old floating pyramid is a marine sanctuary center for the fish wardens near Silliman Beach in Barangay Bantayan, Dumaguete.  After surveying 7 residents living along the shore, we learned that the community and the fish wardens are generally happy about the new floating structure.  They believe it is a great addition to keep surveillance and monitor illegal fishing in the area; however, they expressed concerns about the upcoming typhoon season this November.  They think the strong winds will cause high waves and damage the structure.  Time will reveal how well the structure can handle the environment.  

Regardless of any concerns, the residents have discovered larger fish in the area since the launch of the floating structure.  The pyramid is creating a protected habitat beneath the structure, which provides shade and the growth of sea grass.  This is a good sign that the structure is contributing to the local fish population in size and numbers, as well as staving off illegal fishing boats.  In addition to being a structure that watches over the area, the Marine Sanctuary Center is designed for tourists and public access.  Unfortunately, the barangay council members have posted a very clear sign stating, "Notification Prohibited.  Anyone caught using the marine guard house will be arrested and fined."  Geraldine and I will be attending the next barangay council meeting to discuss the intended use of the sanctuary and hopefully make an agreement between the community and the barangay for its intended use as a public structure. 

Estudio Damgo III, the Marine Sanctuary Center.

Exterior view of the Marine Sanctuary Center.

Interior view of the Marine Sanctuary Center.

The clearly posted sign stating, "Anyone caught using the marine guard house will be arrested and fined."

Estudio Damgo alumnus surveys the residents.

The positive reactions expressed by the community from all three projects, are fuel for Foundation University's Estudio Damgo program to continue creating meaningful structures that enable positive change within the community.  Overall, we're learning that each building has been well received by community residents and beneficiaries.  The qualitative research and post-occupancy evaluations will contribute to the program's success and longevity.

Return to Dumaguete City, Philippines

Atop C&L Bay View, one of the new hotels in Dumaguete City with a rooftop vista and skyline. - Photo by Hersley-Ven Casero

After 15 months of living in the United States and establishing myself as a licensed architect, networking and acclimating back to cooler seasons in Minnesota, I have returned to Dumaguete City and Foundation University as a Fulbright Scholar with the Philippine-American Education Foundation, to continue the efforts with the first design-build architecture program in the Philippines.

My return to Dumaguete City and Foundation University has been most welcoming.  I arrived about a month ago, and it's taken me that long to adjust, sit down and actually write a blog.  This is the first time in my 36 years that I have returned to a city to re-live it.  Since leaving home at 18 bound for college, I've moved over 18 times in my adult life.  The idea of "home" has always been temporary.  Although, every place that I've lived, whether it was four months or four years, I've settled into the space to make it my home.  It's been a pattern in my life that I continue to move, relocate, and expand my opportunities, usually for work or educational purposes.  But this temporary move to Dumaguete City is much different.  For the first time, I've moved back to a familiar place while also expanding my career, without hitting the reset button.

When I arrived in Dumaguete for the first time in 2012 (see post), everything was so fresh and limitless.  The new adventure to a new land for a new job and foreign culture, was a risk and leap in my life that kept me on high while I was living here.  After adjusting to life in America and my culture, returning back to the same places, faces, and even the same housing community (different unit, same layout) in the Philippines, lacks the luster from which it all started.  Lacking luster isn't bad, boring, or less than.  Rather, it's comfortably familiar and I often find myself nostalgic for the city I knew in 2012.  I've been so use to change and moving onto the next opportunity in my life, that for the first time, I'm realizing I want things to stay the same.  Friends that were once living here, have left.  I was looking forward to getting my hair cut with the trendy Korean hairdresser, but soon learned, she has also left.  I keep re-living restaurants and venues I frequented in 2012, to find some have closed, others have expanded, changing the way I once remembered them.  My biggest impression after returning to this place is just how fast this city is developing.

I am happy I was able to experience Dumaguete City in 2012, because now in 2015 it seems more metropolitan.  There are more foreigners on the streets, and restaurants offering foreign dishes.  And the traffic (which was once bad) is almost intolerable at times and more dangerous.  Dumaguete City, was once a stopover for Apo Island diving tourists.  It is now a place for retiring ex-pats.  There has also been an influx of Korean's making Dumaguete their home.  Alternative education opportunities catering to Korean students are attracting middle class youth to the area.  But the integrity of Dumaguete has not changed, it is the "city of gentle people" and the home of so many helpful, smiling, native faces.

I'm taking the time to simply just take it all in.  After all, I only have five months and learning that I can't actually re-live a place and my past experiences, instead, I am experiencing Dumaguete anew and realizing that "we can never go back to a place to find it exactly where we left it.  Some things, somewhere, will always have changed mostly ourselves." -Taiye Selasi (TED talk Don't Ask Where I'm From, Ask Where I'm Local)

In the News - "The Other Expats"

Featured in Dumaguete's Metropost entitled, "The other Expats" by John Stevenson, a perspective on ex-patriot living in the Philippines. 

Read my blog here A+ w o r k s: In the News - "The Other Expats"

Read the Metropost report here Metropost: "The Other Expats"

One Last Visit to the Multipurpose Hall

It's been over a month since the ribbon cutting ceremony and graduation.  The final photos are taken during my last visit to check over remaining punch-list items and follow up with Core Shelter residents before returning to the States.  It is humbling to approach the neighborhood and find residents gathered around the front steps playing and cooling off in the shade.  I've heard comments from neighbors how proud they are of the new building, and it is evident in only one month, there have been home improvements made within the community.  This is a positive sign that Core Shelter will take care of the building which will hopefully lend to positive social improvements in the area.  The building will be officially used by the community at the end of May 2014, for two, full-day training seminars with the social worker.  - Photos Courtesy of Hersley-Ven Casero

Read the latest news from Dumaguete's local paper Metropost, A Tale of 2 Buildings.

 

Children gather on the front stoop to play games as night falls upon Core Shelter community.

The lights accentuate the bamboo structure and roof form serving as a neighborhood landmark.

Over 300 intricate joinery connections shape the roof form.

The house across from the multipurpose has put up a bamboo fence, cleaning up the exterior appearance and defines the property edge.  Also, a newly constructed covered entry is a "front porch" that will give "eyes to the street" and a secure watch over the multipurpose hall.  These are positive signs that the community will take pride in the building and hopefully lend to positive social improvements within the area.

There are four folding bamboo and steel doors that fully open for an approachable and inclusive use of interior spaces.

The roof overhangs shade the building and the site during the day.  The roof shape and open plan is designed to catch breezes by drawing the air up and through, reducing the inside temperature significantly from the outside.

EDII - "Panaghiusa" Multipurpse Ribbon Cutting Mar. 25, 2014

Estudio Damgo Panaghiusa Multipurpose Hall located at Core Shelter, Bajumpandan, Dumaguete City, Philippines.  This is the second student-led design-build project for the Department of Architecture at Foundation University.                                - Photo by Hersley-Ven Casero

 

It’s been only 10 months since Estudio Damgo sat with the community for the first time to develop the plans for a dream to gather, access medical services, training programs, and hold meetings.  Today, over 100 households have a place for a variety of needs where they will be sheltered from the hot sun and rain, and able to stay cool and breezy because of the design and materials.

 

As we know, a project of this scale is accomplished by the work of many heads, hands, and hearts.  

Estudio Damgo is thankful to the countless supporters, donors, consultants and volunteers that made it possible to realize this dream.  The most notable material donations were 160 Kawayan Tanik bamboo poles by Herbie Theodoro of Bambusa Callabo. We were able to utilize the interlocking clay bricks donated by Counselor DanDan Teves.  Core Shelter donated 27 ceramic tiles, symbolizing 27 weeks of construction.   

Estudio Damgo thanks Foundation University’s Staff who manage the behind the scenes production.  To Foundation University worker’s skills and labor to put all these materials together and build this dream.  To the Dauin Farm for all your training and assistance in bamboo.  To our foreign donors and Global Giving which has funded a large chunk of the material costs.  To 34 participating artists and 7-venues from the ARTWalk:Art for a Cause fundraiser last November, for sharing your art and spaces for this cause and to the patrons for supporting the local arts for a community.  To 7-bands, 4 dance troupes, and sound by putting forth your talents at the Benefit Concert.  And to those who helped organize the Benefit Concert last December.  To all the Deans of the departments for putting forth department funds towards construction costs. To the Creative Department for the promotional video and countless pictures during the entire project.  To the departments of Architecture, Agriculture, Industrial Engineering, Political Science Society and Entheos for your consultation, support, during the design phase and volunteering during construction.

To loved ones, friends, and family who found ways to encourage us throughout the year and follow our progress on facebook and the blog. To all our partners: this building is truly built for the community by the community and led by three Estudio Damgo student leaders: Rhea Mae Dicen, Leigh Margareth Lagrimas, and Daryl Suasin.

An applause for all the long hours and hard work from countless individuals involved at every level and dedication to seeing the project through its completion and to Realizing a Collective Dream.

“The power of design is to make things concrete – to make the abstract tangible”.  
- Bjarke Ingels of BIG

Nicky Dumapit and Zydor Dumapit Casero introduce DIY native instruments and sounds at the opening of the ceremonies. - Photos by Hersley-Ven Casero

We were asked to perform with Nicky: Daryl Suasin shakes the "thunder-maker", Anna Koosmann uses the "rain-maker", Nicky and Zydor keep time with drums, and Benzi Florendo rattles the goat horns.  Everyone was entertained by the new sounds and positive energy that Nicky brought to the stage.

Anna delivers opening remarks of gratitude for all the support for this project.

Mayor "Chiquiting", impressed by the design and structure of the building, he stated "there should be more buildings like these in Dumaguete City."

Student Leaders, Rhea and Leigh, hand out certificates of appreciation.  Anna is pictured with Core Shelter resident, Franco, volunteer with honorable mention.

Core Shelter's dance troupe, Beatz Mazda, performs for the guests.  The Multipurpose is officially being used by the community!

The President of Core Shelter, Johna David, gives her speech.

Officiated the turning over and blessing of the building by cutting the ribbon with community partners: Dr. Eva Melon, Johna David, the Mayor, Rhea Dicen, Dean Sinco, Orlando Enguiq, Karen Villanueva, Ma'am Corola, and Anna Koosmann.

Father Julius blessing the building.

President Dr. Mira Sinco and Father Julius.

Guests pile into the main space which was noticeably cooler than outside under the tarp. 

Light fixture detail. - Photo by Benzi Florendo

Sir Dean awards students with a Gold Medal of Achievement.

Proud student leaders and their mentors.

Student leader, Rhea Dicen, talks about her Estudio Damgo experience.

Community children lining up for food.

The spread of food. Student leader, Daryl Suasin's family, donated a goat to the Core Shelter community to cook.  It was my first time to eat goat meat. 

The crew of FU workers, instructors, and student leaders who worked full-time on the Multipurpose Building.