DMCI Homes offers free advice at Haraya Arki clinic

MANILA, Philippines - Completing the loop between students’ visionary designs and real-life housing stories, DMCI Homes helped conduct drop-in sessions for free architectural advice to the UP community. The first Arki Clinic was held at the UP College of Architecture (UPCA) in Diliman as part of Haraya, an annual exhibit of selected theses and undergraduate works in architecture and landscape architecture.

The Arki Clinic featured DMCI Homes senior architect Gerry Ramos and interior designer Jen Padrigo, both UP graduates, along with some faculty members of the UPCA, in one-to-one sessions with visitors. UP faculty and students, administrative staff, and residents of areas nearby were encouraged to avail of free architectural consultation for their house plans, interior design, renovation, and construction activities.

Ate Lucy is a member of the UPCA faculty who came to the Arki Clinic about her family’s old house in Quezon province, which she described as “gumewang ng konti.” The residential property is being rented out and is a revenue source for her family. She suspected termites and decided to seek advice. During the consultation session, she was introduced to a few practical analytical tools to help her deal with concerns regarding the property. DMCI Homes’ Ramos said, “I explained to her the possible reasons that could be causing the wall of her house to tilt, and also the possible solutions to remedy the situation. The important thing is for them to understand the logic behind the solutions.”

Good architecture involves applying intelligent design to real world scenarios. In the Philippines, many homeowners appropriate the style of European homes but the design is not directly translatable to our climate and can impact energy consumption. The issues of environmental context and energy efficiency belong within the frame of green architecture, which is upheld by DMCI Homes. The company uses the principles of green architecture by incorporating passive cooling solutions in its building designs (as opposed to using only active solutions that employ mechanical means to control climate, like air-conditioning). DMCI Homes’ projects have central garden atriums that produce the “air stack effect,” wherein air flows across the height of the building. Both ends of the corridors are open to let in breezes, and there are side ventilation and cross openings throughout the structure. “Just by proper design solutions, you can solve most of the problems in your climate. Make the structure adapt to the environment,” said Ramos.

Throughout Padrigo’s professional practice, the interior designer has encountered some of the most common concerns related to condominium living: “The limited space brings up issues of storage and furniture layout.” To make the space look bigger, she suggests making use of built-ins, mirrors, and good lighting, which might seem expensive initially but is the more cost-effective approach in the long run. “‘Pag iisipin mo yung effect nya sa interior mo, worth it naman.”

Sometimes, simply “editing” your home accessories will yield great results for your interiors: “Pinoys love to collect; we’re naturally very sentimental and have a fear of empty spaces,” she explained. “We like to keep trinkets, debut memorabilia, and wedding souvenirs that gather dust but don’t necessarily make the space look nice. It’s nice to have collectibles or displays but keep them to a minimum.”

Architect Ramos shared another way to maximize space. He said that whenever people look at floor plans, they usually think only in terms of height and width. “It’s important to be sensitive to the three-dimensionality of space. Actual space also includes height so whenever you plan your home, you should develop a sense for three-dimensional space and design,” such as the use of loft rooms, to give an example.