Date of Submission
Spring 5-9-2023
Degree Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Architecture
Department
Architecture
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Professor M. Saleh Uddin, Ph.D.
Abstract
This thesis “The Bahay Kubo Alternative” aims to create an architectural solution that successfully provides alternative building methods, materials, planning, and strategy for current and future stilt homes in the Philippines.
The goal is to increase the longevity of stilt homes and give the residents a sense of ownership and belonging. Moreover, it incorporates adaptable design strategies that take future community growth as well as health & wellness into consideration. This thesis proposes modular stilt homes with alternative structures and designs to prepare the residents for natural disasters and provide them with cleaner environments.
Slums are a sad result of rapid-to-urban migration, increasing urban poverty and inequality, insecure tenure, and globalization. South-East Asia has approximately 370 million slum residents. World Bank estimates the Philippines to have almost 43% of the urban population living in slums. This means out of 113.9 million people, close to 49 million of them live in slums. The Philippines' infrastructure failed to keep up with its constant growth in population, especially in urban areas. The lack of infrastructure upkeep has caused residents to make quick individual decisions rather than pre-planned community decisions on where and how to live and build, creating a large pocket of slums on land and water surrounding cities.
Stilt slums residents do not have easy access to basic services such as water, toilets, electricity, and gas. They also endure poor living conditions, high infant mortality rates, and low literacy rates while living in deteriorating houses surrounded by contaminated water. Government and volunteer efforts have been made in slum rehabilitation projects, but the slum problem still remains. In order to understand the factors that contribute to the success and failure of existing stilt slum homes in the Philippines, a number of research and assessments of previous case studies have been done. From these directed studies, a set of design guidelines have been created to serve as a reference tool for stilt slum homes.
The Bahay Kubo Alternative proposes affordable “do-it-yourself” housing for the Lapu-Lapu slum that will encourage the community to expand, adjust, and persevere; thereby reducing the socioeconomic and environmental issues using architectural solutions.