Philippine Architectural Design Paradigms
Copyright 2013 Architecture Advocacy International Foundation (AAIF), Inc.
1.1
Architectural Paradigm 1 : NBCP-Compliant Architectural
Design
P.D. No. 1096, otherwise known as the 1977 National Building Code
of the Philippines (NBCP) is a national development control that is
currently implemented and enforced by the Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH) through Acting Local Building Officials
(ALBOs) or duly-appointed Local Building Officials (LBOs) at the
LGU level. Under said law, the DPWH Secretary, in his capacity as
the National Building official (NBO) appoints the ALBOs or LBOs, a
power apparently not delegated to the Secretary of the Department
of Interior and Local Government (DILG) nor to local chief executives
(i.e. mayors and governors of LGUs).
The NBCP is supported by its 2004 revised implementing rules and
regulations (IRR), its referral codes (RCs) and its derivative
regulations (DRs). RCs are laws or regulations that are in direct
support of the NBCP, consisting of but not limited to the following
laws, codes or their successor laws/ codes:
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R.A. No. 9514, otherwise known as the Fire Code of the
Philippines (FCP) of 2008 and its latest implementing rules and
regulations (IRR) and derivative regulations (DRs);
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B.P. No. 344, An Act to Enhance the Mobility of Disabled Persons
by Requiring Certain Buildings, Institutions, Establishments and
Public Utilities to Install Facilities and Other Devices, and its latest
IRR and DRs;
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Latest version of the Architectural Code of the Philippines and its DRs;
Latest version of the Structural Code of the Philippines and its DRs;
Latest version of the Philippine Electrical Code and its DRs;
Latest version of the Mechanical Code of the Philippines and its DRs;
P.D. No. 856, Code on Sanitation and its latest IRR and DRs;
P.D. No. 1067, A 1976 Presidential Decree Instituting a Water Code,
Thereby Revising and Consolidating the Laws Governing the
Ownership, Appropriation, Utilization, Exploitation, Development,
Conservation and Protection of Water Resources, otherwise known as
The Water Code of the Philippines, and its latest IRR and DRs;
R.A. No. 9275, The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, and its latest
IRR and DRs;
R.A. No. 9003, The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000,
and its latest IRR and DRs;
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Philippine Architectural Design Paradigms
Copyright 2013 Architecture Advocacy International Foundation (AAIF), Inc.
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R.A. No. 8749, The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 and its latest IRR
and DRs;
P.D. No. 1586, Establishing an Environmental Impact Statement
System, Including Other Environmental Management Related Measures
and for Other Purposes, and its latest IRR and DRs;
the ICAO SARP and the CAAP MoS for Aerodromes in the case of
airport (or heliport/ helipad, as applicable) selection, planning, design,
construction, administration, operation and maintenance; and
the various Professional Regulatory Laws (PRLs) such as R.A. No.
9266 (The Architecture Act of 2004), R.A. No. 544 (The Civil
Engineering Law of 1950, as amended by R.A. No. 1582 of 1956), etc.,
including R.A. No. 8981, otherwise known as the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC) Modernization Act of 2000, and their
latest IRR and DRs.
DRs are mainly executive issuances that are in direct support of the
NBCP and its RCs, consisting of but not limited to the following
documents:
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Memorandum Circulars (MCs) issued by the DPWH Secretary (in his
capacity as the NBO) directly to ALBOs/ LBOs nationwide;
DPWH Department Administrative Orders (DAOs) as well as other
DAOs issued by other agencies that deal with aspects of the natural
and built environments;
Resolutions by the appropriate agencies, including those by the
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and its Professional
Regulatory Boards (PRBs);
National Administrative Orders (AOs); and
National Executive Orders (EOs).
Faithful and satisfactory compliances with the 1977 NBCP, its 2004
revised IRR, its RCs, its DRs and the pertinent permitting processes
are absolute necessities to help save both the built and natural
environments from further degradation and to help in the proper and
full implementation and enforcement of the 1977 NBCP, a valid and
subsisting law. The basic compliances deal with:
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zoning classification with statements of principal, accessory and
conditional uses;
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allowed building occupancy and building type;
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lot type, configuration and access systems;
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Philippine Architectural Design Paradigms
Copyright 2013 Architecture Advocacy International Foundation (AAIF), Inc.
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road right-of-way/ RROW width (stating arcade width if applicable)
and the total lot area (TLA);
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on-site and off-site analyses, with particular attention to
topography, slopes, hazards, etc.;
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building and site/ grounds orientations with respect to sun, wind,
rain/ storm, noise, pollution sources, odors, view corridors (and
privacy satisfaction);
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treatment of the mandated legal easements (MLE);
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floor to lot area ratio/ FLAR (same as floor area ratio/ FAR), gross
floor area/ GFA and total gross floor area/ TGFA;
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applicable setbacks (including incremental setbacks);
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firewall compliances (as needed);
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basement level compliances (as applicable, particularly on the
matter of setbacks from property lines);
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open and covered parking compliances (including public
transportation connectivities);
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percentage of site occupancy (PSO) and allowable maximum
building footprint (AMBF), including clear indications of the total
open space within lot (TOSL) and the unpaved surface area
(USA) that shall assist in surface water flow retardation (to
prevent accelerated/ flash flooding) and percolation into the
aquifer;
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applicable building height limit/ BHL (including Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines/ CAAP restrictions or other agency
restrictions as applicable);
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allowable maximum volume of building (AMVB);
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outermost face of building (OFB), outermost limits of building
projection (OLBP) and the angle of angular plane with respect to
the road right-of-way (RROW);
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the architectural and space programs;
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wall/ window orientations and wall to window ratio (WWR);
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site development (including urban design) features;
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Philippine Architectural Design Paradigms
Copyright 2013 Architecture Advocacy International Foundation (AAIF), Inc.
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use of natural light and ventilation, particularly of day-lighting and
passive cooling;
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elevator traffic calculations and zoning (as applicable);
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building and site/ grounds colours and textures, particularly those
that are absorptive and reflective of light and heat (that should
illustrate the RLA’s appreciation of tropical design as the same
applies to Philippine buildings);
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graphics, signage and way-finding provisions; and
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design sensitivities i.e. gender, children and the elderly, persons
with disabilities (PWH, physical, mental, emotional, etc.), ethnicity
and indigenous peoples, people with differing lifestyles/
preferences, religion, etc.
The foregoing are only basic architectural plan and design features of
the building that should ideally form part of an architectural permit
application to be prepared by RLAs, an ancillary permit to the
building permit. Should the separate DPWH IRR on sustainable
building design be promulgated, the RLA shall also be responsible
for a number of sustainable building features, as well as features that
address issues and concerns pertaining to climate change adaptation
and disaster resilience. The RLA's description of the proposed
building’s sustainable design features must necessarily include
descriptions of the embodied energy levels of construction and
finishing materials proposed for use in the building, carbon footprint
calculation for the building and its users over a certain period of time,
energy and water conservation features (to include rainwater
harvesting if possible), solid waste management provisions
(collection, storage, recycling, reuse, disposal), etc.
The architectural permit application, once imposed by the DPWH,
must clearly show that the proposed building fully satisfies all the
spatial requirements and all the applicable national and local
development controls (DCs). The architectural permit application and
its support architectural documents must also show the calculations
for architectural life safety code compliances, particularly those
mandated under R.A. No. 9514 (The 2008 Fire Code of the
Philippines/ FCP and its 2009 IRR). Also for inclusion is the
satisfaction of the mandated compliances with B.P. No. 344
(Accessibility Law of 1983) particularly with respect to parking slots,
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Copyright 2013 Architecture Advocacy International Foundation (AAIF), Inc.
ramps, elevators and toilets for persons with disabilities (PWD).
Additionally, the pertinent information on architectural design features
that address specific user needs and sensitivities must be included
e.g. gender, age, ethnicity, religion, etc. as well as urban design
features e.g. including lists of street furniture, way-finding provisions
and directional signages as well as statements of the proposed
treatments of transitional spaces between the public domain (e.g.
RROW) and the building grounds and enclosed building spaces.
Even if the same may not yet be required by the DPWH, it is best
that the foregoing form part of the architectural documentation fo teh
project.
A major component of the architectural documents package shall be
the project description which must contain information on the users
and the indoor and exterior spatial provisions created to address the
activities to be housed/ sited in the proposed building or structure or
its site/ grounds, a statement on the aesthetic blending (or stark
contrast) of the building/ structure with its environs, a general
statement on the overall quality of the materials for use on the
building, statements on the space planning (SP) and architectural
interiors (AI) of the building, statements on the urban design (UD) of
the building and its site/ grounds and the affected portions of the
public domain (such as RROWs and MLEs) as well as on the
perceived effect of the building on the local environment and an initial
estimate of the building/ project cost.
1.1.1
Fire Integrity of the Building/ Structure
For a mixed use building, uses/ occupancies which can all be subject
to incidences of fire, explosion, fumes, leakages, etc. and potential
acts of sabotage or other forms of public disorder can cause
extensive building/ structural damage. As such, the upper floor levels
must be protected from such threats through the provision of key fire
integrity provisions that can help localize fire and smoke spread and
penetration only to the affected floor/s or level/s below. For this
reason, non-circulation/ access openings that vertically traverse the
building (from basement through deck roof levels) shall be avoided
as much as possible e.g. light and ventilation courts/ wells, atrium
courts, and the like.
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Philippine Architectural Design Paradigms
Copyright 2013 Architecture Advocacy International Foundation (AAIF), Inc.
1.2
Building and Grounds Fit-out
1.2.1
Furniture and Movable Items
These are large movable equipment, such as tables and chairs, used
to make an enclosed or outdoor space suitable for living or working;
the movable articles in a room or an establishment that make it fit for
living or working; may also be referred to as furnishing; the possible
examples of furniture in a typical Philippine building are: tables/
desks/ work benches (modular manager/ clerical/ work stations,
conference, training, coffee, tea, side, etc.), back cabinet/s and side
returns (as necessary), pedestal drawers, filing cabinets, assorted
chairs (i.e. gang, visitor, clerical, junior/ mid-level/ senior manager/
conference/ high chairs for counter operations and occasional/
accent chairs, cafeteria chairs/ stools and the like), sofas (1-/ 2-/ 3seaters), beds with/ without headboards and the like; movable or
demountable counters (low, medium or tall heights as applicable)
with assembly-type shelves/ compartments (including trash
collectors) and the like; movable items such as figurines (as
applicable), decorative items such as vases and the like, directional/
indoor traffic barriers (with escutcheon plates), trash containers/ bins,
plant-holders and the like; small accessories or fittings that attach to
both the exposed and concealed surfaces/ spaces of furniture items
and the like.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The foregoing classification of Furniture
specifically excludes Street Furniture such as park benches,
pedestrian barriers, waiting shed seats, telephone booths, police
callboxes, ATM terminals, pedestrian barriers, streetlights, signage
poles/ pylons, projecting signs, canopies, covered walks or other
legally located/ sited items such as electrical/ telephone poles and
telephone boxes found/ permitted within the sidewalk portion of the
road right-of-way (RROW).
1.2.2
Furnishings
These are furniture, fittings, and other decorative accessories (such
as curtains and carpets) for a building or room; a piece of equipment
necessary or useful for comfort or convenience; an object that tends
to increase comfort or utility, especially an article of furniture for the
interior of a building; fabrics used for curtains, upholstery, or floor
coverings and the furniture, appliances, and other movable articles in
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Philippine Architectural Design Paradigms
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a room or building; the possible examples of furnishings in a typical
Philippine building are as follows : fixed stations such as reception
desks/ counters, appliances such as integrated desktop computers
and peripherals, television and stereo sets (where applicable),
movable task lighting devices, ceiling-mounted or wall-mounted fans
(as needed), water dispensers, airpots, coffee-makers, vending
machines (possibly by others) and the like; movable/ transferable/
demountable assembled articles such as non-illuminated or selfilluminated directional signages, directional information and similar
graphic devices, assorted shelves/ shelvings, cafeteria kitchen and
pantry equipment including stoves/ ovens/ refrigerators; fixed
counters, cabinets or closets with fixed shelves/ compartments
(including dedicated task-lighting devices as applicable), sanitary
fixtures (tissue and paper towel dispensers, sanitary product
dispensers, diaper changing boards, etc.) and the like; fittings such
as pipes/ tubings/ drains connected to non-capital equipment and
plumbing/ electrical/ electronic/ mechanical fixtures and the like; and
other decorative accessories such as curtains, drapes, blinds,
shades and carpets/ carpet tiles, paintings, wall hangings, sculpture
(large/ medium/ small), and decorative/ accent lighting devices, with
complete fittings and accessories, and the like
1.2.3
Fixtures
These are pieces of equipment or furniture that is fixed in position in
a building or vehicle; articles attached to a building or land and
considered legally part of it so that such items normally remain in
place even when the building owner moves out; something securely
fixed in place or attached as a permanent appendage, apparatus, or
appliance e.g. plumbing fixtures; the possible examples of fixtures in
a typical Philippine building/ grounds include the following: visible,
remote-operated and/or tangible/ operational devices or provisions
that are fixed in position in (i.e. permanently attached to) a building
and which partake of finishing items, such as plumbing fixtures
(water closets, urinals, lavatories, water fountains, etc.), electrical
fixtures (general and task lighting, area lighting for grounds, exterior
building lighting including up-lighting or down-lighting, indoor and
outdoor switches/ manual controls and convenience outlets, etc.),
electronic fixtures (indoor and outdoor/ rooftop cameras, speakers,
sensors, monitors, card-access or biometric access terminals for
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secure areas, automated main gates and doors, etc.), mechanical
and related auxiliary fixtures (sprinkler heads, indoor climate
management or control terminals/ stations/ switches, etc.), and the
like; and architectural fixtures such as large fixed/ sectional mirrors,
finish hardware items, wall (or floor) safes and the like.
1.2.4
Equipment
These are the necessary items for a particular purpose or activity;
equipment (solid state), apparatus, gear, materiel, outfit,
paraphernalia and the like; materials needed for a purpose such as
laboratory apparatus; all the fixed assets other than land and
buildings of a business enterprise; tangible property (other
than land or buildings) that is used in the operation of a business;
examples of equipment include devices, machines, tools,
and vehicles; the possible examples of equipment in a typical
Philippine building are: visible and tangible/ operable apparatus,
gear, materiel, outfit, paraphernalia, tools relating to architectural,
structural, electrical, electronic and auxiliary (telecommunications/
audio/ video/ building management system/ BMS), mechanical,
sanitary, plumbing, fire-fighting functions/ operations of the building
e.g. integrated computer systems including peripherals, ticketing
system including cash registers and official receipt or trip ticket
printers, point of sale (POS) reporting system (as applicable, possibly
for both ticketing/ parking and commercial leased spaces), public
information/ notification/ address systems including departure and
arrival information systems, inter-modal to bus communication
system (including tracking/ monitoring system), inter-modal parking
and covered private vehicle parking systems including card
dispensers, parking fee collection booths/ counters, manual and
electronic barriers/ booms, manual traffic devices such as removable
barriers e.g. cones, blocks, wheel locks and the like, electronic
overhead parking space availability indicators, electronic/ emergency
directional signages, and the like.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The foregoing classification of EQUIPMENT
specifically excludes CAPITAL EQUIPMENT such as elevators,
escalators, walkalators (level or inclined), other types of conveyors
(as applicable), transformers, generator sets (gensets), automatic
transfer switches (ATS), fan coil units (FCUs) and air-conditioning
condensing units (ACCUs) in case of package-type air-conditioning
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systems or cooling towers and air handling units/ AHUs (in case of
centralized air-conditioning systems) and their support devices/
provisions requiring separate housing such as machine rooms and
the like.
1.2.5
Fittings
These are small parts on or attached to a piece of furniture or
equipment; items, such as a stove or shelves, that are fixed in a
building but can be removed when the owner moves out; may also
be referred to as furnishing.
1.2.6
Accessory
This is a thing that can be added to something else in order to make
it more useful, versatile, or attractive; something nonessential but
desirable that contributes to an effect or result; secondary,
subordinate or supplementary item; an adjunct or appendage; the
possible examples of accessories in a typical Philippine building
include: figurines, free-standing sculpture or accent/ mood lighting
devices, small accent furniture pieces, throw pillows, table runners,
candle holders and other dining/ tabletop implements, non-fixed
mirrors, rugs and non-fixed carpets, carpet protectors, provisions or
small items made of acrylic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or fiberglass
such as suspended/ hanging trays, etc.
1.2.7
Fit-Out
The placement/ positioning/ siting of equipment into a room or
building so that the same can be used for a particular purpose or
long-term activity. Nothing follows.
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