Saturday, April 24, 2010

up in the air

been intending to blog but haven't found the energy to gather all the happenings, memories and thoughts into a written piece of work. and now, the sheer amount of it all just makes the task even more daunting. it is so daunting that i feel it merits a quick post about just how daunting it is!

right now, i'm in a state of: relief. fatigue. anxiety. excitement. and contentment. all at the same time. (perhaps that qualifies insanity, too?)

so why 'up in the air'? 

because for one, i've literally been travelling/flying around the country for our negosyo seminars (and yes, some excursions). second, i am once again reflecting on my future whereabouts (work-wise). and third, i've been so physically taxed out that it feels like my mind is constantly floating, much like a 24/7 beer buzz.

so i'm SUPER thankful for this day at home, to rest, work a little, and rest some more. but as usual, rest never seems to be enough for me. so for now, it's time to doze off....

i will blog again. some day soon, i hope!

Friday, April 2, 2010

DAtE: Global Architectural Design Competition

Design Against the Elements is a global architectural design competition meant to find a solution to the problems presented by climate change. Spurred by the devastation wreaked in the Philippines by tropical storm Ondoy (Ketsana) and driven by a powerhouse multidisciplinary group of organizations from the private, institutional, and government sectors, the project aims to draw together the most innovative minds in the fields of architecture, design, and urban planning to develop sustainable and disaster-resistant housing for communities in tropical urban settings.

The winning design will be built as a prototype disaster-resistant and livable eco-village in Taguig City, Metro Manila. The village will be the first green and disaster-resistant community in the country. It will provide a model that can be studied and replicated in similar areas. The finished project will house a marginalized community living in an environmental danger zone, giving them a sense of security, ownership, and awareness of sustainability that can be practiced at all levels in their everyday lives.

The project also aims to present a definitive green building solution in a truly local context. Too often, home-owners, architects, and policy-makers think of sustainable building as a luxury that only privileged landowners and advanced countries can afford. Design Against the Elements considers green architecture as essential to survival; it has the ability to reduce the frequency and impact of environmental disasters and lessen the cycle of poverty.

TIMELINES
March 5, 2010 - Competition launch
July 31, 2010 - Deadline of Registration
August 14, 2010 - Deadline for submission of questions
August 28, 2010 - Deadline to dispatch answers to questions
September 25, 2010 - Deadline for submission of entries
October 4-9 2010 - Judging
October 13, 2010 - Announcement of winners
November 19, 2010 - Awarding


For full details, please visit the DAtE website: http://www.designagainsttheelements.org/home.htm