DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 16 July)—The design for the proposed Maguindanao del Norte’s tubaw-inspired provincial capitol was declared as one of the two winners in the power and justice category of the World Architecture Festival 2024 (WAF 2024).
Announced Monday in the WAF 2024 website, along with Kanto Creative Corners (one of the official media partners of the festival), the “Peace Building” design by architect Gloryrose Dy Metilla was co-winner in the category. The other winner was the “Küçükçekmece Djemevi” of Turkish architect Emre Arolat.
Last week, WAF 2024 announced that Metilla’s design was shortlisted in the “future projects – civic category” to be showcased in the festival at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on Nov. 6 to 8.
The capitol design is a modern civic building that highlights the community’s culture and symbols of leadership, with its oval shape evoking the traditional tubaw, complemented by latticework and okir moldings on concrete.
In an interview with MindaNews, Metilla explained that this design is an example of celebrating Mindanao’s cultural identity by “promoting culturally-sensitive architecture” in the present day.
“Most of my projects show this. There is always a story to tell about the community through the built environment that I design since it reflects their cultural identity and showcases their unity in diversity,” Metilla said.
For the University of the Philippines Mindanao architecture graduate, these designs elevate Mindanao’s indigenous culture within mainstream architecture, rooting in tropical design principles—adaptable, sustainable, connected to the spirit of the area, and vibrant in its architectural expression.
“If this is how Mindanao is designed in terms of places, we can really say that this is Mindanao—it has something to offer that other places do not have,” she continued.
Metilla, as highlighted in a December 2023 feature in the Manila Bulletin, also designed other culturally-inspired buildings like the half-moon Butig municipal hall in Lanao del Sur reflecting the Maranao culture, the barangay hall of Nunguan in Pikit, Cotabato province inspired by the traditional royal torogan houses, and the Simunul seaport in Tawi-Tawi embodying the famous laminusa mats of the area.
The “Peace Building” by Metilla of Swito Architecture Designs joins “Balai Ani” by Pluszerotwo Design Studio and “Waste-Wise House” by Bacungan Architects as the only Filipino awardees of this year’s WAFX Prize. The other two won in the carbon climate category.
Kanto Creative Corners said this marks the highest number of WAF Prize honors ever achieved by the country.
Metilla will present her winning project during the WAF 2024 in Singapore on November.
The WAFX Prize awards projects using design to address major world issues like health, climate change, technology, ethics, and values, selecting winners from the WAF Future Projects shortlist.
WAF 2024 is the premier event and awards ceremony for architecture and development industries worldwide. (Alyssa Ilaguison / UPMin BACMA intern)
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