Craciun For Green
Recently, international design consultant Mihai Craciun has come into the Philippines to grace this year the 8th Green Forum of Green Architecture Advocacy Philippines event to give consultations and advise about constructing a responsible and sustainable building on this current generation.
He emphasizes the Green concept infusion on modern urban dwellings in order to improve and sustain urban living. He says: “Green construction is a long term commitment that owners and every member of a construction team must understand from the inception of a project in order to achieve maximum benefits and improve the daily life of the urban community. This commitment does not end with the completion of a project; in fact, that’s when it becomes operational”
Moreover, he implied that building a building green is not going on the flow of the modern trends of green concept but building a building green should be a necessity coming from the heart and not just riding on the green hype.
He cited the 33 stories Zuellig Building situated in the midst of intersection between Makati Avenue and Paseo De Roxas to be the best example of green building in the Philippines that exemplifies world class design and the usage of green technologies in building construction that has awarded Gold Level by Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) or have received a pre-certification at Gold Level for the Zuellig Buildings green standard and policy which every building in the Philippines should imitate or follow. But actually, there are already Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified structures in the Philippines, headed by the Net Lima Tower located at the Fort Bonifacio Central Business District as the very first certified Green Building or Green Mega Structure in the Philippines and the Net Lima Tower is followed by three other towers of Net Metropolis which are also certified Green structures in the Philippines approved by Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design(LEED).
The Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an international green certification system in the world that gave ratings and approval or recognition on regards to green building construction and maintenance of a green constructed building. Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) was developed by United States Green Building Council (USGBC).It has five categories, namely : (1) Green Building Design & Construction (2) Green Interior Design & Construction(3) Green Building Operations & Maintenance(4) Green Neighborhood Development, and (5) Green Home Design and Construction. Moreover, it has also four levels of certification in order for someone’s green building to be certified, that is,(1) Certified – 40 – 49 points (2) Silver – 50 – 59 points (3) Gold – 60 – 79 points, and (4) Platinum – 80 points and above.
Aside from the Zuellig Building, Net Lima Tower and the three towers of Net Metropolis, there are so far 27 structures in the Philippines that is waiting certification by Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
According to Mr.Craciun, the Zuellig Building with its mass and size redefines the intersection on the Makati city cityspace which enhances the Makati city itself. For the design of Zuellig Building is really distinct and attracting basically due to Zuellig Building’s bamboo screens on its glass exterior walls that acts as windows also.
On regards to building green building in the Philippines Mr. Mihai Craciun complained that the hot and humid weather conditions in the Philippines makes for every green designer a difficult times to design a comfortable and sustainable rooms or work spaces that really works and last as the green design of it is intended to be. But he quickly clarifies that hot and humid weather in the Philippines is not a major problem but rather a big challenge for a green designer like him. However, that was his own observation and opinion.
