I.

TITLE: Socialized-Modular Housing for Low-Income Groups

II. BACKGROUND:

The Philippines is an archipelago composed of about 7,641

islands with a total land area, including inland bodies of water, of
300,000 square kilometers located within South-East Asian tropics
(Mayuga, 2016). The location of the study is based on the Philippines, its
location within South-East Asia and its climate within the tropics. Taking
the Philippine’ condition into consideration.

According to Geography.about.com (2010), The Philippines'

evident risk to natural disasters is due to its location. Being a country that
lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, it is prone to earthquake and volcanic
eruptions. In addition, the country is surrounded by large bodies of
water and faces the Pacific Ocean where 60% of the world's typhoons
are made.

Most of the loss of life in past disasters has occurred due to the
collapse of buildings constructed in traditional ways using materials like
cement blocks, stone, brick, adobe, and wood which were not properly
planned and constructed to be earthquake or typhoon-resistant
(Gupta, 1992).

The Philippines has a population of 100,931,437 citizens, and a

population density of 336.6 people per square meters estimated by the
Philippine Statistics Authority in 2015. During 2009 to 2016 alone, the
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)
estimated a housing backlog of 5.8 million units.

Based on the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA), RA

7279, Socialized Housing refers to housing programs and projects
covering houses and lots or home lots only undertaken by the
government or the private sector for the underprivileged and homeless
citizens which shall include sites and services development, long-term
financing, liberalized terms on interest payments, and such other
benefits in agreement with this Act.

The biggest problem with the low-cost housing market is that

companies build all these houses and somebody has to pay for them.
The buyers cannot afford to pay, so the government steps in and covers
that balance and collects from the people (Leechiu, 2017). With the
current situation of traditional and conventional construction, it would
take a long period of time and a hefty amount of money for housing
construction. This type of construction when done in multitudes also
equates to an increase in waste and production harming the
environment.

In line with the issues regarding low-cost housing, The National

Housing Authority (NHA) addresses the housing needs and gaps using a
strategic plan from 2011 to 2016 that targets the provision of housing
units. Included in this plan is the acceleration of mass housing programs
with alternative housing technologies, schemes and approaches to
ensure decent and affordable homes.

Taking into account of the state of the housing backlog and

conditions concerning natural disasters, a socialized-modular housing
applying the principles of tropical design and sustainable design will be
conceptualized.

a. Problems. According to Tan (2015), The Philippines faces a huge

backlog in providing housing for its citizens, especially the poor and
internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to armed conflicts and
natural hazards. This results to the immense population of informal
settlers in public and private-owned lots often observed in urban
areas. On a national scale, the housing backlog poses a problem in
the economy, health, and the environment. On the other hand, this
condition affects the social, political, and psychological
perceptions of an individual.

b. Objectives. The study aims to create an easily replicated and

adaptable dwelling structure in order to solve the housing need for
the low-income earners in the Philippines.

a) To make available adequate housing for the low-income

earners in the urban and rural areas in the Philippines

b) To provide housing requirements within the generally accepted

levels of safety, health, and ecological considerations
 c) To economically, efficiently, and practically distribute spaces
within the dwelling structure so as to provide the maximum living
comfort and convenience among its occupants

c. Research Questions. These research questions will serve as a guide

to come up with an appropriate design solution for the housing
need in the Philippines.

a) Which design principles shall be applied in the planning,

construction, and maintenance of the socialized housing facility
in order for it to be affordable during its life-cycle phases?

b) What are the prevalent natural disasters and climatic conditions

to be considered in order to properly design a safe and
ecological housing facility?

c) What are the implementing rules and regulations in socialized

housing design that will be applied in the housing facility for it to
be able to provide maximum living comfort and convenience to
its occupants?

d. Relevance. This study is suitable for the Philippines because it will

help in providing an energy-efficient and a materially economic
housing facility that is easy and variably fast to construct in order
to solve the housing backlog in the country. In line with the
increasing rate in the growth of South-east Asian countries, this
study will aid in keeping up with urbanization and its implied
considerations for the future. Globally, this study can change the
perception of people towards sustainable living and how it can
mitigate pollution and carbon footprint by taking into account the
economy of time and materials, the structure's impact to the built
and natural environment, and its effect in the lifestyle of humanity

III. Conceptual Framework.

The different principles of tropical design, sustainablele design, and

modular design will be used in the design process to solve the issues
regarding the current situation of housing in the Philippines and its
environment.

There will be an assessment of the situation regarding the problem

on housing within the Philippines, using data from the Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA), UN-HABITAT and World Economic. The size of the
population, its density and urban growth will be considered to be one
of the determining factors.

A thorough inspection of the Philippine’ tropical climate, location,

and natural features, will be conducted in order to integrate different
points of sustainable design and tropical design.

There will also be a comparative analysis of houses in the Philippines

and a study of different articles of literature relevant to the proposal
which can help in creating the basic module for the socialized housing
unit.

These variables that are relevant to the study are determined by the
following branches that are related to the study. These variables
include: the average household size, the National Housing Authority
Guidelines, and the National Building Code of the Philippines.

After satisfying these variables, the researchers can finally determine

the design solutions that fit the context of the Philippines.
Interconnecting the concepts with the variables, a basic size for a
module will be met, using the average size family members, with its sizes
for different areas within the modular house.
a. Literature Review.

a. HOUSING

Population and the Urban by: Fornos, Thirunarayanapuram

and Burdett

Migration and destabilization of the labor force

Population growth drives the increased pace of global

urbanization and is accelerated by unplanned and
unpredicted migration. In developing regions throughout the
globe, there is an historic migration out of rural areas by
workers and families attracted to cities by the promise of a
better livelihood.

Of the global labor force of about 2.8 billion people, at

least 120 million are unemployed and 700 million are classified
as “underemployed,” working long hours but not receiving
enough money to cover even their basic needs.

Poverty

More than half of the urban inhabitants of Asia, Africa and

Latin America live in poverty. More than 3 billion people—half
the world’s total population—subsist on less than $2 a day. The
number and proportion of those living in extreme poverty are
rising.

The United Nations predicts that by 2025, the majority of

the world’s urban population will live in poverty. In less
developed countries, there are conceptual and
measurement problems in assessing urban poverty. But even
conservative estimates show that urban poverty in the less
developed world is high and growing rapidly.

Sanitation and health

Thousands of urban inhabitants in developing countries

cannot afford the high costs of housing in the cities. The
overstretched finances of city governments cannot subsidize
housing for its millions of poor inhabitants. As a result, most of
these people end up living in slums and shantytowns. It is
estimated that 25 to 30 per cent of the urban population lives
in poor shantytowns, squatter settlements, or on the streets.

Squatter settlements lack running water and sanitation

facilities. Good access to clean water has a proven impact in
reducing waterborne diseases.

Consumption and waste

Megacities are partly the result of an emergent

international economic infrastructure, including the global
trend to outsource jobs to developing countries where there is
availability of skilled but cheaper labor. Cities cause extreme
pressures on the natural resources of the rural areas and
damage to their environments. Cities have very high
population densities, with the result that city dwellers consume
several times more food, energy and other resources than do
the rural people.

Water is a precious resource that is often imported and

consumed disproportionately by the world’s cities. Cities also
generate disproportionate high levels of waste.

Sprawl

As thousands of people move to cities in search of better

opportunities or merely basic livelihood, cities face pressures
upon limited space and infrastructure. The result is often a
spreading out through sprawl, suburbanization and the
creation of satellite cities. The horizontal expansion into green
fields seems irresistible in spite of it dysfunctional results. Sprawl
also increases the need for transportation and other facilities.

Conditions to Livable Housing by UN-HABITAT

UN-HABITAT defines a slum household as a group of people

living under the same roof in an urban area who lack one or
more of the following five conditions: (1) Durable Housing, built
of permanent materials in a safe, non-hazardous site,
(2)Sufficient living area, so that not more than three people
share the same room, (3)Access to clean water that is
sufficient to their needs, easy to access and affordable, (4)
Access to proper sanitation, and (5) Secure tenure and the
legal status to protect the household against eviction.

Key trends in Housing with the context of South-East Asia

The stated facts admit that the current condition of

housing in South-East Asia is an issue. Current trends in housing
being keys in solving the issue : (1)The decline of housing as
political priority, (2) Focus on home ownership, speculation
and neglect of rent-to-pay homes, (3) Increasing reliance to
the private sector, (4) Affordability, (5) Climate change and
disasters, (6) Migration, and (7) Land administration and
management (UN-Habitat, 2016).

Philippine Statistics

With the average size of the Filipino family, having 5

members as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) published
in 2015, the weighted size of the module should fit the
minimum standards of a household with 5 members. The
proposed modules should be designed to allow further
expansions vertically and horizontally with the thoughts of
tropical sustainability and economy.

b. MODULAR DESIGN

The modular building system is fast. It helps to complete

the building earlier, and quicker construction times mean
earlier opening times or in this case an easily accessible type
of housing. Modular building is invariably completed at a fixed
cost (Eren, 2012). This type of construction promotes
sustainability; it is environment friendly, and economical.
Modular housing or prefabricated housing can be modified
by the user according to their preferences. The proposed
modules should be designed to allow further expansions
vertically and horizontally with the thoughts of tropical
sustainability and economy.
 Character of the modular system

A modular system can be characterized by the following:

(1) Functional partitioning into discrete scalable, reusable
modules consisting of isolated, self-contained functional
elements, (2)Rigorous use of well-defined modular interfaces,
including object-oriented descriptions of module functionality,
(3)Ease of change to achieve technology transparency and,
to the extent possible, make use of industry standards for key
interfaces. Besides reduction in cost, and flexibility in design,
modularity offers other benefits such as augmentation, and
exclusion. (Definitions.net,n.d.)

Life Cycle Design

Life cycle design concerns itself with the overall

construction of the building from the pre-building phase, the
building phase, and the post building phase. It takes a step
into the idea of modular design. Modular construction is easy
to build which permit the easy relocation of the construction if
needed, so this construction is flexible and reusable (Foris,
2015).

Historical background of Modular Housing

Prefabrication has been around for more than 200 years in

the form of components such as bricks, tiles, timber, glass, sash
windows and iron columns and beams. Architects need to
familiarize themselves with the production methods, client’s
needs, place, lightweight, portable technologies.
Prefabrication challenges architects deep seated prejudices.
(Henderson, 2010)

The prefabricated house is an important theme, perhaps

the most important, in the conventional, canonical history of
the twentieth-century architecture. They wanted to bring
architecture to the masses and to face up to the realities of
industrial society. What better way to achieve this goal that to
design houses that would be mass produced in factories, just
like Model T Fords? (Davies, Colin. 2005)

The most important figure in the history of prefabrication

was LeCorbusier in the time of the modernist age in
architecture. LeCorbusier in Towards a New Architecture writes
in the last chapter about mass produced housing. Came with
the idea of making the Maison Citrohan 1920 and rationalized
the production of standardized products using blocks,
standard door and windows, asbestos cased rubble walls and
curved concrete roof, an ingenuous way of lowering the costs
for making cheap and flexible mass produced houses. (Davis,
2005)

1937 came the first recorded modular building in the South

Australian record by a carpenter named Henry Manning for
the Manning Portable Cottage. Manning’s work was in such
quality that one of his buildings that was erected in Australia is
still standing today in Adelaide (Ganiron Jr & Almarwae, 2005)

In the 1920’s besides LeCorbusier’s work, another modular

house that has the idea of a mobile home module that has all
the function of a standard house with its furniture and
installation but to accommodate the idea of mobility of the
module was to put wheels to the module, nowadays called a
trailer home. The only difference from a house is the
connections, electricity and size.

After the World War 2 the popularity of the modular

building house began when veterans of the war came home
but influenced of lack of money and jobs, in search for jobs
they had to go to different locations and the importance of a
cheap affordable home that is mobile came into mind. In the
1940’s a popular company, Sears Roebuck were the first in
building modular homes in America, these were kits homes. The
product comes by rail in a kit complete with all the parts and
all the necessities and a detailed instruction to be built.
 The demands of clients for comfort grew during the 1960’s,
in response, the design and development of these modular
homes began to produce a more functional product to
accommodate the client’s needs. Sears and roebuck made
no claim that they had contributed to the development of
modern architecture. At that time, modular home
manufacturers gained full license from architectural society for
designing a safe modular house that is built according to all
building regulations. Since then modular housing has been
upgraded and split in different ways starting from design and
functionality and continuing with different material and
construction solutions (Ganiron Jr & Almarwae, 2005)

With these principles on universal housing the building or

home will be useful, flexible, accommodating to the people
within the building, comfortable, and easy to manipulate
catering to the need for humane design. The researchers’
approach on the building’s design will vary according to
modularity, human need, and the principles of universal
housing design with the context of Tropical location, people
and needs.

c. TROPICAL DESIGN

Tropical architecture is significant because it encourages

an environmentally-sensitive globalism movement. Aside from
that, it also probes into the issues and contentions for a
sustainable future. In the last 50 years, countries in the
South-east Asian region have shown growth in terms of
economic, technological, and material development.

Modern tropical architecture is an adaptation of design

principles to the climate and the changes in the lifestyle that
it implies. Tropical design and sustainable design go hand in
hand.

Passive Design

Passive design could help maintain the temperature

inside the house within the comfortable temperature range.
The heat transmitted through the roof building and the poor
passive design of the structure are the main reasons for the
discomfort of occupants in a non- air conditioned building
(Vijaykumar et al., 2007).
 Orientation

Orientation concerns the position of a building on the site

as well as the arrangement of the rooms within it. In the
tropics a building should be oriented so that the majority of
the walls and windows can be easily shaded from direct sun,
while allowing maximum airflow and input of natural light.
(Cairns Regional Council, n.d.)

Passive Ventilation

Designing a building in a way that maximizes natural

ventilation will greatly reduce the need for energy-intensive
air-conditioning (Cairns Regional Council, n.d.).

Landscaping

Reducing the extent of paving and other hard surfaces

that reflect and store heat and replacing it with vegetation
will result in a cooler building. The combined effect of hard
surfaces in the city is called the urban heat island effect
(Cairns Regional Council, n.d.).

Sunshading

Providing shading to protect occupants from solar

radiation, use sunshades or vegetation and light reflecting
surface finishes with high emissivity to minimize summer
surface temperatures of building surfaces and to minimize
heat gain to people from infrared radiation. (Aynsley, 1997)A
roof design problem occurs because of the poor ventilation
provisions in the modern low-income housing design (Ibrahim,
2004).

d. SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

Sustainable design is about reducing the negative

impacts of material production and construction by
designing and constructing buildings that are appropriate for
the tropics, have minimal environmental impacts, and are
healthy and comfortable for the building users (Cairn Region,
2010).
 During the United Nations Earth Summit held by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Rio de Janeiro
(1992), sustainable developments were defined as
“Improving the quality of human life while living within the
carrying capacity of supporting eco systems”. This definition
has an impact on the economic, social and environmental
development and was later formally adopted worldwide.

The concept of sustainability in building and construction

has initially focused on issues of limited resources, especially
energy, and on how to reduce impacts on the natural
environment with emphasis on technical issues such as
materials, building components, construction technologies
and energy related design concepts.

Three Principles of Sustainable Design

There are three main principles of sustainable design

according to Kim and Rigdon, 1998: (1) Economy of
resources, which includes the conservation of energy, water,
and materials, (2) Life cycle design, discussing the three
building phases: pre-building, building, and post-building
phase, (3) and Humane design, wherein the preservation of
natural conditions, the concept of urban design and site
planning, and human comfort is stated. When these
principles are taken into account, it creates a standard for
the tropical sustainable, economic, and modular model.

Humane Design

According to the study by the Centre for Universal Design

at North California State University (1998), among the
principles of Universal Housing Design are as follows: (1)
Equitable to use, wherein the design should be useful and
marketable to people with different abilities, (2) Flexibility in
use, the design should accommodate a wide range of
individual preferences, (3) Simple and intuitive use, use of the
design is easy to understand regardless the user’s experience,
knowledge, or skills, (4) Perceptible Information, the design
communicates necessary information effectively, (5)
Tolerance for Error, the design minimizes hazards and the
adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions,
(6) Low Physical Effort, the design can be used efficiently and
comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue, and (7) Size and
Space for Approach and Use, Appropriate size and space is
provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use
regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.

Sustainable Design Guidelines by: Bruce Coldham,

Architect

Spatial analysis

i. Systematically record the natural resources of site

and region.

ii. Allocate land use according to productive potential

and (human) social needs.

iii. Understand bioclimatic design strategies for

promoting winter heat gain and reducing summer
overheating.

iv. Use local resources to increase self-reliance.

v. Explore natural processes as the genesis of materials

used and application of recycled and new materials
to construction.

vi. Value natural systems and processes.

Energy production and conversion

vii. Use efficient equipment and appliances to reduce

energy demand.

viii. Match energy quality to end-use needs.

ix. Promote daylighting in building design.

x. Consider biomass combustion.

 xi. Use annual cycle solar-thermal storage to balance
seasonal excesses of heat and cold.

xii. Generate electricity photovoltaically.

xiii. Install appropriate energy storage to buffer

intermittent production of energy.

xiv. Harness wind/hydro/geothermal sources of power to

balance winter slump in solar resource.

xv. Provide grid connection to regional electric utility for

storage.

xvi. Use metabolic energy to reduce capital energy

intensity.

Water supply

xvii. Reduce water consumption by installing efficient

fixtures and outlets.

xviii. Reduce water consumption by matching water

quality to end use.

xix. Collect rainwater for potable and process needs.

xx. Collect surface runoff for process needs.

Nutrient/waste cycling

xxi. Collect “gray water” separately from “black water.”

xxii. Use algal cultures/aquatic plants to remove nutrients,

pollutants, and pathogens.

xxiii. Compost organic materials.

xxiv. Consider anaerobic digestion of organic material.

Food production
 xxv. Match food production with human nutritional
requirements.

xxvi. Couple intensive food production to medium-density

residential development to complete a
nutrient/waste cycle.

xxvii. Adopt organic and biodynamic farming techniques.

xxviii. Maintain perennial polycultures for fruit and grain

crops.

xxix. Use aquaculture techniques for fish and algal

production.

xxx. Exploit the synergetic potential of a systematic

approach to food production.

xxxi. Use “bioshelters” to modify climate for increased

production.

xxxii. Provide food storage from one season to the next for
seasonal produce.

Materials

xxxiii. Value the energy invested in the production of

materials.

xxxiv. Design for long life and easy eventual recycling of

material constituents.

xxxv. Maintain recycling centers for the accumulation and

marketing of source separated goods.

xxxvi. Value shape over mass in achieving strength and

stability.

Shelter design

xxxvii. Locate buildings on sloping, “nonprime” agricultural

land.

xxxviii. Construct low-rise dwelling units in attached clusters

or rows.

xxxix. Orient buildings and primary solar collectors for solar

access.
 xl. Design structures for long life and adaptability.

xli. Employ super insulated building techniques to reduce

heat gains and losses.

xlii. Landscape for microclimatic amelioration.

e. DISASTER RESISTANCE

DISASTER-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION OF LOW-COST HOUSES by:

Dr. Satyendra P. Gupta

Natural calamities, like cyclone, flood and earthquake

have been causing havoc in different regions of the world
and widespread damage have occurred to life and property
in the shortest possible time. Anything from an individual
building to a complete village, town or city can be destroyed
in any of these disasters.

Among all the natural disasters, earthquakes have caused

the greatest loss in human lives and in small dwellings with
unparalleled suddenness. In the Asia-Pacific region
earthquakes have destroyed a large number of dwellings and
small structures because of its poor construction and
non-seismic features. Even in a moderate earthquake,
thousands of houses become inhabitable.

Typhoons pose a real problem to some countries of a

certain geographical location and physical environment. An
annual average of 30 typhoons occurs in the north-western
Pacific Ocean. About 20 typhoons occur in the Philippine area
of responsibility and an average of 9.2 actually cross the
country. Moreover, an average of two typhoons does not hit
land but cause damage. High winds of typhoons generally
cause damage to structures and vegetation.

Materials for Construction

The materials which are generally available for

construction of dwellings are earth or blocks made of soil, clay,
mud, fired or unfired bricks, field stone, cement or concrete
blocks, wood or a combination of these. Cement and lime are
sometimes used for mortars. In many places, mud mortar is
common. Reinforced concrete lintels, floor and roof slabs and
beams are also being increasingly used. The construction
follows a variety of combinations utilizing these basic
locally-available materials.

The Problem

Most of the loss of life in past disasters has occurred due to

the collapse of buildings constructed in traditional ways using
materials like cement blocks, stone, brick, adobe and wood
which were not properly planned and constructed to be
earthquake or typhoon-resistant. In view of the continued use
of such construction it is essential to introduce disaster-resistant
features in them. Statistics suggest that in the moderate to
high seismic regions of the world more than 90 per cent of the
population is still living and working in traditionally-built
structures which are inherently weak from an earthquake
viewpoint and the risk is further increasing due to rising
population particularly in the developing countries. Further, in
the typhoon-prone areas, too, enough attention has not been
paid to make the dwellings typhoon-resistant. Hence, even in
one moderate typhoon, thousands of dwellings collapse
rendering people homeless as has been seen year after year
in the Philippines as well as in some other countries, too.

Socio-Economic Considerations in Safety of Buildings

The results of studies on the performance of buildings

during past earthquakes indicate that certain types of
buildings should not have been constructed in seismic areas
having probable modified Mercalli Scale intensity of VIII or
more. This will include earthen houses, random rubble masonry
as well as brick work in mud mortar. Only rich mortar involving
cement and lime should be used in fired brickwork and
coursed stone masonry. Steel reinforcement should be used in
the walls of the buildings. These are definitely the necessities
but there are a number of socio-economic constraints which
normally do not permit adoption of high-level safety in the
buildings for the masses. There is general lack of concern
about seismic safety due to infrequent occurrence of
earthquakes. There is absolute lack of awareness that
buildings could be constructed earthquake resistant at
nominal additional cost only. Poor people also give priority to
basic necessities and thus generally lack resources for
improving their dwellings. The matter is further complicated
due to lack of skill in seismic design and construction
techniques. Moreover, the building sector is still generally
unorganized. Such considerations therefore compel the
continued use of seismically unsuitable construction practices.

More or less, the same situation exists in typhoon-resistant

construction. People have forgotten the traditional way of
construction dwellings in the typhoon-prone areas which used
to be quite labor-intensive and requiring good amount of
construction materials. In today's circumstances those old
practices will be quite costly, too. Moreover people are
changing their living style and adopting modern designs.
Modern designs if built properly are in no way inferior and
definitely can be disaster-resistant. But people start cutting
comers or do not follow proper specifications and good
construction practices and the result is obvious as seen during
typhoons. Poor people who live in high risk areas are no better
and their shanties are destroyed two or three times in a year.
They also lack typhoon-resistant construction technology and
hence remain always a vulnerable group.

Philosophy of Disaster-Resistant Construction

Theoretically, if appropriate resources and building

materials are available, it is possible to construct buildings
which will be free from any appreciable damage. However,
cost of such construction may be prohibitive. The safety of
human lives should be of primary concern and it will be met if
a building is designed and constructed in such a way that in
the event of maximum earthquake intensity in the region, it will
not suffer total or partial collapse. The building also should not
suffer irreparable damage which would require demolishing
and rebuilding. It may sustain such damage which could be
repaired quickly and the building put back to its usual
functioning. The damage to important buildings such as
schools, hospitals, and churches should even be less so that
their functioning is unhampered.

The present state of knowledge could fulfill such

requirements by adopting appropriate design and
construction details which will be within the means of people
in most countries.

As described earlier, different kinds of materials are used

for construction of dwellings and good disaster-resistant
features will now be described, keeping in mind the low cost
of the structures. Construction using random rubble stone
masonry, brick masonry and timber will be explained.

Disaster-Proof or Disaster-Resistant

Many times the word disaster-proof is very loosely used by

people whenever talking about a structure built to withstand
the forces of an earthquake or a typhoon. In modern times,
technology is so advanced that it is possible to build safely any
structure for any kind of forces, provided the details or all
parameters about that force is adequately known. If the force
details are precisely known then the structure designed and
constructed for that force will never be destroyed. Such
structure is called disaster-proof. Unfortunately, accurate
prediction about earthquakes is not yet possible and, hence,
only statistical predictions can be made. A good estimate for
the earthquake which can take place in future at a particular
location or site is worked out and a structure designed.

The situation in the case of typhoon is a bit better, since an

oncoming typhoon maybe predicted with remarkable
accuracy. However, it is not possible to say what kind of
typhoon will come in six months', one year's or ten years' time.
Therefore, again, only statistical estimate is possible.

Thus, it is seen that it is not possible to precisely predict the

nature of an earthquake or typhoon. Hence, for design
purposes the best available technique of calculation of forces
 is employed and used. The design thus developed and the
structure built is called disaster-resistant rather than
disaster-proof. In such cases it is expected that the structure
will not collapse or be destroyed but may still suffer some
damage which however, can be repaired. This is the basic
philosophy of a disaster-resistant design.

Conclusion

To obtain earthquake or typhoon-proofing in low-cost

dwellings is practically impossible and is usually highly
uneconomical. If enough disaster resistance has been
developed in a cheap house so as to avoid its collapse, then
the objectives of saving lives have been adequately
achieved. The details suggested in this paper for construction
of houses using different materials generally available locally
will fulfill the aim of avoiding collapse. The specifications
suggested can very easily be incorporated in low-cost
construction and can also be used in strengthening work of
existing construction. The methodology suggested has been
tested in the laboratory as well as in field and is being
increasingly used in many developing countries with good
results.

IV. SIGNIFICANCE. This study is suitable for the Philippines because it will
help in providing energy efficient and a materially economic unit that is
easy and variably fast to construct that will solve the housing backlog in
the country. With the increasing rate in the growth of South-east Asian
countries, this study will aid in keeping up with urbanization and its
implied considerations for the future. Globally, this study can change
the perception of people towards sustainable living and how it can
mitigate pollution and carbon footprint by taking into consideration the
economy of time and materials, the structure's impact to the built and
natural environment, and its effect in the lifestyle of humanity.

V. DESIGN AND METHODS. The researchers will gather data and

information from books, published journals, and design guidelines for
sustainable tropical modular housing.
a. Methods of Inquiry. After identifying the project and concepts to
be integrated, certain steps will be followed. For this research to
be successful.

i. Observation. To be able to understand the needs within

the average family’s lifestyle and for future design
solutions, observations will be conducted. Through
inspection of Philippine climate and location is necessary
to enable the researchers to know the advantages and
disadvantages of the situation.

ii. Survey. A survey will be floated among families within to

be able to know the current trend in household living. This
is to address a possible approach in order to know the
wants and needs of family members.

iii. Site inventory. The inventory of the Philippine’s natural

features, which includes its terrain, climate and location,
will be conducted in order to integrate different points of
self-sufficiency.

a. Case Study Analysis. There are two proposals presented.

The following studies show the same concept as Tropical
Sustainability and Modularity in the Philippine context.

i. A Proposal for Sustainable Temporary Housing

Applications in Earthquake Zones in Turkey: Modular
Box System Applications. The temporary housings
constructed in the aftermath of every major
earthquake in Turkey, an earthquake-prone region,
brought about significant problems during their
construction and use. A dwelling space, no matter
how it is made, should protect the dwellers’ physical
and psychological health.
 The modular box system reduces construction
cost and provides an economic solution for
low-income families. These buildings are more
environmentally friendly. Besides, the factory
production installation renders the on-site stage less
challenging. Modular building is invariably
completed at a fixed cost, which is achieved even
through winter construction periods. Foundation
work is usually quite straightforward and is not
affected by weather conditions. The fixed costs of
modular buildings rarely exceed the amounts
specified by contracts, except for the cases whereby
an agreement is made with the client as the work
proceeds.
 Modules are produced in the factory with
consistent quality control, which helps to produce
good quality products. Maintenance is minimized, so
running costs are low. Modular buildings can be
altered or moved with lower costs than traditional
structures. The buildings may be sold and removed if
no longer required. The modular building system is
fast. It helps to complete building earlier, and quicker
construction times mean earlier opening times
leading to a quicker return on the capital investment
of the client. Modular box houses are built in open
an area, which saves 50% of the overall construction
time. Expansion of buildings is simple by adding more
modules: Standardized design details for modular
buildings simplify and reduce the need for specialist
 design input. Modular building construction is safer
than traditional on-site building.

ii. The Autonomous House: A Bio-Hydrogen Based

Energy Self-Sufficient Approach. The study
establishes the outline of a feasible hydrogen
energy-based autonomous house that will produce
no pollution and waste no energy. Suggestions for
future research are as follows:

(1) Independent island-type residential power

generation and use model: This study has focused
on the development of autonomous urban
residential linked to public power system sand it is
hoped that household-based distributed electrical
systems can reduce dependence on large central
power plants. Houses located in remote suburbs
and places where public power is not easily
available have an even greater need for
autonomous energy systems, however.
Nevertheless, further research must study how to
maintain the stability and performance of energy
output, direct use, storage and supply for use.
Research may also focus on the modification of
household generating systems to supply AC power
and examine the use and distribution models, along
with household appliances and equipment, which
are suitable for AC power.

(2) Integration and management of multiple

energy systems: In accordance with the principles
of energy autonomy, buildings can support multiple
energy sources (such as biomass energy, solar
power, wind power, hydropower and geothermal
power, etc.). Further research should therefore
focus on the stable use of multiple energy sources
and different types of current that they produce
(AC or DC). More efficient energy management
platforms will be needed to avoid unnecessary
losses during energy conversion.

(3) Examining the ecological characteristics

of urban systems from the point of view of energy:
According to the broad definition of an ecosystem,
cities can be considered a part of an ecosystem.
Further research can examine the metabolism of
matter, conversion of energy, cycling of water and
flow of currency in urban production and
consumption activities and investigate the dynamic
mechanisms, functional principles and economic
and ecological benefits, spatial structures and
control rules of urban systems.

(4) Handling of wastewater and chemical

oxygen demand (COD) when biomass is used to
produce hydrogen: Because Feng Chia University’s
biomass hydrogen generator produces only a small
amount of wastewater, this wastewater is mixed
with campus domestic sewage and discharged
directly to campus wastewater sewers; it is sent to
the university’s wastewater treatment pond and
then discharged into the city’s wastewater sewer
system. It will be necessary to establish
 community-level wastewater treatment facilities,
however, when biomass hydrogen production
plants become common in the future. Such facilities
must reduce the COD of wastewater from
hydrogen production enough to meet emission
standards, before the water can be discharged to
city wastewater systems. Collaboration with
environmental protection engineers will be needed
in order to integrate relevant pollution control
measures.

This research considers the bio-hydrogen

energy based autonomous house to be a key
next-generation dwelling technology. This has two
implications: First, the house’s self-sufficient energy
cycle consisting of production, consumption and
recycling fulfills the needs of sustainable
development. Secondly, the use of sensors,
computing mechanisms and adaptive architectural
elements will enable autonomous control of the
environment. With regard to the application and
reuse of energy and resources, an autonomous
house of this type can harmonize a passive energy
conservation design with the energy demands of
active devices meeting the need for a comfortable
environment.

iii. “Quartiers Modernes Frugès ” by: Le Corbusier

Quartiers Modernes Frugès is a housing

development located in Pessac, France. It was
designed by noted architect Le Corbusier as both an
architect and a town planner.

This is a low-rise housing that Le Corbusier

designed during the early years of his career for a
small community, and to review the impact of this
project on future housing design. Le Corbusier’s
method of design, with its ability to create a sense of
hierarchy, reveals his vision for modern housing.

First, the concept of standardization is used to

establish the basic specification of the prototype and
 object types, and then the five housing types are
generated in assembly-line-style combination
procedures. By analyzing the production of the
objects, we can see the logical progress of each
design phase. Furthermore, it is clear that Le Corbusier,
by using the production rules, can develop different
combinations of space within the same production
system or under the same conditions as the base,
creating various housing forms.

iv. THE FRENTS HOUSING TECHNOLOGY FOR MASS

HOUSING by: Serafin G. Aquino Jr
Its objective is to produce houses that look good,
are safe, comfortable, easily maintained and
affordable. The system also focuses on the utilization
of unskilled labor to as large an extent as possible.
The FRENTS house is characterized by the core-house
approach. Because of its low purchase price, a
homebuyer is able to introduce subsequent
improvements, especially those of the do-it-yourself
kind, that reflect his personal taste in a home. He is
able to undertake home improvement projects that
customize the dwelling according to personal
preferences whenever he is able to finance them.
The end result is a low-cost dwelling that easily meets
the basic levels of acceptability with regard to
economy, comfort, durability and maintainability.

CONCRETE MASONRY FOR EXTERIOR WALL

the major advantages of the concrete hollow

block are: (l) economy; (2) durability, especially
against tropical weather conditions; (3) resistivity to
termites; (4) fire resistiveness; (5) suitability for use as
both load-bearing and non-load bearing walls or
partitions; and (6) adaptability to diverse
architectural styles as well as to a wide variety of
surface finishes for both exterior and interior walls.

INTERLOCKING HOLLOW BLOCKS

This type of hollow block was developed over a

lO-year period comprising basic research and
development and numerous construction
experiments in different parts of the country. These
interlocking hollow blocks can be manufactured on
site wherever FRENTS house models are being
constructed with the use of portable electric
generators, mortar-mixing machines,
locally-fabricated hollow-block fabrication machines,
wooden racks, special steel pallets and special
individual plastic.

Self cooling. The use of the patented FRENTS

interlocking hollow block, which has three parallel
longitudinal walls, five cross walls and ten hollow
cores, ensures the reduced penetration not only of
heat but also of noise through house wall.
V. References

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Sustainable Architecture. First published 2003 by Spon Press, 11
New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE; Simultaneously published in
the USA and Canada by Spon Press 29 West 35 th Street, New
York, NY 10001
2. Eren, O. A Proposal for Sustainable Temporary Housing
Applications in Earthquake Zones in Turkey: Modular Box System
Applications,Gazi University Journal of Science, GU J Sci
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6. Centre for Universal Design at North California State University
(1998), Universal Housing Design. NCSU.
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previously 'unknown' PHL islands using IfSAR". BusinessMirror.
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LOW-COST HOUSES”. Asian Disaster Preparedness Center. Asian
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