DESIGN

PROBLEMS
ESTIOSO, JOY KAREN BS ARCH 5A
ONDOVILLA, ANGEL MAE BS ARCH 5A
 Design Problem #1:

Two (2) Storey Single Attached 2 Bedroom House

I. Statement of the Problem:

A Pasig City based developer decided to offer to

Overseas Foreign Workers, their 3rd subdivision
development zoned as R-2 in Antipolo City. The
developer commissions a registered and licensed
architect (RLA) to design a 2-storey, 2-bedroom
single attached house. The LA service includes
concept design, architectural details/ contract
documents and professional advice in the selection
of the contractor.
The house must comply with the developer's
requirements as follows;

A. The paved carport of 15sqm with 3.0m opening at

sidewalk and starts from right corner of the lot.

B. The ground floor containing the living room,

dining area, kitchen, stair & t&b will utilize the
maximum allowable construction area to maximize
sellable for maximum return of investment. Provide
storage below stair where possible.

C. The second floor in maximum allowable building

footprint will contain the 13.75 sqm bedroom 1, the
7.75 sqm bedroom 2, the stairwell and the hallway.
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D. The ground floor must be well ventilated, as this will NOT be provided with artificial ventilation, while the second-floor rooms will be provided with air-
conditioning.

E. The ground floor line must be elevated by 450mm for sidewalk.

F. The carport floor be the highest natural grade taken from the rear plus 100mm thick of concrete floor slab.

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II. Project site features:

The project site is a regular, rectangular and inside lot of 75sqm with a frontage of 7.50m. The right corner is 0.0 elevation from sidewalk level upward sloping
towards the rear at 1.75% and 1.5% towards the left corner. The lot is bounded by sidewalk and road right of way (ROW) in the south.

III. Design Objectives:

The design solution must satisfy the needs of the developer for a fair return of investment yet satisfying the buyer's want for a functional and attractive house
suitable for a starting family of 3 members.

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QUESTIONS:
1.The approximate location of the main entrance
doorknob, measured from the floor finish is ___ meters.
A. 1.00
B. 0.90
C. 1.20
D. 0.80

2.What is the minimum finish ceiling height at the second

floor?
A. 2400 mm
B. 2700 mm
C. 1800 mm
D. 2250 mm

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3.What is the minimum width of two car carport if the space
is not possible for 6.00 meter?
A. 5.5m
B. 7.0m
C. 5.0m
D. 4.0m

4.What is the approximate height of each riser from the

sidewalk to the house, in meters, if the maximum allowable
height of riser and minimum setback required are applied?
A. 0.20
B. 0.50
C. 0.30
D. 0.10

5.What is the ideal width of the t & b door in meter?

A. 0.80
B. 0.70
C. 0.90
D. 1.00 8
Design problem #2: LOGISTICS CENTER EXPANSION
A Filipino entrepreneur named businessman A is planning to expand his business in Santa rosa, laguna. To do this, he contacted his former college classmate
named businessman B who is now a big-time businessman in the US. Since businessman A had already established a quite large network locally and businessman
B is also doing good internationally, they decided to form a joint venture company to expand their business, especially in logistics operations. They thought that
since Santa rosa city in laguna is a growing industrialized city, it is a good opportunity to expand their logistics center there. The joint venture was then registered
with SEC under the name
Philex logistics inc. The plan is to expand the lot and facilities established by businessman A in sta. Rosa twice its size. This existing development is in a 1.20-
hectare lot facing the sta. Rosa-tagaytay road. Another lot similar in size, slope and shape situated on the left of the existing lot was acquired to serve as the
expansion of the existing development.
The development and facilities in the existing lot includes the
following:

A. Commercial center with an appliance depot in a 0.42-hectare

land area facing the road. Included in this land area are the 12m
wide driveway on the left side, a 43m x 688sqm front parking
space, a long 5m softscape strip on the right, a two-story
appliance depot and a one-story commercial storage.

1. The two-storey appliance depot has a footprint of 43m x

25m and is sited after the front parking space. The ground floor
contains 800sqm customer space and 275sqm support spaces
such as the comfort rooms, cashier’s office and package area.
The second floor contains 500sqm customer area and 575sqm
office space.

2. Behind the appliance depot is the commercial storage

measuring 1032sqm having the same width as the depot and
front parking space. This storage facility contains a number of
racks for the storage of different items especially appliances.
 3. A 5m deep buffer space separates the commercial
storage from the industrial area.

4. The 5m wide softscape to the right will be planted with

trees to block noise and air pollution from the surroundings. It
will also serve as a relaxation space for the employees of the
commercial center. Concrete benches measuring 600mm x
1200mm are placed on this area.

5. The 12m-wide driveway on the left connects to another

driveway with the same width in the
industrial area.

B. The industrial area is a portion of the existing lot with a land

area measuring 60m x 4800sqm inclusive of the 12m driveway
to the left, a 2-storey logistics center fronted by an unloading
area and a 5m wide softscape strip around.

1. The 12m wide driveway has a length of 80m which

connects to the residential area at the rear portion of the
existing lot.
 2. Along the driveway is an 8m x 70m unloading area in front of the
logistics center.

3. The logistics center building footprint measures 35m x 70m. The

second floor measures the same.

4. Softscape areas/strips surround the logistics center on three of

its sides.

C. The 3000sqm residential area at the rear portion of the existing lot
includes a semi-residential and office building, a front open space and a
5m wide softscape around.

1. The semi-residential and office building has a footprint of 50m x

1500sqm with two stories.

2. The front open space that measures 55m x 15m includes

softscape elements, a 10m x 12m pool, and parking spaces. This open
space is connected to a public road through the 12m wide driveway
provided in the industrial and commercial area.

3. 5m-wide softscape strips surround the semi-residential and office

building.
II. Site Features.

The frontage of the existing rectangular lot is 60m. Its area

is 1.20 hectares with a 1% downward slope towards the
back. It is bounded on the North, the longer side, along line 1-
2 by a private lot; on the East along line 2-3 by the 15m-wide
Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road; on the South along 3-4 by another
private lot which is acquired for the expansion; and on the
West along line 4-1 by another private lot. The new lot for
expansion is on the left with the same size, same slope and
same shape. The existing lot is considered by the OBO as
composed of three zones – commercial, light industrial and
residential – which must follow the separate provisions of the
NBC according to its zone requirements. With the newly
acquired lot on the left, each area/zone will double in size.
III. Design Objectives.

Since this is an expansion of the existing facilities, the RLA

hired for the project is tasked to determine how much
development is allowed for expansion. No new constructions
and renovations are to be done with the existing lot and
facilities. The RLA will consider the new combined lot size of
each zone in computing the development requirements for
each of the zone. This will be his basis for designing new
structures in the added areas.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the recommended maximum number of steps
between landings in a staircase?
a. 8 to 10 steps
b. 10 to 12 steps
c. 12 to 14 steps
d. 6 to 8 steps

2. What is the life span of building services?

a. 60 years
b. 15 years
c. 40 years
d. 5-7 years

3. What type of lot is bounded on both ends by a 16-m RROW

and a 2m alley and on the sides by private lots?
a. inside lot
b. through lot
c. interior lot
d. end lot
4. What is the minimum dimensions of an elevator?
a. 1.10m x 1.60m
b. 1.10m x 1.40m
c. 1.30m x 1.50m
d. 1.60m x 1.70m

5. What is the recommended aisle width for two people to

pass comfortably?
a. 1.50m
b. 1.80m
c. 0.90m
d. 1.20m

6. How much wall angle is needed in linear meters for the

ceiling assembly of a 4m x 12 sqm room?
a. 16m
b. 32m
c. 12m
d. 24m
7. Using the combined lot area, what is the existing lot
occupancy of the commercial area?
a. 25.1%
b. 50.2%
c. 17.6%
d. 22.7%

8. What is the required minimum width of the front yard of

the commercial area?
a. 5.00m
b. 4.50m
c. 16.00m
d. 43.00m
9. Using the existing developed lot area, what is the existing
lot occupancy?
a. 82.5%
b. 50.5%
c. 61.5%
d. 45.2%

10. Considering the expanded industrial lot, what is the

existing lot occupancy of the industrial area?
a. 84.1%
b. 31.4%
c. 25.5%
d. 51.1%
11. Assuming that the parking requirement for the project is
50 parking units and there is a plan to acquire another lot
200m away from the site to construct a multi-storey parking
garage, up to how many of the required parking units can be
located in the parking garage?
a. 15 units
b. 10 units
c. 25 units
d. 40 units

12. What is the use or occupancy classification of the

structures in the commercial area?
a. C-1
b. C-2
c. E-2
d. I-1
13. What is the TGFA in square meters of the commercial area?
a. 2150
b. 1032
c. 3182
d. 2107

14. What is the maximum firewall length allowed for the expanded commercial area?
a. 380m
b. 221m
c. 190m
d. 266m

15. What is the frontage of expanded commercial area?

a. 12.00m
b. 120.00m
c. 60.00m
d. 70.00m
16. How many car slots are required for the existing 2-storey logistics center?
a. 4
b. 8
c. 6
d. 5

17. What is the FLAR of the existing semi-residential and office building in relation to the expanded residential
area?
a. 0.25
b. 1.00
c. 0.50
d. 1.50
18. What is the minimum open space required for the
industrial area of this project?
a. 30% of TLA
b. 25% of TLA
c. 50% of TLA
d. 10% of TLA

19. What will be the minimum area of the unpaved surface

area to be added so that the expanded commercial area
follows the most stringent USA requirement for any
commercial zone?
a. 565sqm
b. 840sqm
c. 275sqm
d. 420sqm
20. Using the provision of the code, what should be the
minimum width of sidewalk on each side required for the
driveway?
a. 1.20m
b. 1.50m
c. 1.80m
d. 1.00m
DESIGN PROBLEM # 3 – THREE-STORY COMMERCIAL
BUILDING
I. Design Problem.

A Filipino lawyer was encouraged to venture into the real estate

business. With his savings, he plans to build a commercial
building in his hometown in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. This new
building will house rentable commercial spaces and his law
office. The busy lawyer hired an architect to design the building
and manage its construction. The architect must consider the
following space requirements for this venture:

A. At ground level, the following spaces are required:

i. A rentable commercial space measuring 149.5sqm inclusive

of a 6sqm comfort room in the rear right corner. On the front
right corner is the staircase area measuring 3m x 10.5sqm. The
staircase area and the commercial space forms a 10m-deep
rectangular footprint.
ii. The 10m-deep non-commercial space in front consists of the
parking space with a 2.2m-wide walkway on the left side
connecting the road sidewalk to the staircase area.

iii. A softscape strip is provided at the rear with a width equal to

the required minimum rear setback.

B. At the 2nd floor level, the following requirements are needed:

i. A 169sqm square law office on the left side.

ii. A 3m x 6.5m comfort room and storage space on the right rear
corner.

iii. A 3m x 6.5m stair and circulation area on the right front corner.

iv. A 2m wide front balcony spanning from left to right. This

balcony is offset from the road by the minimum required front
setback.

v. The rear setback is maintained at all levels.

II. Site Features. The project site is a rectangular inside lot
facing a 15m city road, located in a medium-density
commercial area in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The lot measures
352sqm. The lot is bounded along line 1-2 by a private lot;
along line 2-3 by a private lot; along line 3-4 by a private lot;
and along 4-1 by an RROW. The lot slopes at 3% downwards
toward the north-west direction. The technical descriptions
of the lot are as follows:

Load Bearing Distance

1-2 N64d59’E 22.0 M

2-3 S25d01’E 16.0 M

3-4 S64d59’W 22.0 M

4-1 N59d01’W 16.0 M

III. Design Objectives. Given the busy schedule of the lawyer-
businessman, he doesn’t have time to deal with all the
administrative roles for the project. Because he has a huge
amount of savings, the release of money is never an issue.
The architect must consider this scenario and must do his
best to provide the best design forthe client. He must also
consider that the lawyer-businessman is a proud Filipino and
wants a design that represents the local culture. The client is
also an active member of WWF-Philippines so the architect
should consider the best eco-friendly materials and building
methods.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the provided USA in terms of TLA percentage?
a. 5% of TLA
b. 9% of TLA
c. 10% of TLA
d. 25% of TLA

2. Assume that the law office requires 2 exits. What should

be the minimum distance between these two exits in
meters?
a. 9.5
b. 10.4
c. 16.5
d. 18.4
3. What is the approximate length of web-type steel deck
needed for the slab supporting the law office on the 2nd floor?
a. 175 – 190 meters
b. 250 – 275 meters
c. 650 – 675 meters
d. 120 – 135 meters

4. How many pcs of 4” spandrel is needed to cover the 3rd

floor balcony ceiling and additional 0.7m eaves? Add 2.5%
allowance.
a. 160 - 165
b. 150 - 155
c. 120 - 125
d. 170 - 180
5. What is the approximate area of the truss section of the
roof if the roof shape is shed and the pitch is 1:15?
a. 5.2 sqm
b. 7.5 sqm
c. 6.4 sqm
d. 15.1 sqm

6. What type of wall is used to support the elevator shaft of a

high-rise building?
a. retaining wall
b. end wall
c. interior wall
d. shear wall
7. What is the width of the typical aluminum door threshold?
a. 6”
b. 3”
c. 8”
d. 4”

8. A building has a basement toilet. Where should the septic

tank be located?
a. roof deck
b. sidewalk
c. basement with sump pump
d. ground floor

9. Which type of windows is the least ideal for natural

ventilation?
a. sliding windows
b. casement windows
c. jalousie windows
d. all of the above
10. Which type of window glazing has a thin, translucent
metalic coating reflecting a portion of the light and radiant
heat that strike it?
a. low-emissivity glass
b. reflective glass
c. insulating glass
d. obscure glass
DESIGN PROBLEM # 4 – TWO-LEVEL SINGLE DETACHED
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE

I. You were hired by Delos Santos family to design their

house in their newly bought site located in Biñan, Laguna. To
describe the family, Mr. Delos Santos is a real estate broker
who likes woodworking. His wife, Mrs. Delos Santos is an
accountant who likes gardening and collecting native or
indigenous plants. Their two daughters likes weight-lifting
with the older one having won multiple local competitions.
The siblings are very close to each other.

II. The project site is a corner lot in an exclusive executive

subdivision in Biñan, Laguna, cornering the streets of
Sampaguita which runs N-E and Rosas which runs S-E . Both
roads serve as the primary roads for this project. The
following lot descriptions were given:
 Line Bearing Distance
1-2 N 54d 16’ 00” E 15.00 M
2-3 S 35d 44’ 00” E 21.55 M
3-4 S 13d 48’ 00” E 02. 50 M
4-5 S 25d 29’ 00” W 02. 36 M
5-6 S 54d 16’ 00” W 12.00 M
6-7 N 35d 44’ 00” E 25.00 M

III. Line 1-2 is bounded by a private lot, Line 2-6 by road lot
and Line 6-1 by a private lot. The site slopes
downward towards Rosas St. by 2%.
IV. From the multiple interviews, the summary of their
requirements are as follows:

a. The family likes the famous Francisco Mañosa and wants a

house that embodies Filipino culture in terms of materials
and aesthetics. Wood parquet is the preferred finish for the
bedrooms. The façade shall incorporate wood finishes and
natural stones which will compliment the surrounding
gardens.

b. A covered and paved carport is desired on the northern

corner of the lot, measuring 6m x 5.5m and abutting
Sampaguita street. As much as possible all remaining open
spaces will be permeable gardens. Adding to the paved
carport, a paved 1.5m x 15 sqm wide path on the front yard is
provided to serve as path from the carport to the living area.
c. The ground floor will house the 30sqm enclosed
woodworking area on the northwest, a living room on
southeast, dining room and other areas.

d. The second floor will have a master bedroom facing both

the roads. A shared bedroom for the two daughters is
provided along with an adjacent 34 sqm weightlifting room on
the NW side. The rest will accommodate the hallway and
stairs. The second floor will maximize the allowable building
footprint.

V. The architect is expected to satisfy the needs and

requirements of the family, considering the requirements of
the code and the subdivision.
QUESTIONS:
1. A porch that is 500mm above NGL does not need __________.
a. Steps
b. Foundation
c. Railings
d. Bedding

2. What is the area of the provided ISA for this project?

a. 33 sqm
b. 15 sqm
c. 48 sqm
d. 30 sqm

3. What is the approximate area of the lot?

a. 300 sqm
b. 275 sqm
c. 415 sqm
d. 375 sqm
4. Under Rule VIII Table VIII.1, what is the maximum allowable
paved open spaces for this project?
a. 160 sqm
b. 58 sqm
c. 157 sqm
d. 113 sqm

5. Tiling works were contracted as “pakyawan”. Which of the

following can be the basis of cost?
a. total number of tiles
b. total lot area
c. total number of manpower
d. total hours of work

6. What is the equivalent board foot of 15 pcs of 3” x 8” x 12’

wood?
a. 28
b. 336
c. 5,040
d. 420
7. How many CHBs are needed for a 50sqm wall?
a. 480
b. 550
c. 600
d. 625

8. What is the maximum impervious surface area allowed for

the project?
a. 70.4sqm
b. 52.8sqm
c. 35.2sqm
d. 88.0sqm
9. What is the maximum length of side firewalls allowed for
this project?
a. 80% of the side
b. 85% of the side
c. 0% of the side
d. 50% of the side

10. What is the provided TOSL for this project?

a. 163 sqm
b. 218 sqm
c. 375 sqm
d. 155 sqm
DESIGN PROBLEM NO. 5 – TWO-STORY DUPLEX HOUSE
I. Design Problem.

Two couples decided to live nextdoor because they have all been F.R.I.E.N.D.S. since highschool days. The first couple is Ross, a polontologist and Rachel, a fashion
executive. The second couple
is Monica, a chef and Chandler, a transponster. The four decided to build a two-storey duplex house so they can live right next to each other. They will equally share a lot
they bought in a subdivision where the BHL is 3 storeys. Because they are all friendly, they really expect a lot of old friends coming over to their homes. They
also like to throw parties and make fun of themselves. Through their friend Phoebe, they hired a local architect named Teddy Boy Mosby to design and manage the
construction of the house. Their close friend, Joseph Francis Tribbiani Jr., explained all the requirements which are as follows:
a. At front yard, 2-car paved carport is expected for each
unit. Each car slot is the minimum required as per the code.

b. The ground floor of each unit measuring 69sqm will

contain the foyer, stairs, dirty kitchen, living room, powder
room, dining room and storage under the stairs. The entrance
foyer is 2m deep with 6sqm area. The front of the foyer will
be landscaped with plants and will have permeable
pavement. The carport can be totally paved which was
allowed by the OBO.

c. The second floor of each unit follows the footprint of the

groundfloor where above the foyer is a balcony of the same
size. This is good especially since it faces the east. The
second floor will contain the master bedroom, another
bedroom on west side, hallway and the balcony.

d. The architect must maximize the lot. The side and rear
yard will be a mix of softscape and hardscape.
II. Site Features. The project site is an inside lot in a
subdivision in New York, Cubao, Quezon City. It measures
16m x 288sqm with 18m frontage. The site is relatively flat
and has a good front view facing the east.

III. Design Objective. Teddy Boy Mosby, the architect, is

tasked to follow the said requirements. He should also
consider his clients’ profiles. Monica is obssessed in
cleaning. Chandler likes to dance. Ross likes to collect
stuff while Rachel likes fashion. The two couples expect
their homes to be the place where they can be
comfortable with themselves.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the allowable maximum building footprint of the lot
in square meters?
a. 158
b. 172
c. 154
d. 185

2. What is the gross floor area of the project in square

meters?
a. 138
b. 276
c. 132
d. 264

3. What is the total gross floor area of the project in square

meters?
a. 457
b. 336
c. 276
d. 264
4. What is the minimum unpaved surface area of the project
in square meters?
a. 15% of TLA
b. 10% of TLA
c. 45% of TLA
d. 40% of TLA

5. What is the zoning of this project?

a. R-3 max
b. R-2 basic
c. R-4
d. R-1
THANK
YOU!..