BENAMER, NICOLE C.

April 6, 2019

2015121811

The Buhay Bahay: An Innovative Compact Resilient House

Written Proposal

I. INTRODUCTION

A proposal of a resilient house in the Philippines is not new knowledge but

let me tell you about the difference of our proposed innovative resilient house

to the others that came before me. Before starting about our proposal, here is

the simplest definition of a resilient house, it is defined as design of structures,

landscaping, or other buildings that is vulnerable to devastation that occurs

naturally.

The Buhay-Bahay Resilient House is a type of housing that is a solution for

those who seek stronger and tougher houses that can withstand situations and

calamities. It is flexible and can be exposed to different calamities that occurs

often in the Philippines by using lightweight materials yet strong enough to

endure other mishaps that can take place. The proposed house becomes

resilient by adapting to the catastrophic events that most designed houses or

proposed resilient house can’t withstand. Some can only withstand one or the

other but never all, it would either have stilts to combat flooding, but can be

affected by earthquakes, or using materials that can withstand earthquakes but

can be accessible by flooding.

 The Buhay-Bahay House took its design concept from the “bahay kubo”,

made using vernacular and eco-friendly materials. This resilient house has

several benefits to its users and to the environment as well. First, the materials

that was used are eco-friendly and indigenous materials causing no damage in

the health of the users and the environment since it does not contain harmful

chemicals. It is equipped with floating mechanism, magnetic technology and

durable materials. The exterior walls of the house are composed of eco-blocks,

while the vertical members are made of bamboos and ferrock. It is composed

by magnets in the foundation members making it flexible when earthquake

strikes, a grp platform with plastic barrels below giving it the ability be

buoyant enough to float when flooding. It consists of two floors, the ground

made up by the kitchen, dining, and living areas, the mezzanine composing the

bed spaces for the users. It is composed of six main parts, the quatro aguas

roof, eco block walls, retractable stairs, grp platform with plastic barrels

underneath, the columns that has magnets, and lastly the foundation.

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A. OVERVIEW

ArCares is an architectural firm that aims to provide the Filipino people

the highest level of safeness. The Buhay Bahay is a compact resilient house that
can provide that when a natural catastrophe occurs in our country. It serves as a
protection barrier to calamities yet still providing for the basic needs of a home
should have. As of now there are only a few resilient houses that can only cater to
one type of catastrophe, which is flooding. According to research, during the
typhoon Yolanda which is the worst disaster that happened in the Philippines,
6,300 people were killed due to the heavy rain fall causing severe flooding,
second to this is the 1976 Mindanao earthquake killing approximately 6,000 lives.
Structures that are currently being built in our country can’t always withstand
 both. Whether you are an engineer, architect, or a normal Filipino Citizen, our
intent is providing you the safety you need.
The company would appreciate financial aid and assistance from the
National Housing Authority and the Home Development Mutual Fund that are the
authorities in charge with public housing in the Philippines and the one that is
responsible for governing the national savings for shelter financing in the
Philippines. Introducing our proposal which is the Buhay Bahay Resilient House,
it is a compact house that is a solution for typhon and earthquake calamities. It
captures the traditional house of the Filipinos while being able to cater to the
needs of the Filipino people when it comes to living spaces.
B. VALUE PROPOSITION

ArCares aims to provide state-of-the-earth and modern eco-friendly house

which is equipped with modern technology, floating mechanism, magnetic
technology, and durable materials to the needs and wants of our users. Unlike
other proposed resilient houses, our product has features that is specialized for
earthquake, typhoon, and flooding disasters, it is PWD friendly with its retractable
stairs that can turn into a ramp, and can house about 6 people inside, it has its’
own plumbing system, and has two solar panels for backup power when black
outs or brown outs occur. The Buhay Bahay would only take less-than 6 months
to construct that already includes the delivery of materials to the site, and unlike
other proposed resilient houses, the Buhay Bahay is 25% less than the price that
they offer since it is made up of bamboos, wood, and eco-blocks.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED WORK

A. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

The Buhay Bahay is an innovative compact resilient house equipped with

floating mechanism, magnetic technologies, and durable materials designed to cope

with the natural disasters of the Philippines and that it abides to applicable and

appropriate laws and regulations such as the PD 1096. This is a house that saves

lives of the people inside it when natural calamities happen. Resembling the “bahay

kubo”, the Buhay Bahay is equipped with modern technologies, it being a 3 layered

structure banded together by bamboo poles, its interior maintaining the concept of

Filipino spaces composed of basic living features catered to provide the needs of
 the Filipinos. It is made up of indigenous and eco-friendly materials such as

bamboos, eco blocks, wood, ferrite, and ferrock. The special features of this

resilient house are the quatro aguas roofing, eco-block walls, bamboo platform with

barrels underneath, column system, and its foundation.

B. SCOPE OF SERVICES

1. PLANNING AND ADVICE

The most important part in any user and architect, designer, or even

engineers are the planning part. This stage, the type, wants, and needs of the

customer would be determined, as well as the price, advised location, the date of

construction, etc.

2. DELIVERY OF THE MATERIALS

When delivering the required materials of the house, you should ensure that

the location chosen should be accessible to the delivery trucks and the equipment

that would be used in the construction stage of the house. It should not only be

accessible but spacious enough to fit the materials for staging.

3. CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE

The company would be the one to provide workers for the construction of

the house, equipment, and materials. There would be a project manager thrice

every week for inspection of the house and making sure it is on the agreed

schedule.
 4. ON-SITE SERVICING

On-site services will occur in regular layoffs that were agreed n in the

planning and advising stage. A complete site servicing includes the inspection of

materials and construction, the mechanism of the product as well as the cleaning

of plumbing tanks for the first year of the house. Agreed supplementary materials

would be included too.

C. WHAT’S INSIDE BUHAY BAHAY

 FIRST FLOOR MEZZANINE FLOOR

D. IMPACT OF THE PRODUCT

As said in the beginning, the Buhay Bahay has less impact to the

environment unlike other resilient house since this house use eco-friendly and

indigenous materials that does not produce a lot of VOCs. It too has no bad

impact on the health of the users since the house is designed to sooth and cater the

needs of the users avoiding sick building syndrome. The Buhay Bahay would

have great impact to the community in the Philippines since it caters to both non

PWD and PWD citizen. It too provides a safe place when disasters, devastations,

and calamities occur.

E. CUSTOMERS AND STAKEHOLDERS

As a result of problems in houses in terms of calamities and disasters, the

company wants to address the proposed resilient house to architects, house

IV. METHODS, PROCEDURE, AND THEORY

A. MECHANISM AND PARTS

1. QUATRO AGUAS ROOFING

The hip roof serves as the roofing of the house since it is more resistant to

strong winds making strong winds when there’s a typhoon tolerable and less

likely to be lifted off. This having 4 sides makes the interior of the house less

likely to be entered by rain since the roof would cover all sides of the house. It has

a solar panel attached to one side so that even when loss of electricity occurs,

there can still be energy that can be transmitted to the house with the use of

sunlight.

2. BAMBOO STILTS

This material would be used in columns is abundant in the Philippines, it

being stronger than wood, brick or concrete. The adjustable stilts are a type of

mechanism that serves the house making it earthquake and flood proof, the

bamboo adjustable stilts are connected to the column which is then connected to

the foundation.

3. GLASS REINFORCED PLASTIC PLATFORM

This material is corrosion resistant, lightweight and high in strength and would be used to

cover up the platform which has the plumbing tanks inside and the vertical steel support that

connects the walls of the house to the platform. The stilts are connected to the platform that has

floating barrels below them so that when flood takes place, the water would make the barrel

floats, lifting up the platform that has the house above it, while lifting up the platform, the stilts

adjust so that the whole structure is still connected to the column and foundation.
4. ECO BLOCK WALL

The wall would be painted a color that the owner prefers and is connected

to the grp platform. The wall has vertical steel support inside connecting it to the

platform for it to be stable when earthquake or strong winds hit it.

5. WINDOW AND DOOR LOUVERS

Louvers are window blinds or shutters that can be applied in window, door, or

other openings, angled in a way that can let in light and air yet still being able to

keep out rain or unwanted sunshine within the structure.

6. FLOATING BARRELS

It is attached below the platform of the resilient house to make it float

since it isn't heavy and floats easily. The floater barrels are usually blue or black,

but any color is fine.

7. FERROCK COLUMN AND FOUNDATION

This is the material that would be used in making the column and

foundation of the structure.

8. FERRITE MAGNETS WITH SPRINGS AS SEISMIC ISSOLATOR

 The foundation is like a hook for the whole house, it stops the house which is

connected by the column to move, but for it to become earthquake proof, magnets

with springs are installed a few meters away from the foundation within the

column, so that when earthquake strikes, the magnet that is connected to the

house and the magnet connected to the foundation would move through friction

but won’t break off since there’s a pull between them. The spring act as the

flexible member so that when earthquake happens, it sways with the movement of

the ground and as what is said earlier, the magnets act as the pull but for that pull

to happen, magnet should have a negative and positive ion since opposites

attracts.

9. RETRACTABLE STAIRS

For the Buhay Bahay to be P.W.D. friendly it must include mechanism

that can help them access the house since it is elevated from the ground. The steps

are made from bamboo wood and are connected by metal members at the sides

with hinges to help them retract easily when needed.

10. VERTICAL STEEL SUPPORT

The vertical steel support is a type of framing system with a skeletal frame

consisting of vertical columns and beams constructed in a grid type to support the

structure especially the walls, floors and roofs. In the Buhay Bahay it is inserted

in the platform and the eco block walls to connect them both, making the house

stable when earthquake occurs. This would resist vertical and horizontal forces

making it strong at the same time flexible.

B. CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
1. Excavate the land two meters deep to prepare the soil for foundation

construction.

2. Pouring out cement concrete.

3. Prepare U-shaped ties for the 6 outer foundation and 2 inner foundation

and connect it to vertical bars up to 2 meters.

4. Construct the formworks of the foundation system. All foundations must

be constructed simultaneously.

5. Fill in the ferrock mixture in the form works and allow it to settle and

cured for 28 days to allow full strength of the ferrock mixture.

6. Assemble the seismic isolators while curing the foundation. Attach the

steel plate to the ferrite magnet and the six springs. Cover the seismic isolator

with rubber covering.

7. After curing, install the seismic isolators to the foundation by bolting the

steel plates to the foundation.

8. Attach 8 to 10 centimeters diameter dendrocalamus bamboo and bolt it in

the seismic isolator.

9. Create formworks to a 0.40 X 0.40 meters column covering the bamboo.

Then, pour the ferrock mixture in the form works and allow it to cure for 28 days.

10. Construct the casing in 8.46 meters in length and 5.94 meters in width

using bamboos with diameter of 8 to 10 centimeters. Interlock the bamboos and

tie them with standard rope. In the vertical support of the casing, create a hole

inside the bamboo and insert a rope in between and interlock it by tying a knot.

The rope will be tied to the steel frame of the platform after construction
11. Construct the steel framing of the platform with 0.80 meters spacing in

between the supports. Ensure that each support is tightly bolted and welded in its

connections. Construct the surface of the platform in 8.46 meters in length and

5.94 meters in width using glass reinforced plastic. Don’t Install the decking yet

for the vertical support of the eco blocks.

12. Assemble mechanical staircase in the façade of the house.

13. Insert the floating barrels into the bamboo casing and compact it as

possible. Attach the bamboo casing to the platform and ensure that supports are

tightly attached to the steel frames using ropes.

14. Install the necessary tanks inside the platform supported by the floor

framing. Again, tie a knot to securely connect the platform to the casing.

15. Fastened the platform to the anchoring bamboo poles and ensure it has a

room for rising. Apply stopper in the ends of the poles for the protection of the

Buhay Bahay amid flooding event.

16. Using the steel vertical support, install the eco blocks and attach the eco

blocks to the vertical support by using anchoring steel.

17. Install the roof framing directly connected to the anchor bars of the walls.

18. Once the walls were constructed, construct the wooden wall bracing using

tanguile wood and attach it to the top horizontal steel bar to the wall bracing.

19. Attach galvanized iron roofing with gauge 24 and solar panels are

installed.

20. Onsite inspection and finishes are done before the assembly of furniture

and interior finishes.

V. CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE

Title of Proposed Innovation The Buhay Bahay: A Compact Resilient

Product: House

Proposed start date: April, 2019

Proposed end date: October, 2019

VI. QUALIFICATIONS

One of the designers of the Buhay Bahay is a 4th year student that’s currently

taking up Bachelor of Science in Architecture and specializing in sustainability in Mapua

University. She is currently working as an intern in Concipio Tektura. She has attended

seminars about emergencies during natural disasters specifically typhoons and

earthquakes that inspired her to design a resilient house for the Filipino citizens. The

designer had the chance to design a residential house that is resilient to flooding during

her Architectural Design 4 project which was supervised by Ar. Geraldine Legazpi.

VII. MARKET ASSESSMENT & COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

A. ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITIES

The company would appreciate financial aid and assistance from the National

Housing Authority and the Home Development Mutual Fund that are the authorities in

charge with public housing in the Philippines and the one that is responsible for

governing the national savings for shelter financing in the Philippines.

 B. COMPETITION

The Buhay Bahay is a unique product since it is the only compact resilient house

that offers resiliency in both earthquakes and typhoon disasters such as flooding here in

the Philippines, such that it’s cheaper than other proposed resilient houses.

VIII. FINANCIAL PROJECTION/ RETURN OF INVESTMENTS

• Unit Size= 15sqm

• Selling Price per sqm= 30,000

• Construction Cost per sqm= 15,000

• Selling Price per Unit= 450,000

• Loanable Amount (90% of selling price) = 405,000

• Buyer’s Equity (10% down payment) = 45,000

• Miscellaneous Fee

o Origination Fee (5% loan) = 22,500

o Filing and Notarial Fee = 6,500

o Water and Electric Meter = 5,000

o Occupation Permit = 15,000

o Building Permit = 30,000

o Location Plan = 1,000

o Prepaid Insurance (1.2% of selling price) = 5,400

o Transfer of the Title (2% of selling price) = 9,000

o Total= 94,400

• Project Expenditures

o Pre-Construction Cost = 60,000

 • Construction Cost = 225,000

• Planning and Engineering (7% of construction expenses) = 157,500

• Marketing Management (1.5% of sales) = 6,750

• Selling Commission (2.5% of sales) = 11,250

• TOTAL EXPENDITURES = 450,000-500,000 pesos

IX. CONCLUSION

The Buhay Bahay: An Innovative Compact Resilient House is designed for the

need of the Filipino people against strong natural calamities and disasters, this is to

ensure the safety of their lives when catastrophe strikes. This does not only benefit our

company and yours but most importantly it benefits those who are in need for this type of

housing proposal. We, ArCares aim to provide the highest level of safeness to the

Filipinos.

X. REFERENCES

A. NATIONAL BUILDING CODE (PD1096)

B. HUDCC RESOLUTION NO. 1: SOCIALIZED HOUSING ORICE CEILING

ADJUSTMENT retrieved from

http://www.hudcc.gov.ph/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/document/HUDCC%20Re

solution%20No.%201%2C%20Series%20of%202013.pdf