CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background of the Study

Many island nations depend on tourism and upswing in worldwide tourism can only

mean good news on the economic front in small, tourism-dependent island countries.

Hence, the more tourists that visit small island countries, there is often pressure to develop

more resources to meet the increased demand. Most of these island nations comprise of

small islands with a very fragile environment. This research aims to identify the practices,

policies and institutional forms used in developing tourism consisting of resorts in public

lands on uninhabitated islands.

Philippines’ resort varies from place to place and what it may offer. But nowadays,

resorts also vary from what people needs. People from overcrowded urban areas are

attracted by the relaxing and intact landscape of resorts. With this given, different Local

Government Units (LGUs) in the Philippines invest for hotels and resort projects resulting

to increase in numbers of resorts in the Philippines. But thinking about how resorts can

evolve into something that will give new experience cannot be ignored.

The town of Matalom comprises only a small percentage of land area in a regional

scale but is endowed with disproportionately rich diversity of flora and fauna; heart-seizing

scenic beauty; diverse culture; ethnic etiquettes. The Canigao Island Beach Resort is an

island in the said town that serves as a major source of the town’s income. The island serves

both the local townfolks and the foreign and provides nature’s finest sights. It is in need of
new accommodations as its tourism is increasing rapidly. Local and foreign tourists’ arrival

demands urgent hotel accommodations though the people in charge of the island still want

to conserve their natural resources and cultural heritage. With this problem in hand, the

researchers want to improve a portion of the island’s land for the construction of new

structures for accommodations.

Thus, the researchers have come up with a proposed project that will take the island

resort into a higher level of designing- a combination of accommodation structures, leisure

ammenities, function halls, camping sites, landscape, water amenities, and lastly

biomimicry, contributing to the tourism of Matalom Leyte and also the socio-economic

condition of the city. Because of technological progress and the advancement of

construction in biomimicry building and resort designing, a thourough research will be

needed.

Biomimicry is somewhat unusual in the Philippines in terms of buildings. Filipinos

doesn’t notice that biomimicry is part of their daily lives, for example, the airplanes, the

flippers used in scuba diving, etc. Now is the time to let people; especially the commoners

know that these little things can be apllied on a building that results to a more

environmentally friendly movement. The propose thesis research will be an island resort

that mimics nature and also functions as one.

Therefore, the purpose of the research paper is to study the doctrine and standard

for the preparation of a biomimicry island resort. To contribute to the development of not

just the social but economic status of Matalom Leyte through evolution of Canigao Island
Resort. Also, this paper will give recommendation to encourage investors, businessmen,

capitals to invest on such projects.

The research will be conducted for the fulfillment of the course syllabus as well as

to satisfy the researchers’ proposal through biomimetic architecture that will cater tourists

and lowerclass to upper-class Filipinos. Consequently, the researchers will limit the

proposal in the town of Matalom.

Island resorts have come a long way from the olden days when resorts were small

and modest in size and luxury. But the modern resorts are highly luxurious and offer the

latest amenities for enjoyment.

Historically, the oldest resorts can be traced back to the Roman empire of nearly

two thousand years ago. The ancient Romans created a public leisure facility known as

baths that could be used by both men and women separately. Gradually, the baths evolved

from their modest structure to include more extravagant facilities such as gym, a library,

restaurant, stores, lounge, tavern and even a museum and a theater. These baths were

utilized for health, recreaction and social enjoyment.

The nineteenth century saw the development of exclusive resort facilities offering

more privacy to the visitors. The wealthy people wished for private resort facilities and

Switzerland’s resort industry realized the lucrative business prospects of this idea. In Nort

American countries, the earliest resorts were developed at the starting of the nineteenth

century. The first resorts ere created iin Virginia and New York. Soon afterwards, the

concept of beach resorts became immensely popular. The sea became a great place of
recreation and beautiful beach resorts mushroomed all over North America and the

Carribean. Jungle resorts also became popular as the governments tried to conserve the

wildlife and organized tourism on such a way that promoted adventure tours to the wild,

without harming the flora and fauna of the region.

Biomimicry originally started on ancient times. People observed animals and

mimicked their shelter, survival behaviors and hunting. One of the first examples of

biomimicry is the study of Leonardo DaVinci about birds and created drawings about

flying machines. Biomimicry became a field of study in the late 20th century. Though

biomimicry has inspired human innovations for decades- one of the most often-cited

examples is Velcro, which the Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral patented in 1955 after

studying how burs stuck to his clothes- better technology and more nuanced research have

enabled increasingly complex adaptations.

The proposal ELISII CAMPI: Redevelopment of Canigao Island Beach Resort in

Matalom Leyte will be located in the town of Matalom Leyte. The town has experienced

economic growth, evidenced by the presence of tourist destinations such as water falls,

caves, commercial banks, variety of restaurants, Spanish-colonial old structures and the

Canigao Island Beach Resort.

The Canigao Island Beach Resort in particular serves as the main source of income

in the town. The reseach seeks to enhance the existing amenities and facilities the island

resort is currently offering. It will provide employment among the unemployed people of

the town and those tourism-related graduates or professionals. A chance to redevelop the
island resort in Matalom Leyte through biomimetic architecture will highly attract tourists

and will improve the local economy and tourism industry of the town.

1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The number of cottages which serves as the only shelter in the island, the electricity

which only lasts for only 8 hours, water that is not purely fresh but with a mixture of

saltwater and inadequate number of small-time businesses in the market are always put to

the test every single day especially during peak seasons. Thus, the lack of accommodations,

energy and water supply so as the poor planning, improper circulation and increasing peer

demands marked an opportunity for the construction of the proposal ELISII CAMPI:

Redevelopment of Canigao Island Beach Resort in Matalom Leyte. To aid in the design

formulation, the research study specifically aims to:

1. Analize the site, study the topography and the climate conditions of Canigao Island

Beach Resort.

2. Determine the laws needed in redeveloping an island beach resort.

3. Conduct a survey and interview to determine the opinions of tourist and local

people that will help to shape the design of the redevelopment of the said island

resort.

4. Study new methods of attaining sustainable design for the current issues in island

habitation.

5. Study the proper sanitation and proper waste disposal.

6. Study and understand the spatial organization and the real need of resort programs.
 7. Provide a recreational environment for the island beach resort through varieties of

facilities and function.

8. Create an interactive ground for locals and visitors so that there may be

interchangeable of ideas and cultural demonstration.

9. Create Biomemitic Architecture approach in designing the redevelopment of

Canigao Island Beach Resort to accommodate the increasing needs of the end-users

and optimize their living experience with the local and nature without damaging

the existing biodiversity in the mentioned island resort.

1.1 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The town of Matalom is one of the few towns in Leyte that has an inviting tourist

destinations. Particularly the Canigao Island Beach Resort have been the major source of

income in the town over the years. Raising the economy of the town and enhancing the

services of the island while preserving the the natural resource as well as providing

employment to the unemployed are the primary goals of the study. The proposal seeks to

enhance the different types of accommodations by engaging innovative but sustainable

design approaches. The research study also aims to gather tourists as well as to encourage

people to help promote sustainable design solutions to lessen carbon emmition impacts.

The forest reserve and sea sanctuary of the island will serve as a conservatory that will help

remind the people of the significance of nature.

 The research study also aims to promote Biomimetic architecture in the design and

construction of the buildings. Biomimetic architecture approaches are identified to be eco-

friendly and cost saving as they do not require installation and use of overpriced

mechanical systems due to them being self-sustaining. This in fact reduces significantly on

the environmental impacts ass less harmful refrigerants such as chloroflourovarbon (CFC)

and greenhouse gases are being released into the atmosphere. Despite of its numerous

advantages, biomimetic design is not prominent to modern users and contemporary

architecture.

To the Government/LGU’s. The outcome of the research study will benefit the

local government involved. There are, professionals, groups of people authorized, in

promoting the innovative but sustainable design solutions. This would also serve as the

significance of the redevelopment of Canigao Island Beach Resort in Matalom Leyte.

To the Architecture students. This research study will serve as a guide in

replanning and redesigning an island beach resort or any associated projects and may as

well serve as a reference source in their future thesis research writing and applications.

This may also serve as an inspiration to them as future designers and planners.

To the Architects. The research study will be beneficial to planners and designers

especially to those who find interest in designing structures that promote awareness and

knowledge towards modern innovations that are self-sustaining. Furthermore, this research

study can be used as a reference tool for the architects to obtain important planning and

design considerations regarding island beach resorts or any projects related to it.
 To the Students in General. One of the direct recipients of the output of the

research study are students with special requirements related to natural sciences, marine

biology and forestry research.

To the Researchers and Scientist. The research study of the redevelopment of

Canigao Island Beach Resort using biomimetic architecture and its impact which will give

insight to the community regarding sustainable designs can become an inspiration for

present researchers and to the aspiring ones to pursue studies regarding natural sciences,

marine biology, forestry research and modern but sustainable innovations.

To the Society. The other direct recipient of the output of the research study is the

general public itself. It will spark an interest in learning the importance of using sustainable

design approaches. Also, the proposal will accommodate the increasing demands of the

target end-users. Furthermore, it will increase the economy of Matalom Leyte, hence,

having enough or more than enough budget for future redevelopment, development or other

programs of the local government.

1.3 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study will be centered on developing a design for redevelopment of Canigao

Island Beach Resort in Matalom Leyte that aids in the formulation of solutions to the study

objective.

Space design, planning considerations and pertinent laws such as the National

Building Code of the Philippines (NBC), Presidential Decree No. 564 (PD NO. 564), The

Presidential Decree No. 1067 (PD NO. 1067), Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009 (RA
9993), The Tourism Act of 2009 (RA 9593), applicable for the study, will be observed as

well as identifying the design concept, architectural style and materials to be incorporated

in the desing of the redevelopment of Canigao Island Beach Resort

Design considerations and requirements as well as the basic principles of

Biomimetic design will be carefully observed in the study which aids to the formulation of

the solutions to the research study objectives. The application of the design as a sustainable

approach to the proposed ELISII CAMPI: Redevelopment of Canigao Island Beach Resort

will be incorporated as much as it is applicable.

1.4 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Biomimetic architecture. A contemporary philosophy of architecture that seeks

solutions for sustainability in nature, not by replicating the natural forms, but by

understanding the rules governing those forms. It is a multi-disciplinary approach to

sustainable design that follows a set of principles rather than stylistic codes.

Biomimicry. An approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human

challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies. The goal is to create

products, processes, and policies—new ways of living—that are well-adapted to life on

earth over the long haul.

Cultural Heritage. An expression of the ways of living developed by a community

and passed on from generation to generation, including customs, practices, places, objects,

artistic expressions and values. Cultural Heritage is often expressed as either Intangible or

Tangible Cultural Heritage

 Foreign. A person not belonging to a particular place or group; a stranger or

outsider.

Local. An inhabitant of a particular area or neighborhood.

Natural Resources. Are components that exist in the world without the input of

humans. These natural resources are diverse ranging from renewable resources to non-

renewable resources, living to non-living resources, tangible to intangible resources.

Natural resources are essential to the survival of humans and all other living organisms.

All the products in the world use natural resources as their basic component, which may

be water, air, natural chemicals or energy.

Uninhabited Island. Uninhabited island, is an island, islet or atoll that is not

permanently populated by humans.