A team of Architecture graduates and a student from Ateneo de Davao University won second place at a national design competition, the only finalist from Mindanao among 100 entries.
Team Bldg Blox’s playground design ‘Lihok: Tinalak Dulaan’ placed second in the “Make Space for Play” design competition held on October 21 to 23, 2011 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.
“Make Space for Play” gathered playground designers all over the country to come up with innovative play areas that are not only colorful and attractive, but may help shape young Filipinos today and for years to come. It was organized by Play Universal Co., an organization that advocates the value of play in the development of the children.
The competition attracted hundreds of entries from students, educators, as well as amateur and professional designers.
The designs were judged by renowned Filipino designer Kenneth Cobonpue, International Play Association Regional Vice President for East Asia Hitoshi Shimamura, architect Marcus Veerman of Playground Ideas, and Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Isabel Berenguer-Asuncion. From hundreds, the judges chose the top 30 entries.
The 30 teams took a Play Space Design Workshop under US-based architect Jon Racek. In the workshop, they were given the chance to improve their designs before the final selection, where only the best five designs remained.
One if them is Bldg Blox’s design ‘Lihok: Tinalak Dulaan’, the only entry out of five finalists that came from outside Luzon.
The ‘Lihok: Tinalak Dulaan’ 100-sq. m. playground is centered on movement (Lihok) and healthy interaction. The team designed their playground like making a Tinalak, a famous Philippine-Mindanao native fabric that is manually crafted to create patterns and designs inspired from a weaver’s dream.
Just like the Tinalak, their design is a manifestation of every child’s dream to play and explore. Judges praised Bldg Blox for their “good use of color and variety of play experiences” in their work.
Their design and the other four were exhibited during the Play Pilipinas 2011, the first international conference on play held at the SMX Convention Center.
Phoenix Petroleum Philippines supported the Bldg Blox-Davao team by sponsoring the round trip ticket to Manila of one of its members. The team is composed of Ma. Angelica Sharmane Coquilla, Aibel Grace Ypil, and Arnold Anthony Y. Chong.
“We would like to extend our sincerest thanks for the support you generously shared to our team during the competition. Because of your support, we were able to participate and represent not only Davao City, but the whole Mindanao,” Bldg Blox-Davao team leader Coquilla said of Phoenix.
As 1st runner-up, the team received a cash prize of P30,000. Their playground design will be replicated all over the Philippines, and will be built in Brgy. Buhangin, Davao City.
“We hope to continue this advocacy to provide children all over the Philippines with play spaces to encourage and promote active play,” said Coquilla. [pr/PPP]
