FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
REGISTRATION/ELIGIBILITY
Q: I am an Architecture graduate but have not taken up the licensure exam. Can I still join the competition? If yes, can I join as an individual?
A: Yes, you can still join the competition under Category 2 (Student/Graduate of Architecture) and you can also join as an individual.
Q: Since the Registration Fee for Category 2 is waived, does this mean entrants in this category should also use the same Registration Form from Category 1?
A: No. There is a registration form specifically for Category 2.
Q: I’d like to participate in the DATE competition as a professional Architect. However, as I spent most of my career working in different countries other than mine, I have not renewed my national professional license in years. I can provide you with transcripts, diplomas and other documentation for the registration. Would it be possible for me to register that way?
A: We have a requirement for professional architects under Category 1 to be registered in their own country of citizenship. We advise that you renew your license in your home country. In the Philippines, we require Filipino Architects working abroad to renew their professional licenses in the Philippines before they can join the competition.
Q: I am an incoming 4th year student. Am I qualified to join Category 2 as a senior student?
A: We consider 4th and 5th year students as senior students.
Q: A couple of colleagues and I are interested in joining. I am a civil engineer and my two (2) other colleagues is an architect and a designer. Could we possibly join the competition as a team?
A: Yes. However, it is required that an architect be the team leader of the group because in case you win the competition, part of the award is that the pioneer town will be built by the City of Taguig, Philippines. The lead architect in your team will have to work with an architect counterpart from the UAP (United Architects of the Philippines) for its implementation and construction.
Q: We want to know if it is possible to register in the competition as a group of students and how we will fill up the module.
A: Yes, you are most welcome to participate as a team under category 2. There is no limit to the number of team members but you have to identify the team leader. The team leader will fill-up the category 2 registration form. The names of the team members are not yet required. The names of all team members shall appear only in the submission form which we shall send you upon registration.
Q: I am a recent graduate from a Landscape Architecture program and am interested in registering in the DAtE competition. I am curious, as a Landscape Architect can I compete in DAtE Category 2 and if so, can a registered Landscape Architect be my Mentor or does it has to be an Architect?
A: Yes, you can participate as long as you get another graduate of architecture as your team mate. The architecture graduate shall be the team leader. Your team mentor must be a licensed/registered architect.
Q: I became a senior in 2010. But I want to join this competition with my younger sister, who became a junior this year, as one team. The web-page says we should be at least senior to enter. Are we qualified to enter the competition if one of the members is senior or do all the team members have to be senior?
A: This is okay as long as majority of the members of the team and the leader is in the senior year level. Senior year level means fourth and fifth year students.
Q: Is a structural engineer qualified to be a mentor for the competition?
A: Yes, as an adviser/consultant. But a registered/licensed architect mentor is required.
Q: What will be the minimum/maximum number of participants per group?
A: There is no limit to the number of team member.
Q: Are students having graduated from related courses (ie interior design, engineering, landscape architecture) still eligible to join the competition?
A: Yes. But it is required that an architect be the team leader of the group because in case you win the competition, part of the award is that the pioneer town will be built by the City of Taguig, Philippines. The lead architect in your team will have to work with an architect counterpart from the UAP (United Architects of the Philippines) for its implementation and construction.
Q: Can architecture graduates who are not yet licensed/registered can be accommodated to join the competition?
A: Yes, you can still join the competition under Category 2
TECHNICAL/SITE/GENERAL
Q: Will only Category 1 entries have the opportunity to be built? Can a winning entry come from Category 2 also be built?
A: The 1st prize winner in Category 1 will be built in Taguig City. However, the winning design in Category 2 may also be built should there be sponsors interested in its implementation. The student/graduate (local/foreign) who will win 1st prize in Category 2 will be partnered with a local architect authorized by UAP and the Government of Taguig.
Q: Would you be able to provide me the Linkage to BP220 and National Building Code (NBC)
A: Linkages to National Building Code:
-http://www.architectureboard.ph/uploads/1212817253-Rules%20I%20to%20VI%28anotated%29.pdf
-http://www.architectureboard.ph/uploads/1212817147-Rule%20VII_Bldg%20Occupancy%28anotated%29.pdf
-http://www.architectureboard.ph/uploads/1212817020-Rule%20VIII_Light&Ventilation%28anotated%29.pdf
-http://www.architectureboard.ph/uploads/1212816896-Rules%20IX%20to%20XXI%20%28anotated%29.pdf
Link to BP 220:
-http://www.scribd.com/doc/30277078/Revised-IRR-BP220-2008
Q: Where can we get or download the contour map/topographical map of the site?
A: Kindly visit this link http://www.designagainsttheelements.org/resources/
Q: Where can get the lot coordinates of the competition site?
A: Kindly visit this link http://www.designagainsttheelements.org/resources/
Q: How many people will be relocated/resettled to the site? What is the number of parking requirement for the residential units, is every residential unit entitled to 1 parking slot? Another query regarding parking, on BP 220 under Multi-Family Dwelling, one (1) parking slot per eight (8) living units; does it refer to the tenant parking? Or visitor parking (i.e. for every 8 living units = 1 visitor parking)?
A: From the above information, it means 1 parking for dwelling unit and 1 parking for visitors for a total of 2 slots per 8 dwelling units.
Q: We are allowed to design the residential units up to 5 storeys, is there a building height limit for the residential units in terms of how many meters high are we allowed to build?
A: Please refer to the building code for building height limit. (Usually 1 storey has a 3 meter floor to floor height)
Q: According to the Competition Manual, item no. 11. Copyright and Intellectual Property, the first prize winner of Category 1 (Professional) shall be commissioned by the City Government of Taguig in the execution of the project. In this regard -
• Does “Execution of the project” mean possible modification of design and documentation?
• Does this mean the winning team will enter into a contract with City of Taguig?
• Will the winning team be entitled to payment of professional fees for the execution? If yes, does this mean the winning team will submit a proposal for approval?
A. There might be some modifications on the winning design depending on the local government requirements. The winning team will be commissioned by the city government to do the construction drawings for the project. The team will be paid for the professional services when commissioned.
Q: Is the given 32-36 square meter requirement designed for a single person or a family? If so, how many people should each unit accommodate?
A: 32-36 square-meter area is for a single family unit. Each unit should house 3 to 5 family members.
Q: Since you had given a specific maximum allowable area per unit, then what is the habitable space per person?
A: It depends on your concept as long as the total floor area per unit is the required maximum allowable area.
Q: What will be the professional fee for the winning team who will be tasked to supervise the construction of the design? A: The professional fees will be based on the standards of professional practice. The fees will be at the minimum since this is a government housing project meant for the disadvantaged sector.
Q: For purpose of clarification, how will the professional fees be computed? What if for some reason, the proposed professional fee of the winning team will be too high for the City if Taguig?
A: The professional fees will be based on the standards of professional practice. The fees will be at the minimum since this is a government housing project meant for the disadvantaged sector.
Q: Along Paraiso St., there are what appear to be single family dwellings. Are the houses on the eastern side of the street, butted up against the site, to be demolished or preserved?
A: As per the Taguig local housing office, they have advised that residents whose houses are built along Paraiso St. shall eventually be relocated. A census for the affected families will be undertaken by the local housing office.
Q: Is the 10 meter setback applicable to all sides of the site, including the boundary along the university? Or is it just along the streets?
A: Paraiso Street requires a 10 meter setback since major power lines run along the street length, the rest should have a minimum 2 meter setback.
Q: How many families/people are expected to live in the site?
A: The maximum density is 300 pax per hectare (this information was confirmed from the Taguig City Hall)
Q: Approximately how many families will be living in this compound?
A: The number of families will be determined by the designer based on available space.
Q: How many people should the entire development house?
A: Depending on the total number of units the designer can come up with, it is envisioned however that the development should at least have 100 household units.
Q: What relationship is the university/storage facilities supposed to have with the housing community since it is included on the given site image?
A: The university and the storage facilities have no direct relationship to the housing community. Although some of the university faculty members may be considered as beneficiaries of the housing development but physically, both the school and storage facilities have no bearing on the project.
Q: In terms of including community facilities, are we required to provide all of the listed programs?
A: As much as possible, yes.
Q: Should a single-detached dwelling be considered for the housing development?
A: This is an urban housing project and single detached is not appropriate. It is stated in the design parameters that housing should be multi-storey.
Q: Is this project funded by the government?
A: Yes, the project is to be funded by the government.
Q: What is the total construction budget for the development?
A: There is no specific budget for the project development but we provided a cost reference for a housing unit not exceeding PhP 400,000.00.
Q: What age group should the school be for?
A: Community developments such as this should provide at least a daycare center for children up to 5 years of age. Facilities for the elementary, secondary education as well as a university are already present within the vicinity of the site.
Q: Is there a specific target user?
A: We have targeted public school teachers as the initial beneficiaries of the project. However, the housing should be flexible to accommodate any family who are victims of calamities.
Q: Please give us examples of identifying marks not allowed in the entry material to ensure fair competition and have uniform awareness for other participants.
A: An example is a company logo.
Q: Is there any possibility to get cadastral blueprints of the surrounding parcels?
A: For the traffic concept, please refer to the excerpts from the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of Taguig.
Q: Are there blueprints of existing infrastructure systems?
A: Google earth images can help in identifying significant infrastructures, roads and establishments.
SUBMITTALS
Q: Are we limited to three boards only?
A: You can use 3-5 boards.
Q: Are we allowed to submit a book as part of the justification of the study?
A: It is not stated in the requirements for submission. However we may ask participants to provide written explanations of the concept for purposes of publication, so it will help if a book is ready for submission.
Q: On Board 1: Site Planning,” the Master Site Development Plan shall be drawn with North in a vertically upward direction” , does it mean that on the board we are going to show the site development plan vertically oriented that the west part of the site is facing up?
A: ↑North
Q: On Board 2 : Housing Facilities, we need to show a 1:50 scale of typical floor plan of 1 model unit, what if we have 2 or 3 model units ; do we need to show each one of them for the 1:50 typical floor plans or we just need to show only 1 unit?
A: If there is still space you can show all, but our requirements are only for one model unit.
Q: On Presentation Requirements, “at the lower right corner of the board, indicate “Design Against The Elements’ – minimum 48 point font & below is the Identification Number-24 point font”. Is there a required font style for this and what is the format, is it aligned left or centered for the title and ID no.? And is it placed inside or outside the 25mm board margin?
A: Arial font, centered and placed inside the 25mm margin
