This native abode may have changed little over centuries, but it remains as useful today as it was back then. The Philippine bahay kubo has walls fashioned out of woven grass, pillars made from bamboo trunks, and sheets of dried mangrove palm leaves for a roof. Its building materials are easily found in the tropical environment, and its design is so simple that it can be erected in a single day, by labourers using basic tools.
It comes as no surprise that this type of dwelling is regarded as the home of the masses. In a country hit by frequent typhoons and earthquakes – and where over 30 million people live in poverty – the bahay kubo offers versatile and affordable shelter.
The essence of this traditional design is not lost to Earl Patrick Forlales, who used it as the inspiration for his environmentally-friendly modular homes. He is the CEO and lead designer of CUBO, a Philippine company that is making waves for its modern renditions of the lowly but-efficient nipa house.
tackling a housing shortage
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