ED1

In 2012, Foundation University in Dumaguete City began an experiment in architectural education. Called Estudio Damgo, which means “Dream Studio” in Cebuano, the program’s mission is to give graduating architecture students the opportunity to design and construct a complete building for a local community in need. It became the first design-build studio in the Philippines. The first project placed students directly in the social, cultural, and material realities of an actual construction process.

The first undertaking, Estudio Damgo 1, took shape after Typhoon Sendong in 2011, which heavily damaged communities across Negros Oriental. In the mountain barangay of Malaunay, Valencia, the small riverside sitio of Dungga lost its safe and functional space for young learners. Early education in the area was disrupted, affecting children’s development and the community’s morale. The situation required the creation of a structure that could support recovery.

With guidance from program founder Ray Villanueva and faculty members, fifth-year students took responsibility for the project from start to finish. This included site analysis, consultations with the community, preparation of budgets, and supervision of construction. The outcome was a 68-square-meter daycare center designed for 25 children and one teacher. Local residents contributed labor and time. Funding came from several sources: allocations from the university, partnerships with NGOs, individual donations, and discounts from the Buglas Bamboo Institute. The total cost was about PHP 458,000.

Bamboo, a renewable and locally available material, was chosen for much of the structure. The building design used natural ventilation and daylight, which are important in rural areas where electricity is often limited. The architectural approach reflected the rhythms and needs of the community.

The Dungga Daycare opened in early 2013. It represented collaboration between students and residents. For the students, it was a place to apply technical skills, manage budgets, and adjust designs to fit conditions on site. For the community, it was a space for learning and safety that they helped to create.

After completion, the project received recognition. Student leader Von Jovi Biala was named one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines. The university’s architecture student organization, UAPSA, received regional honors in the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations competition. Most importantly, the community used and cared for the building as part of daily life. As Biala said, “Architecture is not just about beautifying homes. It can also be about bringing and giving life back to a community.”

Estudio Damgo 1 is important for what it achieved and for the way it was carried out. It showed that students, given the responsibility, can work directly with communities to create functional and lasting buildings. It demonstrated that architecture can support social recovery, that local materials can be used effectively, and that building can empower both those who design and those who will use the space.