The Urban Design (UD) Studio Laboratory primarily focuses on the research studies and extension work that includes the evolving nature of neighborhoods, districts, and cities. It tries to apply innovative and global urban design and community architecture approaches to solve urban issues, and is thereby instrumental in creating healthy, livable, and equitable Filipino communities.

Lab Coordinator: Asst. Prof. Richelle Rhea R. Baria  (rrbaria@up.edu.ph )

The Practice and Governance Studio Laboratory handles courses, research and extension work covering:

> Legal obligations and responsibilities of the architect.

> Codes and ethical conduct covering the practice of architecture in the Philippines.

> International trade and service requirements for architects.

> Required documentation and procedures used in the set-up and management of an architectural office.

> Financial analysis, accounting, taxation, and land reform as related to the business of architecture (i.e., special studies in population education and the new constitution).

> Qualitative and operational methods in architectural design research, user requirement and performance in use analysis.

> Construction and project management.

Lab Coordinator: Asst. Prof. Dolores Cecilia T. Madrid  (dtmadrid@up.edu.ph)

The History, Theory, and Criticism (HTC)  Studio Laboratory was initially established by a UP College of Architecture faculty to support their advocacies related to Filipino architectural heritage. As a studio laboratory that is part of the UP CA’s Integrated Graduate Program, HTC’s primary focus includes the advancement of Philippine architectural theory, history, architectural appreciation, conservation management planning and architectural heritage preservation methods.

In particular, architectural history - being initially a critical look at architecture from a chronological point of view, would then lead to a critical look at the artistic, psychological, and philosophical theory behind the creation of space and basic shelter imperatives. In doing so, architectural theory would foster further research into breaking architectural and colonial stereotypes that may include also cultural and climatic factors in the creation of Filipino architectural space.

Lab Coordinator: Prof. Gerard Rey A. Lico  (* galico@up.edu.ph )

The Environmental Landscape Studio Laboratory (EASL) was formally established in 2018 as part of the Integrated Graduate Program (IGP) of the College of Architecture.  The primary focus of ELSL is mainly  landscape architecture covering the design of outdoor environments in varying scales (e.g., streetscapes, gardens, parks) through the proper siting of buildings and the manipulation of landform, water bodies, and vegetation.  Degree programs handled by the ELSL include the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, the Graduate Diploma of Landscape Studies (GDipLS), the Master of Tropical Landscape Architecture (MTLA), and the PhD on Designed and Built Environment-Environmental Landscapes (PhDDBE-EL).

Lab Coordinator: Prof. Nappy L. Navarra, DEng.  (* nlnavarra@up.edu.ph )

The Environmental Architecture Studio Laboratory (EASL) was established in 2000 by Asst. Professors Estanislao G. Fernandez and Joven Ignacio. The primary interests of the EASL is the relationship of architecture to climate and its impact on the environment. The studio laboratory began as an advocacy group of faculty members to promote climate-responsive design. These faculty members taught Tropical Architecture in the undergraduate and graduate level. In 2018, the EASL was able to develop specific courses in the graduate level, through the new Integrated Graduate Program (IGP), that expanded the scope of study to include the impacts of architecture on the environment.

Lab Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Nicolo Precioso C. Del Castillo, PhD.  (* ncdelcastillo@up.edu.ph )

“Building science is a field of knowledge that draws upon physics, chemistry, engineering, architecture, and the life sciences. Modern building science attempts to work with models of the building as a system, and to apply empirical techniques to the effective solution of design problems. (Kesik 2019).” The Building Science Studio Laboratory (BSSL) was established as Studio Lab (SL) under the Building Science Research Theme of the Integrated Graduate Program (IGP) in 2018. UP CA’s BSSL focuses on three (3) dimensions of research and learning, specifically:

Physical Dimension. Building Science studies the physical phenomena affecting buildings and their surroundings, their occupants, and the way they interact and respond to each other. In these interactions there is a central consideration of the role of materials, instruments and equipment, procedures, and systems.

Technical Dimension. Building Science is the analysis of the technical aspects of buildings that relate to indoor thermal environment, acoustics and lighting, air quality, and building resource use, including energy and building material use. These areas are studied, analyzed and assessed in terms of science principles, relationship to building occupant health, comfort, and productivity, and how they can be controlled by the building envelope and electrical and mechanical systems. Included within the scope of Building Science are the areas of building information modeling, building commissioning, fire protection engineering, seismic design and resilient design.

Practical Dimension. The practical purpose of Building Science is to provide predictive means to optimize the building performance of new and existing buildings, understand or prevent building function failures, and guide the design of new techniques and technologies. Building Science gives life to a building to enhance, complement and support the relationship between the users and the building as Architecture. Building Science also endeavors to ensure the longevity of the building in the middle of change.

Lab Coordinator: Asst. Prof. Richard Martin E. Rinen  (* rerinen@up.edu.ph)

References:

Kesik, Ted J. 2019. “Building Science Concepts.” Whole Building Design Guide. 2019. https://www.wbdg.org/resources/building-science-concepts.

The Architectural Communication Studio Laboratory (ACSL) provides courses that train students to demonstrate architectural communication skills through varied and appropriate media to effectively produce and present architectural ideas and outputs.

Basic, intermediate, and advanced computer-aided skills are honed through exercises and plates with the purpose of communicating architectural ideas to both professionals and non-professionals within the context of the building industry.

Lab Coordinator: Asst. Prof. Sarah Moussavi  (* smmoussavi@up.edu.ph)