AQUA LA VISTA: An Energy Efficient Aquatic & Biodiversity Complex Integrating Bioclimatic Architecture
Thesis Proponent: John Christopher P. De Castro
Thesis Adviser: Ar./EnP. Jennifer Yee-Vibar, MSARCH
School: Bicol State College of Applied Sciences & Technology (BISCAST), College of Architecture & Design
Year of Defense: 2023
Aqua La Vista is a proposed state-of-the-art aquatic and biodiversity complex located in Pasacao, Camarines Sur, Philippines. The project aims to harmonize economic development with environmental conservation by integrating energy-efficient bioclimatic architecture into a multi-functional facility. It serves as a maritime gateway and ecotourism destination, bridging the gap between underdeveloped infrastructure and the community's need for a sustainable, environmentally balanced ecosystem.
Introduction & Background
The Philippine Sea, the largest sea in the world with an estimated 5 million square kilometers of surface area, is the western Pacific's marginal sea to the east of the Philippine archipelago. With more marine space than any other country, including those in Indo-Malaysia and the Philippine Islands, at over 679,800 square kilometers, it has been named the center of marine biodiversity. The Philippines has made enormous discoveries of marine life and animals that could progress biomedicine.
One of the Philippine provinces with a wealth of tourist attractions enhanced by its unusual & natural features is Camarines Sur. The province's coastal entry point, ecotourism hotspot, and commercial business hub is the municipality of Pasacao, commonly referred to as its summer capital. It improves and seeks to continue thriving by re-establishing local tourism using its beautiful beaches & biodiverse coastal resources. The municipality has a rich history that dates back to the sixteenth century, as well as aquatic and biodiverse resources that include a variety of locally found fish species, coral reef sanctuaries, mangrove forests, and more.
A tourism and marine research avenue is a crucial development in bridging the gap between underdeveloped areas and facility mishaps, addressing the community's need for a higher quality of life in a secure, economically capable, urban, and environmentally balanced ecosystem. This is in pursuit of living up to the municipality's title and aim to be the "Green City of the South." The municipality has to build landmark projects that reflect its amazing resources and history if it wants to re-establish itself on both the local and national stages.
Aqua La Vista: An Energy Efficient Aquatic & Biodiversity Complex is a development willing to provide means for Pasacao to achieve community enhancement, tourism development, & marine life conservation. It is designed for users to gain an exciting & fun experience while in the process be accustomed to marine life, for biodiversity & marine researchers’ expansion of studies, for the enrichment of Pasacao’s history, & for the benefits of the LGU and residents.
The development upholds the green and ecological principles of the neighborhood by integrating bioclimatic architecture to increase energy efficiency. These ideas must be included to address the problems of climate change, which impacts the life cycles of biodiverse protected species, and natural disasters, which destroy critical infrastructure and assets. The study combined aspects to establish positive effects on the environment and generated adaptive & sustainable design, concepts, and technology to better the peaceful coexistence of humans, amazing species, and the environment.
Objectives & Design Framework
The primary goal is to develop a complex that provides an "exceptional and mimicked underwater experience" through bioclimatic architectural synthesis. Key objectives include:
• Education & Conservation: Providing an avenue for the public to learn about wildlife conservation and supporting marine research through a dedicated center.
• Cultural Enrichment: Showcasing the history of Pasacao through the "Museo de Pasacao".
• Energy Efficiency: Achieving minimal power costs and environmental impact using the following principles:
o Regenerative & Adaptable Design: Utilizing structures that renew or restore tissues in response to environment changes and minimize non-renewable energy use.
o Bioclimatic Architecture: Using local conditions (sun, wind, humidity) to the advantage of the built environment through passive cooling, natural ventilation, and daylighting.
o Tropical Design: Incorporating contemporary tropical features (inspired by the Bahay Kubo) suited for the Philippine climate.
Review of Related Literature
Focused on three primary pillars: Energy Efficiency, Bioclimatic Architecture, and Sustainable Design Theories, it synthesizes various local and international studies to provide a foundation for developing a modern aquatic complex in Pasacao, Camarines Sur.
1. Energy Efficient Building Characteristics
The literature identifies five core components essential for sustainable green buildings: material, energy, water, smart structures, and health.
• Building Techniques: Efficiency is achieved through strategic building layouts (size, orientation, and shape) that minimize external loads.
• Thermal Performance: The use of exterior wall insulation and high-performance materials helps maintain indoor temperatures, reducing the need for heavy HVAC loads.
• Technological Integration: The literature highlights the role of IoT-based controls and energy-efficient lighting (LEDs) to lower electricity consumption.
2. Bioclimatic Architecture and Passive Design
• Passive Cooling: Lessons from vernacular architecture (like the Bahay Kubo) are integrated, focusing on overhanging roofs, louvers, and natural ventilation systems such as cross, chimney, and wind-tower ventilation.
• Lighting: Maximum use of daylight is emphasized to eliminate artificial lighting costs, though it must be controlled to prevent glare and overheating.
• Eco-Infrastructures: The review cites Ken Yeang’s four categories of infrastructure: "Green" (habitats), "Gray" (low-impact technology), "Blue" (water management), and "Red" (human dimensions) .
3. Renewable Energy Sources
• Waveline Magnet: A flexible, modular structure that tracks wave motion to produce power at a low cost with minimal environmental disruption.
• Standard Renewables: The study underscores the integration of solar panels (photovoltaics) and wind turbines as standard features of energy-saving structures.
Design and Facilities
The complex integrates Bioclimatic Architecture, a design approach based on local climate to achieve maximum comfort with minimal environmental impact.
• Energy Efficiency Features: The design utilizes passive cooling, natural ventilation, solar panels, and reflective materials to reduce power costs and carbon emissions.
• Major Components:
o Oceanarium: Featuring various zones like "The Coast" (mangroves), "The Shore" (marine reptiles), "The Shallow," and "The Abyss".
o Research Facility: Includes laboratories, observation rooms, and maintenance tanks for marine studies.
o Sustainable Infrastructure: Comprises a water treatment and conservation facility, a materials recovery and composting system, and a renewable power supply system utilizing solar and wind energy.
Key Findings & Methodology
The study utilized an Input-Process-Output (I-P-O) framework.
Input: Focused on the needs of the Pasacao community, site conditions (including hazards like storm surges and liquefaction), and the characteristics of energy-efficient buildings.
Process: Involved data analysis, architectural programming, and the use of EDGE (Excellence in Design through Greater Efficiencies) software to characterize energy-efficient structures.
Findings: Demonstrated that energy efficiency can be achieved through building layout, exterior wall insulation, solar reflectance index (SRI) materials, and renewable energy technologies like solar panels and potential wave energy (Waveline Magnet).
Conclusion & Recommendations
Aqua La Vista as a transformative development for Pasacao, Camarines Sur, designed to reconcile the town's thriving tourism industry with environmental preservation. To support Pasacao's vision of becoming the "Green City of the South", the complex serves as a model for ecologically responsive infrastructure that prevents the habitat deterioration often caused by conventional, "abusive" tourism.
The research defines Energy Efficiency through five core components: materials, energy, water, smart quality, and health. The study concludes that high-performance structures are characterized by specific technical measures, including: Optimal Window-to-Wall Ratios and thermal insulation, reflective surfaces and green roofs to manage heat gain, on-site renewable energy and smart economizers, and climate-responsive orientation that accounts for sun paths and wind patterns.
Central to the project is the integration of Bioclimatic Architecture, which utilizes the local environment to provide thermal and aesthetic comfort naturally. By employing passive cooling, smart materials, and renewable energy, the design ensures that the complex remains energy-efficient and sustainable. Aqua La Vista is presented as a strategic rebranding tool for Pasacao, offering a modern, educational, and enticing experience for visitors while improving the lifestyle and environmental security of the local community.
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