Filipino architect leads international shelter design competition
Posted on September 23rd, 2009
Another Filipino is leading in an international competition, this time in the field of architect design. His name is Gonzalo “Jun†Raymundo Jr., a Filipino architect, and he is one of the top 10 finalists in the prestigious Guggenheim Art Shelter Competition. At present, he is leading the online voting poll for the award.
Raymundo, whose entry is called “A Bamboo Shelter in a Garbage Dump City†used indigenous material in his design of a shelter built on a concrete based in a garbage dump in the Philippines. Raymundo said his design entry was inspired by the story of Salim and Jamal, the two kids in “Slumdog Millionaire.â€
“I was deeply touched by the scenes in the garbage dump so I came up with a 3-D shelter design entry using a bamboo wall representing the Filipino spirit of bayanihan (community cooperation) of strength and hope,†said Raymundo, who is 55 years old and based in Quezon City.
The bamboo wall in Raymundo’s design represents a strong sense of camaraderie or bayanihan to signify that “where there is unity, there is strength.†His work collectively symbolizes ‘sustainability and hope.â€
The Guggenheim Art Shelter Competition is an international competition wherein sponsors Guggenheim and Google SketchUp invites amateur and professional designers to submit a 3-D shelter for any location in the world using Google SketchUp and Google Earth.
The competition, whose deadline for submission ended last August 23, received nearly 600 entries from 68 different countries which have met the contest requirements. The 10 finalists were then selected by current Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture students for the People’s Prize which will be chosen through online voting.
The People’s Prize winner, along with a special Juried Prize, will be announced on October 21, the 50th anniversary of Guggenheim museum.
The online voting period runs until October 10. To support Raymundo, you can vote for him at http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/education/sackler-center/design-it-shelter/vote-for-shelters
