HANDMADE HUB

Abstract

Localism is a critical movement for development, especially in this climate of economic gloom. This creates the need for an immense volume of site specific design. To cater to this, this thesis posited that parametric design methods provide a platform to develop architectural systems as opposed to singular buildings. The thesis took the city of San Carlos, in the Philippines as its test site to develop this thesis proposal. This thesis proposed to deliver a set of regionally specific typologies for community buildings and a methodology for local people to adapt the typologies to local conditions using online design tools that leverage parametric techniques in a user friendly way and construct the buildings using local materials and technology. To achieve this, the thesis examined the local conditions in San Carlos, and proposed a bamboo gridshell with cogon roofing material as a viable building typology. This thesis thus developed a construction manual with an accompanying website to detail the design development of this gridshell solution. It presented three gridshell typologies: the dome with openings, the raised dome and the repeated unit. Users could then develop their own forms on the website. Through this, this thesis proposed a design solution that could be adapted by different users in the region for their various requirements. .