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“Reinventing S.O.A.: SERVICE-ORIENTED ARCHITECTURE” HOME Ask Seminar 12 Continue Answer Discover Share your knowledge, Help others and be Expert The Best Answers chosen by the community Open Questions Resolved Questions Featured Leah M. Punongbayan-dela Rosa, UAP, piep, uli Architect/Environmental Planner Chair, Specialty Council on Site Planning and Design Professor, UST College of Architecture Leah M. Punongbayan - Dela Rosa has more than 25 years of progressively responsible experience on various fields of planning/ architectural design, research, master development planning, landscaping and other comprehensive disciplines. She has a Master’s Degree in Architecture, Major in Community Architecture from UP Diliman and has earned units in Project Management from the Ateneo Professional School. She is a candidate for Doctor of Philosohpy in Environmental Studies in Miriam Graduate School. She has also served the United Architects of the Philippines in various capacities. Currently, she is the Executive Director of Professional Development Commission. She was also National Vice President of the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners. “The Architect as an Environmental Planner” We all know that the planet’s environment is under undue stress is no longer a matter of debate but a hard reality. The various human activities affect the patterns and processes of the natural world. Buildings or built environments , in particular, are interventions into nature and its natural processes. These use land, erode biodiversity, consume resources, generate waste, affect traffic volumes and contribute to immeasurable atmospheric ,land and water pollution. Given this, it can be argued that the role of architects in achieving environmental sustainability is a vital one. As designers and planners of built environments and communities, architects mediate between human participants and stakeholders—users, developers, regulators, decisionmakers—and the environment. In this wisdom, Architect Planner Chris Fillingham said “they stand in for the natural world, ensuring it is not something distinct and outside of architectural and urban design processes, but “heard” and thoughtfully considered in every aspect from planning and design to construction and maintenance.” This therefore should include developing sustainable servicing, supply and waste techniques; using more recyclable and fewer toxic materials in construction processes; and consuming energy at their lowest possible levels. The ultimate goal of environmental planning is to determine how environmentalism affects the designs of cities in towns As communities, cities, states, and countries become more concerned with the distribution o f their resources, environmental planning has become increasingly critical. The planning focuses on how communities can achieve sustainable development and use resources in a way that is good for the ecosystem and the general population. As architects we are in a track where we could be sensible environmental planners not only by academic qualifications but practice as well. If we are aiming to relieve the planet’s stress, we must start to measure progress and plan based on the following bottom line: environmental, social and economic progress. We as architects must be ready to meet this challenges head on. 37th UAP National Convention © 2011 About Us | Contact | Blog | Resources | Help | Terms | Privacy | 69