Nippon Paint honors best design ideas at AYDA 2018

POSTED BY: Lionell Go Macahilig
2018-12-14 04:14:00 PHT

Embarking on the theme "FORWARD: Challenging Design Boundaries", Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines, Inc. recently revealed the winners of the Philippine edition of the Asia Young Designer Award (AYDA) 2018 in a ceremony held at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium in Quezon City.

A celebration of creativity and ingenuity of Filipino students in the fields of architecture and interior design, AYDA 2018 received entries from different schools and universities across the Philippines. Entries were evaluated by judges composed of prominent and well-established industry professionals. The event itself was backed by the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), Council of Deans and Heads of Architecture Schools in the Philippines (CODHASP), the Philippine Institute of Interior Designs (PIID), and the Council of Interior Design Educators (CIDE).

“This year’s entries were truly out of the box and very creative, perhaps triggered by this year’s theme. Since Nippon Paint became part of AYDA, we know the entries to be very strong and in fact, we almost won the regionals before. This year, we’re optimistic that a Filipino will go to Harvard,” said Michael Francisco, Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines General Manager.

University of the Philippines - Mindanao's Prince Lu bagged the Gold Award in the Architecture Category with PhP 50,000 cash prize, while Megan Recato of University of the Philippines - Diliman took home the Silver Award with PhP 30,000 cash prize.

University of Santo Tomas's Odrysa Mie Serino won the Gold Award in the Interior Design Category with PhP 50,000 cash prize, while Jhessa Mae Romero of University of San Carlos brought home the Silver. Award with PhP 30,000 cash prize.

Lu's winning design titled "Neokamaigen" is a futuristic city concept that addresses the housing needs in the future and prepare the Philippines for the melting of the ice glaciers that will raise water levels around the globe.

Meanwhile, Serino's work named "Gunita" is a greenhouse cemetery concept that deals with social issues like environmental deterioration and land insufficiency. Bodies are vertically placed inside Manunggul jars, taking inspiration from the ancient practice where jars serve as burial pods.

Lu and Serino will advance to the AYDA 2018 Regional Finals which will be held in Singapore, competing with the best architecture and interior design students in Asia, and vying for the chance to be included in the Harvard University Graduate School of Design's Design Discovery Program.