Circularity in Your City

When Circularity and Cultural Identity Meet

When progress happens, do we have to lose identity brought about by change?

For the small municipality in the Philippines named Naawan, going green and circular while preserving the culture of locals was proven possible. The newly-built Naawan Municipal hall, inaugurated January 2024, showcases the green architecture that complements their town identity.

As farming remains the main source of their income, they built a honeycomb-inspired building that represents how hardworking the locals are like the bees. The middle of the facade was inspired by the Philippine Rice Terraces.

The building was thoughtfully designed that boasts of its natural light and ventilation with high ceiling, partial skylight, window panels that block-off direct sunlight, indoor plants and trees, and sewage treatment system that connects treated water to the landscapes that surround the building.

Next on their list is the installation of renewable power source.

By Garizaldy L. Salvador, Philippines