For 15 years, WORLDBEX (World Building and Construction Exposition) has been taking huge steps in promoting and sharing the tools, materials and expertise to help our country produce beautiful, sustainable, eco-friendly and energy-saving architecture. The fair opened yesterday, March 17, its displays at the World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM), Air-Conditioned Tent and Philippine Trade Training Center. It will be open until March 21.

Eight hundred eighty exhibit booths from over 20 countries will be at the site to showcase the best that the world has to offer – without hurting the environment and creating safer homes for all.
Pushing sustainable architecture further, the 2010 WORLDBEX focuses on “Constructing the future green communities through efficient technologies and materials.”

A comprehensive display of the most premium local and international products and services in the construction industry has made this world-renowned expo an indispensable source of information and technology.

International and local experts will talk about sustainable development, with the Philippine Trade Training Center as the venue of these talks. Each day from March 18 to 20, four different speakers will share their expertise. On March 18, Engr. Sipco de Jonge from Hunter Douglas will discuss the merits of the “High Range Koda Blast System.” He will be followed by Arch. Timothy Wong who will show that sustainability and mass housing needn’t be oil and water, as both concepts can be combined to create lasting and environmentally-friendly designs.

The Philippines’ own Arch. Amado de Jesus, Jr., FUAP, presenting his paper on “Green Architecture and Climate Change” will share his industry experience in making buildings positive mitigating agents of climate change with eco-friendly retrofittings for older buildings and maximizing energy efficiency in new structures to achieve carbon neutrality.

Interior design authority Leo Almeria caps the day’s series with his stylish insights on creating sustainable small living spaces.

Architect Felino Palafox, Jr. will address the timely issue regarding disaster-ready structures with his seminar titled “Urban Planning in Architecture & Engineering to Address Disasters (Towards Safer Cities, Towns & Communities)” on March 19. Up next is his Singaporean counterpart, Arch. Tai Lee Siang, who will demonstrate how Singapore’s green city was planned and executed over a 40-year period.

Lighting industry expert Arch. Oscar dela Cruz will tackle the green watts and volts in “The Role of Energy-Efficient Lightning in Constructing Future Green Communities.” Designers looking for window treatment alternatives may want to attend “Solar Shade Fabric & Sustainable Design” by Ken Witherell.

Creating a green building rating system in the Philippines and the factors to consider when evaluating local structures will be the slated topic for Arch. Christopher dela Cruz on March 20.

Terry Waterhouse of the U.K. will be discussing Retail Environmental Design, and will be followed by Dr. Ernesto de Castro who will propose the use of Integrated Project Management in ensuring the compliance of an envisioned project to all aspects, including environmental sustainability.

Arch Annie Pugeda will end the series with her inspiring talk on “Revitalizing Your House Design with Efficient and Sustainable Materials” as she discusses how the old and new can come together to create something comfortable, energy-efficient and earth-friendly.

In line with its central theme of eco-friendly communities, the exhibit will feature innovative products and technologies.