One of the areas hit by Typhoon Lawin (Haima) last October was Casiguran in Aurora province.
A year earlier, the area was ravaged by Typhoon Lando (Koppu) damaging agriculture and infrastructure. The site now houses a school designed by Palafox Architecture Group, in collaboration with Fastenopfer (Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund), for the indigenous community in Sitio Dipontian.
Now in its final stages of construction, the school was able to shelter members of the Agta community during Typhoon Lawin.
Designed to be disaster-resilient, the school features quatro aguas roofing that is resistant to strong winds, as well as rainwater harvesting for water supply.
Structurally-sound materials such as hardwood doors and jalousie windows were used while columns and trusses were added to strengthen the structure. Building orientation plays an important part in disaster resilience. Walls should not be parallel to the shoreline, and positioning it diagonally slices off the wind. Thus, the longer side of the school is positioned diagonally, and not against the wind.
