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B+Abble 2022 Recap: Sustainability Has Taken the Spotlight 

In the recent B+Abble event, speakers talked about how contemporary design and architecture can be more environmentally friendly.

September 23, 2022

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By 

Rick Formalejo

B+Abble, the annual and much-awaited series of talks on contemporary design in the Philippines, returned last September 7, 2022, held at The Emerald Events Place in Antipolo, Rizal. Organized by Buensalido+Architects, one of the country’s most innovative and progressive architecture firms, the contemporary design and arts conference ran for a whole day in a festival format. The event featured talks and panel discussions participated by local and international speakers. Several musical performances by emerging and exciting talents entertained the audience and guests in-between talks. 

Jason Buensalido, Chief Design Ambassador of Buensalido+Architects
Ems Eliseo, Vice President for Operations for Buensalido+Architects and B+Abble Conference Director

The series of discussions revolved around the event’s theme: “ReWind to ReWild” which focused on sustainability and simplicity in the built environment, exploring conservation, creative renovation, adaptive re-use, and how other contemporary solutions can change the way people live and understand architecture for the better. 

Chunyan Cai, co-founder of Atelier tao+c, joins the festival from Shanghai, China.

Chunyan Cai of Atelier tao+c, a world-renowned design and architecture laboratory based in Shanghai, China, headlined the event with the global firm’s first talk in the Philippines. One of the winners of the World Architecture Festival in 2021, Atelier tao+c’s projects use humble and local materials, but the precise detailing always manages to elevate the mundane. Co-founder Chunyun Cai talked about their firm’s process, semi-architectural and semi-interior, and how their design method allows people to see and experience beauty in simplicity. 

Don Lino of LINO Architecture
Leeroy New

Architect Don Lino of LINO Architecture and artist Leeroy New also gave their unique perspectives on preserving local culture and heritage through their work, as well as talked about how sustainability should be a goal and a principle of design, not a gimmick.

Michael Pizarro, Founder/ Principal Interior Designer of Michael Pizarro Interior Design
Kevin Nieves, founder and Design Head of Headroom
RB Montes, COO of Industria Edition
Denise de Castro, Principal Architect of DEQA Design Collaborative
Dan Matutina, founding partner at Plus63 and Hydra Design Group; Vice President of Communication Design Association of the Philippines
Mara Manalo, founder of Studio Mara
Quito Medina, Architecture Director of Open House Design Studio
Jacy Medina, Managing Director of Open House Design Studio
Cyndi Fernandez-Beltran, co-founder and design director of Moss Design House
Carlo Delantar, Head of Circular Economy at Gobi Partners
Denise Ayado and PJ Almera of ACIIID
Ric Gindap of Design for Tomorrow, Cyndi Fernandez-Beltran of Moss Design House, and Carlo Delantar of Gobi Partners
Ric Gindap, Creative+Design Director / Chief Strategist of Design for Tomorrow

This year, B+Abble launched for the first time the panel discussions called Projects, where individuals from multiple disciplines gave their unique perspectives on the festival’s theme. A high-caliber mix of architects, interior and industrial designers, trend forecasters, branding experts, and even circular economy advocates. The invited industry experts shared experiences and case studies championing engaged discussions with each other and the audience members highlighting B+Abble’s initiative to educate by heart.

B+Abble’s theme for this year was “ReWind to ReWild,” which focused on sustainability and simplicity in our built environment.
Michael Pizarro of Michael Pizarro Interior Design, RB Montes of Industria Edition, Kevin Nieves of Headroom, with B+Abble hosts Geoms Tumamao-Guittap and Gerard Dy
Stephanie Tan-Branquinho, Principal Architect of SpaceFabrik

Almost 300 fans of arts and architecture spent the day listening to the introspections and conversations of the speakers. Young musical talents Coeli, Jarlo Bâse, Brass Rosette, and Ysanygo bookmarked the talks with electric performances, providing a dynamic atmosphere to an already interesting festival.

B+Abble is a whole-day festival of talks and panel discussions featuring local and international thought leaders, infused with fantastic performances by emerging local musical talents.

Now in its 8th year, B+Abble continues to inspire and challenge the creative community to use innovative, unique, and progressive thinking in exacting positive change.

Photos by Ed Simon and Buensalido+Architects

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