Students with Storm-centric Projects Win Nippon Paint Young Designer Award 2014

The prestigious Nippon Paint Young Designer Award (NPYDA) 2014 announced the winners in the Architecture and Interior Design categories in line with the theme “Re: Think. Re: Create. Our Community, Our Home”.

 Photo shows (from left) Gladys Goh, Nippon Paint Malaysia Group – Group General Manager; Jason Labacanacruz, and Kristine Caballes.

Nippon Paint Young Designer Award (NYPDA) is a regional competition across 10 Asia Pacific countries. For the first time, Filipino students now had the opportunity to win a fully-paid trip to Japan for a cross-country learning program, among other prizes.

The winners, Jason Labacanacruz from the Technological University of the Philippines Manila and Kristine Caballes from University of San Carlos Cebu won the prestigious Nippon Paint Young Designer Award 2014 for architecture and interior design categories, respectively.

Labanacruz wowed the judges with the idea to use recycled container vans for stable low cost housing instead of tents, which are not resistant to typhoons. Caballes’ project meanwhile introduced a residential house that not only uses rainwater for water supply but also converts it into electricity.

The two walked away with cash prizes, paid internship contracts under Lor Calma & Partners and spots in the exclusive Japan Learning Program. With the theme ‘Re:Think. Re:Create. Our Community, Our Home,’ the first Philippine edition of the competition received 196 entries and revolved around creating sustainable living spaces for all walks of life.

Indeed, without the inspiration of the young, the design world will be stagnant.