Project Dugton

Project Dugton is a community-centered urban design proposal for the Indigent Neighborhood Association (INA), a relocation community in Davao City, Philippines, facing flooding, poor drainage, unsafe pathways, heat exposure, and limited communal spaces. 

We transform the site through a connected “Living Courtyard” with a multipurpose hall, basketball court, play area, chapel/classroom, and shaded walkways. Designed through participatory and climate-responsive principles, it aims to strengthen safety, social connection, resilience, and a sense of belonging.

The project addresses the overlapping challenges of flooding, poor drainage, unsafe pathways, heat exposure, and the lack of safe communal spaces in the relocation community. Its innovation lies in integrating climate-responsive design with social infrastructure through a connected “Living Courtyard.” Open-air, naturally ventilated, shaded, and flexible spaces support recreation, learning, worship, community gatherings, and emergency response. Its participatory and incremental approach allows residents to shape and adapt the spaces over time. d

It maximizes limited resources by using locally available materials, communal unity or bayanihan, and participatory planning to reduce costs. It is designed for low-cost, practical, incremental implementation and can be further supported through partnerships, grants, and community contributions. 

Its long-term approach focuses on strengthening local capacity so communities can sustain and replicate solutions. Measurable results include households reached, improvements implemented, community members trained, adaptation measures adopted, networks tapped, and resources mobilized.

To promote human dignity, the needs and lived experiences of vulnerable communities are prioritized. It uses participatory and inclusive processes that respect local knowledge and cultural practices. Environmental responsibility is integrated through climate-responsive, low-impact solutions that use locally available materials. By strengthening community participation, ownership, and decision-making, the project promotes equity, accountability, and socially responsible development. 

Positive experiences are created by ensuring that community members are heard, respected, and actively involved in decisions affecting their homes and community. It promotes fairness by giving vulnerable groups meaningful opportunities to participate and access appropriate solutions. Through dialogue, collaborative planning, and shared problem-solving, the project helps build trust, address differing perspectives, and reduce potential conflicts while strengthening community relationships and collective ownership. 

Design is central to the project as a tool for creating practical, inclusive, and context-responsive solutions. Participatory design engages community members in identifying needs, developing ideas, and shaping interventions for their homes and shared spaces. Principles of human-centered, climate-responsive, and resource-efficient design guide the process. Creativity is used to transform local knowledge and available resources into solutions that are functional, affordable, adaptable, and appropriate to the community’s context.