KEY POINTS:
Architecture student Sarosh Mulla's plans for a building that balances conservation with progress have won him this year's New Zealand Institute of Architects Graphisoft Student Design Award.
The building would provide temporary housing for healthcare workers visiting the Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines, an endangered World Heritage site.
"Doctors and nurses on visits to the rice terraces would exchange their skills for food and shelter, and the experience of rice-terrace culture," explained Mr Mulla.
"The idea is that instead of the native Ifugao people going away from their land to get help, the help would come to them."
The 2000-year-old terraces are a series of steps carved into the region's steep mountainsides, providing level areas where rice can be grown. They are now in danger of deterioration because of a shortage of labour and skills.
The roofs of Mr Mulla's buildings would be made of steel panels, and the walls from timber and earth.
"Traditionally Ifugao houses are made from earth, so this is a way of reinforcing the local culture," said Mr Mulla. "I didn't want the design to be seen as disrespectful of local tradition, and I also wanted to try and continue the local practice of trading labour for food and experience."
The former Westlake Boys' High School student said he had chosen the area for his project because the problems faced by the Ifugao were serious and complex, combining social, political, environmental and economic changes.
The 23-year-old's final-year project was judged the best out of 12 finalists from NZ's three schools of architecture.
Judging were Richard Harris of Jasmax architects, Dr Gevork Hartoonian, associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Canberra, and Susan Hillery of Auckland's Hillery Priest Architects.
Mr Harris, who is also the NZIA president, said Mr Mulla's skill and passion for his project had shone through.
Mr Mulla, who recently joined Auckland's Salmond Reed Architects, hasn't visited the rice terraces, but it's on his wish list.
"Of course," he says, "the houses could also be used for tourists."
