UPLAYA: An Aqua-floating Fisherfolk Community Through the Application of Very Large Floating Structures (VIFS) as an Alternative to Land Reclamation

BS Architecture

Ariane Kurtly B. Balderian is a distinguished Architecture graduate of Palawan State University, celebrated for her academic excellence, design innovation, and commitment to community service. As one of the Top 9 national winners of the ArchiNEXT 2024: HCG Young Designers’ Competition, she brought pride to her university with this historic achievement. Her dedication to sustainability and impactful design also earned her the prestigious Obelisk Award 2024—the highest honor from the College of Architecture and Design.

Their thesis project, UPLAYA, was honored as the Top 1 Best Thesis of their College, earning multiple special awards and gaining further recognition with a feature in the 3rd Quarter 2025 Edition of Archikonst Magazine. Beyond academics, Kurtly showed strong leadership as the founder of Ar.Kalliste, an online thrift store supporting annual gift-giving initiatives for indigenous communities in Brooke’s Point, Palawan. Through her work in design, advocacy, and enterprise, Kurtly exemplifies the role of a future architect who not only creates spaces but empowers lives.

BS Architecture

Reggie Duran is a proud Architecture graduate of Palawan State University whose journey began with dreams of medicine but found purpose and passion under a white hard hat. As Editor-in-Chief of The ARCHIVE, and a judge for various design competitions, Reggie’s leadership and creative voice helped shape the college’s culture of excellence. He actively participated in local and national competitions, pushing the boundaries of his skills and design thinking.

Their thesis project, UPLAYA, was recognized as the Top 1 Best Thesis of the College of Architecture and Design and earned multiple special awards, including a feature in the 3rd Quarter 2025 Edition of Archikonst Magazine. Capping off five years of academic excellence and advocacy for ecological and socially responsive design, Reggie was awarded The Obelisk Award 2025—the highest honor from the college. With a growing passion for landscape architecture, he now sets his sights on graduate studies to continue building spaces that serve both people and the planet

Thesis Adviser

Ar. Rodelito R. Garobo is a licensed Palaweño architect whose career bridges global design experience with a strong dedication to local architectural education. A 2006 graduate of Palawan State University (PSU) and a licensed architect since 2009, he began his professional journey in design and construction as Head of the Maintenance and Engineering Department at Club Paradise in Coron, where he also served as an accredited Pollution Control Officer. In 2012, he returned to Puerto Princesa to begin part-time teaching at his alma mater, marking the start of his commitment to mentoring future architects.

From 2013 to 2019, Arch. Garobo worked in Singapore as a Technical Designer, contributing to major international projects including the BMW Asia-Pacific Showroom, Universal Studios Singapore, the Singapore Airshow, and the Grevin Seoul Wax Museum, among others. His expertise extended to large-scale events such as the Singapore F1 Grand Prix and the Southeast Asian Games. Returning to the Philippines in 2019, he resumed teaching at PSU while practicing privately. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Architecture, majoring in Landscape Architecture at the University of San Carlos, Arch. Garobo continues to champion sustainable and culturally grounded design, enriching the local academic and professional community with his global insights.

UPLAYA: An aqua-floating fisherfolk community through the application of very large floating structures (VLFS) as an alternative to land reclamation

The precarious living conditions of marginalized fisherfolk communities amidst climate change and accelerating urbanization have been a persistent topic in interdisciplinary discourse, particularly regarding forced displacement and resettlement policies. As coastal areas face increasing environmental risks, local governments often resort to displacement, forcing communities to abandon their livelihoods and cultural ties. However, this approach fails to acknowledge the adaptability and resilience of fisherfolk communities, whose lives are deeply intertwined with the coastal environment. This study addresses this gap by exploring how Very Large Floating Structures (VLFS) can serve as an architectural solution that enables coastal communities to remain in their natural habitats while mitigating disaster risks. Unlike land reclamation, a widely used method for expanding coastal areas that often leads to ecological degradation, floating structures offer a sustainable alternative that aligns with the socio-economic needs of coastal communities. This study argues that architectural design—through self-sustaining, disaster-resilient floating settlements—offers a long-term solution that prioritizes both the well-being of fisherfolk and the respect of coastal ecosystems.