World Architecture Day was commemorated by the Guam USA chapter of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), the first foreign chartered chapter of the UAP, with an online webinar. The speaker was University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture faculty member Ar. Asst. Prof. Ruth Marie I. Equipaje, an environmental planner and consultant on sustainable urban development.
Held on October 24, 2020, via the online platform Zoom, Equipaje discussed the significance of public open spaces in the city in her talk titled “Planning for Sustainability and Urban Resilience of Future Cities: The Vital Role of Public Open Space.”
Equipaje lamented the disappearance of public open spaces and green spaces in the cities. According to her, public open spaces are significant because they act as green lungs for the city and as spaces for refuge in cases of disasters or a pandemic. The present health problem, according to her, brings to light the need for public open spaces as they significantly affect the happiness, well-being, and mental health of the people.
Calling upon architects, designers, and city planners, Equipaje urged them to secure and conserve these open spaces to ensure better, sustainable, and resilient cities in the future.
