Give your child the gift of architecture with a unique Balay Balay 3D Architecture Puzzle.

A prototype 3D Architectural Puzzle will be on exhibit at the Abreeza Ayala Mall from August 28 to September 5, 2015. The exhibit called “Balay Balay ‘Ta!” (Let’s Play House!) is presented by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Swito Designs.

On display is the first Balay-balay 3D model, a 3D model of the “torogan.” A torogan is the grand ancestral house of the Maranao royalty. It is known for its intricately carved beam-ends called panolong. It is adorned with “okir” designs.

The Torogan Balay-Balay 3D Architecture Puzzle is by Kim Vale, a Fine Arts graduate of the Ford Academy of the Arts in Davao City. Vale designed the puzzle based on published studies of the torogan, particularly the BS Architecture thesis of Henna S. Dazo of the University of the Philippines – Mindanao. Dazo surveyed an existing torogan in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur for her thesis work.

Balay Balay 3D Architectural Puzzles Exhibit Schedule

The Balay-Balay ‘Ta Exhibit will also feature workshops and other side events during its opening weekend.

August 28, 2015, Friday

• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Exhibit Opening
• 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Balay-Balay Ta! 3D Architecture Puzzle Building Workshop
• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Okir Making Workshop with Al-Nezzar Ali (Free registration)

August 29, 2015, Saturday

• 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Love Your Language Translate-a-thon with Google Business Group-Davao and Balud Books

August 30, 2015, Sunday

• 10:00 AM Balay-Balay Ta! 3D Architecture Puzzle Building Challenge with UAPSA

August 31, 2015, Monday

• 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Balay-Balay Ta! 3D Architecture Puzzle Building Workshop (Free registration)
• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Okir Making Workshop (Free registration)

About Balay Balay ‘Ta

Co-presenter Swito Designs is a subsidiary of SwitoTwins, Inc, a Davao-based social enterprise. Architect Gloryrose Dy, one half of the SwitoTwins, is the Balay Balay ‘Ta Project Head and is the main proponent of the project. She is also an alumna of UP Mindanao. Architect Dy proposed the project to NCCA with the goal of creating an educational toy that would encourage children to learn about and appreciate Filipino Architecture.

Arcihtect Dy shares “My vision is that every Filipino child would know what a Torogan House is. When I was in first year BS Architecture, I did not know there were other Filipino traditional houses because we were only taught that we have the ‘bahay kubo….’ With the Balay-Balay Architectural Puzzles, I hope that Filipino children would know more of their local and traditional architecture and be proud of their Filipino heritage. This is how we can contribute to national building – by starting with the education of our young.”

With this vision, NCCA is working hand in hand with Swito Designs for the exhibit and the workshops. The Balay-Balay ‘Ta Davao Exhibit is just first of many. NCCA and Swito Designs will be bringing the exhibit to Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, Marawi City and Manila.

Through the Balay-Balay ‘Ta Tour, Swito Designs hope to get feedback from participants to improve the design and functionality of the Torogan 3D Architectural Puzzle. With input from participants, the team wishes to perfect the Torogan Puzzle in time for a commercial release in 2016.

Let your child and the child in you be one of the first to see, experience, and enjoy a Balay Balay 3D Architecture Puzzle at the Balay Balay ‘Ta Exhibit.

For more information about the upcoming Davao City exhibition and workshops, visit the Balay Balay ‘Ta Page at https://www.facebook.com/Balaybalay3D. For inquiries, contact them via email at balaybalay3darchitecturepuzzle@gmail.com or contact the Project Coordinator Angely Chi at +63908-547-0950 and +6382-3214416.

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