Introduction

Hotels are already common in any part of the world; it focuses on providing ‘Home away
from Home’ atmosphere. Although hotels already have the same designs and function in the
community. So I’ve come up with an idea of constructing a unique look of a building that
captures the eyes of nature lovers. The Eco Building is basically, a hotel that accommodates
tourists mainly here in Vigan. This Eco-Hotel “Garden Hotel” answers the environmental
problem which is pollution that concerns citizen years back. Since we are lacking up on space to
plant on, then we should change the practice of constructing, treating plants as part of the
building.

Technical Aspect

This Garden Hotel has a square pyramid look that captures the sunlight for the plants
every floor. It can go up to four to five floors of rooms with a space outside for about a meter or
half provided for the plants to grow on. Ground floor will serve as a parking area and entrance of
the building; second floor will be the location of the so called garden of the hotel where tourists
will have time to relax, a restaurant will also be added where Ilocos delicacies are promoted, and
the rest of the floors will be the rooms for guests and tourists. The roof will be covered with grass
that will lessen the heat than conventional roofing. Researches show that a small simple park
can lessen the heat for about 7 degrees Celsius. Also a bar, pool and solar harvesting is taken
into consideration but it is still not in the final plan.

Proposing a so called Garden Hotel brings up many questions. How can you plant in a
building? So, by meaning of plants doesn’t mean you need to plant a tree in it, which does affect
the structure of the building causing roots to infiltrate the cement. Bushes or shrubs, grasses
and wildflowers are far better choice or recommended; it does not require deep root systems,
deep heavy soil and low cost maintenance. Although the question how can you plant in it haven’t
been answered? Basically, the concrete slab has to be water proofed by putting a reinforced
polypropylene (waterproof liner). Then at the top of the liner is the drainage cell that acts up as
pebbles. Then comes next the geotextile that increases soil stability, and finally is the planting
soil (soil, sand and coco pit) which then have to be mixed well. From the idea of planting in a
building is never impossible, you’ll just have to engineer it.
Location and Fund

It will be located at Buquig, Bantay, Ilocos Sur in front of Mel Sol’s Inn and Resort,
where it is just minutes away from Vigan. Since it is located at Bantay, transportation will be
provided by the management of the hotel, it will be 3 to 4 kalesa that will have a space provided
in front of the hotel, or the management will have a contact to the Kalesa Association here in
Vigan, that if a tourist booked in they will be asked if what time are they going to leave the hotel
so that the kalesa will be prepared. Source of fund will be coming from entrepreneurs who are
willing to take part of the plan.

Target Market

The hotel accommodates tourists that visit Vigan, it will capture their attention of the
unique design of the hotel and the nature’s vibes upon you enter.

Effect to the Environment

As we know, plants are considered critical resource because of the many ways they
support life here on earth. They release oxygen into the atmosphere, absorb carbon dioxide and
regulate the water cycle. A single building might not have the results that we want, but imagine
if the idea of a single building be implemented in a city then the phrase ‘a pollutant free’ will
never be already imposible.
Installation and steps of the garden

Eco-Hotel garden Ideas: