Along the coastal margins of the southern Philippines, where the Sama-Bajau people have long read the sea as both home and livelihood, a young architect named Ejhey Durias chose to listen before he drew a single line. His design, Banuas Lawod — a sustainable aquaculture hub rooted in traditional Lepa boat-house forms — earned him the highest recognition at the AYDA Awards and a fellowship to Harvard, not because it was novel, but because it was faithful: to a community, to a culture, and to the belief that good design begins with genuine attention to those the world has overlooked.
Filipino architect wins global award for Sama-Bajau community design
Sama-Bajau communities face displacement from coastal areas due to urbanization, threatening their maritime livelihoods, cultural identity, and traditional way of life as sea nomads.