And two years after winning the competition, they have started manufacturing for different clients, with Earl Forlales taking the helm as CEO, and Zahra Zanjani as the COO.Ĭoming from a materials engineering background, Earl saw the potential of engineered bamboo, given that the country already has the abundant supply and the technology. We won in November 2018, and by January 2019, we already had a prototype,” shared Earl. They gave us a prize money for it which was great because we were able to prototype that solution right away. “I submitted the idea of upgrading a traditional bahay kubo, and we won that competition over 1,200 designers/architects around the world. In 2018, then 23-year old Earl Forlales and his business partner Zahra Zanjani topped the Cities For Our Future Challenge, an online global competition by Royal Insitution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) for transformative ideas solving issues such as rapid urbanization, climate change, and resource scarcity. Cubo Modular is a company initially founded to help solve the housing crisis in the Philippines by providing low-cost, sustainable, and dignified housing to Filipinos. With the advancement in construction technologies and the inspiration from the traditional Filipino home, it became his mission is to translate that concept into 21 st century homes-equipping this icon of Philippine culture with even sturdier materials able to withstand the increasing changes in the environment. Despite the technological advancements, it’s worth noting that these mighty houses are still common sights especially in the rural areas up to this day.Įarl Forales is one such individual who saw the value and charm in our traditional bahay kubo. It is a simple and traditional house that has retained its charm from pre-colonial period until now.

Bahay kubo is a national symbol, an icon of Philippine culture.

Cubo modular batanes model