Somnambulance, the theme of Haraya 2024 was in full display at the projects, renderings, physical models, and theses exhibited at Building 1 of the UP Diliman (UPD) College of Architecture (CA).

The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne website defines somnambulance as sleepwalking “when a child partly wakes from their sleep and walks around, yet they are still asleep.”

According to the CA, somnambulance “…creates a dreamlike atmosphere, inviting attendees to explore a realm where reality intertwines with dreams.… The setting is playful and imaginative, with vibrant colors and intricate patterns reflecting the creative journeys of our students. Through somnambulance, we aim to foster empathy for the challenges faced by architecture students and inspire reflection on personal growth and creativity.”

Haraya, the CA’s annual week-long academic and extension activities, opened on June 4, showcasing works of landscape architecture and architecture graduate and undergraduate students.

The highlight of the opening ceremony was the keynote speech by Director Emerson Cuyo of the Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

He said the advent of artificial intelligence-assisted architectural design “represents a frontier of exploration and discovery where tradition meets innovation and legality intersects with creativity as we stand on the cusp of a new era, defined by unprecedented technological advancements.”

The next day, June 5, Haraya 2024 presented Thesis Redux. This was where the best student theses at the undergraduate and graduate levels were presented to the college constituents. The students with the best theses were honored at the CA Parangal sa Mag-aaral held on the same day.

Haraya 2024 also held a design clinic where community members consulted with the CA professionals about general concerns related to architecture and landscape architecture.

The week was capped off with the two-day Architectural Research Colloquium, held from June 7 to 8 at the Benito Sy Pow Auditorium, where the CA faculty, students, and industry professionals presented their research.