1

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
THE EARLY PERIOD OR PRE·SPANISH ERA
(8TH·15TH CENTURY)
1. bahay-kubo ( Adopted to tropical (3) Different versions: llocos, Central Luzon and
climate) Southern Luzon.
2. Their houses were constructed of
The nipa hut is literally a grass hut, made of
wood, bamboo and palm leaves (nipa
bamboo poles, a thatch roof with woven split
shingles).
canes for walls and split bamboo slats for
flooring. This is locally called the " BAHAY
KUBO" (cube house)

Nipa Huts
 On the tropical landscape rose City Walls,
fortresses, government buildings, churches and
convents, and grand houses.

1. a. Ilocos Province- in the North

The Vigan House

The Mindanao House in the. South

Vigan House generally refers to Antillan design

of brick, lime, and mortar with tile roofing and
Phi!!ipine hardwoods

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SPANISH ERA (16TH-19TH CENTURY! 1521-
18981
  A spacious hall caida
 a reception room sala
 bath~ and terrace azotea in the back
 Sliding window panes made of squares
of mother-of-pearl, capiz shells,
balustrades of wood or iron grills called
verandillas.
c. Batanes (18th Century)
Is the Batanes islands inhabited by some 12,000
inhabitants called the lvatans
The IVATAN HOUSE
An lvatan house is cool in the hot season, and
warm in the cold ·season. The traditional lvatan
family usually owns two houses, one contains
the living room (rakuh) and the other contains
the kitchen (kusina)
d. Bahay na Bato . . ... up to 1920's
 The bahay na bato is
a structure that meets the challenges of
the Philippine landscape. It uses sawali
{woven bamboo slats).
 The roof of the provincial houses was
made of Thatch.
 From the sea comes a
variety of capiz shells for windows,
oyster shells which are ground for
mortar, and blocks of coral stone for
walls.

  The farm yields as much building
materials as the sea. For mortar,
molasses {pulot) from sugar~ cane and
egg white from the chicken coop are
mixed with lime for cementing
purposes.
 The abundant supply of Philippine
hardwood (narra, molave, tanguile,
kamagong, mahogany, etc.) from the
forests are used for beams, posts, walls,
and floors. And the good earth with its
deposits of local stones, bricks and tiles
from Clay, and volcanic turf adobe
stones, becomes an inexhaustible
source of building materials.

features of the bahay na bato

1. ventanilla (transom).
2. banguera, (dishrack)
3. sahig (floor)
4. media-aqua (awning)

EXAMPLES

a) Late Spanish
 Philippine period up to 1898
the roofing is 45° gradient
5.
 For instance, galvanized iron
roofing sheets or clay roofing
tiles or glazed bathroom tiles
were imported articles, Fire
bricks, limestone, hardwoods,
capiz shells (tor window panes)
and lumber were available
locally.
 anchored on buried stones
(piedra china)
ANCESTRAL HOUSE IN NEGROS
• TUAZON HOUSE, arlegui St. Manila
A brass knocker, shaped like a hand wearing a
fob watch on its wrist, summons the caretaker
from within. The large gate is typical of the
porte cochere built for horsedrawn carriages.
Slabs of piedra china (once used as ballasts in
chinese junks) line the inner courtyard.
• AQUILINO CALIXTO HOUSE (1920) Corner of
Extremadura an.d Lepanto St. Manila

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AMERICAN REGIME (BEGINNING OF 20TH
CENTURY) '1905-1940's

a. Neo-classic style (Americans up to

1929's)
b. Neo-Classic Style (Filipino Architects
1920's-30's)
The Neo-Classic Style and the
monumental approach to buildings
 comprehending the philosophy of

4 modem architecture,

PRE-WAR MODERN INFLUENCE-

(1930's-40's)

This period of modern architecture in

the Philippines began with Andres Luna
de San Pedro, Juan Nakpil, Fernando
Ocampo and Pablo Antonio,

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THE POST-WAR PERIOD (1945-1950)
LIBERATION

The devastation brought about by the

last World War II. coupled by economic
exigencies gave way to the extension of
a slowly emerging architectural concept
to detach from the bondage of
traditional forms.
The Central Bank Main Office Building,
the first structure to be built in the
Central Bank Building Complex is
composed of 5 floors of office areas and
related amenities,

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PRESENT PHASE- 1960's to 1985

The Nationalistic fervor inherent in the

Filipinos triggered the impetus for the
search for identity. Gradually
The design for the Folk Arts Theater
(1974) originate~ in the simple concept
of a sheltered plaza. The completed
structure boasts a broad fascia with a
singie column-to-column span of 80
meters--the largest single-span
structure in the Philippines. Resting on
eight ·monumental columns. the 100 x
100 meters root appears to float.
The Manila Hotel was conceived as an
evocation of Old Manila.. Philippine Heart Centre for asia

The dramatic roof sweeping up from

the ground of the Philippine Pavillion at
Expo 70

The ayala museum

The plan and shape of the Ayala
Museum (1974) were based on
displaying the main exhibit dioramas to
best advantage and directing a smooth
traffic flow
ORNAMENTS

the ~elicate and exotic beauty of the

sarimanok, the steep roof of the Jfugaos,
the stilted dwellings of the Badjaos, the
refreshing beauty of the ornamental rafters
of the maranaos and the hospitable
spaciousness of the Visayan hut.
 The Batanggas almario or Pillow
rack

Panolongs (beam ends), Bawled

Chico

Furniture
The Gallinera Bench