Arch
17
Philippine Vernacular
Architecture
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
PHILIPPINE Styles
1 Vernacular Asian Traditions
2 Spanish Colonial European Traditions
3 American Colonial Euro-American Traditions
4 Post-Independence Post Colonial
5 Contemporary New Millennium
Philippine
VERNACULAR
ARCHITECTURE
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
Ø derived from the Latin vernaculus,
meaning domestic, native, indigenous
Ø a.k.a. folk, traditional, popular architecture
Ø category of architecture based on local
needs and construction materials and
reflecting local traditions
Ø tends to evolve over time to reflect the
environmental, cultural, technological, and
historical context in which it exists
AUSTRANESIA
HISTORY
Ø immigrants of Malay origin, food gatherers
and hunters
Ø 3000 BC, joined by advanced agricultural
race from Indonesia
Ø barangays as tribal system
Ø converted to Islam in 1300 AD
Ø trade center of the Orient
NAME
Ma-i - Description of the Peoples
- "country of the Blacks” - Chinese local name
of present-day Mindoro
- not an island, but all the south of South Sea
islands groups and Manila
- consists of the “Sānzhōu” - three islands:
• “Kia-ma-yen” -‐ Calamian
• “Bālāwàng” -‐ Palawan
• “Pa-ki-nung” – Busuanga
- other islands:
• “Pai-p'u-yen” – Babuyan
• “P'u-li-lu” -‐ Polillo
• “Lim-kia-tung” -‐ Lingayen
• “Liu-sung” -‐ Luzon
• “Li-ban” -‐ Lubang
NAME
Ø Las islas de San Lázaro - St. Lazarus' Islands
Ø Las islas de Poniente - Islands to the West
Ø Perla de Oriente / Perla del Mar de Oriente
Pearl of the Orient / Pearl of the Orient Seas
Ø Las Islas Felipenas - Philippine Islands
(Islands belonging to Philip)
Ø Las islas Filipinas / Filipinas - Philippines
EARLY SHELTERS
Ø Caves
Ø Lean-to shelters
Ø Arboreal shelters
CAVES
LEAN-TO SHELTERS
TREE HOUSES
FACTORS IN HOUSE BUILDING
Ø available resources (materials)
Ø climate (tropical)
Ø geography (austranesia)
CHARACTER
Ø tropical design
Ø open
Ø light (moveable, earthquake proof)
Ø stilted
Ø thatched, pitched roof
Ø monsoonal and aquatic based way of life
BUILDING MATERIALS
Ø timber
Ø bamboo
Ø thatch
Ø fibers
RATTAN
BAMBOO
NIPA
COGON
ANAHAW
VERNACULAR HOUSES
Ø Batanes
Ø Cordillera
Ø Luzon
Central
Southern
Ø Mindanao
Ø Cordillera
Region Ø Mindanao
&
Sulu
Region
Isneg Kalinga Badjao Samal
Yakan Maranao
Bontoc Ifugao Ø Island
of
Panay
Kankanai Bahay
Kubo
ØIvatan,
Mangyan,
Subanun,
Mandaya
IVATAN HOUSE
Sinadumparan
• thick stone + mortar
(limestone walls)
• reed, rattan, cogon or
bamboo gable or hip
roofs
• strong enough to
withstand typhoons
and earthquakes
• north – south
orientation
• one windowless wall
facing strong winds
IVATAN HOUSE
Sinadumparan
ISNEG
Binuron
• rectangular plan
• high gable roof bowed to a
shape of a boat
• roof framing independent
from floor framework
ISNEG
Binuron
ISNEG
Binuron
KALINGA
Binayon
• octagonal in plan
• three divided floorings,
lowest in the center
KALINGA
Binayon
KANKANAY
Binangiyan
• similar to Ifugao
house
• ridge parallel to
front
• made of Narra or
Pine
KANKANAY
Binangiyan
BONTOC
• house within a house
• shelter for people, rice,
chicken, pigs
BONTOC
Kat-yu’-fong
BONTOC
Fay-ü
IFUGAO
• built on the rice
terraces near a
spring or grove
• “bului” carved
granary
guardians
• entry faces down
slope
• Two-year
construction
• dismantled in a
day
• “hagabi” prestige
bench of upper
class
IFUGAO
Fale
• Square plan
• Pyramidal or conical
roof
• Windowless
• Halipan – rat guard 1.2
to 1.8 m from ground
• 12 to 15 sqm
IFUGAO
Fale
IFUGAO
BAHAY KUBO
• cube house
• 3 to 4 meters
• post & lintel
• steeply pitched thatched
roof
• voluminous roof cavity to
combat humidity
• pile foundation flooding +
underfloor ventilation
• nipa or sawali wall siding
in herringbone design
BAHAY KUBO
BAHAY KUBO
BAHAY KUBO
Replica of Jose Rizal’s “bahay kubo” in Calamba, Laguna
BAHAY KUBO
Ilongo (Panay Island) House
BAHAY KUBO
Ilongo (Negros Island) House
BAHAY KUBO
Akeanon (Kalibo, Aklan) House
BAHAY KUBO
Waray (Leyte Island) House
BAHAY KUBO
Tagalog House in Quezon Province
BAHAY KUBO
Apolinario Mabini’s House in Nagtahan (Manila)
BAHAY KUBO
BADJAO
Palaw
• Filipino Muslim
ethnic group
• sea gypsies
• fisherfolks
• boat dwellers
• originated from
Zamboanga,
Basilan, Jolo
provinces, Tawitawi
• Samal Luwaan
(outcast)
• Sama Dilaut (people
of the ocean)
BADJAO
Palaw
• permanent
dwelling
• “harun” (ladder)
serves
as
wash
area
• mirrors
symbolize
the
number
of
children
BADJAO
Dapang
• “vinta”
• house boat
BADJAO
Lepa
• faster
houseboat
Jengning
• bigger
houseboat
SAMAL
• “pantan”, porch
oriented
towards the
east
SAMAL
SAMAL
TAUSUG
Bay Sinug
• people of the
current
• inland “tau gimba”
• along the shore
“tau higad”
A
gabled
roof
and
larger
slit
windows
characterize
the
present
day
Tausug
house
TAUSUG
Bay Sinug
tadjuk pasung
YAKAN
Lumah
• door faces east
• “Saplaw”, steep
pitched roof
• “tandiwan”
window
YAKAN
Lumah
• “kokan
/tindakan”
,
main house
• “kosina”,
kitchen
• “pantan /
simpey”,
porch
YAKAN
Lumah
LAWIG
MARANAO
• People of the lake
Lawig
• small houses
• used for sleeping
• with interior hearth
Mala-a-walai MALA-A-WALAI
• large houses of well to
do families
• without panolong
• okir decoration on
baseboards, door
jambs & windowsills
• Bamboo fenced porch
marks facade
MARANAO
Torogan
• house for sultans &
datus
• arranged in a line
along the river
• “panolong”, carved
beam protruding in
front of the house
• “okir” geometric &
flowing designs
based on elaborate
leaf & vine pattern
• lamin or tower built
atop the house
hiding the sultan’ s
daughter
MARANAO
Torogan
MARANAO
Torogan
MARANAO
Torogan
“ISKWATER”
References
Alarcon, NI. (1991). Philippine Architecture During The Pre-spanish And
Spanish Periods. University of Santo Tomas Press
Alarcon, NI. (2008). The Imperial Tapestry : the American Colonial Architecture
in the Philippines. University of Santo Tomas Publishing House
Cabalfin, EG. (2015). What Kids Should Know About Philippine Architecture.
Adarna House Inc.
Fernandez, RDA. (2015). Diksiyonaryong Biswal ng Arkitekturang Filipino.
University of Santo Tomas Publishing House
Galende PG & Javellana RB. (1993). Great Churches of the Philippines.
Bookmark Publication.
Laya JC & Turalba, MCV & Tinio Jr. MI. (2013). Philippine Heritage Homes: A
Guildebook. Anvil Publishing Inc.
Lico G. (2008). Arkitekturang Filipino: A History of Architecture and Urbanism in
the Philippines. UP Press.
References
Lico, G. (2009). Audio Visual Textbook of Philippine Architecture. National
Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Lico, G. (2013) Istilo: Pocket Guide to Architecture Styles in the Philippines.
National Commission for Culture and the Arts
Lico, G. (2014) Masjid / Mosque Architecture: Jewels of Philippine Islamic
Faith. National Commission for Culture and the Arts
Luca, T. & Reyes, EV. (2013) Philippine Style: Design and Architecture. Anvil
Publishing Inc.
Noche, MML. (2011). Puentes de España en las Filipinas: The Colonial Bridges
In the Philippines. University of Santo Tomas Publishing House.
Nolasco B. (2013). National Treasures: A Journey Through History. National
Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Morales MV. (2012) Balay Ukit: Tropical Architecture in Pre-WWII Filipino
Houses. Anvil Publishing
Zialcita, FN. & Martin Jr. IT. (1980) Philippine Ancestral Houses 1810 -1930.
GCF Books.
