CHURCH ARCHITECTURE

Instructor: Architect Eva Maria Villanueva

CHURCH ARCHITECTURE
simple, patterned after early Christian types; either
rectangular or cruciform with simple naves and aisles
thick walls reinforced with heavy uttresses for earth!uakes
protection
immense si"es ecause of colonial policy which dictated that
a church should e uilt for every #$$$ apti"ed
materials used include: volcanic tuff %adoe&, hardened lava,
volcanic e'ecta, sandstone, river oulders, clay, corals,
limestone, oyster shells, eggs
SIGNIFICANT EXAMPLES
PAOAY CHURCH, Ilocos Norte
uilt in ()*+ y Antonio Estavillo, completed (,$-.
(,($
fa/ade: rectangular, with arched doorway, four
continuous pilasters alternating with niches
finials and crenellations at pediment niche at the
ape0
huge volutes with low relief lines tracing the contour
to disguise the large uttresses
IGAN
CHURCH, Ilocos S!r
finished in (1$$
located within the grid iron planned streets
of a colonial town
aro!ue elements include protruding
columns and solid frames; three arched
doorways leading to three naves at the first
level, guarded y ionic pillars with c"inese
#! $o%s
urn.like finial at pediment
SANTA MARIA CHURCH, Ilocos S!r
constructed late (1th century, &' ste(s
leading to the church was uilt y
Augustinian )eni%no Fernan$e*
massive rick church perched on a hill
fa/ade has circ!lar +!ttresses, three
openings and a lind niche, semi.circular
pediment
TUMAUI NI CHURCH, Isa+ela
egun (,12.(,11 y 3ominican ,o-in%o Forto
and town mayor Pa+lo Sason ; (1$2.(1$1 4 circular
elltower was completed
(a-(an%o artisans carved the hardwood molds for
the clay insets that decorate the church
!ltra.+aro/!e : uni!ue for its e0tensive use of
aked clay oth for wall finishes and ornamentation
orna-ental $etails : serpentine reliefs, spiral
curves, flowers, foliage, sunfaces, cherus and
saints
circular elltower with white limestone finish ,
decorated with right red clay rosettes and festoons

ANGAT CHURCH, )!lacan

egun (,#).(,,2 y Augustinian Gre%orio Giner ;
completed in (1$- y 5ray 0oa/!in Calvo
+aro/!e st1le : coupled Corinthian and 3oric
columns divide fa/ade into levels or segments,
statues ringed with wreath.like ornaments flank
niches, windows with as.relief 6curtains7
plain three.storey elltower with alustered top
)ARASO AIN CHURCH, )!lacan
(1,(.(1,1 : stone church was constructed
to replace wooden structure; (11$ 4
earth!uake ruined the church
(11# : Augustinian 0!an Giron
commissioned a uilder named Ma%(a1o to
reuild the church
variation on the circle -oti#
flutings on pilasters with ends lunted into
semicircles detract from the 8eoClassical
elltower has a cuic ase , three layes
accented y lind and open windows, top
has crenellations and si0.sided cone
SAN SE)ASTIAN CHURCH, Manila
a church uilt for all times after previous churches
were damaged y earth!uakes in (1)2 and (11$
designed in the Got"ic st1le %without flying
uttresses& y Genaro Palacios in 9evivalist
architecture
made entirely of steel; plans were sent to :elgium
where the parts were made in sections then
transported to Manila
interiors were painted to resemle fau0 marle;
adorned with sculpture y E!se+io Garcia and
painting y Loren*o Roc"a
SAN AUGUSTIN
CHURCH, Manila
ol$est c"!rc" in t"e P"ili((ines; uilt (#1,.()$,
y 0!an Macias according to the plans approved y
the 9oyal Audencia de Me0ico and y a 9oyal
Cedula
(1#+ : 3on L!ciano Oliver %Municipal Architect of
Manila& directed the renovation of the fa/ade y
adding to the height of the towers; these towers
were damaged in the (1)2 earth!uake and
were never reuilt
pla"a adorned with 5u dogs represents
colonial uran planning
;igh 9enaissance : superpositioned <uscan
orders at first level, Corinthian capitals at
second level; circular windows at plain
pediment; heavily carved, two.paneled main
door with images of =t> Augustine and =t>
Monica amidst ?hilippine flora
nave is flanked y (- collateral chapels
each housing a :aro!ue or 8eoClassic
retalo
:aro!ue elements include trompe l@oeil :
sculpture y Italian artists Cesare ,i+ella
and Giovanni Al+eroni on the ceiling and
pilasters
cloisters uilt around an atrium with a
garden planted y Augustinian otaninst
Man!el )lanco
TAAL CHURCH, )atan%as
(1#1 : 5ray Marcos Anton, with the help of the
architect 3on L!ciano Oliver, started construction;
the church was completed in (1,1
uilt on top of a hill and may e reached through
flagstone steps, unostructed y other uildings
fa/ade : arched windows alternate with Ionic
columns at first level, Corinthian at upper level;
pro'ected cornices and mouldings; three pediments
interior is cavernous ur dra with stout piers and
semi.circular apse : mathematical e0actness rather
than ornamentation

,ARAGA CHURCH, Al+a1

estalished y people who fled the eruption of Mt>
Mayon form Ca%sa2a
the 5ranciscan wanted a church with the est
features of 9omanes!ue and Aothic, ut it was
e0ecuted y the carvers in :aro!ue
fa/ade : a whole talet without columns and
cornices, only symmetrically positioned
fenestrations, apertures and niches; whorls, twisted
columns, foliage, medallions, statues and reliefs
MI
AG
AO CHURCH, Iloilo
present church was uilt (,1).(,*, under
the supervision of fray Francisco Gon*ales
Ma3i-o; a storey was added to the left
elfry in (12$
also served as fortress against Muslim
pirates, simple and massive structure mi0ed
with ornate details
local otanical motifs at fa/ade reliefs
reminiscent of cookie cutouts %de ga'eta&,
used to descrie ()th century Me0ican
architectural reliefs

SANTO NINO ,E CE)U )ASILICA, Ce+!

uilt y 5ray 0!an $e Al+arran aout +$$ years
ago, on the site where a soldier found an image of
the =to> 8ino in a settlement that the =panish
soldiers have urned down
the Convent was founded in (#)#, making it the first
to e uilt in the country
constructed with stones from ?anay and Capi"
fa/ade : lending of Moorish, 9omanes!ue and
8eoClassical elements; trefoils on the doorways; two
levels divided into three segments and topped y
pediment; retalo at the center
elltower has four.sided alustraded dome
interior : pierced screen with floral motifs, pineapple
decors at the choirloft, corn cos at the capital