HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

Comprehensive Architecture Licensure Exam Notes

The World's Tallest Buildings

1. Burj Khalifa
Since its completion in 2010, the world's tallest skyscraper has been Burj Khalifa in Dubai,
United Arab Emirates. The building, which was designed by the architects Skidmore, Owings &
Merrill, is a mighty 828 meters tall and has 163 floors. Burj Khalifa is one of Dubai's most
famous buildings. Its potential successor, Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, is however already in the
starting blocks: At a kilometer in height, this ambitious construction project, which was started
in 2013, is due to surpass the current record holder by some distance.

2. Shanghai Tower
At a height of 632 meters, Shanghai Tower, located in the Chinese city of Shanghai, is almost
200 meters shorter than Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Although the skyscraper is due to be completed
during the course of 2014, it has already topped out (reached its final height) and thus
garnered second place in the list of the world's tallest buildings. In addition, Shanghai Tower
will be home to the world's fastest elevators, which will climb the tower at the speed of 18
meters per second.
The World's Tallest Buildings

3. Makkah Clock Royal Tower

The third-tallest building in the world is the Makkah Clock Royal Tower, who's most striking
feature is its clock tower. The clock face is so large that the clock can be seen from 25
kilometers away. The 601-meter-tall building was completed in 2012 and is situated in Makkah,
Saudi Arabia.

4. Ping An International Finance Center

With its 599 meters the Ping An Finance Centre in Shenzhen China will be the tallest building
completing in 2016. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox the tower is to be found in fourth place in
the ranking and once complete, the 116-storey skyscraper will be the world's tallest office
building. It wil steal the title from One World Trade Center in New York.
The World's Tallest Buildings

5. Goldin Finance 117

The Goldin Finance 117 tower is a 597-metre-high skyscraper designed by the P&T Group.
Located in Tianjin, China this diamond-shaped building will be completed in 2016 and it will
house offices and a hotel. The Goldin Finance 117 just measures 2 meters less than the Ping An
Financial Centre, so it achieves position 5 in the list of the world's tallest buildings.

6. Lotte World Tower

Also designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, the Lotte World Tower reaches postion 6 with its 556
meteres. The Tower is located in Seoul and will be the tallest building in South Korea after
completion 2016. The skyscraper surpasses the Northeast Asia Trade Tower by over 200 metres
and will include a seven-star hotel.
The World's Tallest Buildings

7. The One World Trade Center

60 meters behind in fourth place follows One World Trade Center in New York City, which
topped out at 541 meters on May 10, 2013, since when it has not only been the world's fourth-
tallest building but also the tallest skyscraper in New York City. The building is being
constructed on the site of the former World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001. Completion is due in late 2014.

8. CTF Finance Centre

Now the eighth-tallest skyscraper in the world after it topped out in July 2014, CTF Finance
Centre, located in Guangzhou, is a mixed-use tower that will feature office space, a hotel,
apartments and a shopping center in its podium. Due to complete in 2016, its 530 meters make
it 21 meters taller than the next-tallest, Taipei 101.
The World's Tallest Buildings

9. Taipei 101
509 meters is the height of Taipei 101, which occupies ninth place in the list. The building was
even the tallest in the world from 2004 to 2007 until it was surpassed by Burj Khalifa in Dubai,
United Arab Emirates. Taipei 101 is named for its location in Taiwan's capital Taipei and for the
number of stories in the building – 101 in total. Its striking design won it the 2004 Emporis
Skyscraper Award.

10. Shanghai World Financial Center

The Shanghai World Financial Center measures just 16 meters less than Taipei 101. The
building, which due to its shape is also referred to as the "bottle-opener", is a direct neighbor
of Shanghai Tower and was completed in 2008 from a design by Kohn Pedersen Fox.
TOP 10 TALLEST BUILDING IN THE PHILIPPINES

RANK BUILDING LOCATION HEIGHT FLOORS YEAR ARCHITECT

1 Grand Hyatt Manila Taguig, Metro Manila 318 m 66 2017 Wong & Ouyang
(1,043 ft) Casas Architects
2 Trump Tower Manila Makati, Metro Manila 280 m 57 2017 Broadway Malyan
(920 ft) Pomeroy Studio
LPPA Design Group,
Inc
3 PBCom Tower Makati, Metro Manila 259 m 52 2000 Skidmore, Owings &
(850 ft) Merrill, LLP; GF &
Partners
Architects
4 The Gramercy Makati, Metro Manila 250 m 73 2012 Jerde Partnership
Residences (820 ft)[1] International Roger
Villarosa Architects
& Associates
RANK BUILDING LOCATION HEIGHT FLOORS YEAR ARCHITECT
5 Discovery Primea Makati, Metro Manila 250 m 67 2015 Kenzō Tange
(820 ft)
6 Shangri-La at the Fort, Taguig, Metro Manila 250 m 63 2016
Handel Architects
Manila (820 ft)
7 Shang Salcedo Place Makati, Metro Manila 249.80 m 43 1998 Pimentel Rodriguez
(819.6 ft) Simbulan and
Partners Wong and
Tung International
Ltd.
8 The Imperium at Capitol 240 m
Pasig, Metro Manila 62 2019
Commons (790 ft)
9 Grand Riviera Suites Manila, Metro Manila 230 m 57 2014
Asya Design Partner
(750 ft)
10 One Shangri-La Place Mandaluyong, Metro 227 m 64 2014 Casas
Tower North Manila (745 ft) + Architects Palmer
& Turner, HK
HOUSE STRUCTURES
BAHAY KUBO
PARTS OF BAHAY KUBO
BAHAY NA BATO
RELIGIOUS STRUCTURES
Churches

• The order of the Augustinians, Augustinian Province of the Most Holy

Name of Jesus of the Philippines, built many churches all over the
Philippines. These magnificent structures can still be found throughout
the Philippine Islands.
• This unique specimen of Filipino architecture called Filipino Baroque
from the Spanish era has been included in the World Heritage Sites List
of the UNESCO. The church was built by the Augustinian friars from 1694
until 1710. It shows the earthquake-proof baroque style architecture.
The bell tower served as an observation post in 1896 for the Katipuneros
during the Philippine revolution against the Spaniards, and again by the
Filipino guerillas during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
Churches

• The order of the Augustinians, Augustinian Province of the Most Holy

Name of Jesus of the Philippines, built many churches all over the
Philippines. These magnificent structures can still be found throughout
the Philippine Islands.
• This unique specimen of Filipino architecture called Filipino Baroque
from the Spanish era has been included in the World Heritage Sites List
of the UNESCO. The church was built by the Augustinian friars from 1694
until 1710. It shows the earthquake-proof baroque style architecture.
The bell tower served as an observation post in 1896 for the Katipuneros
during the Philippine revolution against the Spaniards, and again by the
Filipino guerillas during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
 San Agustin Church

• A church in Manila under the auspices

of the Order of Saint Augustine, the
current San Agustin Church is actually
the third to be established on the site.
The first was built with bamboo and
nipa in 1571, but destroyed by fire in
1574. The second was wooden, but
similarly burned down in 1583. The
third is the one still standing today, and
in 1993 it became one of four local
Spanish-era churches to be chosen by
UNESCO as a World Heritage Site,
collectively known as the Baroque
Churches of the Philippines.
 Manila Cathedral

• Formally known as the Kalakhang Katedral

Basílika ng Maynilà, the Manila Cathedral
is a Roman Catholic basilica dedicated to
the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the
Immaculate Conception. It also serves as
the See of the Archbishop of Manila.
Originally established in 1571, the eighth
and current rendition of the cathedral was
completed in 1958. It was renovated and
repaired for earthquake retrofitting and
subsidence prevention in 2012, and re-
opened to the public after a complete
renovation in 2014.
 Calasiao Church

Also known locally as Saints Peter and Paul

Parish Church, Calasiao Church is a
baroque church that was declared a
National Cultural Treasure by the National
Museum of the Philippines and the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts. This
Spanish-colonial-era church’s main
composition are massive bricks
or ladrillo with a fortress-like façade
designed to withstand revolts and
rebellions. Beside it stands Museo
Calasiao, a mini-museum housing vintage
photos and historical pieces of the church.
 Binondo Church

There are many churches in Manila and this

one was founded by Dominican priests in 1596.
The Binondo Church is also known as the
Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz (the first
Filipino saint) and Our Lady of the Most Holy
Rosary Parish, and has been rebuilt numerous
times over the centuries due to constant
damage by war and natural disasters. Sporting
historic Spanish and European baroque design
elements, the church has retained its original
character. However, only the western façade
and the octagon belfry, which suggests
the Chinese culture of the parishioners, are
what remain from the original structure.
 Quiapo Church

Quiapo Church is very popular because it is

the location of the reputedly
miraculous Nuestro Señor Jesús Nazareno,
better known as the Black Nazarene.
Located in downtown Manila in Plaza
Miranda, the baroque church was expanded
in 1984 to accommodate more devotees.
Only its façade with twisted columns and the
dome at the transept were retained from its
classic design. The church was officially
declared a Minor Basilica in 1988.
 Santa Cruz Church

Consecrated in 1619, the Santa Cruz Church

was initially built to serve as a parish for the
increasing number of Chinese migrants
moving to Manila and converting to
Catholicism. Through time, the church
sustained damage from natural occurrences,
and was eventually destroyed completely by
the end of World War II. Reconstruction was
completed in 1957, and it continues to stand
now in its baroque style design that is
reminiscent of the Mission Churches of
Western Mexico and Southern California.
 Malate Church

Another of the baroque churches in the

Philippines fronted by Plaza Rajah
Sulayman and the Manila Bay, Malate
Church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de
los Remedios, or “Our Lady of Remedies,”
the patroness of childbirth. One of only two
churches with a twisted column and
a retablo-type façade, Malate Church’s
look is said to be a blend of Muslim design
and Mexican baroque. Inside is an image
of Our Lady of Remedies enshrined on the
main altar, bought by Augustinian Fathers
from Spain in the 1600s.
 Guadalupe Church

Formally known as Nuestra Señora de

Gracia church, Guadalupe Church is a parish
presently administered by the Augustinian
friars of the Province of Santo Niño de Cebu.
Stemming from the first sanctuary and
monastery in Guadalupe built by Fray Simon
Dantes in 1601, the popular Metro Manila
wedding venue features different
architectural styles with a façade that is neo-
Romanesque-gothic, and sets of Doric
columns supporting the church’s cornice and
the triangular pediment.
 Paoay Church

A UNESCO World Heritage Site (under the

inscription Baroque Churches of the
Philippines), the Saint Augustine Church in
the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte, is
widely recognized for its distinct
architecture characterized by 24 massive
buttresses on the sides and back of the
structure. Also declared as a National
Cultural Treasure by the Philippine
government in 1973, it also has three-story
coral bell tower that resembles a pagoda,
which was built separately from the church
for earthquake safety.
 Miag-ao Church

Also known as the Santo Tomas de

Villanueva Parish Church, Miag-ao Church
was also called the Miag-ao Fortress
Church as its two uneven bell towers
served as a tactical location for the town’s
defense against Muslim raids. It is one of
the Baroque Churches of the Philippines
declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage
Site, and contains the limestone image of
the Birhen ng Barangay, traditional Filipino
clothing recovered from the 1982
excavations, and the original late 1790s
images of Saint Thomas of Villanova.
 Santa Maria Church

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, this

structure that is also known as the Church
of Our Lady of the Assumption was built
on top of a hill to serve as lookout,
citadel, and religious center during the
early administration of the region by
friars and soldier of the Spanish colonial
era. The church and convent are
surrounded by a defensive wall on all
sides like a fortress, and is reached by
way of an 85-step stairway made of
granite rock.
 Bantay Church

Known as Saint Augustine Parish Church as

well as Saint Augustine Parish Church, Bantay
Church’s more common name comes from its
old historic belfry, the Bantay tower, which is
also the source of the town’s name. While there
are many old churches in the Philippines, this
one was established in 1590. It is one of the
oldest churches in the region. Like most,
however, it was damaged extensively during
World War II, and rebuilt in the 1950s. Its
façade is neo-gothic with pseudo-Romanesque
elements, and meant to be grandiose and
reminiscent of Spanish architecture.
 Taal Basilica

Measuring 88.6 meters long and 48 meters

wide, the Taal Basilica is said to be the
largest church in the Philippines and in
Asia. Canonically known as the Minor
Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours, the first
rendition of the church began being built
in 1575, 3 years after the founding of
the town of Taal. The present church
began its construction in 1856, and has
undergone restorations in 1953, 1972, and
2011. Its belfry was rebuilt in 1990.
 Tayabas Basilica

Canonically known as the Minor Basilica of

Saint Michael the Archangel, the Tayabas
Basilica is the largest Roman Catholic
Church in the province of Quezon. It is
famous for its key-shaped architecture,
which has garnered it the name Susi ng
Tayabas among locals. The church is also
widely recognized for the clock located
inside its belfry, which is regarded as one
of the oldest, if not the actual oldest,
clocks of its kind in Asia.
 Bacarra Church

Widely recognized for its centuries-old,

dome-less, leaning bell tower, Bacarra
Church is arguably one of the most visited
in the Philippines. Apart from the
“beheaded” belfry known as Torres di
Bacarra, there is also Museo di Bacarra, a
church museum housed in the former
convent. The two-story convent dates
back to the Spanish colonial era, and
presently houses religious and cultural
artifacts, as well as archival photos and
documents.
 Our Lady of Piat Church

Dubbed as the Pilgrimage Center of the

North, the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of
Piat is one of twelve Minor Basilicas in the
Philippines, and is home to a 407-year-old
black image of the Virgin Mary, which the
church is named after and is dedicated
to. The church is made of red bricks,
which is common in Cagayan Valley, but
different from the limestone and coral
sported by other churches in the
Philippines. Enshrined at its altar is the
Blessed Virgin Mary with verandas that
makes the shrine more elegant.
 Betis Church

Declared a National Cultural Treasure by

the National Museum and the National
Commission for Culture and Arts, the
baroque-inspired Betis Church has a bevy
of artistic features. The main attraction
of what is canonically known as the Saint
James the Apostle Parish Church is its
ceiling mural done by painter Simón
Flores (1839–1904). His painting of the
Holy Family is also another feature of the
church, as well as an artesian well in the
church patio that was dug in the 1800s.
 Barasoain Church

Also known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Parish, Barasoain Church has also earned
the titles of the Cradle of Democracy in
the East, the most important religious
building in the Philippines, and the site of
the First Philippine Republic, thanks to its
being the setting of key events in
Philippine history. The three major
occurrences were the convening of the
First Philippine Congress, the drafting of
the Malolos Constitution in 1898, and the
inauguration of the First Philippine
Republic in 1899.
 Baclayon Church

La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen

Maria Parish Church, or Baclayon Church, is
considered as one of the oldest churches in
the Philippines. Built out of coral stones
common on the island of Bohol, the church
sports a cruciform layout with its juncture
surmounted by a pyramidal wall. It was up
for addition to the UNESCO World Heritage
Sites of the Philippines, but unfortunately
sustained extensive damage during the 7.2
magnitude earthquake that struck Bohol and
other parts of Central Visayas in 2013. It is
still undergoing restoration.
 San Jose de Ivana Church

Dedicated to Saint Joseph under the

jurisdiction of the Prelature of Batanes,
San Jose de Ivana Church was first
established as a chapel by Dominicans in
1787. The present stone church was built
in 1795 with the bell tower following in
1817. One of the better preserved
churches in the country, it has only
undergone renovation in 1869 and in 2001
after an earthquake partially destroyed it
in 2000. The church features an old
convent and a small museum housing
centuries old relics.
 Sarrat Church

Originally known as the San Miguel

Church, this church in the Philippines
is now the Santa Monica Parish Church or
Sarrat Church. It was originally built in
1779 and is a complex that includes the
associated convent that connects to the
church via an elevated three-level brick
stairway. Declared an Important Cultural
Property by the National Museum of the
Philippines in 2009, the church is famous
for being the largest of its kind in Ilocos
Norte, particularly because of the length
of its nave.
 Daraga Church

Formally called Nuestra Señora de la

Porteria Parish Church, Daraga Church
was built in 1772, after the then-
settlement of Daraga was established a
year earlier by those fleeing the town of
Cagsawa for fear of another eruption of
Mayon Volcano. It is a fine representation
of baroque architecture with a
Churrigueresque architectural style in its
façade. Its walls are made of volcanic
rock that is common in the Daraga locale.
 Paete Church

Paete Church is identified by several

names, all of which are centered on its
patron saint, Saint James the Apostle. The
church has the distinction of being the
only Roman Catholic church in the
municipality. It is widely popular for its
extensive collection of images depicting
the Passion of Christ, as well as century-
old paintings and wooden images of
saints. With its storied past of being lost
to earthquakes, the current church
features large buttresses on each side to
be more resistant to the calamity.
 Liliw Church

Also known as Saint John the Baptist

Parish Church and Lilio Church, Liliw
Church was initially established as
a reduccion, particularly an annexed vista
of the then-town of Nagcarlan that
became independent in 1605. Adorned
with red bricks, the feel of the church’s
interior is what makes it a must-visit for
many. The inside is said to be comfortably
cool with the only source of natural light
being the weak rays that filter through
the church’s unique stained glass
windows.
 Pakil Church

Designated as the Diocesan Shrine

of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de
Turumba and as Saint Peter of Alcantara
Parish Church, Pakil Church is the home of
the Our Lady of Turumba painting.
Constructed in the Corinthian and ionic
architectural orders, the church takes on
the shape of a cruciform, and sports a
façade with classical Corinthian columns
and cornices across a floral stone relief.
Typical of Laguna churches, its side
entrance is elaborately designed, and it also
has a belfry housing one huge bell and four
smaller bells.
 Church of San Juan del Monte

Built at the onset of the 1600s, the church

more formally known as Santuario del Santo
Cristo and its convent has undergone
numerous destructions and subsequent
renovations throughout San Juan’s history.
The current church was built in 1774, and
was used as a shelter by the Katipuneros
during the 1898 Philippine Revolution. It
serves as the seat of the Cofradia del
Santísimo Cristo de San Juan del Monte or
the “Confraternity of the Holy Christ of
Saint John of the Mountain.”
 Pasig Cathedral

Also known as the Immaculate Conception

Cathedral, the Pasig Cathedral is one of the
oldest structures in Pasig City. Its
establishment in 1573 coincided with the
foundation of the then-town of Pasig, and
was initially consecrated to the Visitation of
Our Lady and changed to Our Lady of the
Immaculate Conception 14 years later. It
previously belonged to the Archdiocese of
Manila, but became the seat of the Diocese
of Pasig in 2003. Its status was elevated to
cathedral on the same year.
 Paranaque Cathedral

Officially called the Cathedral Parish of

Saint Andrew, Paranaque Cathedral was
founded by Augustinian friars in 1580,
making it one of the oldest and most
historical churches in the Philippines. It is
also the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese
of Parañaque, which is the church that
comprises the cities of Parañaque,
Muntinlupa, and Las Piñas. The cathedral is
the home of the Nuestra Señora del Buen
Suceso, which was canonically crowned as
the Patroness of the City of Parañaque in
2000.
 Santo Niño Basilica

Officially called Basilica Menore del Santo

Niño, the Santo Niño Basilica is
recognized as the oldest church in the
Philippines, and is the location of where a
statue depicting the Child Jesus, known
as the Santo Niño de Cebú, was
discovered by Spanish explorers in 1565.
The present church is part of a larger
complex that also includes the open-air
theater-like Pilgrim Center, a museum
containing antique relics and religious
exhibits, and an extensive library.
 San Sebastian Cathedral

A late 19th-century Church, San Sebastian

Cathedral serves as the seat of the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Bacolod. The church
began the construction to its current form
in 1876 with coral stone source from the
island of Guimaras being the material it
was primarily built upon. About nine years
since its initial construction, the church’s
two bell towers were built to
accommodate two different sized bells as
well as a large clock. The bells are now
seen in a special belfry situated in the
church’s courtyard.
Good Luck and God Bless
Prepared by Ar. Cherry Acebedo