The Ifugao "Bale" or Native House is said to be the "first pre-fabricated house in the world,"

according to renowned anthropologist Otley Beyer. It has been subject of many scholarly articles as
it is considered to be one of the most indigenous and nearly perfect architectural constructs made by
man.
This type of dwelling does not make use of nails, thus it is also called the "No-Nail" House. The
house can be dismantled and transferred to another place of choice without destroying any part of it.

IFUGAO HOUSE"
The Ifugao houses were usually similar in architectural designs but they differ in decorative details
depending on the tribes. Their houses were harmoniously located with the contour of the rice
terraces. The one-room house of the Ifugao commonly know to them as fale. The exterior of the
house seems to be nothing but a pyramid resting on four posts, while the interior space is enclosed by
slanting walls and ceiling that appears to be spherical that are formed by the loft.
FUNCTIONAL LEVELS
The Ifugao House have three functional levels: the ground floor, the second level for the living
quarters and the third level which was used as the granary. The ground level the posts have wooden
discs which was called oliang to prevent rats from entering the house. The second level or the living
area was accessible through a removable ladder. The social affairs, eating, cooking and sleeping are
all done in this area. At the third level there was the patie, it is a shelf that extends from the
wallboards outwards to the underside of the roof. It serves as the storage area and as a structural
support to the roof. Inside the house was embellished rows of skulls of animals offered to gods
during their annual rituals and also as a source of pride to the homeowner.
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
The Ifugao house is sturdily crafted of timber from amugawan trees raised on four posts, which was
buried 50 centimeters below the ground and locked in with stones. The four wooden posts that rest
upon the pavement and support two wooden girders, which also supports three wooden transverse
joists. The floor joists, floor silts, vertical studs and horizontal beams rests on the post and girders at
about head level from a cage. The floor boards were fitted between the joists. The wooden sides of
the house slant outward and rise up to the waist, this forms the lower half of the wall. The upper half
of the wall is formed by the inner side of the roof. This creates a dark, windowless chamber which
suggests a womb. The roof system rests on the “house cage”. The steeply pitched pyramidal roof is
covered with thick layers of thatch or cogon, this insulate the house from the heat of the sun and from
the torrential rail.
TIANGA
The Tianga is a cooperative effort of the people within a neighborhood to dismantle, relocate and
reassemble a house into its new location. The house of the Ifugaos can be totally dismantled due to
the indigenous all wood construction system that they use. The house can be dismantled, relocated
and reassembled in a day. The relocation may be due to sale, inheritance or change of place to
cultivate.