INTRODUCTION TO PHILIPPINE ARCHITECTURE

Pre-Colonial Architecture

- Caves
o Search for foods; hunting or fishing
o Early Filipinos are nomadic (don’t need to build permanent structures)
o Tree houses
o Native houses are rectangular in shape and built with stilts
- Several factors affect the type of materials and configuration of houses
o Difference of climate
o Topography of Filipino groups
- Bahay Kubo or Nipa Hut from the low lands
- Maranaos’ Torogan House
- Beautiful designed Mosque in Mindanao region around 14th and 15th century due to
emergence of islamic religion

Spanish Colonial Architecture

- Different architecture style was introduced

o Considered as European
o Introduced in central America and not in Spain
o Uniquely Filipino in characteristics
o Spanish influences the architecture of churches (symbolisms > Catholicism)
o Glorious Colonial Churches in Visayan Islands of:
 Panay
 Cebu
 Bohol
 And other regions in Luzon: Ilocos, Laguna and Batangas
- According to architectural experts, most churches are Spanish or Mexican baroque based on
evident elements; deconstruction of churches was mainly influenced by environmental
conditions of the country > natural disasters & human destructions
o How they were crafted with Asian nourished styles and elements
o Not well known in Spanish period, Chinese and Muslim elements became part of the
catholic church structures due to the Filipinos are inexperienced with constructions
of stone buildings
 Master builders and merchants were mostly Chinese and Muslims,
participated in building the churches
 Chinese influence = red bricks; produce a mixture of coral lime and
sugarcane and line figures made of granite apparent in front of the of san
Augustin church
 Islamic style is apparent deeply in relief carvings in church facades and
interior
 There was obligatory construction work in post native and non-Muslim areas
but most of them involves cutting, transporting and processing the materials
to build the churches
American Colonial Period

- Drastic changes in architectural design; introduced by Americans

- Civil government; a lot of structures were built to serve as government buildings
o Design and style were a keen to Greek and roman revival styles
o Famous American Architects who started proto-modernist way of designing
constructions; unadorned facades with large windows
 William Parsons
 Edgar Bourne
o Daniel Burnham
 Urban Planning
 American Architect
 Responsible for creating the master plans in manila and baguio
 Contribution with parsons to local architecture > introduction of concrete
reinforcement, hollow blocks; the use of anti-thermite wood and mass
fabrication of building types
o Classified into two types
 First generation Filipino architects > Filipinos who studied architect in
engineering in US; sponsored by colonial masters
 Exemplifies touch of modernism, promoting utility in architecture
 Second generation Architects > 1920s to 1930s
 Introduce the art deco exotic embellishments

Japanese Colonial Period

- Lasted for 3 years and didn’t bring significant architectural change in the Philippines

Late Twentieth Century

- The aftermath of world war > destruction

- Time of rebuilding
- Use of simple straight lines of international style
o Chief mode of expression
- 1970s; new form of PH architecture emerged
o Filipino style finds its style using traditional motifs (bahay kubo and bahay na bato)
- 80s; tide of post modernism
o Romance of classical architecture

Present

- More vibrant