Spanish Colonial

Architecture

AR. JAMAICA MAE A. ANDAYA

Spanish Colonial Architecture
• Focus on church building and other colonial
infrastructures to urbanized the country
• Instruments of urbanism
1. Reduccion and Encomienda System
2. System of cities and towns
3. Laws of Indies
4. Colonial infrastructure

AR. JAMAICA MAE A. ANDAYA

Reduccion
Forced urbanization and resettlement.
The formerly scattered barangays were bought together
and reduced in number and made into compact and larger
communities to facilitate religious conversion and cultural
change
Bajao se las campana, under the sound of the bells
Encomienda
The colony was divided into parcels assigned to a Spanish
colonist (encomendero) who was mandated to “allocate, allot
or distribute” the resources of the domain.
System of Cities and
Towns
The Institution of a hierarchal settlement
system.
Cabecera (city) or población (town), core of
the municipality. Barrios, adjacent barangays.
System of Cities and
Towns
The Institution of a hierarchal settlement
system.
Cabecera (city) or población (town), core of
the municipality. Barrios, adjacent barangays.
Intramuros, the walled city
Intramuros, the walled city
Patterned after the walled fortresses of Europe
Reserved for the nobility and the clergy
Insulares, Spanish-born nationals
Peninsulares, Philippine-born nationals
Extramuros
Living beyond the walls.
Pueblos, villages outside the walls.
Parian, a separate urban quarter
designated to the Chinese community.
Dilao, Japanese community
The Laws of Indies, 1573

Characteristics:
• elevated location
• an orderly grid of streets (cuadricula)
• a central plaza, a defensive wall, and
zones for churches, shops, government
buildings, hospitals, and
slaughterhouses.
Encapsulates the classist theories of urban
design proposed by Vitruvius and Alberti.
Plaza Complex
Grid pattern of streets with the main plaza at the
center surrounded by the church, the tribunal,
other government buildings, and the market
place.
Plaza Complex
COLONIAL INFRASTRUCTURES
NEW BUILDING TYPOLOGIES AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY WAS
INTRODUCED.
1. CHURCES
Edifices for religious conversion.
1. CHURCES
Parts of a Church:
• Altar Mayor, main altar
• Sagrario, tabernacle
• Pulpito, pulpit
• Retablo, elaborately ornamented altar screen
• Sacristia, where the priest and his assistants
put on their robes before the mass
• Coro, choir loft
• Tribunas, screen gallery
CHURCH COMPLEX
• Church
• Convento, parish house or rectory
• Campanarios, bell towers
San Agustin Church
Intramuros, Manila
• The Church of the Immaculate Conception of San Agustin
• First church to be built in Luzon.
• Only structure in Intramuros to survive WWII
• High Baroque style retablo
• Ceiling paintings in the trompe l’oeil style “fooling the eye”
• Chinese fu dogs at the entrance
Paoay Church
Paoay, Ilocos Norte
• Saint Augustine Church
• Most outstanding example in the
Philippines of “Earthquake
Baroque”
Paoay Church
Paoay, Ilocos Norte
• Saint Augustine Church
• Most outstanding example in the Philippines of
“Earthquake Baroque”
Santa Maria Church
Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur.
• Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion
• Situated on a hill surrounded by defensive wall ( unlike
most traditional churches sitting on the central plaza)
• Separate pagoda-like bell tower at the midpoint of the
nave wall
• The brick walls are devoid of ornament but have
delicately carved side entrances and strong buttresses.
 2. FORTRESSES
Characterized by heavy stone walls, moats, and grid road
layouts. Bastions, keeps, and watchtowers were also built
to cover blins spots.
Fort Santiago
Intramuros, Manila.
• Parts of a Fort.
• Cortinas, thick perimeter walls.
• Bastiones or baluartes, four-sided bulwarks skirting
the cortinas on both ends.
• Foso, moat
• Casamatas, stone embrasures where artilleries were
propped up.
3. INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS
Monumental civic architecture epitomized the colonial
institutions under the Spanish governance.
Fort Santiago
Intramuros, Manila.
• Parts of a Fort.
• Cortinas, thick perimeter walls.
• Bastiones or baluartes, four-sided bulwarks skirting
the cortinas on both ends.
• Foso, moat
• Casamatas, stone embrasures where artilleries were
propped up.
Ayuntamiento
Intramuros, Manila.
• Also known as Casa del Ayuntamiento, Casa del
Cabildo, Casa Consistorial, or Casa Real.
• As a seat of colonial governance, it housed
administrative offices and archives.
Palacio Real
Intramuros, Manila.
• Also known as Palacio del Gobernador General
• Residence of the highest official of the land.
• Malacañang Palace, the summer residence of the
Governor General.
Schools
University of Sto. Tomas, Manila.
Oldest established university in Asia.
• Colegio or Universidad, found in the
urban areas.
• Escuela
4. DOMESTIC STRUCTURES
Dwellings reflecting the differences in social class
Accesorias
• Apartment dwellings
• Evolved from the need of migrant
laborers for cheap housing in commercial
and industrial areas
• Vivienda, each unit; has a zaguan, sala
and sleeping quarters
 BAHAY NA BATO

A housing prototype which combined elements of the

indigenous and Hispanic building traditions to prevent
the dangers posed by fires, earthquakes, and cyclones.

Arquitectura mestiza, a new hybrid type of construction

combining wood and stone.
 BAHAY NA BATO

A housing prototype which combined elements of the

indigenous and Hispanic building traditions to prevent
the dangers posed by fires, earthquakes, and cyclones.

Arquitectura mestiza, a new hybrid type of construction

combining wood and stone.
Bahay na Bato
Characteristics
• Generally has two storeys, at times three.
• The ground floor is made of cut stone or
brick, the upper of wood.
• Capped by high hip roof with a 45 degree
angle pitch.
• Windows:
• Ground floor, grillworks
• Second floor, sliding shutters with
Capiz shells or glass panels
Bahay na Bato
Characteristics
• Generally has two storeys, at times three.
• The ground floor is made of cut stone or
brick, the upper of wood.
• Capped by high hip roof with a 45 degree
angle pitch.
• Windows:
• Ground floor, grillworks
• Second floor, sliding shutters with
Capiz shells or glass panels
Bahay na Bato
Ground floor
• Cochera, driveway or garage
• Zaguan, vestibule or storage;Usually for
the caroza.
• Entresuelo, mezzanine area, for offices or
servants; quarters
• Descanso, stair landings
• Cuadra, horse stables
• Cocina, Kitchen
Bahay na Bato
Parts:
Escalera, wooden staircase
Bahay na Bato
Parts:
Caida or ante-sala, interior overhanging
veranda; most immediate room from the
stairs.
Sala, living room
Baño, bathroom
Latrina, toilet
Cocina, kitchen
Comedor, dining area
Azotea, outdoor terrace, located beside a
balon or over an aljibe (water cistern)
Cuarto, bedroom
Bahay na Bato
Parts:
Galeria volada, or corredo, flying wooden
gallery.
Oratorio, praying area
Callado, wooden fretwork on top of
partitions
Bahay na Bato
Parts:
Pasamano, window sill
Ventanillas, vents beneath the
window sill which reach to the floor
Barandillas, wooden baluster
Questions & answers
Invite questions from the audience