BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE

Module No.1

FILIPINO ARCHITECTURE
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 4

AR. / RMP MYLENE C. LACSON, UAP

Department of Engineering and Architecture

History of Architecture 4/Module 1 1

Ar./RMP Mylene C. Lacson, UAP
 BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE

Module 1: FILIPINO ARCHITECTURE

Module description:
This module contains all information about Filipino Architecture.

The Objective of the module:

At the end of this module, the students must be able to:
1. Understand the Historical Timeline of Filipino Architecture.
2. Understand the Basic Influences and motivation of the Filipino Architecture.
3. Identify the Architectural Character and the notable structures for Filipino Architecture.

 Objective 1: Understand the Historical Timeline of Filipino Architecture.

The Historical Timeline of Architecture

The history and culture of the Philippines are reflected in its architectural heritage, in the
dwellings of its various peoples, in churches and mosques, and in the buildings that have risen in
response to the demands of progress and the aspirations of the people.

History of Architecture 4/Module 1 2

Ar./RMP Mylene C. Lacson, UAP
 BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE

Architecture in the Philippines today is the result of a natural growth enriched with the
absorption of varied influences. It developed from the pre-colonial influences of our neighboring
Malay brothers, continuing on to the Spanish colonial period, the American Commonwealth
period, and the modern contemporary times. As a result, the Philippines has become an
architectural melting pot– uniquely Filipino with a tinge of the occidental.

 Objective 2: Understand the Basic Influences and motivation of the Filipino

Architecture.
1. GEOGRAPHICAL
- Location; study of natural features of the earth’s surface, includes topography, climate
and soil.
 Broken rosary of islands floating along the
southeastern rim of Asia
 Bounded -East by the mighty Pacific
 -West by the shallow China Sea
 3 main island groups: Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao
 Southeast Asia, Pacific Ocean - strategic
position - in the path of Far East trade major
earthquake and volcanic belt in the path of
2. GEOLOGICAL typhoons from the Pacific
- Makeup of the earth; materials, composition configuration and dynamics
• Rich in natural resources that are yet largely undeveloped
• Indigenous materials – PRECOLONIAL
1. BAMBOO
2. COCONT REES
3. PALM
4. COGON GRASS
5. RATTAN
6. NIPA
• Sun dried and oven baked red bricks
• Limestone, adobe stone, marble, gypsum, granite and many
volcanic rocks and prevalent everywhere in the country

History of Architecture 4/Module 1 3

Ar./RMP Mylene C. Lacson, UAP
 BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE

3. CLIMATE
- Quality of prevailing weather

- ARCH’L CHARACTER CHANGES OVER THE VARYING CLIMATE

Four climatic types
FIRST TYPE:
 Two pronounced seasons:
 Dry -from November to April
 Wet-during the rest of the year
 All the regions on the western part of the islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Negros and
Palawan are of this type
SECOND TYPE:
 No dry season; very pronounced maximum rain period from November to January
THIRD TYPE:
 relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year
 Max. rain periods are not very pronounced
 Western parts of Cagayan, lsabela, Nueva Vizcaya, the eastern portion of the
Mountain Province; Southern Quezon, Masbate, Romblon Northeast Panay,
Eastern Negros, Central and southern Cebu, part of Northern Mindanao, and most
of eastern Palawan
FOURTH TYPE:
 Rainfall more or less evenly distributed throughout the year
 type are the Batanes province, Northeastern the southwestern part of Camarines
Norte, the western part of Camarines the western part of Camarines Sur and Albay,
eastern Mindoro, Marinduque, Western Leyte, Northern Cebu, Bohol and most of
Central, eastern and southern
 Over 50% of the rainfall in the Philippines is associated with and tropical storms

4.

History of Architecture 4/Module 1 4

Ar./RMP Mylene C. Lacson, UAP
 BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE

4. RELIGION

-Spiritual beliefs

 Islam
 Roman Catholicism
 Protestantism
 Aglipayan
 Iglesia ni Kristo

5. HISTORICAL

- Background of people and events; Civilizations

 PRECOLONIAL
HISTORY
o Immigration via land-bridges as early as
250,000 years ago, and later, sea-vessels
o Immigrants of Malay origin, food
gatherers and hunters
o 3000 BC, joined by advanced
agricultural race from Indonesia, with
FILIPINO barangays as tribal system
(250,000 YRS AGO - PRESENT)
 SPANISH RULE
 AMERICAN RULE
 JAPANESE INVASION

History of Architecture 4/Module 1 5

Ar./RMP Mylene C. Lacson, UAP
 BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE

6. SOCIAL & POLITICAL

-Mode of living & methods of organization and government

 Mixture of races

 The majority belongs to the

Malay race

 In the different places of the

Philippines, people do not have
the same customs and traditions

 Objective 3: Identify the Architectural Character and the notable structures for
Filipino Architecture.

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
•shaped by the climate, terrain, vegetation, and
fauna around it
• two elements in making a house:
1) tradition or following the generally accepted
form and structural patterns; and
2) chance or “playing it by ear”, allowing minor
modifications for the builder and his family
 Tropical architecture
 Light
 Open and transparent

History of Architecture 4/Module 1 6

Ar./RMP Mylene C. Lacson, UAP
 BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE

1. PRECOLONIAL PERIOD
A.Cave Dwellings
- Tabon Cave, Palawan
B.Treehouses
-Kalinga Tribesmen
C.Lean-Tos
-Nomadic Negrito
D. Bahay Kubo

A. CAVE DWELLINGS
• earliest human habitation
• Tabon Cave, Palawan had been
inhabited for 30,000 years
• caves in Angono, Rizal with ancient
petroglyphs

B. TREEHOUSES
• perched on forked branches of trees, up to
60 feet above the ground
• prevented attack by animals and human
enemies
• by the Gaddang and Kalinga of Luzon
• Manobo and Mandaya of Mindanao
• Moros of Lake Lanao

History of Architecture 4/Module 1 7

Ar./RMP Mylene C. Lacson, UAP
 BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE

C. LEAN-TOS
• windbreaks or windscreens as the first attempt at
building
• served as shelters during a hunting or food-
gathering journey
• made of light branches and fronds, but strong
enough to withstand a strom
• Negritos of Zambales
• Agtas of Palanan, Isabela

D. BAHAY KUBO
• balai” and spanish “cubo” or cube – cube-
shaped house, from its boxy appearance
• primitive style of dwelling probably started
around 200 BC, with the coming of iron tools
• well- adapted to tropical climate
• wood, rattan, cane, bamboo, palm leaves, cogon
and nipa
• Variations depending on Region

BAHAY KUBO VARIATIONS

History of Architecture 4/Module 1 8

Ar./RMP Mylene C. Lacson, UAP
 BATAAN HEROES COLLEGE

REFERENCES:

1. Sir Banister Fletcher's A History of Architecture 20th Edition Edited by Dan Cruickshank

2. A Visual Dictionary of Architecture by DK CHING

3. Architectural Character & The History of Architecture: George S. Salvan

4. Diksiyonaryong Biswal ng Arkitecturang Filipino by Rino D.A.Fernandez

History of Architecture 4/Module 1 9

Ar./RMP Mylene C. Lacson, UAP