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
