University of the Philippines

College of Architecture
Diliman, Quezon city

Archi 261: People, Climate and Architecture

Archi 261 Course Paper Title

Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its

Implications to Human Thermal Comfort:
The Case of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista in Quiapo, Manila

Submitted by:
Seva, Phyll Patrick L.
201821815

Submitted to:
Prof. Nicolo Del Castillo

December 14, 2018

Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
to Human Thermal Comfort: The Case of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista in Quiapo, Manila SEVA

Philippine Traditional Housing Design

and its Implications to Human Thermal Comfort:
The Case of Bahay Nakpil - Bautista in Quiapo, Manila

1 ABSTRACT
Philippine heritage houses are an outcome from centuries of design development intended for the tropics, a
major contribution of Filipino natives and foreign colonizers on the country’s settlement. This traditional housing
design were said to be efficient in providing indoor thermal comfort by natural means, focusing on the search of
its capabilities and its implications to human perception of comfort. In the midst of chaotic Quiapo, Manila, an
ancestral and historical gem is located, the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista, designed by Arcadio Arellano in 1914, where
prominent key figures in the Philippine history settled during the pre-world war II era. This research aims to
evaluate the indoor and outdoor temperature condition of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista and its performance relating to
human thermal comfort. Unveiling Arellano’s design approaches and its adaptation to environment and the
tropics, an assessment of human perception and design competency through building and performance audit and
how it corresponded with its external factors as thermal comfort is a challenge to achieve in the tropics. Given the
varying acceptability of human perception of comfort, the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista is capable of providing good
indoor thermal environment with one hundred percent (100%) acceptability of its guests and users. It advances
the idea that Philippine heritage houses through the study of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista, possess attributes of a good
tropical design that can help innovate better housing design in the Philippines. A study of tropical design principles
set on the past and linking the rediscovery of solutions in solving the problem of the present time.

Keywords: Philippine heritage houses, thermal performance audit, thermal comfort, human perception

2 BACKGROUND / INTRODUCTION

2.1 Background of the Study

The Philippines is an archipelago comprises of 7,107 islands, a tropical paradise in western Pacific Ocean with
climate characterized by relatively high temperature, oppressive humidity and plenty of rainfall (DOST-PAGASA,
n.d.). Due to its geographical and climatic setting, development of human settlement varies from different regions
adapting to its own unique condition. In the arrival of Spanish conquistadors, the country had been under the rule
of Spanish empire, an era that greatly influenced our identity as a country. They introduced "Arquitectura Mestiza
Filipinas" which had been the design prototype for houses especially for the elites during that time. This design
solution had been utilized from the Spanish period up to the early 20th century or pre-world war era, but the
presence of this gems are still apparent particularly in different parts of the Philippines like Vigan in Ilocos Sur, Pila
in Laguna and Manila, which serves as a significant symbol of this development. These heritage houses had stood
the test of time, even the test of nature and environment, a climate adaptive building that imposes zero energy in
upholding livable and efficient indoor environment through its wide spatial program, building materials and
envelope design features that can protect and withstand the external factors affecting indoor environment
quality. The main attribute of these heritage houses is its suitability to tropical setting by maximizing potential of
nature as the main driver on achieving thermal comfort in indoor environment through its application of tropical
design principles. However, in the advent of modernist movement, these houses slowly diminished as the trend
goes global and vernacular materials was replaced with modern day conventional materials. The high acceptability
of the people to this trend and the replacement from natural to mechanical means of maintaining indoor comfort
depleted the unique and sustainable design features that Filipino dwellings used to have. Philippine heritage
houses are deteriorating on a fast pace and the current state of conventional housing are highly dependent to
unsustainable source of energy. Traditional techniques should be rekindled on the present time to lower usage of
artificial source of lighting, cooling and ventilation through natural and environmental based design imposed in
Philippine heritage houses.

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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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Figure 1: Old picture of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista

(bahay-nakpil-bautista, n.d.).

The Bahay Nakpil-Bautista, one of the most celebrated heritage house in Quiapo, Manila, considered as an
architectural gem for its well preserve and complete intact structure. This case will attempt to validate that
traditional housing design of Philippine heritage houses are suitable in the tropics, unveiling the planning
principles done by Arcadio Arellano. Highlighting the focus on indoor thermal performance and the impact of
distinct tropical adaptive features integrated in Bahay Nakpil-Bautista. Through this evaluation of thermal
performance of the house will try to reveal the capabilities of Philippine traditional housing design are sufficient in
providing quality indoor environment. Aside from these parameters, this paper also emphasized the importance of
human perception towards thermal comfort and the implications done by the design. Human acceptability will be
an immense part in determining the thermal case of indoor environment and will be paralleled to the
recommendation set by international comfort standard or ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55. This Research aims to
validate that natural cooling and ventilation are still possible in the present time in spite of the emerging
environmental challenges right now. Rediscovering knowledge on how to lessen dependency to high source of
energy on maintaining quality indoor environment, getting an inspiration from traditional techniques used in
Bahay Nakpil-Bautista.

2.2 Research Problem

An evident transformation of housing development took place in the advent of modernist movement that
happened during post world war II era. (Ogura, Yap and Tanoue, 2002). This movement somewhat led to drastic
change of residential design that likely was not suited for tropical climate. Example of this is the now conventional
houses inefficient of natural means of sustaining conducive indoor thermal environment and highly dependent to
unsustainable source of energy. Considering these conditions, this study will investigate the tropical adaptability of
Bahay Nakpil-Bautista in Quiapo, Manila and draw lessons that will inform the attempt to validate that traditional
housing design are capable of providing thermal comfort using the parameter of human perception. Unveiling its
potential in the present climatological setting and rekindle the idea that Bahay Nakpil-Bautista or Philippine
heritage houses possess attributes of a good tropical design.

2.3 Research Objectives

 To establish that Bahay Nakpil-Bautista or Philippine heritage houses are suitable for the tropics and its
potential of maintaining good thermal environment.
 To demonstrate that natural means of providing indoor thermal comfort are still possible in the tropics
and present time.
 To validate if the prescribed international set of comfort limits are efficient in determining comfort zone
with regards to human perception.
 To determine the tropical adaptive features of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista or Philippine heritage houses and
how it is beneficial to its thermal performance.

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3 REVIEW OF LITERATURE
3.1 Perceptions and Expectations of Thermal Comfort

There are different parameters on how the Philippine society perceived thermal comfort through sensation
and other non-thermal factor and/or expectations that influenced their acceptability of good indoor environment.
A field study was carried out to professionals working in Makati City, Philippines and a Thermal Comfort survey
was conducted to explore and analyze their responses through the recommendation of international comfort
standards, specifically, the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55. Along with the results, the prevailing guide on measuring
thermal comfort suggested by this standard was opened not sufficient on identifying a definite good thermal
environment as per the varying and inconsistent feedbacks of each respondent (Andamon, Williamson and
Soebarto, 2006). This has been the highlight of this literature as it demonstrates the importance of other non-
thermal factors affecting the perception and expectation of thermal comfort, isolating conventional approaches
that will identify other circumstances like historical, psycho-social aspects and the like. Unfolding a wider range of
acceptability of indoor environment aside from the prescribed limits of the standards is the most significant
impact of this literature through the extension of other contextual issues (Andamon, Williamson and Soebarto,
2006). Maintaining good indoor thermal environment is the main energy driver of buildings, dependency to
mechanical systems on attaining a state of comfort is widely accepted and expected by the society (Ogura, Yap
and Tanoue, 2002). The advent of air conditioning or mechanical cooling in the Philippines drastically changed the
expectation of the society and even their preference on perceiving thermal comfort. Evolving the limits of comfort
standard brought by technology, raising the bar of acceptability of society as they have advanced to a new custom
of preference, which are, the now conventional approaches that are evident on various buildings. It started in the
early twentieth century, a time when the Philippines was a colony of the United States, where modernization is a
concept of power (Inglehart & Baker, 2000). Rationalizing the socio-cultural thinking that adaptation of
modernization is the key to be a developed society, this is the modernization theory that re-shaped the society's
preference and re-configured the limits of comfort suggested on this literature (Mulder, 1992). The vulnerability of
society to instances of development affect their mind setting on how to take thermal comfort perception that
influenced their expectation and preference, recommending that non-sensational factors is as value of thermal
readings on quantifying and qualifying thermal environment.

The significance of good thermal environment has a direct link on wellbeing of the society, attaining such will
provide a conducive and productive situation that will sustain balance of life. On this note, maintaining good
thermal environment is of big importance and comfort studies should be analyzed as per the prescription set by
international comfort standards or the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human
Occupancy. This are set of quantifying methods on identifying environment for human adaptation which has been
a conventional tool in the profession, but as per the argument raised on this literature, relying solely on this
established standard are not sufficient and definite to articulate thermal comfort. Human is complex and
complicated system that are distinct from each other, same degree of sensation might be perceived on varying
levels as human has developed unique preference that affects their expectation and perception to thermal
comfort. The collective definition of comfort suggested that non-thermal factors had a direct impact to human
dimensions that will complement the international comfort standard to articulate human perception.
Nevertheless, Human is the main determinant on identifying good thermal environment and as human perceived
distinctively, there's no constant way to measure comfort (Andamon, Williamson and Soebarto, 2006).

3.2 Thermal Evaluation

"Bahay na Bato" is coined to be efficient and sustainable in maintaining good indoor thermal environment
with its architectural features adaptive in tropical climate. This literature focused on the assessment of Vigan
ancestral houses and its thermal properties, daylighting and natural ventilation techniques. Venturing on the
search on how and why Philippine heritage houses in Vigan were designed adequately for the tropics that enables
a conducive indoor environment. It provides three Vigan ancestral houses, the Lazo-Singson house, Nolasco house
and Singson house that are differentiated into these typologies: wood and brick with lush facade, wood and brick
with volada facade and all brick type. Identifying the design norm during the Spanish colonial era and how they
maximized natural ventilation and daylighting focusing on building envelope and orientation. Creating a
comparative study on its design and performance through an audit of indoor and outdoor temperature and
building features and materials.

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Figure 2, 3 & 4: Lazo-Singson house, Nolasco house & Singson house (Lozano, 2016, pg.43-45)

The assessment of building orientation with regards to sun and wind paths shows that two of the houses
(Nolasco and Singson houses) were more exposed to sun radiation as its longer sides are facing west and east
having a higher probability of high thermal readings that could lead to uncomfortable environment. Comfort zone
in Vigan was also identified through derivation of annual mean temperature of 27° C with the formula
Tcc=(Tam/4)+17.2, wherein Tcc refers to center of the comfort zone and Tam refers to annual mean temperature,
the result is equals to 23.95° C (discrepancy of +/- 2.5° C), ranging from 21.45° C to 26.45° C are the established
comfort zone in Vigan. With the result of comfort zone computation, indoor and outdoor temperature audit will
tell if the three houses included in this case study are within the bound of comfort zone plus the consideration of
the resultant of convection ventilation. Solar heat factors were also computed, focusing on the building envelope
(roof and walls). For the roofing, three different materials were identified, the metal roof, clay tile roof with
plywood ceiling and clay tile roof with G.I. sheet ceiling, among the three, the best performing roof was the clay
tile roof with plywood ceiling as per the computation of U-value (Metal roof=2.013, Clay roof tile w/ plywood
ceiling=0.602 and Clay roof tile w/ G.I. sheet ceiling=0.641). As for the walls, two types are identified, the wooden
wall and brick wall, among the two, brick wall is performing better with a lower U-value of 0.314 (Wooden
wall=2.863 and Brick wall=0.314). From the gathered data of this study, it obtained a conclusion that the third
ancestral house type: all brick type has the best thermal performance among the three typologies. Although it has
almost the same features aside from clay brick used on the ground floor, this could be the determinant of having
the best thermal performance among the three.

This literature resumes the discovery of Vigan ancestral houses, its typical spatial planning, building
orientation that are dependent on the lot and architectural features highlighting its suitability to the tropics.
(Lozano, 2016) It focus on three different Vigan ancestral houses that varies its features and materials, this
literature creates a comparative study to quantify the attributes of different houses and identify which among the
three are the best ancestral houses in terms of thermal performance. It provides a profound methodology of
evaluating the case study, from the selection of the scope and its variation in typologies gives a systematic way of
presenting the data’s. Its range of comparison that focus on thermal auditing and classification of envelope (walls
and roof) leads to a thorough analysis and conclusion of its assessment of Vigan ancestral houses. From the results
of gathered data’s, the all brick type or the Lazo house have better u-value for its walls and roof which implicate a
good indoor thermal reading that are lowest among the three houses conducted from 8:00am to 7:00pm.
Advancing that the 700mm thick brick walls and clay roof tile or stone structures are better performing than wood
structures in providing a conducive indoor environment (Lazo, 2016). This is a good research model for the
pursuant of this research and its references will be contributory on the methodologies of getting the data’s and
properly manage it to come up to a good potential analysis and solution.

3.3 Tropical Design in Heritage Cities

“Leyes de Indias” or the “Laws of the Indies”, one of the major developmental law promulgated by King
Phillip II of Spain that affects urban pattern of historic cities in the Philippines under the Spanish crown. A
Compilation of laws and ordinances that served as a guideline in city planning that helped Spanish government
regulate its colony on their social, political and economic life. This literature focused on urban developments
during the Spanish rule, specifically, the Intramuros and Vigan in the Philippines, highlighting urban pattern, urban
fabric, tropical design considerations brought by the “Laws of the Indies” and how urban settlement endured the
tropical condition of the country during that era. One of the early Hispanic settlement after their arrival in Cebu
was in Intramuros, Manila which is considered as there first “urban experiment” that served as a prototype on

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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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their succeeding development (Mata, 2013). Designed in a grid pattern system of road network bounded by
irregular shape fortification that had been the seat of colonial government, religious orders and early educational
institutions. Another prominent sample of Hispanic urban development is Vigan in Ilocos Sur, which became the
seat of power in Northern Luzon, also patterned with Intramuros planning of grid system. The précised orientation
of this grid pattern road network ensure that the building mass will always be shaded for at least one side of the
road for a comfortable walking experience and to avoid road pavement to direct sunlight. Aside from sun shading,
Hispanic urban planning guide also involved rain protection, wind ventilation and the like, determining that early
planners considered tropical design in their developments. A new architectural style was born on this era, the
“Arquitectura Mestiza” a hybrid design of Spanish and Chinese style intended to withstand earthquake and
tropical climate condition, a combination of stone walls for the ground floor and wooden structure for the upper
floor (Lico, 2008). Typical spatial planning of “Arquitectura Mestiza” is that all living spaces are located on the
upper floor to avoid heat radiation coming from and ground, service and storage rooms are found on the lower
level with provision of wide windows to lower humidity level inside. Building orientation is always parallel to the
road with living room facing it on top of the “puerta mayor” or main entrance to have a visual access of the people
or activities outside. Usually set in a row without a provision of setback making the building seat next to each
other that lessen the exposure to direct sunlight. Awnings, overhang (volada), blinds or shutters are some of the
distinct design features that help reduce indoor heat accumulation in the “Arquitectura Mestiza” style. Grid road
network creates a stretch of wind tunnel towards the buildings enabling it to naturally ventilate and cool itself
with the aid of wide window openings typically with three (3) levels, the espejo, bintana, and ventanilla that also
allows natural daylighting inside. This literature also listed different types of structures during the Spanish colonial
era and its tropical design considerations with regards to sun shading and rain protection, wind and ventilation,
stability and ground movement, and building materials and construction method that showcase different design
features and strategies of “Arquitectura Mestiza” style to combat against the tropical condition of the country to
provide a livable indoor environment.

This literature strengthened the potential of heritage houses are designed and capable to withstand the
severe effects of tropical climate that will be beneficial to the pursuant of this research. It demonstrated that
sustainable design is already been practice by planners and/or “Maestro de Obras” during the Spanish colonial era
which are evident in Intramuros, Manila and Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Through an audit of tropical design considerations
of different building typologies, this literature showcased various design strategies developed during the Spanish
era. Some of which response to sun shading and rain protection, wind and ventilation, stability and ground
movement, and building materials and construction method. The effects of these compiled techniques in tropical
design are proven effective with the thermal assessment done in three (3) houses in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, making it
capable to provide good indoor thermal environment. This tropical style was named “Arquitectura Mestiza”
considered to be resilient and sustainable that can serve as a prototype for the present and future urban
development of the country. A good model for sustainable practice in architecture and urban design that should
be preserved and continue its application and develop further for the advancement of the designed and built
environment of the country.

4 METHODOLOGY
This Research intends to validate that Philippine heritage houses were designed suited for the tropics and
capable of providing good thermal environment. Through the case study of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista, this paper
conducted an evaluation of 1. Building Orientation and Micro Site Analysis, 2. Thermal Performance Audit, 3.
Building Design and Materials Audit and 4. Assessment of Tropical Adaptive Features of the house. Highlighting the
focus of human perception paralleled with thermal readings that will comprehend the quality of indoor thermal
environment of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista.

Thermal gadgets used in data gathering:

 EagleTech DC803 digital LCD temperature humidity meter clock hygrometer
 GM30 non-contact laser LCD display digital IR infrared thermometer

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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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•Micro Site Analysis
Building
•Sun and Wind Path
Orientation &
Micro Site •Existing/Working
Condition

•Outdoor & Indoor

Temperature Reading
Thermal (°C & RH)
Performance •Psychrometric Chart
Audit
•ASHRAE Comfort Vote
Survey

Design & •Design Information

Material •Materials Audit
Performance •Surface Temperature
Audit •R-Value

•Efficiency of
Tropical Fenestration
Adaptive •Spatial Planning
Features
•Raised Flooring

Conclusion

Figure 5: Theoretical Framework of Research Table 1: Study Flow

4.1 Micro Site Analysis & Building Orientation

4.1.1 Micro Site Analysis & Sun and Wind Path Analysis

Inventory of adjacent spaces on the site are essential for this research, micro site analysis will entail the
implications of bounding sites and features to the building, especially its effects to sun path and sun exposure
and/or shading, prevailing wind and wind corridors within the site and the building.

4.1.2 Existing and Working Condition

Considering that Bahay Nakpil-Bautista is a century old building, intended original design had been changed
through time. This section is an inventory of spatial layout, and the workability of tropical features especially on
the building envelope like the capiz windows with ventanilla and transom and the like. This has been done through
building observation and photo documentation.

4.2 Thermal Performance Audit

4.2.1 Outdoor and Indoor Temperature (°C) and Relative Humidity (%)

Thermal readings are very significant for this paper, especially for indoor temperature that apprehends that
Philippine traditional housing design is capable of providing good thermal environment. Using digital thermometer
(EagleTech DC803 digital LCD temperature humidity meter clock hygrometer), readings had been set on three
different time of the day, 9:00 am, 12:00nn and 4:00pm with three (3) different respective dates as well. Outdoor
temperature and relative humidity were conducted in front of the house while indoor temperature and relative
humidity are set on the middle of the spaces included on this study.

4.2.2 Psychrometric Chart

Parallel to previous method (outdoor and indoor temperature and relative humidity readings) This section
discloses if the gathered thermal readings are within the international comfort limits recommended by
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55: thermal environmental conditions for human occupancy. A detailed computation using

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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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normal values of PAGASA collected from port of Manila station that established the extended ratio of comfort
zone in Manila where the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista is situated.

4.2.3 ANSI/ASHRAE Comfort Vote Survey

The core purpose of this research aims to institute the fact that Philippine traditional housing design with the
case of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista is capable of achieving good indoor thermal environment using the ANSI/ASHRAE
Comfort Vote Survey with seven (7) point system of Hot, Warm, Slightly warm, Neutral, Slightly cool, Cool and
Cold. It was conducted in three (3) different time of 9:00am, 12:00nn and 4:00pm in three (3) different respective
dates. Conducted with random people in different places to have a general impression of the house that allows a
comparative study of thermal performance in different spaces of the house, time and date.

4.3 Building Design and Materials Audit

4.3.1 Design Information and Materials Audit

Through this sections, an in depth understanding of architectural design and its implications to thermal
performance of the house are disclosed. Its essential information are accumulated through photo surveying, site
observation, interview and documentation from Bahay Nakpil-Bautista organization. Undertaking the major parts
of the house especially the envelope that contributes or resists heat gain that affects indoor thermal comfort of
the house.

4.3.2 Surface Temperature & R-value

Getting the factors that influence indoor temperature are essential, as it will explain how and why the
building is performing in such way. Surface temperature collection will focus on the envelope specifically in
different materials used on walls. This was done parallel on the setting of thermal reading at 9:00am, 12:00nn &
4:00pm, from this, it reveals how the materials are performing in different time of the day. R-values are computed,
it will complement the surface temperature readings as it validates the factors of selected materials for the
envelope, with the audited materials, a wall section was illustrated that shows the materials and its corresponding
R-values. Heat Flow computation is demonstrated with visual interpretation of plan, elevation, and wall sections
that shows consideration of sun path and how the building was oriented to sunlight focusing on the west side in
front of the façade.

4.4 Tropical Adaptive Features

4.4.1 Efficiency of Fenestration

One of the prime features of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista is its huge fenestrations or window openings that
promotes passive air flow and heat loss. Focusing on the second floor of the house where the living spaces are
located. An elevation and sectional mapping of openings (windows and callados) are illustrated that reveals the
ratio of fenestration and exterior/interior walls and its implications to an effective cross ventilation and passive
cooling.

4.4.2 Spatial Planning

4.4.3 Raised Flooring

Highlighted on this section are the distinct architectural features of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista that benefitted
good indoor thermal environment. Showcasing the techniques used by Arcadio Arellano to make the house livable
for tropical setting. Through photo documentation these features are compiled and evaluated parallel to thermal
readings and performance of the house to analyze its impact to indoor thermal comfort.

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5 RESULTS
These resuts was produced through the conducted document reviews, studies and investigation on the site of
Nakpil-Bautista house. Primarily set from September to December of 2018 with a time bound of 9:00 am, 12:00
pm and 4:00 pm, all data’s are gathered on these bracket of time to have a comparative study on how the Nakpil-
Bautista house perform in a tropical setting and determine its effects within the varying set of time and date.
Through this parameter, a strong evidence will showcase the potential of Philippine traditional housing design,
through the case of Nakpil-Bautista house is capable of responding against the negative effects of tropical climate.

5.1 Micro Site Analysis & Building Orientation

5.1.1 Micro Site Analysis & Sun and Wind Path Analysis

Figure 6: Micro Site Analysis (Google earth, n.d.)

432 A. Bautista street, Quiapo Manila
14.5984° N, 120.9847° E

The Bahay Nakpil-Bautista, located in the heart of Quiapo, Manila, near the Basilica of the Black Nazarene,
accessible to major thoroughfare, north bound of Quezon Boulevard and Hidalgo street to A. Bautista street. This
site was originally a magnificent part of Manila, situated in an old residential and commercial district destructed
during the World War II and never regained its glory, currently known as chaotic and a blighted urban part of the
city. On the western part, fronting a six (6) meter concrete road and a strip of low-rise to medium-rise (12m and
17m ht.) commercial and residential buildings on the other block, bounded on the southern part with another
heritage landmark, the Boix house, almost the same height with Nakpil-Bautista house. On the northern part, a
single storey day care center with 4.3m height, while on the eastern part, an “estero” or estuary is bounding the
rear side of the house. These developments and features adjoining the site will surely have an impact in indoor
environment of the Nakpil-Bautista house and its performance in tropical climate, especially the varying heights of
adjacent buildings that can affect the sunlight and wind path condition along the site.

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Figure 7: Sun and Wind Path (source: SunEarthTools.com and Google earth)

Wind Path Analysis

OUTDOOR RELATIVE WIND

TIME & WIND
TEMPERATURE HUMIDITY SPEED
DATE DIRECTION
(C) (%) (KM/H)
9:00 AM
(NOV. 22, 31 56 2 NW
2018)
12:00 PM
(SEP. 22, 32 66 2 NNW
2018)
4:00 PM
(DEC. 01, 32 60 4 NE
2018)
Table 2: Wind Speed & Direction (Wind Information
source: time and date.com)

Figure 8: Environmental Simulation: Wind Speed

during Analysis Period
(Source: Rhino and Grasshopper software)

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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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The prevailing wind during the investigation period is coming from northwest to northeast since this was an
interval from southwest monsoon (Habagat) to northeast Monsoon (Amihan) with a speed of 2 km/h to 4 Km/h as
per the gathered information from time and date.com. The north and east part of Nakpil-Bautista house has no
blockage since these are only facing a single storey day care center and the “estero” on the rear side, allowing
passive air to enter the house especially on the second floor where most of the living spaces are located. It aids to
have a good air exchange rate inside the house, minimizing humidity level and maintaining good indoor thermal
environment. While during the southwest monsoon (Habagat) season, direct wind path is blocked by multiple low-
rise to medium rise buildings at the adjacent western part of the site but a possible wind corridor along A. Bautista
Street seeing that the rows of buildings can divert wind direction going to Nakpil-Bautista house.

Sun Path Analysis

The Sun Path diagram was extracted from

SunEarthTools.com and environmental simulation
using Rhino and Grasshopper software, showing a Sun
Path set on September 22, 2018 which is the hottest
month within the time frame of this study as per the
climatological data from PAGASA. The orientation of
Philippine Heritage houses is always parallel to the
road and attached with adjacent houses, in the case of
Nakpil-Bautista house, two of its longest sides are
exposed to east and west were heat gain from direct
sunlight are expected. During 9:00 am, sun is directly
hitting the rear side of the house where it is facing the
“estero” with no opportunity of shading. By 12:00 pm,
sun is directly striking the roof while during 4:00 pm,
the house is shaded by the 17m height commercial
building on the adjacent western part of the site.

Figure 9: Environmental Simulation: Solar Radiation

(Source: Rhino and Grasshopper software)

Figure 10: Sun Shading & Exposure

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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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On the image above shows a simulation of sun shading and exposure to building envelope of Nakpil-Bautista
house in relation to sun path movement. The red shade indicates sun exposure and cyan shade indicates shaded
part of the house/site, also set on September 22, 2018 with timings of 9:00 am, 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Evidently,
9:00 am is the most exposed to sunlight with lesser shaded parts, at 12:00 pm walls are already shaded by eaves
and canopies leaving only the roof exposed to sunlight, while at 4:00 pm the whole building envelope are already
shaded by the adjacent structures.

5.1.2 Existing and Working Condition

Figure 11: Bahay Nakpil-Bautista Floor Plans (source: BahayNakpil-Bautista.org)

The Bahay Nakpil-Bautista was built over a century ago, designed by a

prominent architect Arcadio Arellano under the Vienna Secession style. A
typical Bahay na bato built with wood and masonry construction but lesser
ornamentation. Through the efforts of Nakpil-Bautista family, the house had
stood the test of time, climate and even World War II, one of the well
preserve heritage house in the district and considered as an architectural gem.
Its vital parts are still intact on its original design and they keep the same
material as the original for replacement/maintenance. As shown above, a
perimeter wall on ground was added on the rear side for security reason and
the Cuarto (bedroom 7) was divided into two, while the windows and
ventanilla in northern part (marked in cyan) are permanently closed as this
side of the house is used as a wood sculpture workshop. Nevertheless, the
Bahay Nakpil-Bautista are still functioning on its intended design from its
original state that will help pursue the objective of this research to validate
that Philippine traditional housing design are well attuned in the tropics.

Figure 12: Bahay Nakpil-Bautista Façade

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5.2 Thermal Performance Audit

5.2.1 Outdoor and Indoor Temperature (°C) and Relative Humidity (%)

Figure 13: Environmental Simulation: Figure 14: Environmental Simulation

Dry Bulb Temperature during Analysis Period Relative Humidity during Analysis Period
(September 22 to December 01, 2018) (September 22 to December 01, 2018)
(Source: Rhino and Grasshopper software) (Source: Rhino and Grasshopper software)

Temperature & Relative Humidity reading was done in three (3) separate time and date:
 9:00 am - November 22, 2018
 12:00 pm - September 22, 2018
 4:00 pm - December 01, 2018

Time Outdoor Temperature Relative Humidity

On Site PAGASA (mean On Site PAGASA
& max) (°C)
9:00 AM 31°C 27.8 – 30.7°C 56% 80%
12:00 PM 32°C 28.2 – 30.9°C 66% 75%
4:00 PM 32°C 26.6 – 29.7°C 60% 74%
Table 3: Comparative Table of Outdoor Temperatures on Site and PAGASA

As per the climatological normal values by PAGASA set in Port area (MCO), Manila station, the date(s) when
the investigation was conducted has lower value than the recorded outdoor temperature from the site of Nakpil-
Bautista house but the recorded relative humidity on site is lower from the average relative humidity by PAGASA.
As expected 12:00 pm time has the highest temperature reading and recorded during the hottest month among
the three (3) dates where the investigation is conducted. On site outdoor temperature ranges for 31°C to 32 °C
slightly higher than the average climatological readings set from nearest station of PAGASA in port area Manila.
This on-site figures are probably affected by site features with concentration of stone, concrete developments in
front of the site where the reading is conducted. On site relative humidity is far lower than the relative humidity
from PAGASA station, one factor is the prevailing wind during the time of investigation is coming from the north
where no vital obstruction can block the wind going to the site that helped reduce the humidity on site.

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ROOM
ROOM TEMPERATURE (°C) RELATIVE HUMIDITY (%)
NUMBER
9:00 AM 12:00 PM 4:00 PM 9:00 AM 12:00 PM 4:00 PM
Outdoor
31 32 32 56 66 60
Temp.
1 27 29.4 28.3 64 76 65
2 29.6 30 28.9 50 76 55
3 30.6 31.2 31 51 71 56
4 31 31.2 31 52 69 54
5 28.8 29.7 29.4 50 72 55
6 30.2 28.5 27.7 51 69 53
7A 31.1 32.2 32 54 70 53
7B 30.2 32 31.6 50 70 52
8 31.2 30.1 29.8 51 68 51
9 30.1 32.8 30.6 49 63 51
10 27.8 28.3 29.4 49 58 51
11 31.2 31.7 31.1 46 63 53
12 29.3 29.8 29 51 63 54
Table 4: Room Temperature

Figure 15: Room Temperature Graph

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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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Among the three (3) time base of this study, 9:00 am has the lowest indoor temperature, next is 4:00 pm,
while the hottest is at 12:00 pm. As per the sun shading and exposure analysis; for 9:00 am, rooms 7a, 6 & 8
(cuarto, comedor & cocina) at second floor are the rooms most exposed to direct sunlight and heat gain, evidently
these rooms recorded the highest temperature reading for that time, ranging from 30.2 to 31.2 °C. For 12:00 pm,
exterior walls are shaded and roof is the most exposed to direct sunlight and prone to heat gain causing the rooms
with no direct fenestration outside got the highest temperature reading. The lowest reading of 28 °C are located at
room 6 and 10 (Sala and Comedor), as seen on the plan, these spaces are also the largest within the house which
has a big factor of getting the lowest reading because the heat easily escape upwards with the aid of passive
pressure from the ventanilla pushing it towards the callados, avoiding the heat to trap inside. While rooms 7a, 7b
& 11 (cuarto & oficina) got the highest reading of 32º C. Windows on the northern part are permanently closed
beacuse of the wood workshop adjacent to it, while the southern part has no fenestration at all as it is already
bounded by the perimeter lot, a contributary reason not to have a passive wind breeze that traps the heat inside.
At 4:00 pm, no direct sunlight striking the house as it is shaded by a 17m storey builidng in front or the western
part of the house, getting a much lower indoor temperature from 12:00 pm as building is capable to cool down
with the shade that it gets from its adjacent development. The potential of improving the indoor temperature is
possible if the actual intended design of the plan and its features are fully utilized.

5.2.2 Psychometric Chart

Figure 16: 9:00 am Psychometric Chart Intervention

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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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Figure 17: 12:00 pm Psychometric Chart Intervention

Figure 18: 4:00 pm Psychometric Chart Intervention

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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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These are the Psychometric charts for 9:00 am, 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm, this determine if the temperature
readings conducted on this research are within the limits prescribed by ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55 or within the
comfort zone. As per the climatological normal values from PAGASA, the blue zone is January, the coolest month
while the red zone is April, the hottest month, while the green zone is the is the extended comfort zone due to
wind speed of 1 mph, all the temperatures within these zones are considerably in a state of comfort. As for 9:00
am and 4:00 pm, all of the indoor temperatures are within the extended comfort zone. While for 12:00 pm, seven
(7) rooms are recorded out of the prescribed comfort zone considering that these rooms are either additional
rooms or its windows are permanently closed. Generally, the indoor thermal environment of Nakpil-Bautista
house conducted within this time frame are consider acceptable for human occupancy as recommended
ANSI/ASHRAE Psychometric chart. Given this circumstance, the traditional housing design like the Nakpil-Bautista
house has a capacity to provide a good indoor thermal environment by natural means.

5.2.3 Comfort Vote Survey

Respondent
Respondent’s Information
No.
Weight
Sex Age Height (ft.) Clothing Activity
(lbs)

1 Male 18 5’6 160 Polo + pants (uniform) Walking

2 Male 18 5’5 140 Polo + pants (uniform) Walking

3 Female 17 5'4 120 Blouse + skirt (uniform) Walking

4 Female 19 5'4 115 Blouse + skirt (uniform) Walking

5 Female 18 5'2 120 Blouse + skirt (uniform) Walking

6 Female 18 5'2 120 Blouse + skirt (uniform) Walking

7 Male 29 5'10 300 Polo shirt + shorts Walking

8 Female 45 5'6 145 Polo shirt + jeans Walking

9 Female 36 5'0 105 Polo shirt + jeans Standing

10 Male 31 5'11 175 Polo shirt + jeans Sedentary

11 Female 18 5'5 130 Blouse + jeans Standing

12 Female 19 5'7 122 Blouse + jeans Standing

13 Female 18 5'4 120 Shirt + jeans Standing

14 Female 18 5'3 110 Blouse + jeans Standing

15 Male 42 5'9 165 Polo shirt + jeans Walking

16 Male 29 5'10 300 Polo shirt + shorts Walking

17 Male 18 5'5 170 Polo + pants (uniform) Walking

18 Male 19 5'7 165 Polo + pants (uniform) Walking

19 Female 18 5'3 120 Blouse + skirt (uniform) Walking

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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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20 Female 17 5'3 115 Blouse + skirt (uniform) Walking

21 Female 17 5'4 110 Blouse + skirt (uniform) Walking

22 Male 29 5'10 300 Polo shirt + shorts Walking

Table 5: Respondent’s Information

This shows the respondent's physical attributes and activity during the suvey that will be a determinant on
quantifying their metabolic rate, and their clothing that will affect their perception on thermal environment. The
Respondents for this research are generally students conducting study of the house and some house
guide/caretaker. The survey gathered typically during tour or walking within the house, most of them are wearing
school uniform with general age ranging from 17 to 19 years old with mostly female of twenty (20) respondents
and nine (9) male respondents.

Room
Respondent Room Do you feel
Temperature 9:00 AM Comfort Vote
No. Location Comfortable?
(°C)
Slightly Slightly
Hot Warm Neutral Cool Cold
Warm Cool
1 1: Zaguan 27 Yes
2 1: Zaguan 27 Yes
3 1: Zaguan 27 Yes
4 1: Zaguan 27 Yes
5 10: Sala 27.8 Yes
6 10: Sala 27.8 Yes
7 10: Sala 27.8 Yes
Table 6: 9:00 AM Comfort Vote
Room
Respondent Room Do you feel
Temperature 12:00 PM Comfort Vote
No. Location Comfortable?
(°C)
Slightly Slightly
Hot Warm Neutral Cool Cold
Warm Cool
8 1: Zaguan 29.4 Yes
9 2: Music Rm 30 Yes
10 2: Music Rm 30 Yes
11 10: Sala 28.3 Yes
12 10: Sala 28.3 Yes
13 10: Sala 28.3 Yes
14 10: Sala 28.3 Yes
16 1: Zaguan 29.4 Yes
16 10: Sala 28.3 Yes
Table 7: 12:00 PM Comfort Vote

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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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Room
Respondent Room Do you feel
Temperature 4:00 PM Comfort Vote
No. Location Comfortable?
(°C)
Slightly Slightly
Hot Warm Neutral Cool Cold
Warm Cool
17 6: Comedor 27.7 Yes
18 6: Comedor 27.7 Yes
19 6: Comedor 27.7 Yes
20 10: Sala 29.4 Yes
21 10: Sala 29.4 Yes
22 10: Sala 29.4 Yes
Table 8: 4:00 PM Comfort Vote

This comfort vote survey was conducted in a spontaneous way with random people inside the Nakpil-
Bautista house at random spaces for the three (3) time base of this study that depends on the availability of
respondent in a certain area inside the house. For the 9:00 am comfort vote survey, the researcher gathered seven
(7) respondents with one (1) slightly warm vote, five (5) neutral votes and one (1) slightly cool vote. This was
conducted at rooms one (1) and ten (10) or the zaguan and sala, were the coolest areas for 9:00 am. At 12:00 pm,
a total of nine (9) respondents with two (2) slightly warm votes and eight (8) neutral votes were gathered, this was
conducted at rooms one (1), two (2) and ten (10) or the zaguan, music room and sala. While for 4:00 pm, a total
six (6) respondents with one (1) slightly cool vote and five (5) neutral votes gathered at rooms six (6) and ten (10)
or the comedor and sala. In consolidation, the comfort vote survey gathered a total of three (3) slightly warm
votes, seventeen (17) neutral votes and two (2) slightly cool votes with a general positive response or “yes” for the
question, do you feel comfortable? The common denominator for these three (3) comfort vote survey was all
done at room ten (10) or Sala, with ten (10) neutral votes and one (1) slightly warm vote that will tie up these
three (3) surveys. For Indoor temperature, room 10 or Sala was one of the lowest temperature among the
areas/rooms of Nakpil-Bautista house and these three (3) temperatures are all within the extended comfort zone
of ANSI/ASHRAE Psychometric chart. All the more, regardless of its variations in temperature in different
rooms/spaces and time, the Nakpil-Bautista house had the impression of good indoor thermal environment as per
the ANSI/ASHRAE comfort vote survey, validating that Philippine traditional housing design can attain human
acceptability with regards to thermal environment.

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 5.3.1 Building Materials Audit

5.3 Building Design and Materials Audit

to Human Thermal Comfort: The Case of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista in Quiapo, Manila
Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
Table 9: Building Materials of Nakpil-Bautista house

BUILDING MATERIAL
RM. ROOM
NUMBER LOCATION FLOORS EXTERIOR WALLS INTERIOR WALLS CEILING DOORS WINDOWS FEATURE ROOF

Ground Floor
Puerta-Solid Narra access to patio &
Brick walls w/ lime
1 Zaguan Piedra China Timber planks Wooden Soffit door & Iron grille n/a estero enclosed by
mixture plaster
gate grille works

2 Music Room Timber planks Capiz window with

adjacent to zaguan eaves & sliding shutter,
Cuarto (kid's Brick walls w/ lime Tulip motif callado on
3 Narra wood planks and plywood with plywood Solid Narra door ventanilla grilles in
room) mixture plaster top of interior walls
secession motif for secession styl, stained
4 Cuarto interior partition glass transon window
Second Floor
5 Antesala
Tulip motif callado on
Capiz window with
top of interior walls
6 Comedor eaves & sliding shutter, Cuatro Aguas
Narra wood planks Timber planks plywood plywood Solid Narra door ventanilla grilles in galvanized roof
7.a Cuarto secession styl, stained access to azotea
glass transon window
7.b Cuarto Volada

8 Cocina Bangerahan

9 Cuarto Capiz window with

eaves & sliding shutter,
Tulip motif callado on
10 Sala Narra wood planks Timber planks plywood plywood Solid Narra door ventanilla grilles in
top of interior walls
secession styl, stained
11 Oficina glass transon window
Skylight & operable
12 Cuarto
callados
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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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The typical “Bahay na Bato” is a combination of wood and masonry construction, like the Nakpil-Bautista
house its vital parts are made from hardwood, bricks, capiz and galvanized iron. The essential materials that are
considered for this research are materials on building envelope or the exterior walls and the roof. These building
envelope materials has a direct effect in indoor thermal environment in terms of its design, thermal capacity and
the like that will be put on the following stages/methodologies of this study.

5.3.2 R-value & Surface Temperature

Figure 19: Wall Section with corresponding “R” values of building materials

As shown on the wall section, the Nakpil-Bautista house has diverse selection of materials for its building
envelope, a combination of hardwood, bricks, capiz, glazing and galvanized iron. Among these materials, exterior
walls on ground floor have the highest “R” value with combined value of 0.178 of lime plaster (0.025) and brick
walls (0.153), and the narra window with capiz (“R” value=0.187). This is a significant factor that ground floor
temperature reading is lower compared with temperature on the areas of second floor. The second floor materials

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have lower “R” value especially the roof that is detrimental on resisting the heat coming from the outside, being
that this is the most exposed floor/areas to direct sunlight. In terms of heat resistivity, the building envelope
materials used in Nakpil-Bautista house are lower compared with the conventional design, materials and
treatments used nowadays.

Envelope Material “R” Value Surface Temperature (°C)

9:00 AM 12:00 PM 4:00 PM

Ground Brick wall with lime

0.178 29.3 30.8 30.2
floor wall plaster mixture

Second
Narra/Timber planks 0.125 30.1 32.2 31.3
floor wall
Window Capiz window 0.187 30.5 32.6 31.5
Canopy Plywood 0.125 30.1 32.3 31.4
Table 10: Surface Temperature of Building Envelope

This table shows the heat gained on the surface of building envelope for the three (3) time base of this
research. The lowest surface temperature is recorded with the ground floor exterior wall considering that this is
one of the highest “R” value and this part is usually shaded during the peak of high noon because of the extending
volada of the second floor. These recorded surface temperatures have a direct effect with the indoor temperature
since most of the envelope materials are designed in a single composition only, the outdoor temperature can
directly radiate going inside. Complementing the “R” values computed for the envelope and its impact to its
surface and indoor air temperature.

5.4 Tropical Adaptive Features

5.4.1 Efficiency of Fenestration

Figure 20: Exterior Walls Fenestration & Interior Openings (Callado)

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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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In terms of heat resistivity and heat gain, Philippine traditional housing design through the case of Nakpil-
Bautista house is below par compared with current façade and insulation technologies. Nevertheless, one of the
distinct attributes of Philippine traditional housing design is its wide openings/fenestration and interior wall
openings/callado that allows passive air to come in that enables good air exchange rate to easily withdraw the
penetrated heat from the exterior. As per the computed ratio of fenestration for exterior walls is 25.4% or 158.92
sqm divided by the floor area of 592.33 sqm is equals to 26.82%, which is higher than the percentage of openings
of 10% of the floor area prescribed by the section 808 of the national building code of the Philippines. While the
interior wall openings/callados is 20.82%, which apparently not typical with the current interior wall design. This
feature is a relevant component in providing good indoor thermal environment by maximizing the potential of
passive cooling on site the Nakpil-Bautista house.

Figure 21, 22 & 23: Sunlight Shutter, Callado & Capiz Window with Ventanilla

The sunlight shutter, callado & capiz window with ventanilla are some of the distinct features found in
“Bahay na Bato”. Primary design objective of these is to alleviate the effects of tropical climate and provide a good
thermal environment inside the house. The Sunlight shutters is an alternative to capiz window, these are used to
combat direct sunlight penetrating the interior without sacrificing wind flow. The Callados are used for passive and
cross ventilation preventing heat gain inside the house. The Capiz window with ventanilla is considered as a
prominent feature of “Bahay na Bato” which is evident on its façade, its design intends to maximize the passive air
to enter the house for natural cooling and ventilation.

5.4.2 Spatial Planning

Figure 24, 25 & 26 -: Nakpil-Bautista house Interior

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Philippine Traditional Housing Design and its Implications
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Figure 27: Spatial Planning-Cross Ventilation

The partitioning of spaces in a typical “Bahay na Bato” like the Nakpil-Bautista house is traditionally done with
all the family living spaces on the second floor and the storage, garage and workshop are in the ground floor.
Normally the interior spaces are divided with hardwood walls with a callado on top, with the case of Nakpil-
Bautista house the percentage of callado in interior walls is 20.82%, that accelerate wind flow or air exchange rate
that aids heat to escape. Interior openings like doors and vestibules are typically facing each other that ease the
flow of circulation and even air flow inside. As shown on the images of Nakpil-Bautista interior, exterior and
interior openings are parallel to each other, promoting cross ventilation. This demonstrates that the spatial
planning and interior walls of Nakpil-Bautista house has a tropical design intervention.

5.4.3 Raised Flooring

Figure 28 & 29: Raised flooring of ground floor living spaces

Typically, the “Bahay na Bato” living spaces are located at the second floor but in the case of Nakpil-Bautista
house, there are some bedrooms situated at the ground floor to lessen the effects of heat coming from the
ground, this floor was raised approximately 1.30 meters from the level of zaguan, the space underneath is used as
storage, a common technique even used in native design of houses like the Ifugao houses and “Bahay Kubo”.

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6 ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
The climate in the Philippines is a challenge to take in designing a climate responsive house, Filipino
ancestors have master this with their creation of ingenious solution in adapting their vernacular architecture to
the tropics which is evident in the Philippine heritage houses. Through the case Bahay Nakpil-Bautista in Quiapo,
Manila, this research demonstrated the factors that implicates to a good indoor thermal environment with the
conducted investigation of this research divided in to four (4) major parts:

 Building Orientation & Micro Site Analysis

In the Pre-world war era, the site was purely a residential zone adjacent to the Quiapo church on the other
block, but on present time, it is already deteriorated and blighted with overly populated mixed residential
and commercial buildings. On the western part, fronting a six (6) meter concrete road and a strip of low-rise
to medium-rise (12m and 17m ht.) commercial and residential buildings on the other block which shaded the
Bahay Nakpil-Bautista and alleviates the effect of heat gain from direct sunlight during late afternoon and the
road with strip of buildings serves as a wind corridor on the longest and front side of the house. Bounding on
the southern part is another heritage landmark, the Boix house, almost the same height with Nakpil-Bautista
house. On the northern part, a single storey day care center with 4.3m height, while on the eastern part, an
“estero” or estuary is bounding the rear side of the house that leaves north and east unblocked and
potentially catch the wind breeze from the northeast that helped lessens the effect of humidity through good
air exchange rate. On the Sun Path analysis of the study, among the three (3) periods of analysis which are
set on 9:00 am of Novemberr 22, 2018, 12:00 pm of September 22, 2018 and 4:00 pm of December 01, 2018,
evidently the 9:00 am period is the most exposed to direct sunlight on the eastern side of the house as it is
unblocked from the bounding estuary, at the 12:00 pm period, the sun is directly striking the roof but most of
the envelope is shaded by the overhang and canopy on the perimeter of the building that protects the
interior from direct sunlight, and by 4:00 pm, almost the whole house is not directly hit by sunlight because
of the abutting developments on the western side. In general, the current developments on the adjoining site
and its orientation helped the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista perform better with the certainty of shading and wind
accessibility that will definitely had an impact to indoor environment of the houses.

 Thermal Performance Audit

The on-site outdoor temperature was recorded with a range of 31-32°C, higher than the mean and maximum
temperature recorded by PAGASA, this is an implication of radiation from the site features concentrated with
stone and concrete materials. While the on-site humidity ranges from 56-66% lower than the PAGASA
recording ranges from 74-80%, major factor of this is the prevailing wind during the analysis period is coming
from north which is unblocked and significantly lessened the humidity. While the Interior room temperature
ranges from 27-32.8°C and humidity level ranges from 46-76% recorded from the three (3) periods of
analysis. Expectedly the 9:00am period got the lowest indoor readings next is the 4:00pm period, while the
12:00pm period is the hottest recorded at rooms 7a, 7b and 11 with 32°C, major factor of which is the
windows on the north are permanently closed because of the adjacent workshop and southern part has no
fenestration because it is a perimeter wall, plus the fact that, these rooms are centrally located at the second
floor and adjacent to roof where the concentration of heat gain is expected as the direct sunlight is striking
the roof during that time. The coolest indoor temperature where recorded at rooms 1, 6 and 10 which is also
the biggest rooms in the house, this directly implies that the room volume or size has an effect to room
temperature or thermal environment. These indoor temperatures are plotted on the Psychometric Chart that
determined which rooms are within the prescribed comfort zone set by ASHRAE standard 55 on the specific
period of analysis. For periods 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, all of the rooms are within the comfort or extended
comfort zone while 12:00 pm period, six (6) out of twelve (12) rooms are not within the extended comfort
zones, these rooms are the ones centrally located without an access to fenestration. Parallel to this
temperature audit, the comfort vote survey was also conducted with random guests and user, one hundred
(100%) percent of them perceived the house to be comfortable with three (3) slightly warm, fourteen (14)
neutral and two (2) slightly cool votes. This highly suggest that the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista is capable of

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providing good indoor environment up to the present time as per the perception of its users and the
prescription of comfort limits set by ASHRAE standard 55.

 Design & Material Performance Audit

The vital parts of the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista are made of hardwood, bricks, capiz and galvanized iron and its
building envelope has an “R” values of 0.178 for brick wall with lime plaster mixture at ground floor, 0.125 for
Narra/Timber planks at second floor, 0.187 for Capiz window assembly and 0.125 for the soffit of canopy
with surface temperature ranges from 29.3 to 32.6 °C, the lowest “R” values are within the second floor
which is the most exposed part of the envelope to direct sunlight especially the roof. This will be very
detrimental to indoor environment without the aid or intervention of tropical adaptive features found in
Philippine heritage houses. Materials science where not that developed during the conception of Bahay
Nakpil-Bautista house or the Philippine heritage houses, which are below par compared to current
treatments and interventions in material insulation nowadays.

 Tropical Adaptive Features

One or if not the most prominent feature of the “Bahay na Bato” like the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista are its wide
openings and distinctively Filipino Capiz window with Ventanillas underneath that promotes passive air which
enables good air exchange rate. As per the computed ratio of fenestration for exterior walls is 25.4% or
158.92 sqm divided by the floor area of 592.33 sqm is equals to 26.82%, which is higher than the percentage
of openings of 10% of the floor area prescribed by the section 808 of the national building code of the
Philippines, this is definite indication that the ratio of fenestration during colonial era found in Philippine
heritage houses is higher than the current standard of Philippine building code. It also shows that this vital
feature had been neglected as the current residential design depend on artificial cooling. The window
shutter, Capiz window and ventanilla is a unique window design of Philippine heritage houses, its function is
to combat different weather scenarios, the shutter against rain and sun glare without affecting the wind
breeze, the Capiz window for strong wind without compromising daylight and ventanilla for
additional/optional opening, this clearly demonstrate that the envelope or window assembly of Bahay
Nakpil-Bautista was designed to be climate responsive. The Spatial planning also contributes to good
ventilation of the house as the access and halls/corridors are usually parallel where the air can pass smoothly
in between spaces, it is also aided by the callados, an interior wall opening found on its top most area that
prevents heat air to accumulate on each rooms and promote heat loss. All of the living spaces of Bahay
Nakpil-Bautista are raised 1.3m from the ground to prevent the heat radiation from the ground that also
allows air flow underneath and was also used as a storage called “silong”. These features lead on the
validation and potential of Philippine heritage houses through the case of Nakpil-Bautista house is well suited
for tropical climate that can provide good thermal environment.

The typical practice during the pre-world war era does not primarily consider the sun path, designers usually
orient the frontage of the house parallel with the road as prescribed by the laws of indies or the prevailing town
planning that time. Evidently, the Nakpil-Bautista house follows the same pattern for building orientation exposing
the longest part of the house to direct sunlight, but apparently, with the canopy design surrounding the building
envelope and the current developments on the western adjacent part of the site, the Nakpil-Bautista house is
mostly to fully shaded during the high noon to late afternoon that lessen the effects of heat gain. It is a challenge
to provide good indoor thermal environment in the tropics since the buildings are inevitable to heat gain, but with
the adaptable features of traditional housing design, the Nakpil-Bautista house is able to achieve one and validate
through the conducted comfort vote survey and the indoor temperature plotted to psychometric chart. Presenting
that the indoor thermal readings conducted on this study are within the prescribe limits set by ASHRAE standard
55: Thermal environment conditions for human occupancy, and widely accepted by human perception that
assures that thermal comfort is still achievable by natural means. The architectural design and materials used had
a direct implication with the indoor thermal results, especially the materials of building envelope that has an
ample “R” value, enough to alleviate the current external factors that threatens the quality of indoor thermal
environment of the Nakpil-Bautista house. Other supplementary to this condition are the tropical adaptive

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features distinct with Philippine heritage houses, the most prominent of which is the ratio of fenestrations is
higher than the prescribe openings of the Philippine national building code. The Capiz window and Ventanilla are
efficient in promoting natural cooling and ventilation, while its spatial planning and callados aids an effective cross
ventilation for the interior which is beneficial to the thermal performance of the house. The results of this
research demonstrate the potential of Nakpil-Bautista house on its current setting and its intended design are still
functioning to combat the negative effects of the tropics.

7 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Providing Thermal comfort in a tropical setting is challenging to achieve, especially with the varying
acceptability or inconsistencies of human perception of comfort. This research demonstrated that even with the
adversities brought by tropical climate, thermal comfort is still achievable without the aid of artificial cooling. It is
proven with the conducted comfort vote survey that the thermal performance of the case of this study are within
the prescribe limits of comfort set by ASHRAE standard 55. That the Nakpil-Bautista house is capable of providing
good indoor thermal environment with one hundred percent (100%) acceptability of its guests and users. A
climate adaptive building imposing zero energy in upholding livable and efficient indoor environment. These are
the implications of traditional housing design that alleviates the effects of heat gain. These tropical adaptive
features found in the Nakpil-Bautista house are the the main driver of its indoor thermal performance, most
prominent of which is its massive fenestrations on its envelope and many other features contributory to this
effect. These features should be rekindled and integrate with the now conventional housing design, a process of
solving the current problems through the lessons of the past. An extensive pursuant of this research in a regional
scale will further strengthen the potential of Philippine heritage houses in the tropics, considering the existing
micro climates in the country and its different effects on different regions. Nevertheless, this quest has proven
that Philippine traditional housing design through the case of Nakpil-Bautista house is well suited in the tropics
and efficient in providing good indoor thermal environment.

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