PHILIPPINE

ARCHITECTURE: EARLY
FORMS OF DWELLING &
SOCIETIES
ARCH 391 – HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 4
LUNGIB/KWEBA, cave
A natural chamber on the side of a hill utilized as one of the earliest forms of dwelling. The
Tabon Cave in Southwest of Palawan is one of the oldest and largest caves with an
approximate length of 41meters and an opening of 8 meters in height and 16 meters in
width.
Balangay, boathouse
An impressive boat, approximately 25 meters in length and carbon-dated to 320 AD, that was
built entirely of wood and used for seafaring by the ancient Kingdom of Butuan.
 Pinanahang, lean-to
A form of dwelling common to the Negritos, and ethnic group regarded as wanderers, hunters, and
farmers practicing slash and burn agriculture even during Hispanic period. The lean-to is a single-
pitched structure of grass or thatch on wood branches framing with the lower end resting on the
ground and the upper end supported by wood posts.
FIRST SOCIETIES
Ø Apayao
Ø Badjao
Ø Traditional Bahay Kubo
Ø Early House Forms
Ø Ifugao
Ø Ifugao Rice Terraces
Ø Ivatan
Ø Kalinga
Ø Kankanay & Ibaloi
Ø Sagada
Ø Samal
Ø Tausug
APAYAO HOUSE
Apayao is the only region in the Cordillera that has a navigable river, the Apayao River.

Balai, house

The traditional type of house in Apayao with an elevated rectangular one-room structure and
protected by a high pitch thatch roof that resembles a pointed barrel vault.
BADJAO HOUSE
The Badjao or Bajao is the second largest ethnic community in the Sulu Archipelago after Tausug.
Originally, they were known as “orang selat” or “orang laut” and were living on their lepa-lepa
(boats).

The traditional house of the Badjao communities at Southern Philippines comprised of a

windowless one-room house if light materials and thatch rood built above coastal waters.
BAHAY KUBO
A common type of dwelling in lowland and coastal areas during Pre-Hispanic Philippines.
“Bahay” is a tagalog for house while “kubo” is from the Spanish “cubo”, meaning cube.

Bahay kubo is a one-room house, raised above the ground to protect the dwellers from the
dampness and humidity of the earth.
BONTOC HOUSE

Afung is the traditional type of house in Bontoc, Mountain Province comprised of perimeter
wooden walls enclosed in an open living space, and central granaries. It is covered by a steep,
thick roof that is almost covering the perimeter wall.

Afung is the Bontoc house for married couples and children up to eight years.
IFUGAO HOUSE

Bale/Fale is the traditional Ifugao house; an elevated square and windowless one-room structure
dominated by a high, heavy, pyramidal roof.

The framework of the bale/fale is done using hand-hewn timber, mortised without nails or
hardware. It can be assembled, moved and raised again on a new site within a day.
IFUGAO RICE TERRACES
Bable, village

The settlement of an Ifugao

community, usually comprised of
house (bale/fale) and granary, built in
an area that cannot be irrigated and
not following a regular pattern or
straight line.

Alang, granary

A building intended primarily as

storehouse for harvested rice grains.