POST COLONIAL MODERNISM - TROPICAL MODERNISM

Tropical Modernism is known for its wide, open spaces, increased ventilation, a focus on local
resources, and building materials with cooling factors. In 1947, the Philippine government
formed a core of architects: Juan Arellano, Cesar Concio, Manuel Manosa and Juan Nakpil.
They formulated the master plan for the modern capital city of Philippines getting inspiration
from the capital cities of United States of America and the Latin Americas. Works of Oscar
Niemeyer, an architect of South American modernism became its paradigm.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TROPICAL MODERNISM IN PHILIPPINE

ARCHITECTURE

 Light-colored exteriors. The first thing one would notice about tropical-inspired

houses is that their exterior walls always come in pale colors like white, gray or beige
—a characteristic that is reflected in Trava’s model houses. That’s because colors on
the lighter end of the spectrum cause heat waves to bounce away from a house’s
walls. In contrast, dark-colored walls absorb heat, giving way to rising temperatures
within a building. 
 External shading. Another distinctive feature of the tropical architectural design is
the shading outside the house. Whether it’s in the form of the brise-soleil (sunshades),
overhangs, or plants and trees, external shading also helps to lower internal
temperatures. Also, the brise-soleil, in particular, adds a nice aesthetic touch to even
the simplest-looking residence.   
 Insulated building envelopes. Low-thermal conductive materials (such as clay for
roof tiles) reduce heat gain, meaning the house will cool faster and lessen the need for
appliances such as air conditioners. The insulating material can be purchased
separately, though there are houses that already have it installed, to begin with.  
 Long, wide eaves. “Eave” refers to the part of the roof that sticks out beyond the wall
and over the house. The longer and wider it is, the more easily it can protect a house
from the elements. Luckily, this is a common feature in tropical houses such as
Trava’s concept houses.
Open plan layout. Tropical homes are characterized by open-plan layouts, though the savvy
homeowner would not necessarily want to leave everything ajar. Aside from