Arch

 17

Philippine Vernacular
Architecture
PRE-­COLONIAL  PERIOD
 PHILIPPINE Styles

1 Vernacular Asian Traditions

2 Spanish Colonial European Traditions

3 American Colonial Euro-American Traditions

4 Post-Independence Post Colonial

5 Contemporary New Millennium

 Philippine
VERNACULAR
ARCHITECTURE
 VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE

Ø derived from the Latin vernaculus,

meaning domestic, native, indigenous
Ø a.k.a. folk, traditional, popular architecture
Ø category of architecture based on local
needs and construction materials and
reflecting local traditions
Ø tends to evolve over time to reflect the
environmental, cultural, technological, and
historical context in which it exists
AUSTRANESIA
 HISTORY

Ø immigrants of Malay origin, food gatherers

and hunters
Ø 3000 BC, joined by advanced agricultural
race from Indonesia
Ø barangays as tribal system
Ø converted to Islam in 1300 AD
Ø trade center of the Orient
 NAME
Ma-i - Description of the Peoples
- "country of the Blacks” - Chinese local name
of present-day Mindoro
- not an island, but all the south of South Sea
islands groups and Manila
- consists of the “Sānzhōu” - three islands:
• “Kia-ma-yen” -­‐ Calamian  
• “Bālāwàng” -­‐ Palawan  
• “Pa-ki-nung” – Busuanga
- other islands:
• “Pai-p'u-yen” – Babuyan
• “P'u-li-lu” -­‐ Polillo
• “Lim-kia-tung” -­‐ Lingayen
• “Liu-sung” -­‐ Luzon
• “Li-ban” -­‐ Lubang
 NAME
Ø Las islas de San Lázaro - St. Lazarus' Islands

Ø Las islas de Poniente - Islands to the West

Ø Perla de Oriente / Perla del Mar de Oriente

Pearl of the Orient / Pearl of the Orient Seas

Ø Las Islas Felipenas - Philippine Islands

(Islands belonging to Philip)

Ø Las islas Filipinas / Filipinas - Philippines

 EARLY SHELTERS
Ø Caves

Ø Lean-to shelters

Ø Arboreal shelters
CAVES
LEAN-TO SHELTERS
TREE HOUSES
FACTORS IN HOUSE BUILDING

Ø available resources (materials)

Ø climate (tropical)
Ø geography (austranesia)
 CHARACTER

Ø tropical design
Ø open
Ø light (moveable, earthquake proof)
Ø stilted
Ø thatched, pitched roof
Ø monsoonal and aquatic based way of life
BUILDING MATERIALS
Ø timber
Ø bamboo
Ø thatch
Ø fibers
RATTAN
BAMBOO                                                                NIPA                                                                    COGON                                                                ANAHAW
 VERNACULAR HOUSES

Ø Batanes
Ø Cordillera
Ø Luzon
Central
Southern

Ø Mindanao
Ø Cordillera  Region Ø Mindanao  &  Sulu  Region

Isneg Kalinga Badjao Samal

Yakan Maranao
Bontoc Ifugao Ø Island  of  Panay

Kankanai Bahay  Kubo

ØIvatan,  Mangyan,  Subanun,  Mandaya
IVATAN HOUSE
Sinadumparan
• thick stone + mortar
(limestone walls)
• reed, rattan, cogon or
bamboo gable or hip
roofs
• strong enough to
withstand typhoons
and earthquakes
• north – south
orientation
• one windowless wall
facing strong winds
IVATAN HOUSE
Sinadumparan
ISNEG
Binuron
• rectangular plan
• high gable roof bowed to a
shape of a boat
• roof framing independent
from floor framework
ISNEG
Binuron
ISNEG
Binuron
KALINGA
Binayon
• octagonal in plan
• three divided floorings,
lowest in the center
KALINGA
Binayon
KANKANAY
Binangiyan
• similar to Ifugao
house
• ridge parallel to
front
• made of Narra or
Pine
KANKANAY
Binangiyan
BONTOC
• house within a house
• shelter for people, rice,
chicken, pigs
BONTOC
Kat-yu’-fong
BONTOC
Fay-ü
IFUGAO
• built on the rice
terraces near a
spring or grove
• “bului” carved
granary
guardians
• entry faces down
slope
• Two-year
construction
• dismantled in a
day
• “hagabi” prestige
bench of upper
class
IFUGAO
Fale
• Square plan
• Pyramidal or conical
roof
• Windowless
• Halipan – rat guard 1.2
to 1.8 m from ground
• 12 to 15 sqm
IFUGAO
Fale
IFUGAO
BAHAY KUBO
• cube house
• 3 to 4 meters
• post & lintel
• steeply pitched thatched
roof
• voluminous roof cavity to
combat humidity
• pile foundation flooding +
underfloor ventilation
• nipa or sawali wall siding
in herringbone design
BAHAY KUBO
BAHAY KUBO
BAHAY  KUBO

Replica  of  Jose  Rizal’s  “bahay  kubo”  in  Calamba,  Laguna

BAHAY  KUBO

Ilongo  (Panay  Island)  House

BAHAY  KUBO

Ilongo  (Negros  Island)  House

BAHAY  KUBO

Akeanon  (Kalibo,  Aklan)  House

BAHAY  KUBO

Waray  (Leyte  Island)  House

BAHAY  KUBO

Tagalog  House  in  Quezon  Province

BAHAY  KUBO

Apolinario  Mabini’s  House  in  Nagtahan  (Manila)

BAHAY KUBO
BADJAO
Palaw
• Filipino Muslim
ethnic group
• sea gypsies
• fisherfolks
• boat dwellers
• originated from
Zamboanga,
Basilan, Jolo
provinces, Tawitawi
• Samal Luwaan
(outcast)
• Sama Dilaut (people
of the ocean)
BADJAO
Palaw
• permanent
dwelling
• “harun” (ladder)  
serves  as  wash  area
• mirrors  symbolize  
the  number  of  
children
BADJAO
Dapang
• “vinta”
• house boat
BADJAO
Lepa
• faster
houseboat

Jengning
• bigger
houseboat
SAMAL
• “pantan”, porch
oriented
towards the
east
SAMAL
SAMAL
TAUSUG
Bay Sinug
• people of the
current
• inland “tau gimba”
• along the shore
“tau higad”

A  gabled  roof  and  larger  slit  windows  characterize  the  

present  day  Tausug  house
TAUSUG
Bay Sinug
tadjuk pasung
YAKAN
Lumah
• door faces east
• “Saplaw”, steep
pitched roof
• “tandiwan”
window
YAKAN
Lumah
• “kokan
/tindakan”
,
main house
• “kosina”,
kitchen
• “pantan /
simpey”,
porch
YAKAN
Lumah
 LAWIG
MARANAO
• People of the lake
Lawig
• small houses
• used for sleeping
• with interior hearth

Mala-a-walai MALA-A-WALAI

• large houses of well to

do families
• without panolong
• okir decoration on
baseboards, door
jambs & windowsills
• Bamboo fenced porch
marks facade
MARANAO
Torogan
• house for sultans &
datus
• arranged in a line
along the river
• “panolong”, carved
beam protruding in
front of the house
• “okir” geometric &
flowing designs
based on elaborate
leaf & vine pattern
• lamin or tower built
atop the house
hiding the sultan’ s
daughter
MARANAO
Torogan
MARANAO
Torogan
MARANAO
Torogan
“ISKWATER”
References
Alarcon,  NI.  (1991).  Philippine  Architecture  During  The  Pre-­spanish  And  
Spanish  Periods. University  of  Santo  Tomas  Press

Alarcon,  NI.  (2008).  The  Imperial  Tapestry  :  the  American  Colonial  Architecture  
in  the  Philippines. University  of  Santo  Tomas  Publishing  House
Cabalfin,  EG.  (2015).  What  Kids  Should  Know  About  Philippine  Architecture.  
Adarna  House  Inc.
Fernandez,  RDA.  (2015).  Diksiyonaryong  Biswal  ng  Arkitekturang  Filipino.  
University  of  Santo  Tomas  Publishing  House
Galende  PG  &  Javellana  RB.  (1993).  Great  Churches  of  the  Philippines.  
Bookmark  Publication.
Laya  JC  &  Turalba,  MCV  &  Tinio  Jr.  MI.  (2013).  Philippine  Heritage  Homes:  A  
Guildebook.  Anvil  Publishing  Inc.
Lico  G.  (2008).  Arkitekturang  Filipino:  A  History  of  Architecture  and  Urbanism  in  
the  Philippines.  UP  Press.
References
Lico,  G.  (2009).  Audio  Visual  Textbook  of  Philippine  Architecture.  National  
Commission  for  Culture  and  the  Arts.
Lico,  G.  (2013)  Istilo:  Pocket  Guide  to  Architecture  Styles  in  the  Philippines.  
National  Commission  for  Culture  and  the  Arts
Lico,  G.  (2014)  Masjid  /  Mosque  Architecture:  Jewels  of  Philippine  Islamic  
Faith.  National  Commission  for  Culture  and  the  Arts
Luca,  T.  &  Reyes,  EV.  (2013) Philippine  Style:  Design  and  Architecture.  Anvil  
Publishing  Inc.
Noche,  MML.  (2011). Puentes de  España en  las Filipinas:  The  Colonial  Bridges  
In  the  Philippines.  University  of  Santo  Tomas  Publishing  House.
Nolasco B.  (2013).  National  Treasures:  A  Journey  Through  History.  National  
Commission  for  Culture  and  the  Arts.
Morales  MV.  (2012)  Balay Ukit:  Tropical  Architecture  in  Pre-­WWII  Filipino  
Houses.  Anvil  Publishing
Zialcita,  FN.  &  Martin  Jr.  IT.  (1980)  Philippine  Ancestral  Houses  1810  -­1930.  
GCF  Books.