Philippine Architecture

Overview

• Philippine architecture showcases various expressions, forms, styles, and periods.
• Early Filipino architecture was influenced by nature and focused on defense against elements.

Early Shelter

• Cave Dwellings: Used by prehistoric families, particularly in the Tabon Cave complex (30,000 years of habitation).
  • Features: Over 200 caverns, minimal site work needed, provides natural defense.
• Petroglyphs: Evidence of ancient Filipinos decorating their habitats.
• Idjang Citadels: Mountaintop defenses built by Ivatan settlers.

Architectural Revolution

• Initiated by stone tools, leading to the creation of temporary shelters and lean-tos (e.g. Ita's dwellings).
• Arboreal Shelters (Treehouses): Constructed to protect against intertribal conflicts.

Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras

• Masterpiece of pre-modern engineering altered for agriculture.
• Involves extensive stone walls, canals, and ponds, surpassing bulk material used in pyramids and the Great Wall of China.

Austronesian Influence

• Philippine architecture reflects Austronesian cultural heritage, characterized by waterborne lifestyles.
• Bahay Kubo: Traditional raised wooden structures with thatched roofs, designed for humid tropical climates.
  • Features: Raised on posts, uses natural materials, and an open interior layout.

Structural Elements

• Piles: Elevate floors above seasonal floods, provide ventilation.
• Materials: Primarily plant-based; timber, bamboo, thatch, and fibers used in construction without nails.
• Roof Designs: Dominant features, often with elaborate shapes and thatching.

Vernacular Architecture

• Consists of indigenous and traditional forms, including houses, granaries, and places of worship.
• Styles: Vary based on region and climate; structures may be designed for earthquake resilience.

Northern Cordilleras vs. Southern Strain

• Northern Strain: Houses with high gable roofs, set on different posts (e.g., Binuron).
• Southern Strain: Houses with square plans, pyramidal/conical roofs (e.g., Ifugao house).

Islamic Architecture in the Philippines

• Established in the 14th and 15th centuries, resulting in the development of two types of mosques:
  • Masjid: Larger, more permanent, with stone foundations.
  • Langal: Smaller, semi-permanent prayer houses.

Maritime Architecture

• House types in Southern Philippines categorized by their location: land-based, oceanic stilt dwellings, and houseboats.
• Taosug Houses: Built following cultural beliefs about creation, featuring carved ornaments.
• Bajau Houseboats: Adapted for a maritime lifestyle, with interiors for various family activities.

Communal Structures

• Torogan: Ancestral home of the Maranao, raised above ground, with decorative elements and earthquake-resistant features.
• Tiboli Gunungan: Communal house for extended families, elevated and supported by stilts.

Conclusion

• Vernacular architecture remains a prevalent building practice in the Philippines, accessible to many communities, reflecting cultural identity and environmental adaptation.