kind of houses

     KIND OF HOUSES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Bahai-na-cubo, Bahai-na-bato: Houses of Nipa Palm, Wood and Stone

If one avoids the common tendency to divide the world into West and East as if it were a piece of fruit, then the Philippine house can be seen to belong simultaneously to several different worlds.

Fernando Zialcita

Between the 17th and 19th centuries Manila witnessed the birth of a new form of construction that responded both to earthquakes and to thetropical climate: heat and heavy rainfall. This architectural style combines elements of the Asiatic and Hispanic traditions. Stone, pottery and wood were the building materials used over centuries.

The first buildings erected by the Spaniards were similar to the native constructions and were built of cane and nipa, but after the many fires that destroyed these constructions it was decided that buildings and city walls would be constructed from masonry using volcanic stone: adobe.

Houses built of stone were fairly fire-resistant but were too rigid to withstand earthquake damage, while constructions based on wooden frameworks were more flexible in earth tremor situations. This gave rise to a synthesis which combined stone with wood.

The 17th century house had two storeys: a ground floor with very thick walls and an upper storey made of wood with overhanging balconies, which were closed off with windows whose panes were made from capiz, a flat translucent shell which is an essential ingredient of the Philippine style.

Between 1780 and 1880, the "geometric style" became widespread. The overhanging balcony -the "volada"-, now extended around the whole of the façade, accentuating the horizontality of the buildings. During the 19th century, the use of enormous pillars was reduced to a minimum; false ceilings and wooden walls with lattice-work on their upper part framed the living quarters.

During the last third of the 19th century the "volada" became an open gallery decorated with plant motifs; this is the "Floral" style. In 1863 and 1880, fresh earthquakes shook Manila, destroying many buildings; new rules were established to modernize the traditional methods and confidence in the stability of structures relied on the multiplicity of their internal ties.

The Hispanic and the Filipino, in the sphere of architecture just as in any other, is a logical continuation of native elements, and represents an advance over the indigenous while at the same time paying homage to it, accepting it, and allowing it to continue.

Pedro Ortiz Armengo

View of a tower and part of the village of Samboangan. Fernando Brambila. Collection of drawings and engravings made on the Malaspina Expedition. 1789-1794. MN The native Philippine house was characterized by a pitched roof with two or four angles, supported on a framework resting on four or more wooden pillars. It raised above the ground on a platform of earth.

"Overhanging balconies", closed off with windowpanes made from capiz, a flat translucent shell which is an essential ingredient of the Philippine style.

A private home in Escolta Street in Manila. Casto Olano. 1871. AHN The blending of east with west produced beautiful architecture, which became popular during the 17th century and characteristic of the unique Philippine style; Friar Francisco Alcina was to term this "mestizo" architecture.

Groups of dwellings made from nipa, in Mamante in the Tondo district of Manila. Álbum fotográfico... End of the 19th century. BN In the Philippines, family homes adapted to locally available materials and the climatic conditions of the area; the result was a type of building which was common to the whole of south-eastern Asia.

Private home in Centeno street in the Santa Cruz district in the city of Manila. Francisco van Camp. SHM Stone-built constructions withstood fires but were helpless in the face of earth tremors. In Manila, a mixture of wood and masonry was used in construction work; roofs were large and spectacular, and overhanging verandahs closed off with "capiz" shell window-panes were characteristic of this style.

Building techniques designed to avoid the devastating effects of earthquakes. End of the 19th century. AHN The earthquakes that shook Manila in 1863 and 1880 caused a great deal of damage. Reconstruction of the city was undertaken by civil engineers who adopted the traditional combination formula, while adapting this to the adverse seismic conditions.

Building techniques designed to avoid the devastating effects of earthquakes. End of the 19th century. AHN After the ravage caused in 1880 it was recommended that the ground floor of buildings should be constructed using a timber framework with multiple ties and that the external walls should be brick-built.

Condition of the houses in Quiotán street in the Santa Cruz district of Manila, after the 1880 earthquake. Francisco van Camp. SHM After the 1880 earthquake, the Spanish administration passed legislation to regulate building works; these introduced new techniques and materials into the sphere of construction and modernized the way in which building works were undertaken.

Reconstruction of the Santa Potenciana palace. Manuel Ramírez Bazán. 1885. AHN Founded in 1589 by Philip II at the request of Bishop Salazar as a school for the education of young girls in Manila, this was a magnificent building with its large windows, balconies and decorative iron grilles.

Ground plan of Santa Potenciana. Manuel López Bayo. 1882. AHN This palace was destroyed by the 1880 earthquake, and was rebuilt, again as a residence for the governor; it was to fulfil this role until the end of the Spanish colonial presence.

Reconstruction of the Santa Potenciana palace. Manuel Ramírez Bazán. 1885. AHNIn 1866, the building was made the official residence of the governor, although shortly after the governor moved out and it was taken over by the military authorities.

Reformation works carried out at the barracks of the civil guard at the headquarters in Batangas, on the island of Luzon (Philippines). Luis Pereyra. 1896. AHN From 1866 onwards, the Spanish architects and civil engineers took charge of planning and carrying out works of all types, whether civil or military.

House in the San Miguel district of Manila. Album fotográfico... End of the 19th century. BN Private homes were built with wide, overhanging roofs which protected them from the sun, high temperatures and torrential rain.

View of the French inn at La Barranca, in the district of Binondo, Manila. Album fotográfico... End of the 19th century. BN During the colonial period, Binondo was the most densely-populated district of Manila; Chinese silks, Persian carpets, ivory, perfumes, spices and other oriental treasures were traded there.

Kinds of Houses in the Philippines

Just like all countries in the world, when it comes to houses, Philippines displays lots of its kinds. There are elegant and luxurious houses, simple houses and there is also what we call small houses. But dominantly, the Philippines has lots of "bahay kubo" houses, those are made of bamboo and from trees. But there are those too that are that extravagantly perfect houses.

Visiting here in the Philippines, I was so much amused with the various styles and the types of houses the country has and most of them are these:

 

Housing in many varieties

Adjustments to the climate and financial possibilities One of the things in which a  tropical country differs from countries of other climate zones, is housing. The architecture as well as the used construction materials, show a clear adjustment to the specific climate conditions. A more important aspect that influences the architecture is the financial position of the family.

With less financial possibilities the architecture and visible construction materials are more simple and more derived from the natural surrounding. Wooden planks, board, bamboo and straw are the basic materials for the traditional houses. Geographically, the more remote the region is, as mountain areas are, the more the natural environment delivers the construction materials for the houses. Click on the pictures to go inside the houses

House after replacement of the wooden construction materials, Red Cross Village, Place: near Ormoc City, Leyte Pictures: © E.C. de Schoolmeester	House, build with wooden en iron construction materials, Place: alongside an outgoing road of Ormoc City, Leyte

In the mountain areas and villages the traditional bamboo houses are still common. Because bamboo has a rather good isolating quality, these houses are rather cool. The open windows and - common - open structure, makes a good circulation of air possible. This makes these houses quit comfortable. Picture: © jarsoftware.com	The houses of the Ifugao, 'Bale',  people in Northern Luzon have  specific features. Like the bamboo houses, they are build on piles, about three meters high. The roof is made of long straw. Typical is the traditional, pyramid -like,  shape of the roof.  Picture: © Mluijten@hr.nl

Dayrit-Cuyugan House

The Dayrit-Cuyugan House is a heritage house in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Built in 1920 by the couple Joaquin Dayrit y Singian, sugar farmer, and Maria Paz Cuyugan y de Leon. Inherited by their eldest daughter Luz Dayrit y Cuyugan who was married to Ulderico Rodriguez from Bacolor. This ancestral house, which exemplifies the architecture prevalent during the American colonial period was declared a Heritage House by the National Historical Institute on 27 January 2003 by virtue of Resolution No. 5, S. 2003.

Henson-Hizon House

The Henson-Hizon House is a heritage house in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. Built by the couple Saturnino Henson y David, gobernadorcillo of San Fernando from 1882-1883 and 1896, and the first tesorero municipal from 1900-1902, and Maria Lacson. Inherited by their eldest daughter Juana Henson y Lacson who was married to Florentino Hizon. Inherited by their son Vicente Hizon y Henson who was married to Concepcion Dizon y Dayrit. Inherited by their son Vicente Hizon y Dizon who was married to Anastacia de los Reyes. Purchased by the couple Pablo Panlilio y Dayrit and Dolores Argüelles. This bahay na bato of the Spanish colonial period was declared a Heritage House by the National Historical Institute on 27 January 2003 by virtue of Resolution No. 3, S. 2003.

Hizon-Singian House

The Hizon-Singian House is a heritage house located in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Built in 1870 by the couple Don Anacleto Hizon, gobernadorcillo of San Fernando from 1877-1879 and 1886-1887, and Victoria Singian de Miranda y de Ocampo. Inherited by their daughter Victoria Hizon y Singian who was married to Godofredo Rodriguez y Yabut from Bacolor. It was occupied during the 1896 revolution by Spanish General Antonio Ruiz Serralde, appropriated by the Japanese Imperial Army to serve as a military hospital and barracks from 1943 to 1944, and served as headquarters of American General Walter Krueger of the 6th American Army during the liberation period until the end of 1945. Inherited by their son, the late Gerry Catalino Rodriguez Y Hizon, former president of the Pampanga Sugar Development Company (PASUDECO), who was married to Aurora Angeles. This bahay na bato of the Spanish colonial period was declared a Heritage House by the National Historical Institute on 27 January 2003 by virtue of Resolution No. 4, S. 2003.

Lazatin House

The Lazatin House is one of the two heritage houses owned by the Lazatins in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Built in 1925 by the couple Serafin Lazatin y Ocampo , sixth Filipino billionaire, and president of SFELAPCO, and Encarnacion Singian y Torres. It was appropriated by the Japanese Imperial Army during the Second World War to Serve as a residence of the 14th Army Commander of the Japanese Imperial Army, General Masaharu Homma, in San Fernando, Pampanga. This ancestral house, which exemplifies the architecture prevalent during the American colonial period was declared a Heritage House by the National Historical Institute on 27 January 2003 by virtue of Resolution No. 6, S. 2003. Presently, it is still owned by the surviving Lazatins. Carmen Lazatin, the surviving sibling of Serafin and Encarnacion Lazatin, occupies the house.

Mariano Ramos Ancestral House

The Mariano Ramos Ancestral House is the ancestral home of the late Don Mariano Ramos, first appointed Presidente Municipal of Bacolod City, Philippines. It was built in the 1930s and its architecture is a combination of Castilian and Tuscan and comprises three storeys including the tower room, known as the torre. During World War II, the house was the most prominent structure with an over the whole city. The commanding Japanese generals seized the Ramos family house in order to use it as a watchtower and as a headquarters. On a short stretch of Burgos Street once known as "Millionaires' Row, still stands several grand houses belonging to one of the richest and landed families of Bacolod City. The most prominent of these is the house built by the Ramos family patriarch Don Mariano Ramos, the first Municipal President or Mayor of Bacolod City. In 1935, he commissioned a certain Architect Mendoza of Manila to design and build a house for him in the Castilian and Tuscan style. The most prominent feature of the house is the three-storey octagonal tower that gave the owners a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding landscape. At the rear portion of the house is a rounded balcony adjacent to the master bedroom. Don Mariano Ramos loved to entertain. Many elegant parties were held here attended by the creme de la creme of Bacolod society and visited by both local and national government officials. One such guest was Mariano's close friend and classmate, Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon. Legendary in those days were his twenty or more cars of different makes chauffeured by Spanish mestizo and Filipino drivers.