History of Architecture in The Phils

HISTORY OF
ARCHITECTURE IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Prehistory
The architecture of the Philippines is a reflection
of the country's historical and cultural
heritage.
Most prominent historic structures in the
archipelago are based on a mix of indigenous
Austronesian, American, and Spanish
influences.
Prehistory
During three hundred years of Spanish
colonilization, the Philippine architecture was

dominated by the Spanish influences.
The Augustinian friars, along with other
religious orders, built a large number of grand
churches and cathedrals all over the Philippine
Islands.
San Agustin Church, Manila
Prehistory
During this period the traditional Filipino
Bahay na bat (Filipino for "stone house")

style for the large houses emerged.
These were large houses built of stone and
wood combining Filipino, Spanish and Chinese
style elements.
Prehistory
After the Philippines was ceded to the United
States of America as a consequence of the

SpanishAmerican War in 1898, the
architecture of the Philippines was dominated
by American aesthetics.
In this period, the plan for the modern City of
Manila was designed, with a large number of

neoclassical architecture and art deco
buildings by famous American and Filipino
architects.
Prehistory
For 2,000 years the mountainous province of
Ifugao have been carefully cultivated with

terraced fields.
The structures' original builders used stone
and mud walls to carefully carve and
construct terraces that could hold flooded
pond fields for the cultivation of rice.
They also established a system to water these
plots by harvesting water from mountaintop
forests.
The Ifugao Rice Terraces were built using stone and

mud walls to carefully carve and construct terraced
fields
CLASSICAL PERIOD
Later on the invention of various tools allowed for
the fabrication of tent-like shelters and tree houses.

Early Classical houses were characterized by
rectangular structures elevated on stilt foundations

and covered by voluminous thatched roofs
ornamented with gable-finials and its structure
could be lifted as a whole and carried to a new site.
Examples include the Ifugao House, Bahay Kubo
and the Royal Nobilities' Torogan
CLASSICAL PERIOD
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid in

Cotabato City
Spanish colonial era

The arrival of the Spaniards in 1571 brought in
European colonial architecture to the

Philippines.
Since the Spaniards brought Christianity to
the islands, they created the need to establish

religious structures to support the growing
number of religious organizations.
Some of the best preserved colonial churches
in the country are found in the Ilocos Region,

as well as those in the provinces of Laguna,
Batangas, Cebu and Bohol.
Basilica of Saint Martin of

Tours in Batangas
Fort Santiago (Fuerza de

Santiago)
Interior of the San Agustn Church with magnificent

trompe l'oeil mural on its ceiling and walls
American colonial period
With the arrival of the Americans in 1898 came a new
breed of architectural structures in the Philippines.

Foremost of the American contributions to the country
was the establishment of civil government.

This led to the establishment of government buildings
from the city all the way to the municipal level.

Designed in the most respectable manner, these
government houses resembled Greek or Roman

architecture
The Manila Central Post Office is part of

the Daniel Burnham plan for Manila.
The Silliman Hall in Dumaguete, an

example of a Stick style American
architecture
Juan F. Nakpil (May 26, 1899 May 7, 1986)
was a Filipino architect, teacher and a

community leader.
In 1973, he was named one of the National
Artists for architecture, and tapped as the

Dean of Filipino Architects.
The INC Central Temple in Quezon City.
Modern
The period
aftermath
of World War II brought major

destruction especially in the capital city of Manila
and a time of rebuilding ensued.
The modern era dawned on Philippine architecture
using the simple straight lines of the International

Modern Style as a chief mode of expression.
By the 1980s the countrys architectural idiom
was swept by the tide of Post Modernism, a

hearkening back of some sort to classical
architecture.
Today, architecture in the Philippines continue to
be vibrant and with the country opening up to the
Cultural Center of the Philippines
Philippine Arena
Iloilo Convention Center

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HISTORY OF

During three hundred years of Spanish

colonilization, the Philippine architecture was

Bahay na bat (Filipino for "stone house")

States of America as a consequence of the

Manila was designed, with a large number of

Ifugao have been carefully cultivated with

The Ifugao Rice Terraces were built using stone and

the fabrication of tent-like shelters and tree houses.

rectangular structures elevated on stilt foundations

and the Royal Nobilities' Torogan

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid in

Spanish colonial era

European colonial architecture to the

the islands, they created the need to establish

in the country are found in the Ilocos Region,

Basilica of Saint Martin of

Fort Santiago (Fuerza de

Interior of the San Agustn Church with magnificent

American colonial period

With the arrival of the Americans in 1898 came a new

breed of architectural structures in the Philippines.

was the establishment of civil government.

from the city all the way to the municipal level.

government houses resembled Greek or Roman

The Manila Central Post Office is part of

The Silliman Hall in Dumaguete, an

Juan F. Nakpil (May 26, 1899 May 7, 1986)

was a Filipino architect, teacher and a

Artists for architecture, and tapped as the

The INC Central Temple in Quezon City.

of World War II brought major

The modern era dawned on Philippine architecture

using the simple straight lines of the International

was swept by the tide of Post Modernism, a

be vibrant and with the country opening up to the

Cultural Center of the Philippines

Iloilo Convention Center

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