Arkitekturang Filipino 1 & 2: Early Philippine Shelters and Islamic Architecture

Summary

This video explores the rich history and evolution of Philippine architecture, tracing its origins from primitive cave dwellings to modern forms. It highlights the Austronesian influence on Filipino vernacular architecture, seen in structures like treehouses, stilted houses, and the iconic bahay kubo. The advent of Islam in the 14th century brought new architectural styles, notably the mosque, influencing southern regions like Mindanao. The video emphasizes how Filipino architecture is deeply connected to nature, culture, and the country's geographic diversity, reflecting a wide array of indigenous and colonial influences.

Takeaways

• 📖 The book written in 2008 traces the history of Philippine architecture from its origins to modern forms and inspired the 2016 film.
• 🏞️ Early Filipino architecture began as a response to nature, with cave dwellings and tree houses as prime examples.
• 🌏 Philippine vernacular architecture is rooted in a larger Austronesian tradition, reflecting a shared cultural heritage across Southeast Asia.
• 🕌 The arrival of Islam in the 14th century introduced a new architectural style, seen in the construction of mosques like the Masjid.
• 🏛️ Early Filipino structures evolved from caves to lean-tos and treehouses, reflecting their adaptation to environmental and social needs.
• 🏠 The typical vernacular house, such as the bahay kubo, is a raised wooden structure with a thatched roof, common across the Austronesian world.
• 🛕 Indigenous architectural designs, such as the Ifugao house and Bajau stilt houses, reflect adaptation to specific terrains and climates.
• 💨 In places like the Batanes, houses were built to withstand strong winds, storms, and earthquakes, showing advanced building techniques.
• ⚓ The Southern Philippines has distinct naval architecture and land-based stilted dwellings, showing the influence of Islam and maritime cultures.
• 🏡 Vernacular architecture remains a prominent building practice in the Philippines and is accessible to the majority of Filipinos.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the book mentioned in the transcript?

The book traces the history of Philippine built forms from their primeval origins to contemporary styles, showcasing the evolution of Filipino architecture.

How did the film mentioned in the transcript come about?

The film, produced in 2016 with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, was inspired by the book on Filipino architecture written in 2008.

What is considered the first architectural form in the Philippines?

The first architectural form was cave dwellings, which served as early shelters for the ancient Filipinos against natural elements like wind and rain.

How did Philippine architecture evolve from caves?

After caves, early Filipinos developed shelters like lean-tos and treehouses, using stone tools to create temporary structures made from wood and natural materials.

What influence did Austronesian culture have on Philippine vernacular architecture?

Philippine vernacular architecture shares common features with a larger Austronesian tradition, including raised wooden structures on posts, thatched roofs, and decorative gable finials.

What is the significance of the Ifugao house in Filipino architecture?

The Ifugao house serves both as a granary and a home, distinct for its circular rat guards, and represents a unique form of elevated wooden architecture.

How did the introduction of Islam in the 14th century impact Filipino architecture?

Islam introduced a new architectural style centered around mosques, like the Masjid, which became prominent religious structures in areas such as Sulu and Mindanao.

What architectural adaptations are seen in the Batanes Islands to cope with harsh environmental conditions?

In the Batanes Islands, dwellings were built to withstand severe storms, sea sprays, and earthquakes, utilizing lime for building introduced by Spanish colonists in the 18th century.

How does the bahay kubo represent lowland vernacular architecture?

The bahay kubo, built with bamboo and thatch, is an open structure designed for light and ventilation, embodying the typical architecture of the lowland regions.

What are the different categories of Muslim architecture in the southern Philippines?

Muslim architecture in the southern Philippines includes land-based stilted dwellings, oceanic stilt dwellings built over the sea, and houseboats used as both homes and fishing vessels.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Origins of Philippine Architecture and Austronesian Influence

This paragraph discusses the origins of Philippine architecture, tracing its evolution from prehistoric times to contemporary forms. It highlights how early architecture was a response to nature, starting with cave dwellings and treehouses. It delves into how the Austronesian tradition influenced vernacular architecture, characterized by elevated wooden structures, thatched roofs, and gable finials. The introduction of Islam in the 14th century brought about new architectural expressions, including the construction of mosques, which represented a significant shift in the cultural and religious landscape.

05:01

🏠 Vernacular Architecture and Cultural Adaptations in the Philippines

This paragraph examines the diversity of Philippine architecture, emphasizing how the local environment and cultural context influenced design. Vernacular houses, such as the bahay Kubo, were made of bamboo and thatch, designed for light and ventilation. It also touches on the Spanish influence, particularly in Mindanao, where resistance to colonization was strengthened by Islamic faith and architecture. The evolution of the mosque in the Philippines is highlighted, from the prototype with multi-layered roofs to the Golden Mosque in Manila. The unique geography of Sulu and Mindanao fostered the development of naval and terrestrial architecture, reflecting the Austronesian lineage and regional adaptations.

Keywords

💡Philippine Architecture

Philippine Architecture refers to the history and evolution of building styles and structures in the Philippines, from ancient forms like caves and treehouses to more modern and Islamic influences. The video traces its development, emphasizing its roots in nature, its Austronesian influences, and later adaptations from various cultures, including the Spanish and Islamic traditions.

💡Vernacular Architecture

Vernacular Architecture is the traditional architecture that reflects the cultural and environmental context of a specific region. In the Philippines, this includes structures like the bahay kubo and Ifugao houses, which are built with materials readily available in their surroundings. These designs often respond to local climates and community needs, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of early Filipino builders.

💡Austronesian Tradition

The Austronesian Tradition refers to the cultural and linguistic heritage shared by various Southeast Asian communities, including those in the Philippines. This heritage influences many aspects of Philippine vernacular architecture, particularly in its raised wooden structures, thatched roofs, and use of stilts, as seen in both land-based and oceanic dwellings.

💡Bahay Kubo

The Bahay Kubo is the traditional Filipino house, usually made of bamboo and nipa thatch, elevated on wooden posts. It is an example of vernacular architecture that adapts to the tropical climate by allowing natural ventilation. Its design reflects the integration of Filipino ingenuity with the natural environment, making it a model of sustainable architecture.

💡Islamic Influence

Islamic Influence on Philippine architecture began in the 14th century with the advent of Islam in Mindanao and Sulu. This influence is most visible in the construction of mosques, such as the Torito Mosque in Simunul, which introduced new architectural styles like the pagoda-style multi-layered roofs and domed structures. These innovations created a new architectural identity in the southern regions.

💡Mosque

A Mosque is a place of worship for Muslims and became a significant architectural form in the Philippines after the introduction of Islam. The video highlights how mosques in the Philippines, such as the golden mosque in Quiapo, Manila, blend Middle Eastern architectural elements with local styles, illustrating the influence of Islam on Filipino architecture.

💡Treehouse

A Treehouse is a form of early Filipino shelter built among or around trees, often as a defense mechanism during inter-tribal conflicts. These structures were raised above the ground to protect inhabitants from raids, showcasing how early Filipino architecture responded to the environment and social needs.

💡Ifugao House

The Ifugao House is a traditional structure in the northern mountainous region of the Philippines, notable for its wooden posts and circular rat guards. These houses serve as both granaries and homes, reflecting the functional and agricultural aspects of early Filipino architecture. The design also helps protect food supplies from pests and moisture.

💡Bajau Houses

Bajau Houses are stilted dwellings built over water, typical of the Bajau people in the southern Philippines. These houses are an adaptation to the maritime lifestyle of the Bajau, who are traditionally sea-dwelling communities. The stilts protect the houses from high tides and waves, making them a perfect example of how Filipino architecture has been shaped by the archipelagic nature of the country.

💡Stone and Mortar Houses

Stone and Mortar Houses, also known as 'cal e condo,' are found in Batanes, a northern island of the Philippines. These houses are made of limestone and thick thatch, designed to withstand the harsh climate, including strong winds and typhoons. The introduction of stone construction was influenced by Spanish colonists in the 18th century, marking a shift from traditional wooden structures to more durable stone buildings.

Highlights

The book traces the history of Philippine built forms from its primeval origins to contemporary architecture.

The film was produced in 2016 with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, inspired by the book.

Philippine architecture began as a response to nature, with early dwellings evolving from caves and treehouses.

The influence of the larger Austronesian tradition is evident in Philippine vernacular architecture, including houses built on stilts.

The advent of Islam in the 14th century introduced a new architecture of faith, with the mosque (Masjid) being a prominent feature.

Cave dwellings were among the earliest forms of Filipino shelters, providing refuge from the elements.

The petroglyphs in a rock shelter in Rizal show evidence of ancient Filipinos' efforts to embellish their dwellings.

The invention of stone tools marked the first architectural revolution, aiding the construction of lean-tos and treehouses.

Southeast Asian cultures share a common Austronesian heritage, reflected in their architecture, which includes raised wooden structures.

The traditional bahay kubo, an elevated wooden structure with a thatched roof, exemplifies Philippine vernacular architecture.

Islamic architecture in the Philippines includes the mosque design, influenced both by Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern styles.

The oldest standing mosque in the Philippines, in Simunul Island, demonstrates a unique pagoda-style roof.

The Spanish colonial period introduced lime building techniques, leading to structures like the Ivatan's stone and mortar houses.

The traditional houses of Ifugao and other highland regions were designed to withstand cold weather and rough terrain.

Vernacular architecture remains prevalent across the Philippines, reflecting the country's cultural and environmental diversity.

Transcripts

in 2008 I wrote a book architecture on

Filipino the book traces the history of

Philippine built forms from its primeval

origins to its contemporary forms this

book inspired the film you're about to

see which was produced in 2016 with the

National Commission for culture in the

arts architecture began as a response to

nature in this episode we will see the

early beginnings of Philippine

architecture from cave dwellings to tree

houses the Philippine vernacular

architecture which was influenced by a

larger Austronesian tradition we shall

also see the advent of Islam in the 14th

century as it gave rise to a new

architecture of faith the Masjid

[Music]

[Music]

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philippine architecture covers a myriad

of expressions forms types styles and

periods its primeval expression recited

in nature for the early Filipinos who

were defenseless before the violence of

wind and rain the cave was a refuge a

place of dwelling the petroglyphs in a

rock shelter in an gonna resolve

provides evidence of the ancient

Filipinos effort to embellish his

habitation while the mountaintop

Citadel's of savvy Duke botanist there's

a testimony to sophisticated defensive

engineering of the early givataim

settlers emerging from the caves our

ancestors initiated the first

architectural revolution with the

invention of stone tools for cutting

fibrous materials from plants this

helped develop the lean-to a temporary

tent like shelter made of wooden

skeleton and vegetative or animal skin

the treehouse was another shelter

fashioned from nature constructed around

next to or among the trunk or branches

of one or more mature trees while

above-ground they're usually found in

areas for violent inter tribal conflict

an acht Oriole raid are frequent

the cultures of Southeast Asia have

descended from a common ancestry based

on affiliation with the Austronesian

family of languages its culture is

characterized by a waterborne lifestyle

vernacular architecture in the

Philippines professors are strong

allegiance to a greater Austronesian

building heritage for the archetypal

house consists of an architectural

system of erased wooden structure

elevated on posts with a thatched pitch

roof and decorative gable finials the

prototypical bahay Kubo is usually built

with wooden posts as its framework the

four posts of the Ifugao house which is

both granary and home is distinctive for

circular rat guards while the Moran out

organ stands on stout blog posts resting

or round stones houses built on the

seabed like the Bajau houses are raced

on slender posts or stilts cross cable

finials which hold the rafters together

at the ridge are an ever-present feature

of Southeast Asian roofs in the moon

soon beaten botanas islands the

dwellings are designed and built to

withstand the battering of the most

severe of storms sea sprays and

earthquakes with knowledge of processing

lime for building that was introduced in

the 18th century by Spanish colonists

the Vuitton's are able to construct

there's more familiar house made of

stone and mortar known as cal e condo in

the altitudes of the mountain province

the vernacular houses were designed

primarily to shield from the cold

weather and designed in relation to the

terrain of the mountains

while lowland vernacular dwellings were

open to light and ventilation a typology

best embodied by the bahay Kubo

depending on the ecology of the vicinity

the bahay Kubo may be constructed from

various kinds of botanic materials

primarily of bamboo and thatch the

Spanish empires attempts to bring

Mindanao under its Dominion were

continuously foiled by its people who

were consolidated by the religion and

political structure of Islam a religion

based on congregational worship which

requires a permanent and distinct

architecture called the mosque the

oldest standing mosque in the

Philippines found in two big ending on

si Moodle Islands Torito II is a

prototype of the multi-layered roof of

the pagoda style mosque later mosques

were rendered in a style approximating

Middle Eastern models the golden Mosque

in Quiapo Manila notable for its gilded

dome combines modern mosque design with

stylized and colorful marinelle aakhir

patterns the geographic features of Sulu

and Mindanao have encouraged both

terrestrial and naval architecture such

as the salmon the Tau souk

they akan and the Bajau descending from

the Austronesian lineage the houses in

different muslim societies in the

southern Philippines are categorized

into three land-based stilted dwellings

situated along the shoreline oceanic

still dwellings built completely over

the sea and entirely detached from the

shoreline and the houseboat which is

both home and fishing boat vernacular

architecture is a broad category

denoting indigenous folk tribal ethnic

or traditional architecture found among

the different ethno-linguistic societies

in the Philippines undeniably the

vernacular architectural tradition is an

omnipresent building practice in the

country and remains an accessible

architectural idiom to the majority of

Filipinos

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