History of Architecture 4: Pre-Colonial Architecture
Evolution of Philippine Architecture
Pre-colonial architecture involves the formation of local systems prior to the arrival of Spanish colonizers.
The timeline of architectural development in the Philippines follows a general progression:
Caves and Rock Shelters: Observed as early as .
Lean-to: Mobile, temporary shelters.
Nipa House (Bahay Kubo): The archevedal folk dwelling.
Stone House (Bahay na Bato): Emerged during the Spanish colonial period.
Bungalow: -century residential development.
Modern structures: Condominiums, Apartments, and Townhouses (as seen in and beyond).
Defining Pre-Colonial and Folk Architecture
Pre-colonial architecture is synonymous with the following terms:
Folk architecture.
Indigenous architecture.
Primitive architecture.
Traditional architecture.
Vernacular architecture.
Environmental and Social Drivers of Design
Environment: Design draws direct inspiration from nature, specifically climate,地形 (terrain), and local flora and fauna.
Materiality: Relies on readily available, locally sourced materials.
Societal Needs: Architecture responds to communal requirements, emphasizing safety, security, and social interaction.
Building Materials: Organic Components
Bamboo:
Member of the grass family and one of the world's fastest-growing plants.
Characteristics: Renewable, versatile, lightweight, and possesses high compressive strength.
Processing: Can be split, shaped, or bent using heat to achieve specific forms; strips can be woven into mats.
Rattan:
Member of the palm family; a climbing plant or vine.
Harvesting: Stems are harvested when they reach lengths of .
Characteristics: Strong, elastic, hard, and thorny/sharp when raw.
Vulnerability: Easily damaged by continuous exposure to sunlight and rain.
Applications: Used for furniture, boat rigging, ferryboat cables, mats, and hats.
Nipa:
A trunkless plant found in mangroves and muddy areas along rivers.
Fronds/Leaves: Can grow up to in length.
Characteristics: Lightweight with excellent wind resistance due to its permeability.
Maintenance: Generally lasts , though it may begin to leak after a few years; requires regular maintenance.
Building Materials: Hardwoods and Masonry
Philippine Hardwoods:
Ipil.
Molave.
Yakal.
Apitong.
Tanguile.
Tindalo.
Kamagong.
Narra.
Literature on Wood: Key texts include Kahoy: Wood in the Philippines (Volume 1) by Cheek, Sangalang, and Fadriquela, and Kahoy: Lexicon of Wood Terms from 16th to 19th Century Sources (Volume 2).
Masonry and Bricks:
Coralstone.
Limestone.
Adobe (volcanic tuff).
Means of Livelihood and Economic Systems
Primary Activities: Agriculture, hunting and fishing, crafts (such as boat-making and pottery), and trading.
Agricultural Methods:
Kaingin System: Also known as swidden farming; involves clearing land by cutting and burning trees. While traditional, it is described as a destructive system practiced globally.
Wet Method: Involves building dikes to manage water for rice cultivation. Seeds are sown in seedbeds, transplanted to paddy fields, irrigated during maturation, and drained when the rice ripens.
Hunting and Fishing:
Tools: Bows, arrows, nets, baskets, and dogs for tracking deer.
Social Aspect: Hunting was a group activity where the meat from the kill was divided among participants.
Trading:
Conducted both locally and internationally.
Standard Medium of Exchange: Gold.
Settlement Patterns: Commercial activities on the coast often attracted populations from the mountains and forests.
Maritime Technology and Traditional Watercraft
Balangay: The first wooden watercraft excavated in Southeast Asia; serves as evidence of early Filipino craftsmanship and seamanship.
Karakao: A traditional Visayan warship built without nails. It is noted for being approximately three times faster than a Spanish galleon.
Paraw: A traditional outrigger canoe sailboat found in the Visayas, used primarily for transporting cargo and passengers.
Vinta: A specific type of paraw utilized in Zamboanga and Sulu.
General Characteristics of Pre-Colonial Structures
Southeast Asian Building Traditions:
Use of stilts (pile construction) to elevate floors above the ground.
Steeply pitched roofs.
Lightweight materials (bamboo, timber, rattan, cogon grass, nipa, banana bark, coconut wood, bakawan, and pinewood).
Construction Philosophy:
Non-formal/Informal: Crafted by locals without specialized artisans.
Intuitive: Based on owner needs, with construction supported by family and community.
Influences: Tradition, intuition, chance, and improvisation.
Functional Patterns:
Elevation on posts/stilts: Protects against dampness, humidity, and flooding.
Flooring Styles: Slated flooring in lowlands to allow cool air from below; tight-fitting wood planks in highlands for insulation.
Spatial Layout: One-room structures that are multi-purpose, light, airy, and structurally stable.
Boundary Definition: Territorial spaces are suggested by symbols rather than physical walls or fences.
Ornamentation and Religious Influences
Social Status: Ornamentation denotes position or social prestige and power.
Examples: Pig or Carabao skulls in Ifugao houses; Carabao horns and colorful Panolongs (decorated beam ends) in Maranao houses.
Religious Purposes:
Highlands of Luzon: Statues of Anitos.
Islamic influence: Crescent moon and star motifs on mosque domes.
Christian influence: Crosses signifying churches.
Rituals and Beliefs:
Religion dictates site selection, building times, and distribution of space.
Signs and Omens: Observation of omens can lead to the abandonment of a site.
Construction Rituals: Rituals are performed before, during, and after construction to ensure health, prosperity, and a happy family life.
Classifications and Typologies
Architectural classifications are based on:
Type of structure.
Use or function.
Historical period.
Cultural groups or peoples.
Specific Types of Structures and Methods
Cave Dwellings: The earliest shelters, used by survivalist hunter-gatherers.
Locations: Pinol (Saranggani), Manunggul Cave (Palawan), Leta-leta Cave (El Nido), Kulaman Plateau (South Cotabato), Cagayan Valley (Tuguegarao), and Tabon Caves (Quezon, Palawan).
Lean-tos:
Used by Negrito groups (Ati, Ata, Aeta, Agta, and Dumagat).
Structure: Frame made of branches and twigs; screen held at an angle by poles.
Materials: Bamboo and rattan for floors/walls/roof; sheathing of nipa, palm, banana leaves, or coconut fronds.
Mobility: Light enough to be portable; two lean-tos could be joined to form a double-sloped roof.
Tree Houses:
Built atop forked branches for safety and security during clan clashes.
Regional users: Ilongot and Gaddang (Northern Luzon); Mandaya and Bukidnon (Eastern Mindanao).
Components: Bamboo framing/flooring, Rattan for security, and Nipa for roofing.
Houseboats:
Lepa (also known as Lipa or Lepa-lepa): Indigenous to the Sama-Bajau people (Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia).
Usage: Traditionally used as permanent dwellings; currently used for commercial purposes.
The Tabon Caves and Archaeological Treasures
Tabon Caves Complex: Located at Lipton Point, Quezon, Palawan; maintained by the National Museum.
Tabon Man: One of the oldest human remains in the Philippines, discovered in by Dr. Robert B. Fox.
Manunggul Jar:
A secondary Neolithic burial jar dated to .
A National Cultural Treasure (NCT) and considered a masterpiece of Philippine ceramics.
Garuda Gold Pendant: Found in the Tabon caves; features the image of Garuda (the mount of Vishnu). It signifies active trade relations involving gold between the Philippines, India, Vietnam, and China.
Angono Petroglyphs:
Neolithic carvings on a rock wall in Angono, Rizal.
Contains symbolic human and animal figures associated with healing and sympathetic magic.
Recognized as the oldest known works of art in the Philippines.