#Filipino bahay na bato interior windows

Two flights of stairs led to the rooms above.

There were storage rooms and a porter’s room on the ground floor. The floor plan of the Piero home was representative of a pattern that would endure until the 1890s. Since the 1699 will makes no mention of a ceiling, the rafters and beams were likely exposed, just as they were in the Intramuros homes described by the Frenchman de Guignes from the following century. The overhanging balconies protected the interior from the sun while permitting airflow.

#Filipino bahay na bato interior windows

Below the shell-shaped windows were ventanillas extending to the ground. Only during the 19th century did glass become affordable worldwide. The concept of having latticework panels for windows originated with Chinese artisans, as these were used to hold translucent rice paper or oyster shells in China. These shutters did not slide, as would become the norm in later homes rather, they swung out. These could be covered with latticework shutters with capiz shell panes. The upper story of the wooden structure had balcones voladizos that extended over the street. The majority of the 1.12-meter-thick walls on the ground floor were made of adobe. Each of its numerous wooden columns had a diameter of 1.67 meters. Thatch was lighter and less expensive, but it caught fire easily.ĭoa Isabel Navarro de Piero’s home in Intramuros is described in her 1699 will. Tiles had the benefit of being fireproof, but because they were laid in multiple layers, they were susceptible to falling during earthquakes. The roof could be composed of either curved tiles or dense thatch. The upper story would be constructed of wood, while the lower story would be constructed of stone, giving rise to the arquitectura mestiza. The entire house was now supported by haligi (wooden columns) in the traditional manner. In contrast, the local frame houses swayed in response to the shocks. Even though the massive stone structures were fireproof, they were too rigid to withstand earthquakes. In 1645, a powerful earthquake shook Manila, causing the collapse of many stone structures. Antonio Sedeo, a newly arrived Jesuit, instructed both native and Chinese workers in the Spanish method of making tiles and building houses. At this time, the Chinese were settling the islands in ever-greater numbers. After an accidental fire destroyed the city in 1853, however, many structures were rebuilt with stone quarried from the Guadalupe, Makati cliffs-specifically, volcanic tuff, which became known locally as adobe. Sulayman, the lord of Manila, resided in a large mansion that contained numerous valuable items.Īfter conquering Manila in 1571, the Spaniards established a settlement and initially constructed their buildings in the indigenous style. The houses were ornamented with carvings. On each side, there were nine to eleven posts and three ridgepoles. According to the 17th-century missionary Francisco Alzina, SJ, it had numerous rooms and multiple floors. The largest and tallest structure was the chief’s residence. The aristocracy lived in considerably larger homes with hardwood floors and walls. The commoners lived in small houses with bamboo floors and walls. The steep slope of hipped or gabled thatched roofs facilitated the rapid drainage of precipitation. The resulting space was utilized as a work area and animal pen. Thus, they shielded the inhabitants from the wet ground, seasonal flooding, insects, wild animals, and human enemies. These homes were elevated on stilts, like spiders with many legs. They were constructed of wooden frames with floors elevated high above the ground. The majority of surviving bahay na bato examples date back only to the 19th and early 20th centuries, despite the fact that the form originated in the 17th century as a synthesis of three traditions: the indigenous, the Spanish, and the Chinese.ĭuring the precolonial period, houses on the islands followed a design prevalent throughout Southeast Asia. A steep, four-sided hip roof extends over the entire structure. These small windows, known as ventanillas, are protected by iron grilles or wooden barandillas and have sliding wooden shutters. Below the window sill (pasamano), smaller windows reach the floor. The windows on the first floor are protected by grilles, while the windows on the second floor feature wide sliding shutters whose latticework frames are either shell or glass panes. The walls of the ground floor are made of cut adobe stone, volcanic tuff, coralline limestone, or brick the walls of the upper floors are made of wood. In Manila’s densely populated neighborhoods of Binondo and San Nicolas, it is not uncommon for buildings to have three stories. The bahay na bato has certain fundamental characteristics, though it has evolved over time and varies from region to region.