![]() ![]() Escalera – Rizal Shrine Calamba, Laguna Full-width windows – Calamba, Laguna Calado fretwork atop a doorway, Casa Manila Sense of neighborhood, Casa Manila Openness, Casa Manila Photo credits: Bahay ni Rizal & Casa Manila photos at the upper row by Bea Dolores (2017) and two latest photos of newly-refurbished Casa Manila by Anson Yu (2021). These huge fenestrations provide connectivity with the environment, serving as an extension of its surroundings. Processions, maglalako, or their neighbors or passers-by down below are very visibly and audibly accessible to the family, allowing a sense of community from one another and even showcasing the mausisa personality of Filipinos. The house’s full-width windows allow each of the 10+ member household enough space to view the happenings down the street. The walls, furniture, and even the fabric are embellished with natural elements – showcasing Filipino’s deep inclination with nature. As one steps into the wooden upper quarters, a sense of openness, generosity, and honesty emanates through the connectivity of the spaces. Houses closer to the center of the town, or the church, depict higher social status and one of the most notable ones would be the Mercado house – or Jose Rizal’s family home in Calamba, Laguna.Īpart from the wide doors’ primary function to let large things in like the carroza (procession floats of religious figures), these large entryways together with the escalera or grand staircase bring a welcoming reception to any visitors. The early religious missionaries brought by Spain became the first town planners of the colonial period, most of which we still use today. Towns then required households to be “within the sound of the bells”, or what they call bajo las campanas. Mercado house (Rizal Shrine) as seen from Calamba’s town church. It is important to note though that bahay-na-bato is not only a building typology for dwellings – aside from churches, other civic buildings, and humble bahay kubo, the only design style prevalent during the time was bahay-na-bato: for factories (or Foundry, for the Sunico Foundry), businesses, convents, and even schools (the original University of Sto. Now, aside from this architectural evolution, Filipino values were also well-inculcated within the designs of these Spanish Colonial dwellings. 10 (click here) discussed these comprehensively and more. calado), to elevated dwellings structurally supported by wooden posts but with a stone skirt below for stronger protection and resilience towards the elements, Manila Weekly Trivia no. ![]() From the thatched walls to the elaborate fenestration systems (i.e. Going back, bahay-na-bato is an evolution of bahay kubo wherein permeability, openness, and climatic considerations were physically transformed into an impressive improvement. ![]() In continuation with the tenth article of Manila Weekly the Multi-purpose Functionality and Sustainability of Bahay-na-bato, we are tackling the Filipino characteristics embedded in the architecture and design of these unique Spanish Colonial Period dwellings. ![]()
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