When the Spaniards occupied the Philippines, they replaced wooden structures with stone fortifications and cities. They used volcanic rock called adobe since it was more fireproof. Churches became the center of towns and were usually made of adobe or bricks. Later, stone churches with buttresses were built to withstand earthquakes. A significant architectural style introduced by the Spanish was the "Bahay na Bato", large stone houses built for the wealthy class. American architects like Daniel Burnham and William E. Parsons influenced the growth of neoclassical styles and infrastructure as the Philippines modernized under U.S. rule. Contemporary Philippine architecture continues to be shaped by modernization and globalization.

2. When the Spaniards occupied and established the
city of Cebu and later occupied the fort of soliman
in manila, the wooden palisades and pre-colonial
constructions were replaced and shaped into
Spanish cities and fortifications. Fine example of
this one is fort san Pedro in Cebu and Intamuros
in manila. The early years of occupation, however
was characterized by wooden settlements and
churches to promote the indoctrination of the
natives to their new master and religion but these
easily gave in to fire set by the uprising and
rebellion of the natives, the Chinese cooleys and
the marauding moros.

3. The Spaniards looked for more fireproof materials
to replace wood and discovered “adobe” or
volcanic stuff that was quarried in San Pedro,
Makati. Thus in 1580’s most of the constructions
were made from adobe including dwellings,
churches, and fortifications. Fr. Antonio Sedeño,
SJ is a priest and engineer. He trained the natives
in the art of building and stones before the
Spaniards commisioned chinese architects and
laborers to do the job.

4. • The churches’ whole architectural design and
construction is based on the principle of
formulation of reducciones, where scattered
population of the natives were brought together in
compact communities in the most favorable areas
in an encomienda
1. The church became the center of town as well as
the adjoining plaza which were usually made of
adobe or bricks and sometimes a combination of
both. Later, the churches succumbed to nature
disasters like earthquakes and thus, the stone
churches were provided with buttresses that
came in different forms. Most famous of this
Paoay church in ilocos

5. Paoay Church in Vigan/ Ilocos with grand bell tower

6. • Bahay na bato is perhaps aside from the
baroque churches and structures the most
significant imprint of spanish colonial
architecture is the “bahay na bato”. It is the
product of the economic and social
development in the colony due to expansion of
commerce and galleon trade which give rise to
a new breed of ilustrados and principales. The
new upper class’s life style and aspirations
demanded a new type of dwelling that suits
their status and position, which was more noble
and elegant and at the same time spacious,
comfortable and in style. The bahay na bato is
characterized by the ff:

7. 2. Bell towers vary in design as well as in location.
In plan, the bell tower may be square, octagonal,
hexagonal or, in rare instances, circular. In height,
it may rise from 3 or 5 stories. It may be at some
distance from the church, adjacent to it, or
integrated in the façade. Some churches have 2
towers a few have 3. when the bell tower is
attached to the church, its ground floor houses
the baptistery

8. 1. A house with wooden legs anda stone skirt;
2. The multi-roomed living quarters are on the 2nd flr
and reached through and interior stairways;
3. The “zaguan”, with its naked stone work, is a grim
entrance hall but, with its abundant space
A typical “Bahay na bato”

9. Architects
• Luciano Oliver - A Spaniards designed taal
church, the malabon church, and the most
significant work in the manila cathedral in1872
• Felix Rojas Sr. – is considered as the 1st Filipino
architect who is popular for his revitalist style.
His works included the neo-gothic Santo
Domingo church and the neo-classic San Ignacio
Church which are both located in intramuros.
He also designed numerous elegant “bahay na
bato” houses for the upper class of maynila

10. Architects
• Juan Hervas- designed the tutuban railroad
station, the monte de piedad building, the old
assumption covenant on herran St and also a
number of “bahay na bato”
• Arciado Arellano- is a amaster builder gained
the confidence of Gov. William Howard Taft and
became general’s architectural adviser in 1901.
He also worked on the houses of Hidalgo family
and the Bautista-Nakpil in quiapo
• Genardo Pelacios- designed the Gothic and
prefabricated all-steel San Sebastian Church in
the 1880s.

12. After the fall of the short-lived First
Philippine Republic, it was when Emilio
Aguinaldo was captured in Palanan,
Isabela, a new architectural history
begun. It was under the direction and
tutelage of American occupation. There
are 2 prominent American municipal
planner and architects who redesigned
the modernizing and urbanizing colony,
Daniel Burnham and William E. Parsons

13. • Daniel Burnham- introduced neo-classical style
in Philippine architecture which left an imprint
on how we see new Manila outside in the
Baguio City
• William E Parson- was commissioned to
implement the “Burnham Plan” of modernizing
Manila and his major works includes the
Philippine Normal University, the Philippine
General Hospital, The Manila Hotel, and Army-
Navy Club

14. William E Parson Major works

15. William E Parson Major works

16. • After Parson came a new breed of filipino
architects who were trained and loyal to the
neo-classical style like Carlo Barreto, Antonio
Toledo, Juan Arellano, and Tomas Mapua.
• Juan Arellano - designed the Manila post office
building, Legislative Building, which is now the
National Art Gallery following the neo-classical
Graeco-Roman approach while he employed
are deco motifs when he worked on the
metropolitan theater in 1931

17. • Chalet is a typical
middle class house
during the early years
of American
occupation. Away
from the elegance
and grandiouse of
“bahay na bato”
chalet is more
functional. The Most
prominent feature of
the house is the front
porch or a
surrounding porch

18. • Steel architecture- Some
architects ventured in
the gothic technique of
construction with steel
like the early San
Sebastian church in 1981
and the UST Main
building which was built
in 1927

19. • Structures for the developing of economy-
Commercial office buildings, hotels, apartment,
movie houses, and homes for the upper class
became popular and in-demand for the
developing economy demanded these new
types of buildings. Young architects like Andres
Luna de San Pedro, Fernando Ocampo, Pablo
Antonio, Juan Nakpil, made a significant and
name in the new field

20. • Some of the development includes:
1. 2-storey houses where in living quarters are
located both on the 1st flr and 2nd flr
2. California bungalow style became popular with
picture windows lanai and 2 to 3 car garage
3. Accessoria or wooden row houses which is
both for commercial and residential purposes
• Martial Law Years- Construction and innovation
in municipal planning was witnessed during the
golden years of modern architecture in the
Philippines during the Marcos regime. The
innovations set by regime includes:

21. 1. Multi-storey tenements that became popular
during the martial law years like Bagong
Lipunan Sites and Services (BLISS);
2. Remodelling the Philamlife Homes in QC;
3. The skyscrapers of Makati City;
4. The North Diversion Road;
5. The South Super High-way;
6. The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)
main building;
7. The Manila Film Center, the Folk Arts Theater;
8. The Philippine International Conventional
Center (PICC)

22. 9. The 5 star hotels;
10. The Batasang Pambansa;
11. The Philippines Heart Center;
12. The lung Center;
13. The Central Bank Buildings;
14. The Philippine National Bank; and
15. Government Service Insurance System Buildings.
Contemporary Philippine architecture is still being
shaped by the modernizing and globalizing character
of Phillipine economy and society which had been
thru up and down, slowed and hasten by the decline
or progress of both the domestic and international
market