Get To Know The Architectural Styles Of Bahay Na Bato In Manila
Intramuros archivist, John Arcilla, illustrates the bahay na bato styles to foster an appreciation for these old homes
It’s always a fascinating sight whenever we come across a relic of the old Manila days, especially in the minutest details from decades and centuries old edifices. These bore witness to the changing times and serve as a small peek at the evolution of design and architecture in the country.
This includes our classic Bahay na Bato structures, which have been highly influenced by the Spanish colonial era. While a lot of these properties have been demolished and replaced with new buildings, there are some which have stood the test of time. These heritage houses have been the highlight of the book by Fernando Zialcita and Martin Imperial Tinio Jr. called Ancestral Houses of the Philippines, published in 1981.
Just in time for Independence day, Intramuros archivist Rancho P. Arcilla looked back on these Bahay na Bato styles and shared bits of trivia from the said book in a Facebook post. He listed down seven of the most prevalent style characteristics, as mentioned by the authors: the Flowers in Trellis Style, the Horizontals and Verticals Style, the Platter Style, the Board and Batten Style, Quadrant Style, Straight and Narrow Style, and Liberation Style.
He further discussed four among all these designs, which included illustrations and sample images.
Let’s take a walk down trough our residential heritage architecture, and marvel at the rich history through this series:
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
Bahay na Bato Styles in Manila
Intramuros archivist, John Arcilla writes, "As with his 1981 book, Zialcita made another groundbreaking work with an unpublished manuscript ISTILONG QUIAPO. Together with Erik Akpedonu, they are perhaps the first to attempt to discuss different styles under the Manila Bahay na Bato type. With Quiapo as compass, the authors were able to nuance a total of 7 different styles. Important to note, however, the these styles are reflective of the Manila urban setting, and provincial styles were in not included. In some cases, however, Quiapo/Manila styles can sometimes also be seen in the provincial setup. This is an article for another time."
Photo Credit: Courtesy of John "Rancho" P. Arcilla
The Board and Batten Style, Prevalence: Manila, Mid 19th Century to 1880s
"The Board and Batten is the oldest Bahay na Bato style. Arguably speaking, this was how the Bahay na Bato type might have started in Manila. As what was suggested earlier, structures in Manila during the early years of the Spanish regime resembled peninsular and Latin-American constructions; however as earthquakes, fires, and wars repeatedly ravaged the city over the years, the type of architecture resilient to all of these eventually returned back the quintessential Bahay Kubo, thus, in the later half of the Spanish regime, the Bahay na Bato, the “All-Weather House” was born. It is assumed that when this “All-Weather House” was born, it took the form of the Board and Batten. The Board and Batten Style is characterized by the manner on how the wall of the second-story was constructed. Board and batten, or board-and-batten siding, describes a type of exterior siding or interior paneling that has alternating wide boards and narrow wooden strips, called “battens.” Aesthetically speaking, the exterior of a Board and Batten Styled house is simple and almost devoid of decorative elements. They tend to have no ventanillas at all, and for the few that have, they’re usually very small when contrasted against the entire length of the windows. With evolving tastes and changing trends, this style was prevalent until the 1880s when it was superseded in popularity by the Platter Style."
Photo Credit: Courtesy of John "Rancho" P. Arcilla
The Board and Batten Style, Prevalence: Manila, Mid 19th Century to 1880s
"Examples of structures following the Board and Batten Style–(1): Zamora House in Hidalgo St., Quiapo; (2): A house from Bustos, Bulacan (not necessarily a Manila house, but the details in the photo are perfect examples for the Boards and Batten Style); and (3): Padilla House in Hidalgo St., Quiapo. Source of photos: 1 and 3-from Google Maps; 2-from Conrado Bugayong."
Photo Credit: Courtesy of John "Rancho" P. Arcilla
The Flowers in Trellis Style, Prevalence: Manila, 1890s
"Of all the basic styles, the Flowers in Trellis was the most elaborate, and if the Philippines had its own version of the Rococo, this would be it. As what the name suggests, Zialcita likened this style to flowers hanging from a garden trellis or net. Common motifs and design ideas include flowers, acanthus leaves, fruits, vegetables, and sometimes animals. Every space is ornamented, even the roof–such as in the case of the Teotico House which sported exquisite flower-themed acroterias (acroterion). Decorative grills are are noteworthy in Flowers in Trellis styled houses. A common theme was the abaniko, a type of hand-held fan which in itself mimics the shape of the anahaw leaf. The brackets supporting the second floor overhang were usually highly ornamented as well. Vegetables such as pumpkins may sometimes be seen hanging in some of them. The style peaked in the 1890s but as an architectural fad it did not last long, however, and only a few of them remain today. Examples of extant structures following the Flowers in Trellis are found in Quiapo and Bataan–such as the Teotico House along Barbosa St., and the three-story Casa Bisantina at Las Casa Filipinas de Acuzar, a theme-park and beach resort in Bataan."
Photo Credit: Courtesy of John "Rancho" P. Arcilla
The Flowers in Trellis Style, Prevalence: Manila, 1890s
"Common elements in the Flowers in Trellis Style include elaborate brackets supporting voladas (1), fancy pilasters (2 and 3), intricate callados or door/window transoms (4), highly decorative grills (5 and 6), and flower motifs (7). Source of photos: Photos from the Intramuros Administration Archives."
Photo Credit: Courtesy of John "Rancho" P. Arcilla
The Flowers in Trellis Style, Prevalence: Manila, 1890s
"Examples of structures following the Flowers in Trellis Style–(1) Detail of a house along Barbosa St. by Marciano Teotico, 1895; (2) Actual detail of the Teotico House as seen today; (3) A house by Escolastico Fernandez in Jolo St. (1895), and (4) Details of the Casa Bisantina. Source of photos: 1 and 3 – from the Intramuros Administration Archives; 2 and 4 – from Rancho Arcilla "
Photo Credit: Courtesy of John "Rancho" P. Arcilla
The Platter Style, Prevalence: Manila, 1880s – mid 1940s
"One can find a little bit of humor in comparing Flowers and Trellis with the Platter Style. For one, while Flowers in Trellis was named after flowers hanging from a garden trellis; the Platter Style, on the other hand, is named by Ziacita after dishes, specifically large plates or platters–the same items used to serve food in dinners. Simply put, Platter styled houses are typified by “platter designs,” as if one is purposely hanging dinner plates in the exterior walls of one’s house. While the rectangular platter was the most common, some houses had circular platters as well. This kitchen-themed style was the most flexible as well. While some houses such as the Santiago House in Quiapo exhibit almost purely the Platter Style, most of the houses using this design usually combine it with other styles as well, such as the Flowers in Trellis."
Photo Credit: Courtesy of John "Rancho" P. Arcilla
The Platter Style, Prevalence: Manila, 1880s – mid 1940s
"Examples of structures following the Platter Style–(1) Plan of a house along Benavides St. by Marcelo Bonoan, 1893; (2) Santiago House along Hidalgo St., Quiapo; (3) Casa Manila in Intramuros; and (4) Eva Kalaw residence in Sampaloc, Manila. Source of photos: 1 – From the Intramuros Administration Archives; 2 and 3 – From Google Maps; 4 – From Rancho Arcilla Being very flexible, the Platter Style was the most common Bahay na Bato style in Colonial Manila. Its prevalence lasted from the 1880s, from the decline of the Board and Batten, to the start of World War II in the mid 1940s. The Second World War effectively ended the “Platter era” in Bahay na Bato constructions."
Photo Credit: Courtesy of John "Rancho" P. Arcilla
The Platter Style, Prevalence: Manila, 1880s – mid 1940s
"Examples of structures combining the Platter and Flowers Trellis Style–(1) Plan of a house along Alvarado St. by Eulogia Antonio, 1895; (2) Casa Los Hidalgos along General Luna St. in Intramuros; (3) Romualdez House in Pandacan; and (4) a plan for house along San Anton St. by Salvadora de Ocampo, 1891. Source of photos: 1 and 4 – From the Intramuros Administration Archives; 2 – From Google Maps; 3 – From Wikimedia Commons"
Photo Credit: Courtesy of John "Rancho" P. Arcilla
Horizontals and Verticals Style, Prevalence: Manila, 1900s-1940s
"The Horizontals and Verticals Style was the most “modern” of the basic styles. Modern in the sense that it emerged the latest (early 1900s) and was also the most aesthetically devoid. The use of wooden horizontal panels running the entire length of the exterior is not new, as the Flowers in Trellis sometimes utilized this. However, in the Horizontals and Verticals Style, this design was most pronounced. As the name suggests, it was characterized by the contrasting vertical lines and horizontal lines made from the lines of the wooden boards running horizontally the entire length of the facade versus the vertical lines of the windows which run the entire height of the second story."
Photo Credit: Courtesy of John "Rancho" P. Arcilla
Horizontals and Verticals Style, Prevalence: Manila, 1900s-1940s
"Examples of structures following the Horizontals and Verticals Style–(1) Arcilla House along Concepcion St., Quiapo; and (2) Bahay Nakpil Bautista along Bautista St., Quiapo. Source of photos: From Google Maps"
Photo Credit: Courtesy of John "Rancho" P. Arcilla
Special thanks to Rancho P. Arcilla, Intramuros Archivist, for allowing Metro.Style to publish his illustrations and text.
Banner images @bookshelf1010 and @ranchoarcilla.
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