![]() The lower half of the wooden posts were placed inside the stone wall to make the foundation strong. However, the thickness of the stone wall was decreased. As mentioned earlier, the wood frames lightened the load on the stone wall, and was an added precaution should the stone still splinter during an earthquake. The wood frames that supported the house is one modification. The bahay na bato had many modifications to make it withstand earthquakes. The fusion of these styles, medieval Spain and Philippine bahay-kubo produced the new style known as bahay na bato. Houses with wooden frames holding up walls of brick in mortar was seen in medieval Spain, and of course, the native bahay-kubo, also had those characteristics. Rather it was influenced by both the building styles in the Peninsula and the islands. There is no evidence that the changes in structure were influences by the Spanish Antilles. This house was known as the bahay na bato. They formed a giant frame, thus decreasing the load of the stone wall and they shuddered freely with the tremors of the earthquake. It as observed that even if the stone split open because of the earthquakes, the house did not completely collapse, as there was still the pillars to support it. There was the use of the haligi or the wooden pillars, as they were believed to be a strong defense against the earthquakes. ![]() The overhanging balconies receded to form the ventanillas, or the little windows beneath the main windows. Only the lower part of the building was to be made out of stone while the second story, the flight and the walls, had to be made of wood. Therefore, the houses’ height was restricted to only two stories, and it was to follow the spread of the land. Stone strongly resisted the tremors of the ground, which was why it fractured and eventually collapsed.ĭue to the earthquakes that would shake the country regularly, they sought to find those “elements of the new architecture” that would be more appropriate to the environment and its oppressive conditions. However, in 1645, a great earthquake ravaged the town and left it in shambles. There was a central patio that provided light to the rooms and helped in the circulation of air around the house. As mentioned, the overhanging balconies gave relief to the pedestrians below. Some of their features also suited the tropical weather. They were aptly compared to palaces because of their majesty. There were large balconies that overhung and shaded the streets, iron grilles veiling many rows of windows, and roof decks called azoteas. ![]() The roofs were made curved red roof tiles, instead of nipa. The houses were made of cut stone and mortar, instead of wood. They were luxurious homes, large and spacious and costly. However, in 158, there was a great fire that easily devoured the city in such a short period of time that it was decided that “the city had to be of stone or none at all.” Also, at that time, that cutting and hauling of timber down the Pasig River was becoming expensive because the forests were receding into the foothills of the mountains to the east. ![]() The first settlers built their homes similar to the Filipinos homes, believing that since the natives knew more about their land, their resources and their climate, they therefore knew the most appropriate shelter to be had. These houses are presently known as the nipa hut, or the bahay-kubo. On a land between the Pasig River and Manila Bay (presently Manila) Martin de Goiti found a “large and wealthy settlement of about ,000, fenced in by a log palisade, and guarded by cannons and bombardiers.” The houses were made of wood, bamboo and a nipa thatch the materials were brittle, they easily rotted, thus the houses were prone to fire. Shortly after, many other voyages were sent to the Philippines, and thus many accounts were made of the people, its present civilization, and other details. At the Age of Exploration, the Spaniards reached the East by traveling westward in search of spices. They docked in the Philippines, but left promptly after Ferdinand Magellan was killed in a battle among the Filipinos. However, despite this loss, the company was still successful in that it was able to circumnavigate the world. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |