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Social Structures The network of actually existing relations
among human beings who are connected
by a complex structure of social relations.
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Social Structures and Spatial Relations
Spaces have social dimensions. These are expressed in spatial relations.
Spatial Relations
User Requirements
Interplay of the organization, distribution and categorization of objects
and people in space.
Represent the social structures and principles of a society or group.
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Public Spaces
1. The Filipino concept of space is very different
from western culture.
Filipino Traditions Regarding Express distances subjectively, using the
words malayo or malapit instead of
Land and Space numerical measurements.
Vague boundaries and limits of space.
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2. Traditional Filipino culture share land
communally instead of having private
properties bounded by fences and
gates.
4. The Spanish colonial policy of
resettlement created the plaza
Everyone in the village share
complex.
whatever resources are available
from the land.
Plaza – community center
Church
3. Even in contemporary Filipino
Municipal hall
communities where the boundaries of
Bahay-na-bato
private lots are clearer, parties,
businesses and other activities still spill
over to the public areas like the
sidewalks or even the streets.
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Private Spaces
1. The spaces inside the house serve a number of purposes –
transforming and adapting according to the needs of the
users at any particular time.
• From bahay kubo to the bahay-na-bato
• From squatter shanties to condominium units
2. The traditional Filipino space is always transparent.
• The native cultural idea of living with a group –
encourages visible spaces where one can see
Filipino Traditions Regarding
everyone else.
• Open planning requirements of living in a tropical
House Construction
climate
• Limited privacy
3. Traditional ethnic houses express the indigenous way of
spatial organization.
• Within the house, even with the absence of walls or
partitions, the use of different levels and mats can
distinguish one section from another.
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Ethnic houses reflect the wisdom of Spanish Period
skilled artisans who intuitively blend
New structures were built during the
aesthetics and utility into a harmonious Spanish period reflecting the major
whole. preoccupations and values of the
Spanish colonial life.
Decoration, while done sparingly often Houses signify the wealth and rank of the
owner.
combines aesthetics and socio-political
factors. The bahay kubo retained the features of
the traditional house with the addition of
awning window, the silid where
Houses maybe used essentially as shelter occupants could change clothes in
private, the altar, and other furniture and
or may double as a social and cultural furnishings required by the new
center. hispanized manners.
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Bahay Kubo
The bahay-na-bato retained the usual post and
Bulwagan – living room lintel construction of the bahay kubo with some
innovations:
Silid – sleeping area
• A highly flexible interior where rooms may
Paglutuan or Gilir – kitchen be joined or separated by opening or
• Dapogan – table on top of which closing wide doors;
was the kalan
• Bangahan (Bangguera or • The addition of the azotea at the back of
Banggerahan) – place for drying the house, the caida or antesala at the top
and storing pots and pans, drinking of the stairs.
glasses, plates and other kitchen
utensils. • Details such as the media agua, the
• Batalan – unroofed area where ventanillas and the tiled roof which gave
water jars (used for drinking, washing the bahay-na-bato an elegant
and bathing) were kept. appearance without losing the airy and
light qualities of the bahay kubo.
Silong – space underneath the house
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American Period
Chalet
Bungalow
Indigenous concepts persisted and were
embodied by the chalet
Brought the American concept of privacy
• family having his/her own room
Most prominent feature:
o Hallways
• Front porch – may be extended to
o Corridors
the sides of the house.
o An expression of the unique
Filipino concept of “space
surrounding space.”
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