It’s the rainy season once again, and with that comes tropical cyclones, heavy downpours, and frequent floods. The need to build more sustainable and resilient houses is more urgent than ever, especially with the rise in extreme weather events like heat waves, wildfires, and droughts globally due to climate change.
But way before green building standards became a thing, native Filipino architecture was already designed to adapt to the country’s harsh tropical climate, floods, and natural disasters, as seen in various architectural studies.
One of the best examples can still be found in Batanes, where iconic typhoon-proof stone houses embody resilience.
A few years ago, I had an eye-opening experience with Ivatan architecture while staying a week in Batanes. During a “voluntourism” trip organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), we helped rebuild a stone house on Sabtang Island that was being converted into a homestay. During this trip, I saw firsthand how homes were built to endure Batanes’ harsh weather and blend naturally with the landscape.
There’s been a growing movement to preserve traditional Filipino architecture as part of a shift toward sustainable building. Here are just some reasons that show how native Filipino architecture embodies resilience.
Built for the tropical climate
Did you know that the bahay kubo (nipa hut) was designed for the country’s hot and humid climate? According to an NCCA feature on the history of Philippine architecture, the raised floor, simple design, and use of space under the house could cool the home naturally while protecting it from floods, insects, and snakes. Wide eaves also helped provide shade and reduce indoor heat.
The bahay na bato, which emerged during the Spanish colonial era, combines natural insulation and cooling with sturdy stone or brick lower levels. Large windows, open layouts, capiz shell windows, and ventanillas (small sliding windows beneath main windows) on the wooden upper floors allowed natural airflow.
Traditional Ifugao huts in the Cordilleran uplands were designed to match the colder climates. “Where the lowland bahay kubo is ventilated on all sides, the mountain huts, Bontoc, fayu; Ifugao, bale; Kalinga, binayon; Kankanay, binangiyan, and others typify a more insulated dwelling,” as per NCCA.
Meanwhile, the weather-resilient Ivatan`s stone houses, built with thick limestone and coral and cogon grass roofs, were designed to withstand strong typhoons and winds.
Makes use of sustainable, local materials
Before the popularity of “green building” initiatives, native homes used local, renewable resources like bamboo, cogon, nipa, coral stone, adobe, hardwoods, and recycled wood from older homes or driftwood from fallen trees. These materials required minimal transport and processing, reducing environmental impact.
Even with the wide availability of global materials, there’s been a conscious shift to use Filipino indigenous and locally sourced materials. Many hotels, resorts, and cafes now use furniture and decor made of bamboo, abaca, coconut shells, capiz shells, and native weaves to create cozy Filipino-inspired spaces.
Adaptable and flexible design
Filipino homes also demonstrate impressive adaptability. The bahay kubo is linked to the cultural practice of Bayanihan, where communities come together to relocate entire homes. The open and modular layout made it easy to repair homes after damage rather than replace the whole structure. It also allowed homes to grow with families over generations. Originally built as a one-room dwelling, the nipa hut could be extended to adapt to different needs.
In harmony with nature
Unlike modern buildings that dominate their surroundings, traditional Filipino homes were designed to exist in harmony with nature. Many native homes were raised on stilts to protect against flooding, pests, and ground moisture. The elevated quarters minimized impact on the land and were useful in flood-prone areas, while natural landscaping and trees provided shade, food, and erosion control.
Natural ventilation was built into the design with open floor plans, large windows, and passive cooling techniques to help keep interiors cool without electricity. There’s been a return to that design philosophy with masterplanned communities reflecting the indoor-outdoor trend, emphasizing seamless transitions between indoor spaces and natural landscapes.
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