Calling all museum buffs and fans of all things retro and old-school. A new heritage museum featuring mid-century design just opened in Quezon City.
Bahay Modernismo is a new house museum within Quezon Memorial Circle offering a glimpse into mid-20th-century Filipino life and architecture. If you’ve ever wondered what life was like for residents of Quezon City back in the 1950s to 1960s, this offers a “throwback to an era of postwar optimism.” It’s a time capsule you can walk through, and it’s completely free to visit.
Here are five facts about this modernist gem and why you should add it to your must-visit list.

The first museum dedicated to modern Filipino heritage
According to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Bahay Modernismo is the first museum on modern heritage. The museum highlights the evolution of urban development, modernism, and popular culture in the country during the mid-20th century.

The design and curation of Bahay Modernismo was led by renowned architect and heritage conservationist Gerard Lico of ARC LICO, recreating the “midcentury domestic environment in Quezon City” said to be “the birthplace of Philippine modernism.”
As explained in the museum upon entering: “Rising from the ruins of the war, Quezon City was the promised land that provided the empty slate for a new Filipino architecture and domesticity to flourish.”

According to the firm, the mid-century era was one defined by hopes, optimism and reinvention and the museum manages to capture that spirit of postwar optimism.
While Boomers will appreciate the nostalgic trip down memory lane, the museum is a visual feast no matter which era you grew up in.
Mid-century modern design is characterized by clean lines and the use of both natural (wood, glass, marble) and man-made materials (vinyl, plastic, lucite, and fiberglass). The retro style is also known for combining natural hues with pops of bright accent colors and the fusion of indoor and outdoor spaces, as seen in the museum’s interiors.

Reconstruction of the Aquino family’s historic home
Bahay Modernismo is housed in a split-level bungalow, a reconstruction of the demolished residence of the Aquino family, formerly located at #25 Times Street. The original house carries a lot of history as it was once home to prominent figures such as former President Corazon Aquino, Senator Ninoy Aquino, and President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. The new museum uses some of the original architectural fragments from the old residence.

Snapshot of Post-War Filipino life in the suburbs
The museum offers visitors an immersive experience of the Post-War Filipino life from the 1950s to the 1960s. Walking around the rooms, you’re greeted with period-specific furniture, household items, design elements and home decor that reflect the cultural nuances and brands popular in Quezon City’s suburbia during that era.

A historical timeline showing the rise of suburbia and bungalow housing in Quezon City is displayed in the main dining area. Large maps show the original housing development plans and the growth of various districts.
Vintage vibes and pop culture treasures
Visitors can get a blast from the past and experience what life was like for QCitizens just by walking around the various rooms. While you can’t touch some of the exhibits or displays, you can sit on some of the chairs in the rooms for photo ops and get up close to the retro-styled interiors, decor and old-school household brands.

Entering each room is like stepping into the pages of an old magazine, komiks, or the set of Pleasantville. I liked how the kitchen featured vintage appliances, synthetic plastic tableware and nostalgic old-school packaging of food products, down to handwritten recipes posted on the old-school refrigerator.
When I peeped into the bathrooms, I spotted common household items like toothpaste boxes, soap and perfume bottles with packaging reflective of the time. The den is a treasure trove for pop culture lovers, with old records, classic typewriters and framed magazines like Liwayway, Panorama, Ilang-Ilang and exhibits showcased on the wall.
A portal into Quezon City’s architectural past
Beyond just an aesthetic place to visit, the museum also offers a unique insight into the city’s history. It explains the origins of tourist landmarks and various districts, making it ideal for anyone interested in architecture and design.
One gallery with scale figures is devoted to iconic landmarks in the city including the Mabuhay Welcome Rotonda, the Araneta Coliseum, UP Diliman, Quezon City Memorial Circle, and various churches.
Another small exhibit explains the rise of Space Age architecture influenced by the optimism and futurism of the Atomic Age and the Space Race, as seen in geometric shapes and saucer-shaped designs, like the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice designed by National Artist Leandro V. Locsin.
A visit to this unique museum is a rare chance to step into a defining era of Filipino history, design, and identity right in the heart of Quezon City.
Bahay Modernismo is located within Quezon Memorial Circle (between the Quezon Heritage House and the Presidential Car Museum), Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free to the public.
#PropertyReportFeature
#FeaturedStory