ARCHITECTURE DURING THE AMERICAN

COLONIAL PERIOD

CLAVER JASMIN FUNA-AY

CIOCON BEA SHANNEL
COSTALES YOURWIN
DE GUIA WILHELM
DEL ROSARIO GABRIEL
DURAN CHRISTOPHER JOHN
ESTIOUKO GLEZELLE

AMERICAN COLONIZATION (1898 1946)

After the SpanishAmerican War in 1898, the Americans took
control of the Philippines until after the World War II.
During this period, the Americans constructed many
Neoclassical buildings in Manila.

Manila City Hall

Metropolitan Theater

ARCHITECTURAL STYLES

The Spanish style remained, though mostly for ornamental

purposes of the affluent. Filipino architects were largely influenced
by Western culture, evident in their use of Neo-Classic, Art Deco,
International, and Romantic designs.

Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the

neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century.
Art Deco architecture is an elegant style of decorative art, design
and architecture which began as a Modernist reaction against the
Art Nouveau style.
Beaux Arts architecture style is a theatrical and heavily
ornamented classical style taught during the 19th century.

As the A erica s ce tral co cer was

bound by education, public health, and
free enterprise, it reflected on the new
structures that emerged such as
government centers, parks, schools,
hospitals, hotels, commercial office
buildings, department stores, sports
facilities, among others

 In 1902 Judge William Howard Taft was appointed to head the

Philippine Commission to evaluate the needs of the new
territory.
He hired as his architect and city planner Daniel Burnham,
who had built Union Station and the post office in
Washington, D.C.. In Manila.

Daniel Burnham when he presented his grand

plan for Manila in 1905.

BUILDERS OF THE AMERICAN PERIOD

AMERICAN ARCHITECTS / BUILDERS
Who helped constructed hotels and parks.
AMERICAN ARMY ENGINEERS
Constructed the Manila Army and Navy Club at the shore
of Manila Bay.
AMERICAN SOLDIERS
Built schools helped in constructing churches and hospitals
FILIPINO ARCHITECTS
Juan Nakpil
Pablo Antonio
Juan M. Arellano

American architects Edgar K. Bourne and

William E. Parsons, steered Philippine architecture
to the proto-modernist route. Their works were
characterized by unembellished facades with large
windows

Many of these buildings were heavily damaged

during the Battle of Manila in 1945. After the
Second World War, many were rebuilt. Many
buildings in Manila were later designed by the
Filipino architect Juan M. Arellano.

At T.M. Kalaw Street stands one of the remaining

structures that survived the liberation of Manila in 1945,
the Luneta Hotel, which was completed in 1918.
According to Dean Joseph
Fernandez of the University of
Santo Tomas, the hotel was
designed by the Spanish
architect-engineer Salvador
Farre. The structure is the only
remaining example of the French
Renaissance architecture with
Filipino stylized Beaux-Arts
architecture in the Philippines to
date.

In 1906, the construction of the

Asylum for the Insane in San Lazaro
instigated the use of reinforced
concrete as the standard construction
material for all government
structures.
Silliman Hall, built in 1902-1903, is
the oldest standing American
structure in the Philippines. Its
architecture is reminiscent of
the Stick Style or Victorian type of
architecture that characterize
American buildings in the 19th
century. Some of the materials used
to build it were salvaged from an old
theater in New York.

It was in 1924, during the American Colonial period that

an idea of constructing a theater in Manila came about. It
was approved by the Philippine Legislature to build Senator
Alegres theater proposal within the Mehan Garden (now
Sining Kayumanggi). The construction began in 1930 in a
8,239.58 square meters of the park and was inaugurated on
December 10, 1931.
The theaters roof and walls were partially destroyed
during World War II. During the post-war period, it was
misused as a boxing arena, low-quality motels, gay bars,
basketball court and home of the squatters. Restoration
was done by Otilio, the nephew of Juan Arellano in 1978.

Close up of the art deco ornaments

of the Metropolitan Theater

The main facade with the glass mural and

other decorative elements

Manila Metropolitan Theater Entrance

Facade

Arcade

A sculpture at the
topmost part

Play of levels of massing

Typical bay

The theater block

Organic ornaments
View from the foot of Quezon Bridge.

Side entrances

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

At the Far Eastern University (FEU) in Quiapo, Manila,

five Art Deco structures on the campus were
designed by National Artist PABLO ANTONIO.
At the Far Eastern University (FEU) in Quiapo,
Nicanor Reyes
Hall
Manila, five Art Deco structures on the campus
FEU Administration
Building
were designed
by National Artist Pablo
Three were built before World War II
Law BuildingAntonio.
and two, after. Although FEU buildings were
totally damaged during the war, the university
Science Building
was restored to its original Art Deco design
FEU East Asia
Building
immediately
after.

Three were built before World War II and two, after.

Although FEU buildings were totally damaged during
the war, the university was restored to its original Art
Deco design immediately after.

Nicanor Reyes Hall

FEU Administration Building

FEU East Asia Building

Law Building
Science Building

University Church, Central Philippine University,

Jaro, Iloilo City

University Church, Central Philippine University

The University Church, Central Philippine University,
commonly referred as University Church, UC or CPU Church, is
located on the main campus of the Central Philippine
University, Jaro District, Iloilo City, Philippines. Officially, the
church was founded in 1913.
The present church building was built after an older chapel
housed in Rose Memorial Hall was destroyed by fire in 1995.
Notably, the church architecture is resonant of
an Indonesian or Malayan style of house built on palm leaves
and bamboo and is a famous landmark in Iloilo.

University Church, Central Philippine University

Gable dormer windows and flying

buttresses on the side

Covered Canopy of the church

Worship hall viewed from the 3rd floor.

SOURCES:
http://www.slideshare.net/liliemanna/the-americancolonization-in-the-philippines-23108543?next_slideshow=1
http://triptheislands.com/travel-tips/a-brief-history-ofphilippine-architecture/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_the_Philippin
es#American_colonial_period
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Cen
tral_Philippine_University_Church_in_Iloilo_City,_Western_
Visayas.jpg