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COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
University of Santo Tomas
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
3rd Sem AY 2014-2015

PRE-COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE, Lecture 3

IVATAN HOUSE
REGION 2: Chavayan, Sabtang Island, Batanes

Batanes
- Composed of main islands of Sabtang, Batan and Itbayat
- Strong typhoons and earthquakes
- Magnificent vistas and people
- Ivatans locals live in the place long before the Spaniards colonizers arrived.

Savidug Ijang
Ancient fortifications on a a high promontory giving a strategic view of the sea and surrounding land
areas
curved out of hard limestone rock and gaps filled with built-up walls of rocks

Ivatan House
Slope of cliffs and villages built along the sides and tops of rocky hills of Batanes
Houses are constructed or repaired through a cooperative system known as kaybaybanaan or
kamanyidugan
Ensemble of compact structures:
1. Main House
2. Cooking house, sometimes a storage house Double as sleeping quarters during cold months from
November to March
3. Toilet and bathhouse
Ivatan House Typology
1. Sinadumparan or Maytuab depending on the roof configuration

One-storey main house with a partially submerged basement used as storage

1.00 m. coral stone and lime masonry walls are topped with dos aguas or quatro aguas roof

Elaborately crafted wooden truss system with bamboo, reed (runo), rattan, and thatch (cogon or
vuchid) roof cover

Distinctive roof system - built up of 6 layers, from 0.30 to a meter of cogon bundles. Some houses
use roof nets called panpe made of strong ropes thrown over the roof and fastened to the ground
by pegs during the typhoon season.

Walls are constructed of lime mortar binder with stones of graduated sizes biggest at the bottom

Two doors and windows are located on the three walls

Blank wall is placed against the direction of the strongest wind that hits Batanes

2.

Rakuh

Two-storey house

Bigger in floor area with the lower level used as storage

Same characteristics and materials as sindumparan

CLAVENDANO - HOA 4, 3rd sem, AY 2014-15

3.

Jin-jin

Walls are of woven cogon thatched with bamboo or wood framework

Roof is multilayered cogon system

References:
Alarcon, Norma I. Philippine Architecture During the Pre-Spanish and Spanish Periods. UST
Publishing House. 1998
CCP Encyclopedia of Arts Vol. III. Manila,Philippines/1994
Fernandez, Honrado. The Architecture of the Philippines Traditions and Changing Expressions
Transforming Traditions. Asian Studies Publication Series. 2001 p.115-160
Hila, Ma. Corazon C. An Essay on Philippines Ethnic Architecture. CCP 1992
Klassen, Winand. 1986. Architecture in the Philippines Filipino Building in a Cross-Cultural
Context. Cebu City, Philippines: University of San Carlos.
Lico, Gerald. Arkitekturang Pilipino. A History of Architecture and Urbanism in the
Philippine.University of the Philippines Press, Quezon City.2008.
Tiongson, Nicanor, ed. Tuklas Sining Essays on the Philippine Arts. CCP, Manila 1991
Turalba, Maria Cristina V. Philippine Heritage Architecture before 1521 to the 1970s. Anvil
Publishing House. Pasay City. 2005
http://www.filipinoheritage.com/arts/architecture/early-shelters5.htm
Other Internet sources

Prepared by:
AR. CLARISSA L. AVENDAO
Revised - June 16, 2015

CLAVENDANO - HOA 4, 3rd sem, AY 2014-15