Author: Arch. Gloryrose Dy-Metilla

In our previous posts, you’ve seen glimpses of these windows during mentions of old Spanish houses.  Capiz Windows, also known as exotic windowpane oyster panels, are classic windows in Philippine colonial architecture. These were widely used in Spanish-Filipino colonial houses. These windows are a combination of beautiful cut oyster shells framed inside Philippine hardwood. A…

We often refer to an urban residence with an open plan as a bachelor’s pad or a studio apartment. These residences can be seen in condominiums or rentable spaces inside the main residence’s compound.  Like many of our previous posts, let’s point out how these two are not alike, despite their similarities. While these two…

Before World War II, the Philippines had the largest community of Japanese immigrants in Southeast Asia. However, not much is known about this heritage in the Philippines due to its sensitive and painful history.   One of the Japanese economic influences in the country was the establishment of Bazaars. Japanese Bazaars were famous and run branches…

These two roofing materials are the crowning glory of every home. What is the difference between them?  For starters, a shingle roof is a roof composed of individual overlapping elements. These are typically flat and rectangular-shaped tiles that are laid in courses overlapping each other over flat sheeting.  A metal roof on the other hand…

In Filipino construction, there are terms so common that it has surpassed generations, from the Spanish-speaking elders to the everyday construction personnel working on roofing. These are the Dos Aguas and  Quatro Aguas Roofs. A common sentence for these terms would be, “Gawin nating quatro aguas ang bubong.” What does it really mean? A dos…

Did you know that you shouldn’t nail two bamboo poles together?  In some construction, we see this way of joining uncut bamboo poles together in typical huts in the Philippines. We often see that these poles are being nailed together. While this is commonly done, this can actually damage the bamboo.  There’s a better and…

Balay Ukit is a kind of transom tracery unique to the Philippines and found in pre-WWII ancestral homes. The term was coined in the book “Balay Ukit: Tropical Architecture in Pre-WWII Filipino Houses” by Maria Virginia Yap Morales.  This architectural element was an ingenious way of applying Green architecture during pre-World War II. It helped…

If you spent your early education in public schools, chances are you’re school looked a certain way. There’s a name for this kind of schoolbuilding: the Gabaldon. Among the byproducts of American colonial rule during their time in the Philippines is their cultural and architectural influence, including how schools everywhere in the country looked. It…

So, I came across this very interesting post on facebook by the Max Limpag, a journalist and blogger in Cebu City. It talked about how the word Gi-atay was from the Ah tay bed. So,in this video I will be talking about Architectural furniture specifically about the wonderful bed design called the  Ah Tay bed.…

If you’re a Filipino, chances are you may have lived in a house that had a portion called the “silong.” Homes in the Philippines have a hollow portion at the lower level used to store farming implements, and livestock such as pigs, chickens, and dogs, root crops. Sometimes, the silong is used for the storage…