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Ivatan Architecture Characteristics

The houses in Batanes, Philippines are uniquely designed to withstand the region's extreme weather conditions like earthquakes, typhoons, and monsoon rains. With thick stone walls and thatched roofs, the houses have a style not found elsewhere in the country. The isolation of the islands also helped preserve this historic folk architecture. The Province of Batanes consists of 10 volcanic islands north of Luzon, with three inhabited islands - Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtam. The Ivatan houses fall into two categories: ethnic architecture made from natural materials as simple shelters; and folk architecture which shows influences over time through history and cultural exchanges.

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172 views5 pages

Ivatan Architecture Characteristics

The houses in Batanes, Philippines are uniquely designed to withstand the region's extreme weather conditions like earthquakes, typhoons, and monsoon rains. With thick stone walls and thatched roofs, the houses have a style not found elsewhere in the country. The isolation of the islands also helped preserve this historic folk architecture. The Province of Batanes consists of 10 volcanic islands north of Luzon, with three inhabited islands - Itbayat, Batan, and Sabtam. The Ivatan houses fall into two categories: ethnic architecture made from natural materials as simple shelters; and folk architecture which shows influences over time through history and cultural exchanges.

Uploaded by

Arjay Matote
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHARACTERISTICS

• The low houses of Batanes, with their heavy stone walls covered with thick thatched
roofs are not found anywhere else in the Philippines. They have been shaped in
response to extreme conditions of a region dominated by earthquakes, hot-humid
summer months, monsoon rains, and severe typhoons. Unpredictable weather
conditions and the distance that isolate the islands most of the year have led to
preservation of many of this historic folk architecture.
• The Province of Batanes in the Philippines consists of ten or more
volcanic islands located 161 kilometers north of the Lagon mainland.
Three of the islands are inhabited and the rest are small, waterless
islets unsuitable for human life. The largest of the habitable islands is
Itbayat, where the northernmost town of the province is found.
Smaller than Itbayat is Batan Island with an area of 69 square
kilometers. This island is referred to as the Provincial Capital of
Batanes Province.Three miles west of Batan Island is Sabtam Island. It
has an area of 32 square kilometers and has only one municipality.
These three islands contain numerous old settlements that reflect
some of the most historic spots in the Philippines.
Ivatan houses fall under main two classifications;
1. Ethnic Architecture (EA)
Ethnic architecture is defined as structures native people have produced for
themselves. They are architecture created in the process of everyday customs
that later becomes traditional under the influence of various challenges.
Iratan houses classified under ethnic architecture must be studied in relation
to the natural and social environment of the native community, their
construction materials and techniques that formed a distinct architectural
form for this part of the world. They are made of natural materials such as
wood, stone, vegetation, and sometimes mud. Ethnic houses are of modest
proportions and used primarily as a shelter from the elements and as a place
to sleep, cook, and eat. The inhabitants normally stayed outdoors working
under shelters or lean-to roofs and are usually working in the fields.Folk
architecture on the other hand, shows the effects of time and foreign
influences and how the communities adjusted to these elements. Folk
architecture is an outcome of history.
2. Folk architecture
• Folk architecture on the other hand, shows the effects of time and
foreign influences and how the communities adjusted to these
elements. Folk architecture is an outcome of history. When
ethnicarchitecture changes in response to time, foreign influences
and history, innovations become inevitable and new types of
structures emerge."

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