Indigenous Houses Of The Philippines

 

Below are four kinds of houses that were built by different indigenous groups found in the Philippines.

The Nipa Hut

The FIRST one is called the Nipa Hut(Nipa is a palm native to the coastlines of the Philippines). The Nipa Hut, Bahay Kubo, Balay, is a type of stilt house indigenous to most of the lowland cultures of the Philippines. Bamboo is used for the framing and support, while the roof is constructed using the palm leaves.

Here is an old photo of a nipa hut

Another example

The SECOND one is called the Ivatan House.

Ivatan House

The Ivatan House is a unique vernacular architecture developed in the province of Batanes. Its compact structure is divided into four areas: the main house, the cooking house, toilet, and bathhouse. During the cold seasons, the cooking house also serves as sleeping quarters. The houses of Ivatan are constructed and repaired through a cooperative system called kayvayvanaan or kamanyiduan. Through this system, houses are fixed with immediate action.

Map Of The Philippines(Batanes is highlighted in RED)

 Most of the Ivatan houses are built with limestone walls, reed and cogon roofs, strong enough to withstand the numerous typhoons and earthquakes that visit the island on an average of eight times a year. Some houses have roof nets which allow the roofs to last from 25 to 30 years. These nets serve as the roofs' protection against strong winds during typhoons. Only three walls of the house have windows; the fourth wall faces the direction of the strongest typhoon winds. The inside is relatively cool during summer and warm during the rainy season.

There are 3 different types of Ivatan houses.

Sinadumparan

The sinadumparan or maytuab is the most common type. It is a one-storey structure with a partially submerged basement that functions as a storage area. It has thick stone and lime masonry with walls topped by either a dos aguas or a cuatro aguas roof which is made of an elaborately crafted wood truss system with bamboo, reed rattan, and thatch cover. It has a distinct roof system built with a meter thick cogon bundles done by by no less than twelve persons at the same time. The roof nets, called panpe, are made of strong ropes thrown over the roof and fastened to the ground.

Rakuh

Compared to the sinadumparan, rakuh has bigger floor area with a lower level which functions as the storage area. The walls are made of lime mortar that binds the stones of different sizes. It has two doors and three windows.

Jin-Jin

Instead of thick stone and lime mortar walls, the jin-jin house has walls made of woven cogon thatch with bamboo or wood framework. The roof is made with the distinctive Ivatan multi-layered cogon system.

Another Ivatan House with landscaping

The THIRD one is the Ifugao House.

IFUGAO HOUSE

The Ifugao houses were usually similar in architectural designs but they differ in decorative details depending on the tribes. Their houses were harmoniously located with the contour of the rice terraces. The one-room house of the Ifugao commonly know to them as fale. The exterior of the house seems to be nothing but a pyramid resting on four posts, while the interior space is enclosed by slanting walls and ceiling that appears to be spherical that are formed by the loft.

IFUGAO HOUSE

"OLIANG" Disks

The Ifugao House have three functional levels: the ground floor, the second level for the living quarters and the third level which was used as the granary. The ground level the posts have wooden discs which was called oliang to prevent rats from entering the house. The second level or the living area was accessible through a removable ladder. The social affairs, eating, cooking and sleeping are all done in this area. At the third level there was the patie, it is a shelf that extends from the wallboards outwards to the underside of the roof. It serves as the storage area and as a structural support to the roof. Inside the house was embellished rows of skulls of animals offered to gods during their annual rituals and also as a source of pride to the homeowner

A typical house design

Ifugao's constructing a house

The Ifugao house is sturdily crafted of timber from amugawan trees raised on four posts, which was buried 50 centimeters below the ground and locked in with stones. The four wooden posts that rest upon the pavement and support two wooden girders, which also supports three wooden transverse joists. The floor joists, floor silts, vertical studs and horizontal beams rests on the post and girders at about head level from a cage. The floor boards were fitted between the joists. The wooden sides of the house slant outward and rise up to the waist, this forms the lower half of the wall. The upper half of the wall is formed by the inner side of the roof. This creates a dark, windowless chamber which suggests a womb. The roof system rests on the “house cage”. The steeply pitched pyramidal roof is covered with thick layers of thatch or cogon, this insulate the house from the heat of the sun and from the torrential rail.


The FOURTH one is a Higaonon House.

Higaonon House

The picture above was borrowed from http://www.natgeocreative.com/photography/661852.

I could not find any information about they're style of housing online. Below would be the definition of "Higaonon".

The term higaonon means "people of the wilderness." The Higaonons occupy not only parts of Bukidnon Province but also the hinterlands of Agusan del Sur and the boundaries of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon Province.



EXTRA PHOTOS OF THE PHILIPPINES BELOW: 

THE END

My Research Project Presentation (Cob Oven Door)

For my project I'm welding the bake door and the fire door for the cob oven. So far all the work I've done towards it has been with a team in class. 

We cut and measured the wooden templates for the door. 

The class used the templates to build the arch of the oven. And I will be taking the templates to my welding shop to start work on building the final doors.

One factor I wanted to take into account when designing the doors is whether they would be able to stand on their own, so that we wouldn't need to use hinges. I looked at several cob oven door images and here are a couple of ideas I came up with. Obviously these are not set in stone and I would love to discuss concrete ideas- especially surrounding the material for the door knob- so I can move forward with the final door.

Greywater Filter using Mycelium

Mycelial-Greywater-Filter

 http://youtu.be/gE5PjlUQKh8

Indoor Greywater System. 2012.

The indoor greywater system functions as follows:
1. Water from an elevated bathroom sink travels through pipes into two mushroom bins.
2. The mushroom mycelium filter out pollutants.
3. The water travels into two planters filled with low-light, water-loving plants.
4. The plants transpire the water into the air, returning it to the hydrologic cycle.

 http://mythologicalquarter.net/2011/11/25/interview-katherine-ball/

http://www.permies.com/t/7853/grey-water/Mycelial-Greywater-Filter

https://www.imamuseum.org/island2011/2011/09/12/greywater/

http://katherineball.com/Indoor-Greywater-System

Alan Cash                                                                                                   July 5, 2014

BUILDING A 24” COB OVEN AT MY HOME

Overview of project:

Placement:

My vision is to design and build a 24” cob oven behind my current deck. 

This has been a long-term goal.

The cob oven will be constructed approx 8-10ft from the chimney and house. 

I will have to level the ground, move my fence and modify the deck to accommodate the structure.

I have surveyed all round my property and this seems the most convenient place for the oven. There will be easy access to kitchen for prep work and a larger deck area around the oven for social space.

The area behind the current fence will have to be leveled and made solid by laying down decomposed granite. This is where the foundation of the oven will be built.

Considerations and safety concerns:

• The structure may be too close to the house

• Large redwood tree very close that will have to be pruned.

• Smoke and sparks are a concern as this area is relatively close to neighboring properties.

• Area attracts a lot of moisture during the winter and also the summer fog drip. Provisions for a simple roof over the oven need consideration.

All safety concerns will be addressed before I proceed.

Location 

Picture showing inside current area of deck and
fence edge that will be moved further back

Picture showing other side of deck and the
intended area for cob oven construction

Different view showing the chimney

Test for site soil

I will do all soil tests using a combination of site soil, aggregate, straw and sand to determine the best ratios for sturdy material of thermal layer, insulating layer and plaster.

Materials

I already have some Napa Basalt stone for the foundation left from stone work from previous landscape job.

Other materials needed:

•Firebricks

•Flue

•Damper

•Spark arrester

•Slate or flagstone (American Soil and Stone)

•Napa Basalt (American Soil and Stone)

• Decomposed granite

• Sand

• Buckets and some tools

I will work out a budget for materials, but priority will be to scavenge and find as much as possible.

  

Design

I envision a simple structure comprising of one or two arches and one oven door. The flue will have a built in smoke damper and spark arrester.

The design will be drawn to scale using Sketch Up and show each component in detail. Oven door will be either metal or wood to be decided.

Roof and enclosure will be part of design consideration, perhaps at a later date.

I will draw detailed diagrams showing all components of the oven.

Ultimately. the oven must be beautiful and have the aesthetics that I’m looking for.

This project will be used as a guide and will not be built this semester.

Hello!

I am studying the thermal mass of rammed earth structures. The most interesting points seem to be which climates are most suitable for this type of building. I am also exploring the distinction between thermal mass and insulation, and in which circumstances the combination of the two would be beneficial. The link is to my teaser presentation- more to come- Thanks-V

Understanding the Thermal Mass of Rammed Earth

Ancient Persian Refrigerator - Yakhchal

Vaulted yakhchall in Arbakooh-Yazd, Iran

Yakhchal in Persian literally means "ice pit", it is an adobe reservoir to preserve ice. The ice was produced in the coldest period of winter and people would use the preserved ice during the summer. Ice was used to keep meat, dairy, and other foods fresh. It was also used to create dishes such as ice cream, chilled beverages, and traditional desserts. Although most cold dishes were a luxury for the privileged in ancient times, ice was still accessible to the entire public. It could be purchased straight from the yakhchal or from a vendor at the market. In a country where a large portion of the climate is very hot-arid and the summers are long, access to ice makes for a more comfortable life style. Even though these structures are categorized as ancient you could still find them in use as recently as the 21st century.

Illustration of a vaulted dome yakhchal

 There are a variety of techniques used to execute the ice making and preserving process, above is a common lay out found in the warmer regions of Iran it has three main components; a shade wall, pool, and ice reservoir. The wall is constructed to project a northward facing shadow, stretching in length both east and west. The size of the wall depends on the capacity of the reservoir. Along the wall a pool is made, usually only 40-50 cm deep, the width and length vary on the wall. This pool is used to hold water at night which will freeze by morning. The ice is broken into smaller pieces and transported into the reservoir where it is stored until the summer season. The vaulted dome traps the heat at the top of the structure while the ice is stored underground in a pit.

Aerial and cross section illustration of yakhchal

The historical background of Iranian ice repositories is unclear until the 17th century ( Safavid era) but the estimated time it was introduced is before 400 CE. There may be recorded history of using ice in this part of the world but none describing how it was produced. Much of the recorded descriptions and illustrations are provided by tourist or travelers to the area. Iranian bio-climatic architecture has thrived to create comfortable living for its native people with conscious design for individual regions. Such a simple yet sophisticated design should not be left to ruins but instead preserved and even reintroduced to every day use.

Sirjan, Iran

This is the research for earthbag building:

http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/history.htm

This is an example of the actual construction of an earth bag home:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYCTm9hCVhM

This is an example of type of housing I would build

to live in or guest housing

This is a cover for our pizza oven that would give us additional building experience