Eugene Fernando F.

Belmonte
December 6, 2013
The Concept of the Oriental and Asian Architecture

Its Not a Matter of Orientation

Orientalism is a term used by the people from the west, especially those that are
involved in the areas of design, architecture, arts, and even writing. When they speak of
orientalism, they refer to those qualities that are observed from the existing structures and
elements from that specific period, and particularly referring to the art and architecture of
Asia. However, the oriental that they are referring to is attributed only to some regions in
Asia, and this does not include the Philippines because of its separate location in the
Southeast Asian region. In addition, what they define as the oriental is the inferiority there
is in the architecture of these countries, whereas they refer to the excessive ornamentation
that does not have a significant purpose in construction. Because of this, Philippine
architecture cannot be considered an oriental architecture.

Popular themes in Philippine architecture are the bahay kubo and the bahay na bato.
The bahay kubo represents the architecture of the region. Generally, these houses are
characterized by the raised floors, simple geometry of four sides, steep roof, thatched roofing,
wide windows and eaves, and a large room with multi-use. Based on these characteristics, it
can be observed that this type of architecture has simple forms and does not have much decor
in it. These houses are also built in response to certain factors surrounding them such as
animals, flooding, and other climatic factors. In contrast to the defined oriental architecture
of the Western countries, the bahay kubo does not have ornaments that do not support a
purpose in the construction and relevant factors. On the other hand, first in line in the colonial
architecture in the Spanish period, and aside from the churches built at that time, is the bahay

na bato. Others would say that this architecture is not Philippine architecture. Although this
architecture is built during the Spanish colonial period, this is greatly influenced by the bahay
kubo, in the form, and the climatic factors in the Philippines. Influences of Chinese in the
structure such as the windows, does not necessarily include this type of architecture in the
oriental style. There is still no excessive ornamentation in the structure. Though,
ornamentations are present, these ornamentations serve a purpose, such as in the verandas
and at the opening at the upper portion of the walls. These are for ventilation and
security/privacy at the same time. In addition, these ornamentations are not natural or born in
the Philippines, and existed through the influences of other cultures.

After more years of being under Spanish colonialization, the architecture in the
Philippines has grown farther than before. Even in the American period, there are major
changes in the face of the country. Different styles were later introduced in the architecture
and up to the present, at the onset of globalization, and as there are more and more
innovations in the architecture happening around us, one can still not find the oriental in it.
Although, there exist in various establishments around, these are merely caused by exchanges
among the nations. Intermarriage of the architecture in the Southeast Asia may have changed
a few of the architecture in the Philippines, but these are not enough to qualify the Philippines
in the oriental architecture.

Even in the perspective of both the Western and the Asian, the sense of oriental
architecture does not include the Philippines. Although the country belongs in the region
where there is oriental architecture, one has to look into each of the countries culture and
take them individually in order to end the generalizations and the faulty classifications of
other nations, and appreciate the uniqueness of each.