CONTEMPORARY PHILIPPINE

ARTS FROM THE REGIONS

EN G R . JO HN MAR M. FO R TES
TEACHER
 Interior Designing
in the Philippines
INTERIOR DESIGN IN THE PHILIPPINES
The interior design sector in the country has grown as prestigious colleges and universities started to offer
courses and subjects in the fields of design, style and architecture.

Surprisingly, Filipino interior design dates back to the time when the first colonizers came to the country in 1521.
Kubo, which is a hut made from bamboo and cogon, was one of the first homes made by our ancestors. The
bahay kubo, also known as payag (Nipon) in the Visayan languages and, is a type of stilt house indigenous to the
Philippines. It often serves as an icon of Philippine culture.
Pre-colonial Filipino homes were often made with simple materials such as nipa and wood. Indigenous
peoples built simple homes but they were also resistant to typhoons, earthquakes, and extreme heat.

But when the Spanish came, new materials such as stone as well as existing indigenous materials like narra
and capiz shells became popular choices for building houses.

Filipinos also reinvented their homes inspired by their previous pre-colonial designs but using materials and
concepts from the Spanish. From this mix of indigenous and European designs, the bahay-na-bato (house of
stone) was born. It has since been widely used in cities and towns throughout the country, and the Spanish
Filipino design became the most dominant type of traditional interior design in the Philippines.
 The History Of Home Design In The Philippines

Bahay na Bato or Stone House is a type of building that

rose in popularity during the Philippines’ Spanish Colonial
Bahay Kubo or Nipa Huts were the native houses of our
period. It is an updated version of the Bahay Kubo. It with
indigenous countrymen and were utilized since the pre-
the style and culture influence of Spanish colonizers and
Hispanic Era. Bahay kubo was designed to endure the
Chinese traders.
typical tropical climate of the country.
During the Spanish occupation period, hardwood, capiz shells and other indigenous materials were used to create
architecture as well as the aesthetics of a home. Since the 1500s during the Filipino Spanish period, capiz shells
were used for windowpanes on houses. The shellfish is named after Capiz, a province in Panay Island where it is
common. Capiz shell products have been exported to the Europe and the rest of the world for the past 300 years.

As years went by, Filipino design and architecture were influenced by western culture. Indigenous materials were
no longer seen in homes and other structures resulting in a loss of Philippine idealism.
 Townhouses, colloquially called as “apartments” most
times, are another common type of home design in the
Bungalow home design was introduced during the
Philippines. They are very common in the residential
American Colonial period. It is the most common and
developments in the urban areas and sometimes in rural
popular house in the country. The house is described as
areas.
low-rise homes sporting a pitched roof and a horizontal
shape. Typically, the roof is made of galvanized iron and
the walls are of concrete.
A condominium is a section of a building or a complex which a person can own
individually. It is a private residence owned in a building or community with multiple
units.
what is Interior Designing?
Interior design
It is a multi-dimensional profession that involves a combination of
creativity, technique and an intriguing mind for innovation to
plan, structure and design a space to make it an aesthetically
pleasing environment. Interior designers provide solutions to
make a more functional space and make it easy for occupants to
enhance their quality of life.

Interior Designer
an interior designer is an interior architect who is responsible for the internal environment of a building. This covers
every aspect of the design, from the local bylaws, code compliance, planning, plumbing, electrical, lighting,
heating, cooling, fitting and fixtures and of course the finishes. It is everything about the interior environment not
just the finishes.
Today, interior designers work with contractors, architects, engineers, craftsmen, furniture dealers, and business
and home owners. To become a successful interior designer, you need a well-rounded education and the skills to
work within many disciplines (architecture; graphic design; decorative arts; and textile, furniture, and lighting
design).
Filipino interior design is surprisingly diverse, thanks in part to the diverse influences of various races and
ethnicities in the Philippines. From the historical Spanish interior design to the more modern Filipino American
interior design to the iconic Filipino Chinese interior design, no two Filipino homes are the same. And every
Filipino home is unique from the inside out, symbolizing how Filipinos value their homes.
 Republic Act No. 8534 a.k.a “Philippine Interior Design Act of 1998.”
Practice of Interior Design - The practice of interior design is the act ofplanning, designing, specifying,
supervising and giving general administration and responsible direction to the functional, orderly and aesthetic
arrangement and development of interiors of buildings and residences that shall contribute to the enhancement
and safeguard of life, health and property and the promotion and enrichment of the quality of life. It shall
embrace the following activities relative thereto:

1. Consultation, advice, direction, evaluation, estimates, appraisals, adjustments and operational

programming;
2. Schematic designs and development, professional contract documents and construction phases;
3. Preparation of preliminary technical, economic and financial feasibility studies including preparation of
specialized studies;
4. Preparation of plans, specifications, bill of materials, project cost estimates, general conditions and their
contract documents;
5. Interior construction and project management: administration, supervision, coordination and direction to
the planning, designing, construction, renovation, demolition, alteration, preservation or restoration of
building interiors;
6. The practice of interior design shall also include all other works, projects and activities which require the
professional competence of the interior designer, including teaching of interior design subjects and
computer- aided design.
 Filipino Interior Designers

Architect Francisco “Bobby” Manosa

is noted for using indigenous materials such as rattan and bamboo in most of his projects including the famous
Coconut Palace. Thanks to Manosa, the distincts style of Philippine architecture and design started to make its way
back to Filipino home aesthetics. Furniture and home decors made from rattan, bamboo, buri, abaca and capiz
shells have started to dominate in the homes of many Filipino families.
 Jim Caumeron
is an interior design firm based in Manila. The studio interlaces Filipino design with international features. This
firm is well-known for its clean and minimalistic designs. One of its most prominent projects is a panorama house
located three hours away from Manila. The house is a giant white monolith with two large horizontal cuts. The
wide sections create a connection with the exterior and also provide a great amount of ventilation.
 D3ID
established as recently as 2013, D3ID has already stood out for its modern and contemporary designs that
turn residential and commercial spaces into functioning works of art. They use a neutral color palette in most
of their designs. Their services are also offered in packages or parts so their clients could flexibly manage
and implement their projects. This Mandaluyong-based firm has designed several condominiums and
businesses, such as the Grand Hyatt in Taguig and the Manila Hotel.

 Studio Dito
is a studio created by Oliver Jundy P. Caldito, a Quezon City-based architect and designer. His design philosophy
is unique and special because his approach greatly emphasizes environmental and heritage conservation.
 Budji+Royal
is a partnership envisioned by designer Budji Layug and architect Royal Pineda. Both Budji and Royal have
illustrious, extensive careers of their own, with Budji winning the “Haligi ng Dangal” award in 2017 and Royal
garnering the praise for being a visionary and a national innovator. Although they are committed to bringing
organic modern interior design to the world, their works feature a variety of styles and their approach to design is
more custom, holistic, and practical.
Their works use a variety of materials and color palettes, as shown in their designs such as the Cruz Residence in
Ayala West Grove and the conference hall of the World Health Organization in New Delhi, India.
Types of Filipino Interior Design

1. Spanish Filipino

While this design is undoubtedly Filipino, it can be traced back to the

Spanish colonial period. With the arrival of the Spanish in the
Philippines, new materials were introduced for making and designing
homes.

In Spanish Filipino ancestral homes, you can see various furniture

made of native Filipino wood such as narra, mahogany, and acacia.
Wood is a primary element of Spanish Filipino interior design, often
used in furniture, doors, and floors. Rooms are also a defining feature of
Spanish Filipino architecture, with every part of the house having its
function and are often separated from one another.

For instance, the bedrooms are separate from the living and dining rooms, while a place called oratorio is specially
reserved for prayers. Some Spanish Filipino homes also have receiving areas for visitors called caida or antesala.
2. Tribal Filipino
If you are wondering what tribal or ethnic Filipino interior design looks like,
you can take a look at the bahay-kubo or the nipa hut, which is considered to
be the national home of the Philippines. Native or tribal Filipino interior design
also does not contain much furniture, just like in most houses inhabited by
indigenous peoples in the Philippines.

For instance, indigenous tribes use banig made from palm, pandan, or reed
leaves. A banig can often function as both a bed and a sofa, and it can be
used as a sleeping and floor mat. But what tribal Filipino design lacks in
furniture, it makes up for in ornaments and symbolism.

Another remarkable feature of tribal Filipino design is the use of native

textiles. Each textile is unique, with its own geometric patterns and bright
colors as well as various symbols that signify something.

Tribal Filipino interior design also uses indigenous materials quite extensively. They especially like rattan, abaca,
buri, bamboo, and palm leaves,. These materials are used for making everything from banig and baskets to the walls
and roofs of the house itself.
3. Filipino Chinese

Feng shui has influenced Filipino Chinese interior design. It

has also guided many interior designers on the placement of
furniture and other elements inside a home.
But feng shui is not only about the placement of furniture. It
also guides interior designers and homeowners on the
materials and colors used for design.

Wood is a popular material among Chinese families and

interior designers because it has a neutral effect on energy
levels. The colors red, gold, and black symbolize various
things and ideas in Chinese culture. Red often symbolizes
luck and prosperity while gold is often associated with
Chinese emperors.
Other elements of Filipino Chinese interior design include fine and clean-cut designs, geometric patterns, and the
incorporation of Confucian and Buddhist elements.

These include Golden Buddha statues, altars with incense, and other religious symbols from the East. Porcelain items
such as vases and plates, calligraphic decorations, and ornate carvings also make up the traditional Filipino Chinese
home.
3. Filipino - American
When Filipinos hear about American design in the Philippines, they
often think of the Art Deco and Neoclassical designs found in places
like the Luneta Hotel and the Post Office building in the 1920s and
1930s. The early 20th century was a pivotal moment in the history of
Filipino interior design and architecture as American trends such as
Art Deco and neoclassicism entered the country.

While Filipino American interior design was indeed inspired by

Neoclassical and Art Deco movements in the early 20th century
when the Philippines was under American rule, modern Filipino
American interior design builds on a more contemporary
foundation with Filipino tones.

As shown in the photo, the design is overwhelmingly American due to the presence of an 18th-century style furnace
along with a hanging chair, two wall shelves, and the use of the color white, especially on the walls.

The design is also extremely minimalistic, which has become a trend in American interior design. But the design still
has Filipino undertones reflected in the baskets made of rattan and other indigenous Filipino materials. The wooden
floors and the snake plant beside the chair also add elements native elements to the design.
Some well-known Contemporary Interior Design Styles
Contemporary interior design although is a dynamic style of interior design, characteristics like neutral palettes,
clean lines and organic silhouettes fall under the style of contemporary interior design

1. Boho/Bohemian

2. Mid Century Modern

3. Scandinavian

4. Traditional

5. Transitional

6. Industrial

7. Contemporary

8. Nautical

9. Minimalist

10. Shabby Chie