The Psychological Effects of the Evolving Forms of Architecture: Reflection Paper on the Documentary on Pre-Hispanic Architecture
The Psychological Effects of the Evolving Forms of Architecture: Reflection Paper on the Documentary on Pre-Hispanic Architecture
In reaction to the documentary on Pre-Hispanic architecture in the Philippines, pre-Hispanic architecture includes various factors affecting its structure and arrangement such as the geographical location and topographical features of its location and religious affiliations. Where the early Filipinos resided and habituated, whether along the coastlines or on top of a hill, shaped the resources available for them to utilize as materials for their architecture such as narra, molave, yakal, ipil, nipa, and others found in their environment. Apart from wood resources, they also utilized stones for sturdier house structure as a form of refuge and shield from hostile climate just like the Ivatans in Batanes whose stone-houses are made of limestone. Apparently, just like the Ivatans, other pre-Hispanic house structures also depended on the climate.
The influence of religion in the pre-Hispanic architecture, animism being their religion before Spanish contact, is manifested in the decorative natural symbols displayed and carved in their houses to symbolize protection from evil spirits, reincarnation of deity, fertility, and more values practiced in their religion. Early Filipinos practice simple home building with the use of wood, nipa and leaves, and bamboo. All these manifestations of pre-Hispanic architecture resulted from the peoples’ mere need to survive, be sheltered, respond and adapt to the environment they belong to.
As decades and decades went by and this form of architecture has been immensely affected and influenced by colonization, I observed that the perception of living has also changed among the entire Filipinos today. There are those who prefer a simple house, while there are those who desire ambitiously until they reach their sky-high limit. This perception emerged as a result of colonization’s cutthroat manifestation
In reaction to the documentary on Pre-Hispanic architecture in the Philippines, pre-Hispanic architecture includes various factors affecting its structure and arrangement such as the geographical location and topographical features of its location and religious affiliations. Where the early Filipinos resided and habituated, whether along the coastlines or on top of a hill, shaped the resources available for them to utilize as materials for their architecture such as narra, molave, yakal, ipil, nipa, and others found in their environment. Apart from wood resources, they also utilized stones for sturdier house structure as a form of refuge and shield from hostile climate just like the Ivatans in Batanes whose stone-houses are made of limestone. Apparently, just like the Ivatans, other pre-Hispanic house structures also depended on the climate.
The influence of religion in the pre-Hispanic architecture, animism being their religion before Spanish contact, is manifested in the decorative natural symbols displayed and carved in their houses to symbolize protection from evil spirits, reincarnation of deity, fertility, and more values practiced in their religion. Early Filipinos practice simple home building with the use of wood, nipa and leaves, and bamboo. All these manifestations of pre-Hispanic architecture resulted from the peoples’ mere need to survive, be sheltered, respond and adapt to the environment they belong to.
As decades and decades went by and this form of architecture has been immensely affected and influenced by colonization, I observed that the perception of living has also changed among the entire Filipinos today. There are those who prefer a simple house, while there are those who desire ambitiously until they reach their sky-high limit. This perception emerged as a result of colonization’s cutthroat manifestation