It could be furniture, home décor, artwork, or memorabilia that most of us keep and display in the house. Like other cultures, Filipinos love keeping things with great sentimental value, especially items handed down to them and belonging to the family for several generations. Following the tradition carelessly might cause more damage (especially to your budget) rather than bring luck and prosperity. Word of precaution, though, if you want to practice the tradition, try to read books about Feng Shui or hire a Feng Shui expert rather than following the Chinese tradition based on hearsay. It can make the house organized, clean, comforting, and relaxing. However, I sometimes practice some of the non-traditional parts of the tradition, such as proper positioning of building openings and suitable locations of water features and indoor plants.Īside from good energy and prosperity, Feng Shui comes with significant advantages when followed well. Honestly, I'm not a strict follower of Feng Shui because I design spaces for users and not for their fortune. The Chinese tradition, when properly followed, is believed to bring in good luck and remove or prevent bad luck from entering the house. Surprisingly enough, most Filipinos, especially those of Chinese descent, have adapted Feng Shui practices in their homes. So, when designing a house in the Philippines, one primary consideration is the altar's location. It is a tradition that is still being practiced nowadays, and I was fortunate enough that I was able to be part of this tradition when I was a kid. October is the Holy Rosary Month in each community, it is celebrated by bringing the statue of Mother Mary to different houses and praying the rosary every night. In most houses, the altar is the center space in the living area or sometimes placed in the staircase with enough space where the family can kneel and pray. It could be a piece of furniture or a wall-hung shelf where holy pictures, statues, relics, and candles are placed. Home AltarĪnother unique feature of a Filipino-style home is the homemade altar. However, the spirit of helping one another, which was adopted from the traditional "Bayanihan," can still be seen within the community through volunteering at other events and town improvements. Younger generations of Architects and designers are modernizing houses in the country with the modernization and new technologies helping to build homes faster and efficiently comes the loss of the traditional "Bayanihan." It's unfortunate, but everyone needs to adapt to changes for better ways of living. And most of the people are just so happy helping each other to build the house. When I was a kid, I remember what it was like when the community gathered to build a traditional house or move an existing home to other places (yes, that's a thing, too) we call it "Bayanihan." I also remember that it felt like there was a massive party with lots of food and drinks.
The men are in charge of all the heavy lifting and construction, and the women cook and prepare food. As a local tradition in most of the provinces in the country, the entire community would gather together and help to build the house. Most of these houses are built by local carpenters and are made of locally available construction materials. The traditional houses in the Philippines called "Bahay Kubo" are the best examples of vernacular architecture.
One thing stays the same, though, most homes in the Philippines are designed for the most fundamental unit of the community- the family.īut with all the changes, development, and modernity of interior design styles? Do we still have that specific identity in our home style that is bold enough to say that this is a Filipino home? Vernacular Architecture Like other countries, the types of houses in the Philippines have undergone many changes, from the local inhabitants who dwelt in nipa huts (Bahay Kubo) to the Stone Houses (Bahay na Bato) of the Spanish era and the modern period houses. In celebration of the annual Fiesta Filipino event in Calgary, I thought it would be fitting to create a blog about interior design styles that is uniquely Filipino. As a designer who grew up in the Philippines, it's an honor, and I am happy that I could experience living in a home based on Filipino culture and traditions. From a deeper perspective, the types of our home's interior spaces also differ based on cultures and locations. Interior design styles come in different shapes, forms, and functions.
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