Alieha Pascua

Advisor: Eduardo Aquino

Isometric and top-down view of a Bahay Kubo, showing traditional Filipino stilt house design, bamboo walls, and thatched roof, on a brown textured background.
Analysis of Casa Residencia, the bahay kubo (nipa hut) built by Philippine national hero Jose Rizal.
A historical timeline collage of the Philippines, featuring key events and figures. Includes colonial architecture, national flags, protests, and headlines. The tone is educational and reflective.
Tracing the rich history of the Philippines, shaped by colonial influence and the stories of resistance and reform.
A diorama of a rustic classroom. It features a figure standing beside an old-fashioned desk, surrounded by wooden benches. The structure is barn-like, with straw roofing. Along the base are printed images of people in old-fashioned attire, conveying a historic or educational atmosphere.
Conceptual model of bayanihan - the act of moving one’s bahay kubo with the help of community, showcasing the strength of unity.
Collage titled "Bulacan is Drowning" featuring flood scenes in Bulacan. Text highlights issues with equipment and school openings, conveying urgency and crisis.
Bulacan is Drowning: the deep impact of climate conditions in Bulacan, especially on schools.
Map of Frances, Calumpit, Bulacan, highlighting a densely populated orange area. Insets show Frances Elementary and National High School, and a population breakdown.
Site map indicating schools within Frances, Bulacan.
A black-and-white photo of children in a classroom on the left with text "What would you like to be when you grow up?" Overlay labels read "Doctor," "Teacher," "Scientist." On the right, various children playing, learning, and reading under trees. Text reads "Education is the key to freedom," conveying hope and aspiration.
Collages reflecting on a holistic view of education beyond a formal classroom, rather explored by means of play, creativity, and community. Rooted in Rizal’s philosophy of education as the key to freedom, and the empowerment of the youth.
Overlay of architectural sketches and plans on grid paper, showing building layouts and details. A blend of brown and grayscale tones conveys a creative and technical atmosphere.
Iterative design sketches – re-designing Frances Elementary School, imagined to foster both learning and social gathering, while integrating the principles of Filipino vernacular architecture.
Architectural model of a modern building with angular white roofs shown from various angles. Features visible structural elements and geometric forms.
1:200 model exploring the interconnection of educational spaces, and a sense of national identity.

Reclaiming Filipino Identity through Educational Spaces

Education is essential to a better future. But what if a learning environment becomes a hindrance to a student’s education? A lack of equal access to education in the Philippines raises questions about how architecture can be a tool in providing educational spaces for marginalized communities, particularly in flood-prone areas. Guided by the knowledge found in traditional and vernacular architecture, this thesis aims to discover the roots of the bahay kubo, or nipa hut, and its potential to redefine contemporary architecture. Though seemingly simple, the values of community, adaptability, and sustainability stand the test of time in this indigenous structure, leading to a progressive prototype of a school.

Acknowledging the long-standing neglect of school infrastructures in the Philippines and the severity of climate conditions, lead to an urgency to rethink how these structures are built. Proposing a redesign of Frances Elementary School in Calumpit, Bulacan, addresses the distraught caused by recent flooding where many classrooms were submerged and ceilings had collapsed.  This vulnerability becomes the catalyst of this project to implement traditional vernacular design principles and sustainable methods of construction, as a demonstration of resilience.  

Further analyzing the history of the Philippines and its socio-cultural context, informs the design process and how the influence of colonization continues to affect its architecture today. Exploring the use of local materials and carefully noticing the regional differences of form and craftsmanship embodied in the bahay kubo, identifies significant narratives that re-examine what is genuinely Filipino to reclaim the identity of its buildings.

Often looking ahead, we seldom consider the past when envisioning the future. What can our ancestors teach us? Is there value in traditional knowledge? With these interests, this project aims to explore issues regarding educational inequality, environmental matters, and reclaiming Filipino identity through architecture. Driven by the desire to discover my ancestral roots, this thesis delves into the deeper appreciation of the people that came before, through the building of an educational space. Providing a place to educate future generations, carrying the resilience of our ancestors, reflected in the environment they are taught in. Honoring the stories of the past from its humble beginnings, can we then begin a future dedicated to the reclamation of Filipino identity.