HOUSING
ASSIGNMENT
I.
CULTURAL BELIEFS IN HOUSING
The experienced Filipino architect is familiar with the common folk beliefs and usually
follows them or applies these age-old guidelines in the planning of one’s dream house. Many
of these beliefs are based on sound planning practices that do not have to be overly
emphasized.
It is more advantageous if two faces of the house take in the morning sun. This can be
achieved if a corner of the house take in the morning sun. This can be achieved if a corner
of the house faces east. In fact, most educated Filipinos are of the belief that the more
windows your residence has (or the larger they are), the better the chances of your house
absorbing natural and spiritual graces.
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In Bontoc, the front door of the house must face against the flow of a nearby
river according to ancient folk beliefs.
In Romblon, the roof of the house must slope following the direction of the
incline of the nearby mountains.
In the Cordilleras, it is different. The ridge of the roof is always positioned at right
angles to the ridge of the mountain on which the house stands.
Among the Ibalois, it is customary to give ample space underneath their houses
by elevating their floors to accommodate the future tomb of the owner to
ensure perpetual guidance over the house the dead leaves behind.
If one is building a house within a family compound or between two relatives,
make sure that the roof is not higher than theirs, otherwise, their lives will never
progress or will always be worse. A sibling’s house must not be built so close to
that of his parents such that rainwater from the eaves of the main house pours
onto the roof of the sibling.
Beliefs in POSTS/COLUMNS:
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In Southern Tagalog, posts are erected following this procedure: posts are laid with
their bottom ends at the footing on the ground and the top ends pointing towards
the east. The post nearest the east is the first to be raised. The same procedure is
followed for the other posts, one after the other in a clockwise direction as one reads
the plan. This same clockwise manner of raising the posts is practiced on the island
of Romblon and the belief is that it will make the house windproof.
The Tausugs, equate the building of a house to the development of a fetus. They
believe that the first to appear in a woman’s womb is the navel. Hence, the first post
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to be erected should be the main post within the interior of the house. In the Cagayan
Valley, meanwhile, the first post to be raised is the one positioned nearest to the
northeast. But this is done after the footings have been sprinkled with wine.
The old folks of Bataan caution against having a solitary post in the middle of a room.
It is said to bring misfortune to the family. This belief is also common in Tagalog areas
and it is said that posts situated this way augur a “heavily laden” life (mabigat ang
kabuhayan).
The Yakans do not use crooked wooden posts especially the ones with knotholes in
them because they are said to symbolize death. In the older communities of
Bayambang, Pangasinan, it is commonly believed that termites (anay) will not enter
the house if the bottoms of all wooden posts are first charred. Informed master
carpenters, however, suggest that these bottoms not just be charred but tarred as
well.
Others swear by the potency of rock salt sprinkled generously in all footing
excavations as preventive measures against anay infestation. Old people also
cautions against cutting old posts for reuse so as not to lose one’s wealth.
Beliefs in STAIRS:
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An orientation towards the east is also required for stairs. Ilocanos position their
stairs so that they rise with the morning sun. To them, if it were the other way
around, meant turning one’s back on fate.
But builders in Pandi, Bulacan, just like many typical Filipinos, believe that a stairway
facing east is considered bad luck because, they say, anything facing the early sun
dries up ahead of all others, and in the same token, wealth taken into the house will
dry up much faster.
If there is no way one can make the stairs face east, at least make them face any
nearby mountain. If one’s lot abuts a river, position the stairs in a way that they are
facing upstream. This is so in order that good luck from the house would never be
washed away with the river’s flow. In the same way, if the proposed house is beside
the sea, or if one is building a beach house, plan the stairs in such a way that they
run parallel with the shore. If the stairs are perpendicular to the shoreline, luck may
flow in but also flow out with the tides.
Also, it is not advised to place a large window in the wall directly facing the stairs so
that good fortune will not easily go out that window. Most Western countries
consider it bad luck to walk under a ladder. Actually, this can be taken more as a
safety precaution than a superstition. Locally, one should not make a passageway
any area under the stairs.
Tagalogs never use the space beneath the stairs as a sleeping quarters. The underside
of wooden stairs of Ilonggo houses are usually completed covered not because of
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peeping Toms but because the Old folks say so. For business establishments,
especially the small ones, the cashier or the place where money is kept should not
be located under the staircase. In homes, neither should rice be kept there because
it translates to treading on the grace of God whenever one goes up or down the
stairs.
When planning a structure with two or more storeys, the stairway should not be
positioned at the center of the structure so as not to divide the building into two
equal parts. It is believed that the dried umbilical cord of a son or daughter of the
house owner inserted in the staircase will strongly bind the stringer with its
supporting girder.
There are guidelines, too, governing the number of steps in one’s stairs. Starting with
the first landing, count the steps using the words oro (gold), plata (silver), and mata
(death). The perfect last step should be oro. Ending up plata is not too bad either but,
understandably, do not ever end up with mata. This ruling is strictly observed
especially if it involves the first steps going into the house. If your home has a slight
elevation, choose four steps but never three.
This building belief is not limited to stairs alone. It also applies to walkways that are
made of individual flagstones or the popular circular or square slabs of pebbled
concrete or even an entire concrete walkway or ramp that is divided into sections by
lines drawn onto the pavement itself, especially if they lead to the main entrance of
the house.
The Yakans of Mindanao, however, believe in odd numbering of steps. They also
require an odd number of bedrooms. Chinese Filipinos, on the other hand, count
their steps by fours.
Beliefs in DOORS:
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It is advised that doors should not face each other. The people in the north associates
this with the easy passage of a coffin through two doors that directly face each other.
Most regions in the country also avoid positioning the main gate of the lot opposite
the main entrance of the house itself.
In Sta. Maria and San Miguel, Bulacan, however, wide doors facing each other are
considered lucky, especially if they lead to the terrace or garden. One’s door also
should not directly face one’s neighbor’s to avoid future conflicts with the said
households and to avoid wrestling with each other for the possession of the luck that
passes in front of both your houses.
Beliefs in LIVING ROOMS:
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Sunken rooms, like basements are looked at as pockets of caves where evil spirits
can hide. It is balanced off only when an exit lower than the said room is provided.
Some Ilocanos do not want basements altogether because of the belief that only
coffins should be found under the ground. Old folks of Sta. Maria, Bulacan advise that
the floors of the living and dining rooms must be of the same level. They say the
imaginary “ball of fortune” must be able to freely roll across both floors.
Overly ornate living and dining room ceilings, especially those with cornices,
moldings, and other superficial decorations are avoided as it tends to make the
ceiling look like a coffin. Even the “mansard” or flat type of roof invented at the turn
of the century are avoided as it reminds people of a coffin.
Beliefs in BEDS AND BEDROOMS:
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It is advised that one must plan the doors of one’s bedrooms in such a way that
when it is opened, one would face neither the foot nor head of the bed. There should
always be ample space between the door and the bed itself. Position the bed such
that the headboard does not rest against a window opening.
Neither should you put any bed under a cross beam, regardless of whether the beam
is of wood or concrete, and position the bed so that the occupant will not be lying
perpendicular to the beam. Overly strict homeowners do not have exposed beams
at all even if these are veneered with different materials.
For houses with second floors, it should be observed that no drainage pipe runs
inside or under the floor where the bed is located. Drainage pipes contain unclean
fluids associated with bad energies which may affect the good spirits of the people
sleeping over these pipes.
Do not place bedrooms in the basement portion of the house. It is always preferred
(luck-wise) that the bedroom floor is higher than the living room. Non-sleeping
rooms like library, den, foyer, storage, etc. can be at a lower level than that of the
living room.
Beliefs in BRIGHT DINING ROOMS:
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As anyone who knows Filipino cuisine, Pampangos love to cook (and eat), so most
of their dining rooms are situated in the sunniest and brightest locations of the
house. Ilocanos, on the other hand, prefer subdued lighting because they consider
eating a solemn occasion.
OTHER CULTURAL BELEIFS
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As in other areas of their existence, Filipinos nurture certain superstitions when It
comes to building their abodes. These house-building beliefs are as amusing as they
are intriguing. The origins of these now widely held superstitions can be traced back
to the traditions of particular ethnic groups.
Doors should never face west.
Mirrors should never face a house’s main door because it is believed that the mirror
will send out the blessings that are supposed to go inside the house.
During construction, residents or the carpenters working on the house should offer
a pig or a chicken’s blood through pouring it to the foundations or posts of the
house.
Another thing which should be done during construction is twisting the posts
clockwise before cementing it in its place.
It is believed that a child will be lucky if his or her first ever extracted tooth is placed
under a house’s roof. o People should never sweep the floor in the evening going to
the direction of the main door and outside the house.
A house that is built in the middle of a crossroad and faces the dead end or what is
called “tumbok” in Filipino is said to be full of bad luck for its residence. This also
applies to buildings, apartments, and all other structures.
An imperative ritual in building a house, perhaps the Ilocano counterpart of the
cornerstone-laying ceremony, is to imbed the foundation posts with loose coins- for
good luck.
A house must face east, if it could be helped. Sunshine entering the front door
ushers in prosperity.
Doors inside houses must not directly parallel other doors that leads outside. Easy
exits mean money earned may be quickly dissipated and never saved.
As for stairs, they should always turn right, that being the righteous path. This
particular belief applies best to the marital bond. An opposite direction signifies
infidelity.
Ilocanos of the northernmost part of the Philippines tend to cut down aratiles trees
growing in front of their houses to prevent their daughters from being illicitly
impregnated.
To make a house typhoon- resistant, the posts should be turned clockwise before
being permanently cemented and secured. Allowing the shadow of a post to fall on
you while erecting it is a bad omen.
Erecting a house in front of a dead-end street will bring bad luck to its occupants,
whether it is the original owners or tenants.
Doors should always be on the right side of the house and the stairs should always
turn to the right to keep a married couple loyal to each other for life.
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II.
Doors should not be built facing each other for it portends that money will come
easily but also rush out quickly.
Septic tanks must not be constructed higher than the ground for it would demand
sacrifice in human life.
The owner must transfer to the new house not later than six in the morning during
the new moon to attract good luck and prosperity, and the first things that must be
brought inside the house are salt, rice and coins.
No part of the house should cover or hang over the stump of a newly cut tree.
Neither should a new house overlap any portion of an old house.
A two-story building that is remodeled into a single story will shorten the lives of its
occupants.
A snake that enters the house brings good luck as long as it doesn’t bite any of the
occupants. This is probably based on the practice of Filipinos during the Spanish
colonial times to keep pythons in the partition between the roof and the ceiling to
reduce the rodent population the house.
While number 7 and 11 bring good luck, number 13 is never used as an address
number or the number of a story in a building. o An injury to a construction worker
while a house or building is being erected is an omen of bad luck that can be
neutralized by killing a pig or a white chicken and sacrificing its blood to the spirits.
A Balete tree is considered to be haunted and must not be cut down when building
a house or else the spirits will attack the construction workers as well as the owner
of a house.
HOUSING TYPOLOGIES
These are the different physical characteristics of a building according to the materials
that happened to be available on that particular place with a particular climate, cultural
aspects, social status, etc.
1. Bungalow
Bungalow is one of the most recognizable house types in the Philippines. It refers
to a single-storey house and all the rooms can be found on the same floor. Quite
commonly seen inside private subdivision in the Philippines, many old houses in the
country were built as bungalows.
Bungalow houses are often characterized as having sloped roofs, sprawling front
porches, and open floor plans. They are the ideal house type for families with older
and disabled loved ones that find it hard to go up the stairs. Their low design makes
it easy move around from one space to another.
2. Condominium
A unit space in a mid-rise or high-rise residential unit is referred to as a
condominium. Each unit space may have a variety of condo owner/s with separate
titles. The unit may have a studio-type, one, two, or three bedrooms. As a condo
owner, a few of the benefits that come with it is having the freedom to decorate your
own living space and having access to the building’s luxurious and exclusive
amenities, including the swimming pools and fitness centers, as well as the
advantage of being nearby to shopping malls.
3. Townhouse
A townhouse is another very popular house type in the Philippines wherein the
homes are all lined up in a row and share a common wall. These properties also have
their designated carports and front yards. Townhouses are known for being more
affordable than other property types (e.g., condominiums, single-detached, single
attached) in the country.
4. Single Attached
A single attached house and lot refers to a residential property wherein one wall
is shared with a neighbor. There would be a big space on either the right side or left
side of the house, and there would be a spacious front and backyard as well.
Single attached are ideal for being relatively affordable because their house
dimension is similar to the property being shared a wall with. Given that single
attached homes are next to each other, they are also the recommended house type
in the Philippines for extended families who need to live close (e.g. elderly relatives).
5. Single Detached
Single-detached homes are ideal for bigger or growing families. They give
residents more space to move around, offering a heightened level of privacy not
achieved in condominiums. There are open spaces on the property’s side, front, and
back area.
6. Duplex Houses
These have two units that share a wall but have their own two separate
entrances. The pair will be available in one lot and can be purchased separately. They
are frequently far cheaper than purchasing a single detached property. It can be
purchased for thousands of pesos less per square meter. This can also be an excellent
alternative for small families or investors on a tight budget. Purchasing a duplex can
cut expenditures for starter families as well. Homebuyers might have the typical
amenities they require in a single residence in a considerably more cost-efficient
manner.
III.
THEORIES IN HOUSING
1. MARXIST HOUSING THEORY
Marxist theory is considered one of the first housing theories and starts from the
assumption that every human has the right to quality housing irrespective of
economic status, i.e. that the economic differences between the rich and the poor in
terms of household incomes should be least visible.
The Marxist view defines housing in terms of three fundamental dimensions:
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Housing is a necessary good, a means of subsistence that is necessary for the
reproduction of the labor force and is therefore a good whose consenters
directly or indirectly into the production of all commodities. This means that
housing in a capitalist social formation is of interest to classes of people other
than those who immediately consume it.
“Housing is a fixed good. A material precondition for producing a house is that
it has to occupy land in a specific location. Land is a limited product and the
right to use it is preserved by legal regulations,
In a capitalist social formation, housing not only has a use but also an exchange
value; it is, or can become, a commodity whose consumption can only be
realized by those with a housing need and who can afford to purchase it.
2. THE POSITIVISTS HOUSING THEORY
Positivist theory primarily rests on an “objective” approach to evaluating certain
phenomena but in housing satisfaction studies, the “subjective” component is also
important, that is, the perceptions and feelings of individuals.
According to A. M. Soliman (2004), Positivists defined housing by three dimensions:
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The economic status on which the physical improvement of the dwelling unit
depends, and with which the dwelling unit increases its economic value.
The health situation within the dwelling units that can be measured; i.e.
individuals should live in health-friendly facilities for the further development
of the community as a whole, and:
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The contribution of the government in ensuring dwelling units where the
authorities should ensure the availability of adequate housing for each
individual.
3. FUNCTIONALIST HOUSING THEORY
Functionality as a social paradigm emerged in American sociology in the 1940s
and 1950s and emphasizes social harmony and its preservation. It focuses on the
harmony of parts within a system, based on the principles of economy, simplicity,
townscape adaptation and functionality.
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The functionalist theory was most widely used in urban geography, especially
in determining the hierarchy of functioning cities (both apparent and
underlying).
The functionalist theory of living was based on the statement that “the form
always follows the function”, which was particularly applied in architecture.
4. HOUSING MOBILITY THEORY
The theory of housing mobility was presented in 1955 in Rossi’s book “Why
Families Move”. Rossi developed the theory based on Reiner’s idea of family homebased irregularities that trigger the relocation of a family (household), and also relied
on the concept of a family lifecycle for different housing needs.
He studied housing mobility in the United States because it was precisely the
foundation of changes in urban areas and emphasized in his studies the typology of
housing and the features of the immediate social and economic environment.
They state that “the residential value of a flat does not depend only on the size
of the flat and the facilities of the premises, but also on the services and facilities that
enable social communication and sufficient provision of transport, education,
information and recreational opportunities, as well as the possibility of the flat being
supplied with goods and services” in a wider area (i.e. neighborhood, urban zone or
district).
This is confirmed by the thesis that neighborhood features are extremely
important predictors that will affect housing mobility. All variables affecting housing
mobility are summed up in three factors according to A.C. Brummell (1977), which
are aspirations, usability of space and stress.
The concept of aspiration in the process of mobility was introduced by J. Wolpert
(1965) who based the theory of mobility on the approach that individuals do not
react to the environment but to an evaluation of the state of the environment.
5. THEORY OF HOUSING SATISFACTION
The originators of this theory were G. C. Galster and G. W. Hesser who developed
one of the first definitions of living satisfaction in order to evaluate the judgment of
an individual or household regarding the extent to which their current situation
coincides with their ideal living situation and future expectations.
Their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with housing depends on the current situation
as does the need for permanent changes. Housing satisfaction studies are mainly
focused on the analysis of the dwelling unit and its neighborhood.
The housing satisfaction research in the future will be equally attractive in all
disciplines, from psychology to geography ,because a large number of professions
touch upon the dimensions of housing that affect the overall quality of life of an
individual or a family.
6. THE THEORY OF IMPRESSIONFORMATION
This theory was introduced by S. Asch in 1964 in a research that introduced an
experimental method for investigating the forming of impressions. He found that the
earlier information that an individual has, influences the forming of the first
impression and he called this phenomenon, the primacy effect.
Although the theory was basically focused on forming impressions of a person in
later research it was also applied in housing satisfaction studies. That is, if an
individual was looking for a new dwelling unit and had some information about it,
even though he or she did not personally see it, this information would affect his or
her first impression when seeing the new dwelling unit.
L.A. Brown and D.B. Long-brake (1970) supplemented Asch’s contention that
forming impressions depends on past experiences and that the process of forming
the first impression happens so quickly that an individual cannot at this time see the
advantages or disadvantages of the object he or she is looking at.
In the case of housing, it is certainly better not to rely on the first impression that
is the individual should be aware and should not rely on a selective observation
concerning the tendency to see on or in the housing object only the attributes that
are in accordance with the needs and values of the individual (Pennington, 2004).
The theory of impression formation is often applied in architecture and interior
design for the purpose of spatial organization that affects human behavior and
satisfaction in a space. In housing satisfaction studies, it is most commonly used in
examining impressions of the physical aspects of the housing environment and the
physical structure of buildings/houses/urban furniture; i.e. in assessing personal
satisfaction with housing and its adjacent features.
7. BEHAVIORAL HOUSING THEORY
The behavioral approach to housing research was formed in the mid-1960s as a
reaction and criticism of the positivists’ approach. Advocates of the behavioral
theory were particularly critical of positivist geography studies to understand man’s
behavior as a set of rational decisions of the “economic man” (Jackson Smith,1984).
The behavior of individuals in within the geographical context of space has been
dealt with the most by behavioral geographers in the sub-field of social urban
geography. Their research focused on the choice of housing location in relation to
geographic conditions, and the results of such studies were models of housing
choices.
The choice of location and type of housing of individuals was based on personal
assessments and subjective decisions, and behavioral geographers attempted to
incorporate them into an application system.
8. THE THEORY OF THEHEDONISTIC ERGOMETER
P. Brickman and D. T. Campbell are the authors of this theory found in their
research in the early 1970s of the 20th century. The promotion of this theory is based
on the happiness and well-being of the individual by the subjective approach, while
the key term is “adaptation”. The theory is often used to explain the weak impact of
the domain of living conditions on the well-being of an individual (Brickman,
Campbell, 1971; Diener et al., 2006).
The authors of this theory claim that people’s happiness, well-being or pleasure
alters when there is a significant change in their life (e.g. relocation to another
dwelling unit, better neighborhood) but that this changes, after the adaptation
period when emotions and feelings return to neutral.
9. THE THEORY OF HOUSING ADJUSTMENT
The theory of housing adjustment is the most cited theory in housing satisfaction
studies. Numerous authors have also used it in works on housing preferences,
housing mobility and decision-making of different age groups.
E. W. Morris and M. Winter (1975) are the founders of this theory which assess
housing satisfaction based on cultural and family norms, and starts from maintaining
the housing balance in the household. This balance marks the current housing
satisfaction that is in line with certain norms.
The focus of satisfaction in this theory is on housing norms that include the
housing structure, the type and quality of dwelling unit, the allocation of space, the
expenditure resulting from the use of housing and satisfaction with the
neighborhood. This means that the theory is closely related to the subjective
experience of an individual or a family about their own housing satisfaction. If one or
more of the norms are not met, then the so-called “housing deficit” occurs.
10. THE HOUSING PRICE THEORY
The housing price theory emerged in the 1980s of the last century and begins
with the assumption that housing satisfaction increases proportionally to cost
growth (Stokols, Shumaker, 1982) and their casual-consequential relationship
(higher costs- greater satisfaction with housing, lower costs - less satisfaction with
housing).
This theory has both positive and negative sides. The positive side of the theory
relies on the fact that the achieved housing satisfaction is to be sustained and in that
case the objective justifies the means, that is, if the higher allocated costs mean
continual housing satisfaction then the theory is justified. In case the satisfaction
with the other components of the quality of life decrease sdue to the domain of
housing, the question is how much the quality of life has increased or decreased
overall.
11. THE THEORY OF THE ASPIRATION SPIRAL
This theory is relatively new so there is not a lot of research in which it was used.
A special contribution to the theory was made by A. Stutzer (2004), who explained it
as an “improvement after which one aspires to improve”. Namely, if an individual
improved his/her housing conditions and thus achieved the desired satisfaction after
a certain period he or she could raise the housing expectations bar up a notch.
On the example of housing, this would mean that someone who lived in a onebedroom flat had the desire to buy a two-bedroom flat and when the goal was
achieved, then all the energy would be focused towards achieving the dream of living
in a three-bedroom flat.
In discussing housing satisfaction, Chombart de Lauwe (1959) wrote about the
needs-aspirations-needs cycle. The positive side of this theory is that it does not have
to include social comparisons, so there is no comparison with norms or with groups
of people who have the same or similar housing conditions as they strive for their
own goal. In this theory of housing satisfaction, assessment will refer to what people
do not have and not what they have (Nakazato et al., 2010).