User:Joy78/sandbox2

New Sandbox for wiki architectural project

Historical Context

There was a conglomeration of factors that led to the presence of Baroque elements in the architecture of Philippines, specifically in church architecture. During the Spanish colonial period (1521-1898) link to another article , spanish missionaries arrived, sharing not only their religion, but also their architecture, inspired from their native land. The Spaniards wished to create permanent, long lasting churches as a testament to the power of God, and did not consider the current church structures in the Philippines as proper places to worship. As most spanish missionaries were not trained in architecture or engineering, the local townspeople including Filipinos and Chinese migrants, alongside the spanish friars would take part in the building and design of local churches. The combination of ideas from the missionaries and locals effectively fused native Spanish designs with a uniquely oriental style. The churches aesthetic was also shaped by the limited access to certain materials, and the need to rebuild and adapt to natural disasters including fires and earthquakes, creating a style sometimes referred to as Earthquake Baroque. The four baroque churches of the Philippines are classified as UNESCO world heritage sites as they have important cultural significance and influence on future architectural design in the Philippines. The churches display certain characteristics that express a ‘fortress baroque’ or earthquake baroque style, such as thick walls and high facades that offer protection from marauders and natural disasters alike. The four churches further exemplify the baroque style with elaborate iconography and detailed scenes of Christ, fusing traditional Catholic values from Spain with island elements such as palm fronds or patron saints dressed in traditional island clothing carved alongside scenes from the bible. .The lavish embellishment also reflects the Filipino attitude about the aesthetic of decorating, known as horror vacui, or ‘fear of empty spaces.’ The desire to fill plain spaces is evident in the decoration of the churches, which are brimming with cultural motifs from the western world along with traditional Filipino elements.