A Study on the Construction System of the 1730 Jesuit House in Cebu, Philippines

The 1730 Jesuit House in Cebu, Philippines, is a rare typology of the Bahay na Bato or "House of Stone" in the country. It is a hybrid vernacular architecture which started during the Chinese mass migration and Spanish colonization of the Philippines in the 16th century. The study aims to help in the restoration and designation of the property as a national and cultural heritage, through the investigation of its construction system. The research focuses on three aspects: History, Typology, and Tectonic. It concludes that the house is a unique fusion of the fire-proof, load-bearing masonry construction system of Europe, the earthquake-resistant timber construction system of China, and the tropical passive cooling design architecture of the Philippines.  

Advising committee: Benjamin Ibarra Sevilla, Aleksandra Jaeschke, Troy Elizaga