Basic Structure
A nipa hut is a traditional native housing structure indigenous to the Pacific islands. Nipas are typically constructed from machete-cut bamboo, with the logs inserted through chopped cutouts in the corresponding logs. Thatched roofs, pull-up window panels and flooring of split bamboo make the nipa livable in all but the most severe weather. Their construction allows them to be disassembled, moved and reassembled quickly and easily. A nipa hut makes a great rustic cabana. While they are still built using bamboo, a 16-foot-square nipa hut can be constructed of PVC pipe, plywood flooring and vertical window blinds for shingles.
The structure of the nipa hut is made in such a way so that it can resist the frequent earthquakes in the country. The native lowland houses have a light structure on top, and heavier materials on the bottom thus making the nipa hut a stable structure. The bamboo poles are tied together by rattan to make up the frames and the walls. The flooring is made up of bamboo slats, usually place convex size up making the floor comfortable, almost to the point of therapeutic, to walk on. Floor is spaced apart for effective ventilation and the roof is made of nipa shingles or cogon thatch. The house is handmade, with the use of a bolo, by the head of the family, the whole family, or the family and their friends. This is where the spirit of bayanihan comes in. Sometimes the friends and neighbors of the family aid them in building their houses and help the family if ever there was a need for “house-moving”. This familiar scene can be seen in many local movies where a large number of able bodied men, likely friends of the family, carry the nipa hut to a new location while a beautiful and young Filipina sings beside the window, inside the house.
The structure of the nipa hut is made in such a way so that it can resist the frequent earthquakes in the country. The native lowland houses have a light structure on top, and heavier materials on the bottom thus making the nipa hut a stable structure. The bamboo poles are tied together by rattan to make up the frames and the walls. The flooring is made up of bamboo slats, usually place convex size up making the floor comfortable, almost to the point of therapeutic, to walk on. Floor is spaced apart for effective ventilation and the roof is made of nipa shingles or cogon thatch. The house is handmade, with the use of a bolo, by the head of the family, the whole family, or the family and their friends. This is where the spirit of bayanihan comes in. Sometimes the friends and neighbors of the family aid them in building their houses and help the family if ever there was a need for “house-moving”. This familiar scene can be seen in many local movies where a large number of able bodied men, likely friends of the family, carry the nipa hut to a new location while a beautiful and young Filipina sings beside the window, inside the house.
Materials composing a Nipa Hut
Bamboo
Bamboos are some of the quickest growing plants in the world, as some species have been recorded as growing up to 100 cm (39 in) within a 24 hour period due to a unique rhizome -dependent system. Bamboos are of notable economic and cultural significance in South Asia, South East Asia and East Asia, being used for building materials, as a food source, and as a versatile raw product. In its natural form, bamboo as a construction material is traditionally associated with the cultures of South Asia, East Asia and the South Pacific, to some extent in Central and South America and by extension in the aesthetic of Tiki culture. In the Philippines, the nipa hut is a fairly typical example of the most basic sort of housing where bamboo is used; the walls are split and woven bamboo, and bamboo slats and poles may be used as its support. In Japanese architecture, bamboo is used primarily as a supplemental and/or decorative element in buildings such as fencing, fountains, grates and gutters, largely due to the ready abundance of quality timber. Bamboo intended for use in construction should be treated to resist insects and rot. The most common solution for this purpose is a mixture of borax and boric acid. Another process involves boiling cut bamboo to remove the starches that attract insects.
Thatch Roof
The palm (Livistona rotundifolia) is a round-leaf fountain palm found in Southeast Asia . Members in the genus Livistona called footstool also called palm . It is the unofficial national leaf of the Philippines. It is a common landscaping plant in the region. It can grow in sub-tropical climates and humid, tropical areas. The leaves are used for thatching and food wrapping. Overharvesting of leaves of wild plants have reduced leaf size. The leaves do grow faster after harvest but tend to be smaller.
Making the Roof of a Nipa Hut
Nipa Hut or Bahay Kubo is common in Southeast Asia where a house is usually made of bamboo or other kinds of trees with leaves for walls and roofs.
When a family decides to move, they will request people to help them out by literally carrying the entire nipa hut to desired location. This is what we called Bayanihan – people helping out each other to achieve a goal. What’s the payment? Feed the people.
A smile and some foods get you far in Philippines.
When a family decides to move, they will request people to help them out by literally carrying the entire nipa hut to desired location. This is what we called Bayanihan – people helping out each other to achieve a goal. What’s the payment? Feed the people.
A smile and some foods get you far in Philippines.