UIA 2017 Seoul World Architects Congress

O- 0824

The Role of Streets and Residential Compounds: Improvising Open Spaces in

a Filipino Barangay

Rayco, Kristine H.*

1 Student, College of Architecture, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Philippines

Abstract
An urban open space is an essential element in promoting interaction and strengthening community bond
especially in a city where extended families and close relationships within relatives exist. In a Filipino
community such as barangay, which is the smallest administrative unit, various families somehow connected
to each other live on adjacent streets and residential compounds built from decades ago. As families expand,
the streets and common spaces in residential compounds found new function as barangays lack public open
spaces. This study focuses on how Filipinos devise their own open spaces by making streets and shared
spaces a place for social gatherings, business, local community events, as well as relaxation and recreation.
In collection of data, interviews and observation are conducted on streets and houses of Barangay
Comembo, Makati City where extended families live and where events and gatherings take place. The study
concludes that streets and shared spaces a public open space show how Filipinos improvise with limited
resources and how they give importance to the culture and community values passed from one generation to
another.

Keywords: Extended families, Barangay Comembo, Third Spaces, Community, City Planning

1. Introduction

A “barangay” is a term used for a village or urban neighborhood. It is a division within a city, a basic political
unit for implementation of policies and regulations. The word “barangay” came from the Malay word “balangay”
which means boat. It was discovered when Malays first arrived in the Philippines. Long before the Spaniards
colonized the country, the ancestors have created a system for human settlements, a concept of community.
Consisting of small families to now large population and number of households, barangays represent these
varying size of community. Each has their own history, culture, and stories to tell.

Within a barangay, streets and houses are compactly built. Because of the growing population, farmlands

*
Contact Author: Kristine H. Rayco, Architecture Student,

University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City,

Philippines
Tel: +639282870791
e-mail: [email protected]

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are turned to residential zones and houses are constructed with walls close to each other, others sharing one.
Brought by the rapid development resulted with congestion, lack of open spaces are evident. “Kalye” or
streets are used as the immediate open space. It is treated by residents as a social space, rather than just a
pathway of people and vehicles. For them, it is a public space convenient to use for various activities.

Furthermore, the absence of backyards among neighborhoods results to the use of “third spaces”, a buffer
area or transition space within residential compounds. It is a known tradition among Filipinos to socialize with
relatives living next door and shared spaces are avenue for family gatherings and events. With regards to
public spaces, residents dictate its function, and culture plays a vital role in their use of “kalye” and shared
spaces.

This research studies how streets and spaces in residential compounds are used and perceived by the
residents in Barangay Comembo. Through observations and interviews, it is shown that different factors affect
how they use these as open spaces. The information obtained in this research would help city planners in how
they create design for communities and how open spaces should be integrated. How people use its spaces
according to their values and culture as discussed in the paper could help in making an efficient plan for streets
and open spaces for the people, if these are taken into consideration.

2. Shared Spaces in Residential Compounds; Integrating Filipino Values and Culture

A residential compound, in Filipino context, can be defined as multiple houses closely built to each other. It
is usually accessed by a single entrance and surrounded by nearby compounds, single or multi-storey houses,
establishments and institutions. In Barangay Comembo, located in City of Makati, residential compounds are
prominent. Most of the residents living in these places are families related to each other, the Filipino culture of
close family ties, who have been living in the barangay for generations and chose to settle in the same place
as their ancestors.

Interaction within families are common. Confined in small shared spaces in a compound, residents stay
outside their houses primarily to breath fresh air, to watch their children play outside, and to talk to their relatives.
In Ray Oldenburg’s concept of “third place”, it is identified as a public space where people gather and
communicate. It is a space for activities, a ground for social cohesion, interaction, and recreation. Shared
spaces in compounds are the residents’ own “third space”. It is their place for relaxation, for hearing gossips
in neighborhoods, and for exchanging stories on their daily lives. It is also an important place for gatherings
such as birthday celebrations, reunions, and events such as a relative passing a licensure exam or coming
home from abroad among others.

Fig.1. A small shared space in front of a house used as a place for birthday parties

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 Balconies or areas in front of the houses in the compounds are considered public rather than private, or in
a sense, a “democratic space”. It gives the residents “temporary claims and control over the space” as they
are more connected and engaged through daily socializing and usage of space (Jurkovic, 2014). The use of
other’s front space or balcony is typical within compounds. It is a trait seen in related families turning one’s
space into something that is owned by everyone.

In other cases, some treat these “third spaces” an extension of their house, a rather stronger connection
with the public realm. Rather than a place for socialization, it is transformed into a place of necessity integrated
with one’s lifestyle. It is used as an outdoor kitchen, place to wash and dry clothes, or a place for small
businesses such as small convenience store or temporary garage sale area. The function of these shared
spaces change from time to time, because it answers to the immediate needs of the residents. The Filipino
culture and the “practical, economical, sociological and psychological reasons” are significant factors in forming
communities (Berk). They are the deciding conditions in creating functions of a shared or open space.

3. “Kalye” as open spaces and avenues for social and cultural interaction

Relation between residents and nearby compounds are observed through a bigger scale of shared spaces,
“kalye” or streets. More than just a pedestrian walkway or for vehicular circulation, a "kalye" is a busy public
space for a typical Filipino Barangay. It is also a place for community activities with constant presence of
residents staying outside. It is both public and private space in essence and can be considered the community’s
“third space” as well.

Observations in the community are made to identify how residents use streets in their daily routine.
Behavioral patterns are noted in a typical day and in instances where gatherings and activities are taking place.
Public spaces are documented to show the transformations of functions of the streets within a given amount
of time. Interviews, through convenience sampling, are also conducted to gather data on residents’ perception
of streets and open space.

Interviewees range from different ages, social class, and length of residency in the Barangay Comembo and
asked of the following questions:

Table 1. Interview Questions

1. What are the activities observed in the streets?
2. How often do you use the streets and shared spaces inside the compounds?
3. What are your perceptions on residents often staying in the streets/shared spaces?
4. What are the problems do you think are prominent regarding the use of streets?
5. What improvements could be done by residents or local government to maximize and use of streets?
6. For you, how should the streets be used?

Responses regarding the use of streets in the community coincide with each other and also manifested in
the researcher’s observation. Streets are the temporary open space of the residents. It is the most convenient
area to hold local events such as pageants, sports festival, political campaigns, Christmas and New Year
celebrations, school parades, and religious processions among others. Streets are simple public spaces but
with complexity defined by social exchanges, cultural practices, and spontaneous events of life (Purinton and
Potteiger, 2003).

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 Fig.2. Streets used as a place for local events such as beauty pageants

Streets are also a venue for personal events. Whether it is one’s birthday party or wake service, streets
become flexible event’s place without a need for reservation. Most of the residents don’t mind these kind of
happenings, as they said they only happen once in a while. A day or night of obstructions on streets are
tolerated. Not raising a complaint regarding noise and disturbance on privacy is way of showing sense of
“pakikisama”, a Filipino trait which means “smooth interpersonal relations” or going along with your neighbors
(Lynch, 1961). Most of the middle-aged interviewees have this kind of perception however some from younger
respondents value more their privacy and have difficulties bearing these kinds of gatherings especially when
they are not involved at all.

Problems regarding privacy are minimum as neighbors are considerate of their own. Longtime residents
tend to be more understanding and accepting to use of street spaces. However, those who are new to the
barangay are adjusting to the culture and often intimidated to social gatherings in the streets. The fact that
these behavior and usage are not restricted, residents have the decision on what the function of the space is
going to be. It is the very essence of a public space according to Lynch, they are areas where people could
freely use it (Lynch, 1960).

Using streets as open spaces is not new. With increasing population and urbanization, acquiring public parks
would be difficult (Cormier, 2016). It is one reason why residents in Comembo prefer using their “kalyes” as an
improvised public park. There is no provided playground close on their dwelling where parents could watch
their children closely. Lands once vacant and green are where new residential houses are sitting on. Small
backyards are limited only for those who could afford a bigger lot. Function halls provided are either old,
unsuitable for specific events, or expensive.

Fig.3. Streets used as a playground of children

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 Even if such facilities are provided for free, the use of “kalyes” as open spaces will not stop. There are public
parks that are not maintained because people don’t use it. Public halls are left to ruins because it is not
accessible to all. These structures somehow create boundaries with the community with restrictions in security
and required fees. However, residents choose what is accessible and convenient to them and they will continue
to use their public spaces in their own will. As long as culture exists, streets will stay vibrant and social
interaction pertains. As Purinton and Potteiger wrote, “the events of the street are more likely to happen
because a place is left empty or flexible”.

4. Conclusion

Without the existence of law and provisions and the unclear boundary between private and public open
space, residents in the barangay use the space according to the need and the usual activities that they are
used to. It is not solely on the legal definition of spaces, but the prerogative of the people to occupy streets
and their treatment of transition areas, intersection, and walkways as open spaces and social avenues.

The lack of facilities for these activities is one factor why residents resort to using streets, but convenience
and tradition help shape these behaviour. The “kalye” for them is a flexible space both for community and
individual uses. However, too much familiarity results to obstruction such as double parking and small
accidents from children playing in the streets. Although some residents are uncomfortable when their private
property are crossed on, most of the happenings on streets are tolerated. As mentioned, the tradition that has
been passed from the older generation remains until today. As residents from the barangay are using the
spaces that they perceive and spaces that has been there for a long time freely and publicly, it develops a
sense of community and camaraderie among them.

Filipinos have long been known for being resourceful or “street-smart”. It is seen throughout the years of
creativity and inventions. As residents in a barangay are given freedom to use of the spaces around them,
they will continue to improvise these spaces according to their needs and convenience. Integrated within the
streets and open spaces are the Filipino culture of “pakikisama”, close family ties, and community values.

Through this research, it is shown that residents in the barangay have different ways on how they use the
streets and shared spaces in residential compounds. With this knowledge, streets and community would be
designed more efficiently according to the needs of the residents. Knowing the users’ traditions and
perceptions in spaces could greatly help in future developments. It is important that values and culture are
integrated in creating public open spaces in a community.

References
1) Berk, M. The Concept of Neighbourhood in Contemporary Residential Environments: An Investigation of Occupants’ Perception. Istanbul:
YILDIZ TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY, Istanbul, TURKEY. p.1
2) Gragantiel, O (2017) Barangay as Historical Concept, [online]. Available at: http://www.hinatuan.com/barangay.htm : [Accessed 29 May 2017]
3) Cormier, N (2016) Putting the Public in the Right of Way: Streets as Urban Open Space, [online]. Available at
http://land8.com/profiles/blogs/putting-the-public-in-the-right-of-way-streets-as-urban-open [Accessed 29 May 2017]
4) Jurkovic, N. (2014) Perception, experience and the use of public urban spaces by residents of urban neighborhoods. Urban Planning Institute of
the Republic of Sloveni
5) Potteiger, M. and Purinton, J. (2003) Street Stories. The H.W. Wilson Company. p.2
6) Lynch, K. (1960) The image of the city. Cambridge, MA, MIT Press.
7) Lynch, F. (1961). Social acceptance, in F. Lynch (Ed.), Four Readings on Philippine Values) (pp. 1-21). Quezon City; Ateneo de Manila University
Press
8) Shawket, I. Identity in urban spaces of residential compounds: Contributing to a better environment, [online]. Available at:

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 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687404816300396 [Accessed 29 May 2017]

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