Dr. Luis Santos Art Deco House in the Historic town of Malolos

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS Center for Continuing Professional Education and Development

Certified Heritage Building Conservation Specialist Course Module 06 Activity NAME: ARCH. DENNIS L. ESTACIO Date of Photo Documentation: November 22, 2021 Heritage Structure: DR. LUIS SANTOS HOUSE Era and Style of Heritage Structure: 1933 ART DECO

1 HERITAGE STRUCTURE: DR LUIS SANTOS HOUSE

This was built in 1933 by the second of Paulino’s and Alberta’s nine children, Luis, born in 1893, and an eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist of considerable nationwide renown for most of the 20th century until his death in 1982. A prominent sign inscribed into the stone of the fence right beside the main gate clearly identifies the master of the house and his profession.

The home of Dr. Luis Santos in Malolos, Bulacan is made of tough material. “The house is very much intact, George [one of the heirs] told us that termites gave up on the hard wood used to build the house,”

If there’s any doubt as to how strong the structure is, one need only look above its marker from the street: engraved on its cement fence is the number “1933,” the year it was built—which means the house has survived all manner of weather fluctuations for nearly 90 years. But of course its fantastic upkeep hardly betrays its real age.

The house was built by the ophthalmologist, Don Luis, son of Paulino Santos and Alberta Uitangcoy. The Santoses are an old illustrious family from Malolos, and one might say Don Luis was the Dr Belo of the EENT community in his time, owing to how famous he was.

In terms of detail and craftsmanship, there is nothing like the Luis Santos home.

From the phylons to the staircase carvings to the ceiling detail, the ornate kalados and breathtaking metal grills, one must prepare to keep one’s mouth open from awe while touring the house. The facade alone is already imposing in its grandeur. The structure and interiors are great reminders of how far one can take one’s vision for one’s private space.

The decorative fountain in Santos House was done by National Artist Guillermo Tolentino.

DR. LUISA SANTOS HOUSE- SECOND FLOOR PLAN

The Second Floor of the Dr. Luis Santos House with the ceiling painted by Fernando Amorsolo For the Dr. Luis Santos House is the proud home of a large ceiling painting by the renowned Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972), commissioned by the good doctor directly

from the artist, who was likely one of his many grateful eye patients. Even here, the house's Art Deco idiom asserts itself in the painting's framing and ceiling ornamentation.

The painting of Fernando Armolo in different angle taken by Arch. Dennis L. Estacio The second floor was something else. As you slowly ascended the magnificent staircase, the sight of the ceiling mural and Art Deco details. The Fresco was done by Fernando Amorsolo.

The home is still used by members of the family from time to time, according to Man Dy. The floors are said to be a combination of four tree varieties, which were sailed in all the way from Bicol. But that might not be the only reason this house is as sturdy as they come. A statue of Our Lady of Lourdes holds pride of place in a private chapel inside the house, and a Santo Entierro figure occupies a bedroom. The latter is brought out once every year for the Good Friday procession.

The two-panel door with Art Deco grills in the second floor living of the Dr. Luis Santos house

The wall in the second floor living of the Dr. Luis Santos houseshouwing the religious images

The intricate wood curving in the doorways at the second floor

The intricate wood curving in the doorways at the second floor

The solid wood planks with an Art Deco pattern on its floor

The sala set with touch of Filipino Style Art Deco design

The second floor living area has two doors accessing the terrace over viewing the wide front garden. It is designed with two-panel doors decorated with grills of Art Deco and of stained glass transom.

The most popular part of the Dr. Luis Santos House is the Sala on its Second Floor because of the painting made by Fernando Armosolo. The Sala in connected to the second floor dining hall.

Dr. Luis' wife, Fermina Bello, was a wealthy heiress from the Bicol region. The wood was sourced from the forests in her home region, shipped north through Manila Bay, and transported upstream in cascos (narrow cargo boats) directly to the construction site via a creek, now partly filled in and mostly clogged, that used to run right beside the house. Skilled local carpenters and carvers then worked the wood onsite following the architect's detailed designs, resulting in the coherent shrine to the Art Deco style that is Dr. Luis' house.

2

AS-BUILT PLAN

DR. LUIS SANTOS HOUSE- GROUND FLOOR PLAN

DR. LUIS SANTOS HOUSE- SECOND FLOOR PLAN

3

MODIFICATION

The some part of the ceiling in the second floor urgone minor repair due to the wear and tear.

According to some local historian, the well know painting in the ceiling by Fernando Armosolo has been conserved 3 years ago amounting to 2 Million pesos by local known artist.

4 If I were to restore the area, at what point in time I will be restoring ?

I would prefer to restor it on the same manner, using the same Art Deco charcters, materials and details. Because the bold, fluid, and symmetrical motifs, patterns, and themes of art deco symbolized technological progress in various industries from transportation to architecture that transformed the country. Geometric, linearity, and angular forms characterize art deco design. The look is strong and bold with no fussiness or romance in sight. When you're seeking art deco-inspired furniture or accessories, look for several regularly occurring motifs, including: Trapezoidal shapes Zigzag patterns Chevron patterns Stepped forms Sweeping curves Sunburst shapes Triangular shapes Stylized wildlife Sensuous, sometimes abstract, nude females Jagged, pointed edges inspired by skyscrapers (such as the Chrysler building) The art deco style was all about making a big statement in interior decorating and architecture. If you love art deco and want to surround yourself with a piece or two from the period, it's possible to combine art deco with other styles. For instance, incorporating a few art deco-inspired curvilinear or mirrored pieces into a room with otherwise traditional furnishings adds visual interest and a unique flavor to your decor. Here are elements of art deco design to look for so you can add a vintage modernist look to your home.

Colors The colors of the art deco period are striking and bold. Colors are often paired or punctuated with high-shine silver, chrome, or black accents.

Favorite colors of the era include bright and deep yellows, reds, greens, blues, and pinks.

Softer colors of that era include creams and beiges, many of which were used in living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms.

Neutral colors mix well with polished wood and lacquered furniture common to the period.

5 Specific Streps in restoring the area Architectural Character. The structure shall embody the architectural character of Art Deco from exterior finishes and materials to interior spaces designs and configurations.

1. Fenestrations: Doors, Windows, Hallways and Corridors

a. Doors. Main doors shall be relocated to its original location with the same dimension of 1.20 meters and shall be maintained or repaired before considering replacement but shall be enhanced in accordance to the Bahay Mestiza character of the structure.

The doors for the interior shall also be made of wood conforming to the architectural style of the structure but simpler, only the doors for the comfort rooms shall be made of due to water proffing issue PVC. b. Windows. Windows shall maintain its location, size and type (sliding window, capiz window). The existing window shall conform to the character of a Bahay Mestiza style; the existing capiz window, shall be retained and preserved with it original patterns. c. Hallways and Corridors. Hallways and corridors shall maintain a minimum dimension of 1.00 meters. d. Roofing. The roof shall maintain its original shape and type (jerkinhead roof). The original material for the roof shall be used in the rehabilitation; it shall be made with corrugated galvanized iron sheet.

2. Utilities: Air Conditioning Unit and Mechanical Equipment; Toilet and Bath i. Air Conditioning Unit and Mechanical Equipment. The mechanical system (ACU and exhaust) shall not be visible on the façade of the structures; it should be located on the side or rear portion of the building. ii. Toilet and Bath. The location of toilet and bath shall be maintained or if relocated shall be of proximate distance to limit the works on the plumbing system. iii. Lighting. The lighting for the house either interior or exterior shall be of LED lights. The exterior lightings of the house shall emphasize the Bahay Mestiza style.

1.1.1.Grill Works. Grill works for the windows shall be made with wrought iron steel. It shall be designed with vertical style inspired in accordance with the Bahay Mestiza character.

1.2.

Finishes: Walls, Flooring and Ceiling a. Walls. Exterior walls for the ground floor shall be rehabilitated; similar materials shall be used and same pattern of construction in accordance to Bahay Mestiza style. The exterior walls for the second floor shall also be rehabilitated; the siding materials shall be made of wood and retain the tongue and groove type. b. Floorings. The flooring on the ground floor shall be returned to its original finishes (baldoza tiles) or shall be replaced with floor tiles similar to baldoza or similar material signifying the character of the Bahay Mestiza. The flooring on the second floor

shall be repaired and retained with wood planks made of Molave and assembled in tongue and groove and if replaced, it shall be of materials with similar characteristics of the existing one. The use of ply board or plywood as flooring material is not recommended. c. Ceiling. The ceiling shall be replaced; it shall be coffered with the provision for lighting fixtures of Spanish inspired lighting fixtures in all areas. The ceiling height shall in according with the Bahay Mestiza style or have a minimum clearance of 2.70 meters on the ground floor and 2.40 meters on the second floor as based from the National Building Code of the Philippines.

3. Color Schemes a. Exterior. The exterior painting for the structure shall be muted oyster white or warm beige and the elements shall be painted with dark colors such of mahogany brown, deep salmon or olive green to complement the overall colors of the structure. b. Interior. The interior paintings for rooms shall be with the combination of pearl grey, pale green and pale blue with the accent of white Recommended House Palette

Maintenance Standards (NHCP) For purposes of this document, Standards shall include the basic activities that should be undertaken to ensure upkeep and preservation of our historic properties: 1. The Owner of the property shall provide regular maintenance and protection measures for the preservation of the property. The Owner shall preserve, maintain and protect the historical, architectural, artistic, environmental and/or scientific significance, features, values of the structure and its setting.

2. The Owner shall continue to use the property as it was originally intended for, or for other compatible uses that shall not cause considerable alteration, damage or diminish the authenticity and values of the property.

3. The Owner shall immediately attend to small or minor damages, and shall undertake appropriate measures to repair the damage at hand, and to prevent any further damage to develop.

4. The Owner shall report to the appropriate cultural agency (NCCA, NMP, NHCP) any plan to add, alter, remove parts, or any damage that may endanger the property.

5. The Owner shall undertake historical and technical documentation of his property for posterity, and for maintenance and monitoring purposes.

6. The Owner shall find ways and means to improve maintenance procedures, and promote the preservation and protection of the property.

7. The Owner shall prioritize maintenance works: Generally, the roof covering repair or patching should be done first, followed by: pest control treatment; wood preservative treatment; repair of doors and windows; repair and replacement of floor planks or tiles; repair of partitions; repair of ceiling and eaves; general repainting works; repair of toilets and water leaks; repair of stairs; repointing and replastering of stone walls; and, cleaning of exterior walls. Others shall follow.

8. The works administrator shall employ quality like materials or equivalents, and adopt traditional construction and techniques, except when modern substitutes may prove practical and appropriate.

9. Maintenance works to be employed need not be expensive. The Owner shall repair only what is necessary to repair, and avoid replacing whole parts of the structure that are not really damaged.

10. The Owner shall undertake maintenance works that will not alter, deface or damage the material fabric or physical appearance of the old structure.

Maintenance Guidelines (NHCP) For purposes of this document, Guidelines would refer to the recommended measures, actions and activities based on best practices, in order to appropriately undertake the maintenance of historic properties: 1. Conduct regular/periodic inspection and recording at least every six months, of the present condition/s of the building structure and its setting (roof, walls, floors, ceilings, columns, beams, doors, windows, stairs, partitions, etc., noting changes from previous inspections made such as: stone, concrete and masonry cracks, wood decay, leaking roof, sagging beam or floor, termite infestation, any noticeable deformation in materials and construction, defects noticed after an earthquake or flooding, etc.

2. Undertake immediate minor repair and replacement for minor defects. NOTE: For major defects that pose danger to lives and properties, immediate preventive measures and remedial works such

as: shoring, temporary supports, fencing, and rescue restoration shall be necessary. Major intervention works such as rescue restoration and major intervention are not part of this “Maintenance Guidelines”.

Professional help will be needed.

3. Repair all damaged portions using like or compatible methods and techniques available.

4. Replace only portions that are damaged. There are however, other ways and means to retain the original material, but with the integration of modern and concealed reinforcements or substitutes.

The use of equivalent or substitute may be resorted to if such equivalent or substitute would be the most advantageous option in terms of physical compatibility with the original material.

5. Replace only those components that are beyond repair.

6. Discard and dispose all debris and unwanted materials immediately after removal.

7. Hire technical professionals to assist or guide in the scope of work to be done. Hire trusted and skilled craftsmen to execute the repair and replacement works.

8. Prioritize works to be done relative to the available funds. Place on top priority, all works that will provide protection from weather, dampness or excessive sunlight, strong wind and rain exposure.

9. Remove ground plants alongside exterior walls to prevent build-up of moisture inside stone walls.

10. Remove moss, lichens and other biological growths on walls while still small.

11. Minor additions, adjustments and changes may be undertaken if such additions, adjustments and changes are quite necessary for the needs of the owner, and these will promote the preservation and enhancement of the historic values of the property.

12. Replaster stone walls as necessary. Plasters and renders are protective skins of stone walls.