Concept

Lambanugan: A Distillation of the Vernacular Architecture

April 26, 2024
|
By 
Albert Aycardo

Lambanog, known as coconut wine, is a staple in Filipino culinary culture. It’s a potent alcoholic beverage that reflects our unique heritage and rich produce. For his thesis under the CSB’s Design Exploration program, Lance Sy goes in-depth into the industry of creating this celebrated drink to come up with a design that strengthens the craft. Lambanugan is a mix of vernacular architecture enriched with cultural practices and rituals. 

Strengthening Cultural Identity with Lambanugan

“ THESIS STATEMENT: Reintroducing traditional rituals and practices will enrich territorial identity and create a better culturally rooted architectural space for people producing and consuming the beverage, therefore making the local lambanog industry more competitive.”

Lambanugan revolves around the cultivation and renewal of the lambanog production typology. It explores the social traditions, rituals, and practices of drinking in the Philippines. This is especially true for lambanog as it relates to our nation’s agricultural heritage, with coconut being a major natural resource. The significance of the project lies in its circumventing the possibility of cultural loss. Unregulated and sub-standard production of lambanog has resulted in deaths due to improper distilling.

Undoubtedly, the production and consumption of these products have deep roots in our culture. Drinking in the Philippines is a social occasion with beliefs and customs. Practices such as “tagay” and “alay” add more meaning to our jovial and celebratory nature. As such, these traditions can be the muse that architecture can take inspiration from. 

Building with Regional Identity 

In line with the Design Exploration program, Lance Sy starts his design process with identifying the authentic elements that make up lambanog culture. The goal is to create a production typology that reaffirms its territorial identity. It uses the drink as a means to provoke topophilia and terraphilia, the love of one’s environment and locality. Three models make up the framework used to inform the design: the socio-physical model of interrelationships, the Identerra model, and the Vernacular Value model. 

Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.
Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.
Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.

Traditionally, the Southern Tagalog region is well-known for its lambanog. The Tayabas area houses the Mallari Distillery that sits at the foot of Mt. Banahaw. Sy analyzed the site’s characteristics ranging from the dwelling places of the workers, landscape, lifestyle, and their rituals. It is here where the essence of uniqueness can be captured and distilled into a design. 

The Mangangarit, or coconut climbers, are the heroes of lambanog’s production. The site features a rich expanse of the tropical tree that the locals had built around. A bridge between each tree, called a Karitan, is built to allow for ease of traversal rather than climbing each tree for harvest. Fixed parallel bamboo poles connect them together and allow climbers to steadily walk across. 

Empowering Lambanog Production

“I poured some of my drink on the bamboo floor. It went through the slits on the ground below.” – Alejandro R. Roces (We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers). 

Lance translates these findings into Lambanugan from these indigenous elements. The structure features motifs that reference the parallel form of the Karitan. Artifacts, filled with symbolisms and meanings, dot the project as they serve as muses for environmental symbology. It’s a design that leans heavily into the traditional experience of savoring lambanog. 

Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.
Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.
Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.

These are the Pugon, the place where artisans create and work with lambanog. The tagayan is where the drink can be enjoyed with its traditional means of enjoyment. Lastly, the tahanan is the residential and hosting component to the design. The arrangement of these spaces form an experience to encounter the drink in a holistic manner. The design supports the process of making lambanog from fruit to bottle. An in-depth study into the workflow serves as the basis, and Sy designs these areas with a selection that merges cultural forms with functional requirements. 

Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.
Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.
Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.
Lance Sy's Lambanugan for CSB's Design Exploration Program.

Strengthening Local Industries

Lambanugan explores how the development of rural industries can be harmonious with its vernacularity. It captures the essence of lambanog and distills it into a modern structure that remains legible to its local community.  True to its name, CSB’s Design Exploration class dissects the ethos of the design goals and enables students to come up with their own unique take on architecture.

Read more: CSB’s Design Exploration: A Unique Approach to Architecture Education

Visuals and diagrams are by Lance Sy

Ezra Viniti Resort: Embracing Nature

Tucked at the end of Pag-Ibig Street near Tagaytay Public Market,  Ezra Viniti Resort gives you a quiet retreat, allowing you to escape from the noise of Metro Manila and even from the bustle of common Tagaytay destinations. But what’s even more remarkable is how Ezra Viniti Resort is designed around nature, with sustainability and […]

The Visionary Design of Piraso Inc.

Joseph Gonzalez Rastrullo is transforming contemporary interiors with his bold and innovative approach to design. As Principal Designer of Piraso Inc., he seamlessly merges artistry with function, crafting pieces that transcend utility and become sculptural expressions. His work is a dialogue between heritage and modernity, deeply rooted in Filipino culture while embracing global influences. Rastrullo’s […]

"Escapism" by Viel Olaguera for "Angat Sining."

‘Angat Sining’ Highlights the Importance of Art Advocacy in the Philippines

Angat Sining is an exhibition showcasing visual artists who benefitted from the Angat Sining Fellowship. Shown at UP Parola Gallery, it enrolled twelve high school students in a six-month program to “explore their artistic potential through various art forms.” It was done in partnership with Metrobank Foundation, Inc. and the Ateneo de Manila Fine Arts […]

5 Imaginative Modern Apartment Designs Around the World.

5 Imaginative Modern Apartment Designs Around the World

In the face of global-scale urbanization and dwindling living space, a humble apartment serves as a respite from the pressures of modern life. But with continuous  innovation, pushing the boundaries of design and functionality, the term “humble” is quickly becoming a misnomer. From opulent expressions of luxury to biophilic designs and unconventional minimalism, these spaces […]

Some paintings by Paul Eric Roca for "Creatures of Apathy."

‘Creatures of Apathy’ Explores the Grotesque Sides of Humanity

Illustrator Paul Eric Roca is known as a political cartoonist and for his book illustration. Both roles utilize bizarre, fantastical images to contrast with the mundanity of everyday life. For Creatures of Apathy, however, Roca finds himself tapping into creating monstrous images to reflect the horrible natures hiding within every society.  Showing at Altro Mondo […]

5 Kitchen Interior Design Trends to Watch in 2025.

5 Kitchen Interior Design Ideas We Love for 2025

The kitchen is the heart of every gathering and connection happening inside a home. Beyond its utilitarian purpose, it’s a special space where traditions and expressions of creativity take place. So, staying ahead of ways to enhance it could bring a greater sense of satisfaction and enjoyment in your daily life. We’ve compiled some of […]

Download this month's BLUPRINT magazine digital copy from:
Subscribe via [email protected]