Restoration and Curatorial Development of the Old COA Building (Ynchausti y Compania)

Project: Restoration and Curatorial Development of the Old COA Building (Ynchausti y Compania Building)
Location: Iloilo City
Cultural property owner: National Historical Commission of the Philippines
Grant from the Commission on Audit (2015): P40,000,000.00
GAA Budget (2016): P20,000,000.00
GAA Budget (2017): P26,000,000.00
Duration of implementation: 2015-2019
Date of formal turnover: 11 February 2019
Implementing agency: National Historical Commission of the Philippines
Contractor: J.S. Lim Construction and Trading (Structural); Red Root (Curatorial)

Project description:

In 2015, the Commission of Audit (COA) donated this cultural property to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) with the aim of converting it into a history museum. There are three buildings inside the complex. The main building, annex building (former staff house), and water reservoir were built of masonry bricks and hardwood. Each one has been adaptively reused for museum operations.

The massive main building, a large-scale bahay na bato, was the trading house of the Ynchausti y Compania in the late 19th century. It's more recent owner, the COA, has made several additions and renovations in the building through the years. Nevertheless, its salient architectural features were still recognizable and preserved. The restoration program was to remove all incompatible additions on the building and return its early twentieth century appearance.

The restoration team reconstructed the lost volada space, which an eclectic combination of capiz (shell) sliding windows, wooden panels and French-type doors with colored glass. The NHCP replaced the recently-added ceramic tiles at the ground floor with colored cement tiles, popularly known as baldoza and Machuca tiles, to harmonize with the period look of the building. With restored architectural spaces like the sun room, azotea, and balcony at the back of the house, its American-period look was achieved.

Initially, the NHCP planned to restore the original location of one of its stairways which was moved by COA in the 1980s. Due to structural problems, the plan was not realized. The existing stairs inside the building, which was originally symmetrical to the one outside, was deemed adequate for the new use of the building. Hence, the museum flow plan was adjusted to utilize the existing stairs and open-planned spaces.

The annex building and the old water reservoir were restored to be reused as support structures for the museum. A souvenir shop, resource center, seminar hall with pantry, and sleeping quarters for staff was accommodated in these areas.

The museum was opened on 11 February 2019.

Photos:

The main entrance before restoration

The main entrance during restoration work

The main entrance after restoration

The historical marker recognizing the national significance of the property was unveiled during the museum opening.