THINGS THAT MATTER: Architecture in a historical context
“The story of houses is, indeed, the story the people who build them.” (Ackworth, 1949, in Treasures in the Caribbean)
On Wednesday many of us were treated to a splendid lecture by architect Paul Simpson on Design in a Historical Context, with emphasis on adaptive re-use. The lecture/seminar was one in a Continuing Professional Development series run by the Barbados Institute of Architects (BIA) – essentially for members, interior designers and engineers, but with special guests – some Community College students, Town Planners, and on this occasion, yours truly. The co-ordinators are Mark Thompson, Maurice Clarke and Frank Johnson. And it was such a great lecture and such a rich discussion that hardly anyone left before the three hours was up.
Architect Paul Simpson defines his work as first and foremost modernist both in analysis and as a final product. But he has a Master’s degree in Adaptive Reuse of old Buildings, implying that his design philosophy is influenced, stretched and perhaps compromised between conserving historical buildings and adapting them for successful economic re-use, or giving older buildings a new lease of life and “sustainability”. This can produce a modernist outcome – in terms of both modern use and place in the environment, without losing the good points of the original design.
Paul suggested that there can be a conflict between the role of the architect committed to modernist solutions to design problems, who is asked to look at an old building, re-evaluate and re-interpret it, perhaps adding to or subtracting from its form (and certainly its interior), and come up with a building which satisfies the two demands of modernism and efficient adaptive re-use. The challenge may be greatest if the building is historically significant, listed, or within the UNESCO historic district.
It’s a difficult balancing act, without even mentioning the need for Town and Country Planning approval. Paul illustrated these challenges with examples in Belleville, once suburban and distinctly residential, but over the last 30 years becoming a hotchpotch of all sorts of building styles, of very different scales and a wide range of functions. He also addressed the issue of the classic features of historical buildings - proportions, window shapes and details, the language of fenestration, height and scale – these are all important and some find their way into current design but perhaps more often not. The issue of cost came up and I made the point that data supplied by many architects and contractors indicated that most of our good restoration jobs cost much less than replacement would cost.
Paul pointed out the impact of the UNESCO inscription of the tightly defined Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison. We live and work in a historical and social context that has to be sustainable, revenue earning and economically successful, but he suggested that there had been too little public education about the issues, i.e. why retain and restore historic buildings, who benefits, and how best should it be done to produce sustainable outcomes with economic and cultural benefits? There are in fact many, many reasons why historic buildings should be restored and / or preserved:
They have intrinsic value, in terms of both materials and style. In Barbados the solid coral stone buildings of the last two centuries, with two feet thick walls and parapet roofs, withstand hurricanes better than many modern buildings, as was seen in Hurricane Janet in 1955. Both the best of the coral stone structures and the best of the wooden chattel houses were products of superior craftsmanship, unlikely to be replicated in the future. And demolition often destroys unique features of decorative art and architecture, such as the unique, beautiful plaster work decorations at Kensington Lodge, the Jason Jones building demolished a few years ago.
Experience the world over is that old buildings are extremely popular both for businesses and residences.
Old buildings attract people, when well maintained. In Barbados peeling paint puts people off, but good restoration converts almost everyone into a fan!
Old buildings provide continuity and familiarity, reminding people of the best of the beauty and aesthetic culture of the past.
Old buildings tell the story of the people who built them or lived in them. And this doesn’t just apply to National Heroes, e.g. Sir Grantley Adams and his home Tyrol Cot, or Errol Barrow and his birthplace The Garden and his official residence Culloden Farm – both now disgraceful ruins – but to those craftsmen – designers, builders, artisans – workmen, maybe slaves and indentured servants, our ancestors, who created unique and beautiful works of art. Consider the fretwork on the old chattel houses, and the carved coral stone on the Carnegie Library. Our proud, hard-working craftsmen ancestors who produced them deserve to be remembered.
Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison specifically has been judged by UNESCO to be of universal value, and therefore its preservation is important not just to us, for our own pride and enjoyment, and to our visitors, with appropriate economic returns, but to the wider world, now and for the future.
Paul made two hugely important points. The first is that these valuable reasons for preservation are not widely known or understood. There’s been little public education. The second is a much deeper issue, which I’ve often commented on, to little effect. It’s the ambivalence and sense of disconnect that many Barbadians have with our history and the horrific slave era and then the “dark century” of colonialism that followed – when the vast majority of our people were free in name but disenfranchised. For many people, including some in authority, they would rather forget and ignore the unpleasant past and destroy all relics thereof. This was certainly not the view of my friend Elombe Mottley, who urged me when I was President of the National Trust to do more to preserve the iconic Barbados chattel house, a creative solution to the difficulties of Barbadian working people’s lives, and a world-famous example of folk architecture. The result was the Chattel House Heritage Village at Tyrol Cot, and later the publication of Barbados Chattel Houses, by Fraser and Kiss.
These are issues that Barbadians prefer to hide under the carpet instead of discussing and coming to healthy, productive and practical policies that will allow us to take full advantage of our wealth of historic buildings, from forts and garrison to churches and houses. Paul’s proposal is that the key stakeholders – the National Trust, the BIA and the Town and Country Planning Department – should work to produce guidelines for building, restoration and adaptive re-use, that would get around the current conflicting signals, and ensure tasteful, harmonious development of Bridgetown and its environs. There was also a consensus that the Institute should be much more vocal and should play a key role in educating the public about good design and building practices.
Bouquet: To consultant neurologist Dr. Sean Marquez (UWI graduating class of 1986), who has just been elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology (FAAN). This singular honour is a mark of recognition of excellence and leadership in the field of neurology.
(Professor Fraser is Past Dean of Medical Sciences, UWI and Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology. Website: profhenryfraser.com)