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The New World has taken over, but we in the
Caribbean like to preserve our history. Like our
festivals and our food, our homes reflect who we are
as a country and how we’ve grown throughout the
years. The architecture found on our islands indirectly
mirrors our culture, and our history of indigenous
people, slavery, indentured workers and immigration.
Trinidad and Tobago’s history of colonization saw
the rule of many different European powers, and the
introduction of their architectural styles. It’s from this
history, this blend of external influences on our society
and culture that modern-day Caribbean architecture
was born.
The Spanish, French, British and Dutch all played a
role in creating what is now considered a traditional
Caribbean home. Classic fretwork, Demerara
shutters and wrap-around verandahhhs at the time
represented class and money on every plantation in
the Caribbean, this concept has now grown into a
design aesthetic that represents a Caribbean home
in its entirety.
With that said, the structure of these houses offer
more than just design appeal; they were built to
withstand the unpredictability of Caribbean weather.
“During colonization, builders learned from trial and
error how best to adapt the Creole house to the
moods of the Caribbean climate: how to deal with
its breezes, sunshine, rain and hurricanes,” recounted
Dominican architect, Dr. Lennox Honychurch, in
his paper for UNESCO’s symposium on Caribbean
Wooden Treasures. “Whether they are built from
wood or stone, these handsome houses have stood
the test of hurricane winds and earthquakes for over
300 years to prove their worth.”
Traditional colonial architecture utilised materials
like wood and stone, and these houses were adapted
to the needs of our tropical climate—our social,
cultural and climatic requirements. The availability of
materials and methods of construction also played
a major role. “Thin plywood sheets directly under
galvanized roofing do not absorb the heat that inch-
thick boards did,” according to Elise Johnston-Agar,
a Dominican architect, in her paper for the UNESCO
symposium. “Reduced verandahs allow more direct
sun to hit more wall surface and enter windows.
Glass windows provide no shade at all and limit
the amount of openings for air circulation. Lower
roof slopes trap hot air, especially when no dormers
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provide convection, not to mention the reduced
stability under strong wind forces. These factors create
spaces that require cooling systems greater than a fan,
tremendously increasing energy needs.”
To keep up with changing styles and modernisation
the architecture of Caribbean houses has shifted, yet
many traditional features remain. Victorian elements
such as wooden fretwork and cast iron columns were
introduced by Scottish architect George Brown in the
late 1800s, and have become staple design features
in Caribbean architecture. Instead of replacing these
traditional designs, the Caribbean strived to upgrade
and replicate designs of the past – paying homage to
our history and our diverse cultural influences.
After a fire in 1895 in Port of Spain, architect
George Brown applied Victorian elements to the
buildings he designed in Marine Square and Frederick
Street, including verandahhs, large atriums and high
clerestory windows—features necessary for good
ventilation and light, and to reflect the weather and
climate patterns in the region. The early Caribbean
houses dating back to plantation great houses were
architecturally simple – as seen today in the structure
of the Trinidad Country Club in Maraval, which was
once the Boissiere estate house, and it was Brown’s
introduction of more complex features and decorative
elements that shaped Caribbean architecture.
But the architectural influence did not stop at
Caribbean homes. Each colonizer left their mark on the
Caribbean in one form or the other, and these combined
styles can still be found today. The French penchant
for ironwork is still represented today on many islands,
and can especially be seen in Martinique’s Saint Louis
Cathedral, a national monument of France. The Dutch
left their touch among Curacao’s downtown area, with
the colourful gable-styled buildings and roofs along the
waterfront. The different British design eras can still be
seen in Trinidad as you take in the cottage-style house
seen along the Savannah and the gingerbread house,
one of Trinidad’s “Magnificent Seven.” The Spanish
spread their Catholic faith through the many cathedrals
they built in the islands, like the Cathedral Primada de
America in the Dominican Republic, thought to be the
oldest cathedral in the New World. Each influence has
remained in the Caribbean and has grown to become
part of the Caribbean’s architectural style.
Today, when picturing a Caribbean home, images of
grooved ceilings, louvered doors and shutters, steeple
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roofs, cast iron and wrought iron and verandahhs
all come to mind. Though we’ve upgraded in many
ways, and adapted our style, the Caribbean culture
and history is still apparent through our architecture.
Though air conditioning and other cooling devices
were introduced, our homes still contain open-air
balconies or verandahhs to allow for air ventilation,
our roofs made in thicker materials to absorb heat,
and our curved roofing to prevent damage from the
unpredictable weather of the Caribbean. Stain-glass
windows still adorn many homes throughout the
islands, and intricate fretwork is still found on almost
every street you enter.
Although the Caribbean has become modernised
and westernised in many ways, we’ve held onto our
history. Like our food, our music and our festivals, our
historical influences play a large role in architecture
throughout the Caribbean today. As a people we
are unwilling to let go of what defines us. Caribbean
architecture, like many other aspects of our culture,
represents where we’ve come from and where we’re
yet to go.
