Urban Architecture : Colonial, Modern and Postmodern designs

Trinidad and Tobago's present urban architectural designs reflect a range of combination from majestic colonial buildings to modern and postmodern designs. The selected photos showcase the beautiful aesthetic in keeping with engrafting older designs into new buildings. This blog will educate some of the readers and stimulate their minds on the beauty of hybridize cities. It also looks at ideas proposed by well-known designer/architect Corbusier. 

Definition of architecture.

1. Architecture the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings: Oxford dictionary. 
2. Architecture is both the process and product of planing, designing and construction.

Colonial Urban Architecture

 Holy Trinity Cathedral

Old Administration building University of the West Indies St.Augustine

Port of Spain light house

These images show colonial architecture buildings which are popular landmarks of Port of Spain - Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Port of Spain lighthouse and the Old Administrative building, University of the West Indies St. Augustine. Each adds to Port of Spain’s unique skyline. The first time I saw these buildings, I was marveled at their excellent architecture. I was especially astonished at the Cathedral’s design because it reminded me of a cathedral in Europe. I have been to several Caribbean islands and have seen similar designs, but Holy Trinity Cathedral is quite unique in its design.

During colonialism, European nations spread their classic and Gothic styles to the colonies and vice versa the colonies designs spread to Europe. The spread increased the number of replicated buildings designs in Caribbean cities. Owing to each city colonial country, there are particular architectural styles that characterize each city. For instance, Port of Spain’s buildings reflect its Spanish, French and British history and many buildings reflect aspects of these colonial heritages. Although some were modified over time, evidence of their tripartite heritage is obvious and lends an idiosyncratic touch.

Corbusier

Corbusier was a French architect from the 19th and 20th century. He developed two key visions - the contemporary city (1922) and the radiant city (1933). Through these designs, Corbusier found a solution to the disorganized city. He wanted to decongest cities by increasing their densities and increasing open spaces. He argued for  the demolition of existing cities in order to rebuild on a clear sites and erecting modern high rise buildings which used the latest building technology and had wide boulevards to accommodate traffic (Hall and Barrett. 2011: 137). His modernist design thinking was to decontextualize the city by starting a city from a clean state without any sense of history. His vision was realized after World War Two, when some of Europe's historical city buildings were damaged or destroyed and had to be razed for rebuilding. Corbusier’s architectural vision could not work for the historical city of Port of Spain because of the projected economic cost and the loss of culture. Port of Spain is unique city and I am sure all Trinidadians and Tobagonians would prefer it to remain that way.  

Modern Architecture

The modern architecture of Port of Spain ranges from   weird, to simple, to beautiful; each has a purpose and a place. Modern architecture, led to its widespread adoption for commercial development and mass housing schemes using international styles. This may lead to some claims that many urban landscapes are becoming very similar, particularly in the commercial centers of cities, or 'placeless'(Relph 1987). This “placelessness” erases most of the idiosyncrasies of individual cites as it reduces cities to carbon copies of each other.  

  

Post Modern Architecture 

Daaga Auditorium UWI St. Augustine Campus

Bayside towers

NAPA

Postmodern architecture is a growing movement used by architects to create and use past styles and inspiration buildings. Communities, building and monuments with postmodern designs have futuristic looks such as: lunar, animal and plant shapes and a mixture of Asian and European styles. The Bayside Towers is a residential building which borrowed the idea of a ‘twin tower’ Corbusier style. The National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) is another  postmodern designs found in Port of Spain; it was recently built and drew the attention of people as it is a copy of the Sydney Opera House. Finally, a comparison of some of the postmodern architectures from the globe with Port of Spain’s, reveals many similarities but, over time the newer buildings change the look of the skyline and cause the evolution of Port of Spain’s urban designs.

Reference 


Relph,E (1987)The Modern Urban Landscape, Baltimore, MD John Hopkins University press.


Hall and Barrett(2011)Urban Geography, New York, Routledge.