“Cities are the product of time.
They are the molds in which men’s lifetimes have cooled and congealed, giving
lasting shape by way of art, to moments that would otherwise vanish with the
living and leave no means of renewal or wider participation behind them. In the
city, time becomes visible: buildings and monuments and public ways, more open
than the written record.”
Mumford, 1938.
Figure 1: An overview of the architecture of present day Port of Spain
 |
| Aerial view of the city of Port-of-Spain (2014) |
http://cityofportofspain.gov.tt/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/POS-Revitalization.jpg
Obtained:
05-02-2015
Figure 2:The Old Fire Station in Port of Spain
The
transition from historical to modern infrastructure in Port of Spain has
occurred over time. In 1757 the city was established the new capital of
Trinidad and Tobago. In the 1780's there was economic boom and the city was
extended. This facilitated the development of buildings and churches like the Cathedral
of the Immaculate Conception which can still be seen today. Land was reclaimed
from the sea to establish some of the infrastructure and streets we see today.
The dredging of the city’s deep water harbour in the 1930's made Port of Spain
the leading port in the Southern Caribbean and the discovery of offshore oil in
the 1970's greatly expanded the economy (De-Light and Thomas, 2007). This created a Central Business District within Port of Spain and paved
the way for further infrastructural development like the development of the
Central Bank as well as many other buildings.
Over
the years the infrastructure of Port of Spain has been continuously advancing
with the construction of modern high rise buildings like the National Performing
Arts Centre, Hyatt etc. This continual change allowed for the existence of
different artistic and architectural designs within the city. The city therefore,
can be visually described as a timeline of Trinidad’s history displaying a
combination of both historical and modern buildings like the Red House and the
Hyatt Hotel.
From
a personal experience I have found that Port of Spain over the years has
drastically changed. For some years as a child I did not have any particular
reason for visiting the city as I live in a rural community. However, after
many years when the opportunity arose to visit, I was quite amazed about the
transformation of the city. I discovered that buildings taller than the twin
towers were being constructed, this raised my awareness that Port of Spain was
developing so quickly over that short space of time.
The following are various pictures that aim in
showcasing the artistic/architectural design and evolution of Port-Of-Spain
throughout the years;
Infrastructure as a symbol of Power: The changing representations of power
Looking at the city of Port of Spain from an aerial view one
can clearly see that there are differences in the type of infrastructure in one
part of the city as compared to another area. According to Mumford (1938) the
art and culture of cities have developed over time. Similarly the
representations of power change over time. Port of Spain can be described as a
time line as its infrastructure reflect the history of Trinidad and Tobago from
European colonization and settlement to the 21st century. As a
result of globalization and modernization infrastructure as a symbol of power
has changed over the years.
The contemporary architecture of the Treasury building in Port of Spain
The type of Architecture reflects the existence of power (Moore 1996). There is a clear line that divides the type of architecture that can be seen between East and West Port of Spain. As such, there is much inequality in the distribution of architecture. In West Port of Spain the building reflect where power is concentrated. This is showed by the modern and expensive style building which is more up to date with and similar to those of global north cities like New York, Chicago and San Francisco where there are modern sky scrapers. In the West there are buildings such as Hyatt where parliament is located, the Central Bank, the Treasury building, the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, the Central Statistical Office, Inter-commercial Bank and several other financial institutions. The type of buildings reflect where power lies in 21st century Port of Spain.
In other parts of the city and environs the type of
infrastructure reflect power was located here as a result of the type
of infrastructure in the area but this has changed. East of the city building
are colonial type. This is no reflective of power and wealth in the 21st Century.
Many
Decades ago in East Port of Spain this type of infrastructure
would have been the epicentre of power in the city. Thus, as a result of
globalization and society becoming more modern power has now shifted from what
type of architecture was used to represent power, wealth and control to a new a
representation of power. In the 17th and 18th century
there were several building which represented power and wealth. One of which is
the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity built in 1818. It was originally used to
cater for the British forces on the island according to the Tourism Development
Cooperation of Trinidad and Tobago. This was where British power resided when
they came to the colony. In addition Woodford Square was a place of political
and religious gathering. It is still used for this purpose today. The
Grayfirar’s Church was used by those British colonizers that were Presbyterian.
The
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is also represented as a symbol of
power. In colonial times religion was a
dominant power in society (Beckles and Shepherd 2006) this was why most
churches were the symbols of power, wealth and control at the time. In today’s
society power is also showcased by the height of buildings. Therefore, power
can be seen in the infrastructure of Port of Spain in the past and present.
In my experience walking through the streets of East Port of
Spain and observing the architecture of colonial style churches I have found
that these building are very lavish and one can see that they were built to
accommodate high society at that time. This can be compared to Hyatt on the
waterfront where government and finance is situated. This is because
architecture is reflective of the level of power and where it is situated in a
society.
More information on the Colonial Architecture of Port of
Spain can be obtained at the Citizens for Conservation website:
The Laventille Hills
City Planning a reflection of Historic Ties
The Laventille Hills
As one walks through the streets of Port-Of-Spain,
one may first follow a straight, clear defined path and then suddenly be making
sharp turns unto a wavy road. This distinction within Port-Of-Spain may seems unnatural to
the naked eye however it is through this that we can see a true reflection of
Port-Of-Spain city planning procedures throughout the years.
During the late 1700’s and 1800’s Trinidad
and subsequently the city of Port-Of-Spain was under the rule of the British Empire.
Accordingly it must be remembered that slavery and monoculture was still in
existence. To facilitate this road and railway networks was developed to aid
planters in transporting their crops to the port for export. Additionally, at
this period in time there were many industries and factories established within
Port-Of-Spain this encouraged a large migration of free labour to city. Here, they formed
unplanned settlements such as Laventille on the outskirts of the city, because
these areas were unplanned, it is subsequently seen that the roads themselves
reflected the unplanned nature of the settlement as they have a haphazard
design. Therefore, because Port-Of-Spain during this time was the hub of economic
activity the major, Lord Woodford, focused on developing the city itself rather
than the outskirts. However, it must be known that Lord Woodford integrated
aspects of Ebenzer Howard’s concept of Garden Suburbs. Places such as Victoria
Square, Woodford Square etc. where introduced throughout the city to curb the
growing levels of congestion caused by Industrialization and population growth (as cited in Hall,
2011, p. 137). It is clearly seen that the Government
at this time was a Managerial one, where top down development approached was
implemented and exercised.
However in the late 19th and
early 20th we could see a change in the development of urban
planning. This could be due to the fact that Trinidad and Tobago gained its
independence in 1962. Whereas before it consisted of a top down development approach,
here it is seen to incorporate a partial bottom up development approach. At
this time the government began to aid members of unplanned settlements on the
fringe of the city, seeking to add order to the area and attempt to alleviate
the problem of congestion within the city. They did this by establishing high
rise public housing commonly known as ‘The Plannings’ for persons in Laventille.
These ‘Plannings’ unintentionally mimicked Coubiser’s City of Towers, in its
function and form. Additionally, the government went a step further by
incorporating public facilities for communal use. Facilities such as Clinics
and Community Centres not only provide for the needs of the people but to encourage
greater socialization and community participation (Jacobs, 1961).
The Importance of Colonial Buildings in Port of Spain
The Old Library
Moving throughout the city of Port
of Spain one can clearly see a landscape of colonial infrastructure that has
withstand development of the 20th and 21st century. From
castles, churches, plantation houses to old buildings that function as
businesses, public spaces and museums. Why have these buildings remained rooted
in the city for all these years? Why should they be kept in the city if they
remind us of a time of colonial domination, hardship and struggle? Should they
be removed and replaced with indigenous infrastructure that remind us of
freedom and Independence? For many activist groups historical building should
be kept because of their historical value whilst others who seek development
believe that they should be removed and replaced by businesses and local
designs.
Historical buildings such as the old
public library seen in the figure is being preserved and will be used as a
political museum to showcase the political history of Trinidad and Tobago
(Citizens for Conservation 2015). The Citizens for Conservation organization is
aimed at preserving and conserving the built heritage of Trinidad and Tobago. They
believe that these buildings should be kept because not only does it showcase
the unique and vibrant history of the country but it is also a way for tangible
cultural aspects of the past be available for future generations. Architecture
is now seen to be of great importance as it a way that architects, historians
and individuals alike gain knowledge and insight about past cultures (Hall,
1968). Through the uniqueness of the design ‘etched’ on these buildings future
generations will be able to better understand and appreciate past civilizations
and cultures.
As a result of this there is a
local growing movement to conserve and preserve old buildings and structures
within Port-Of-Spain. The local organisation, Citizens for Conservation does
exactly this and goes a step further in the attempt to educate the public about
the importance of this action.
However, as a result of Port of
Spain becoming more globalized and economical several old building such as the Grayfirar’s
Church are being removed to make way for economic development. According to the Citizens for
Conservation (2015) many of the old buildings within Port of Span are now owned
by private individuals who have a greater interest in profit making. These individuals
believe that it would be more profitable to demolish these old buildings and establish
new ones, than to reuse and renovate old ones. Additionally, finance is also
seen to be a major challenge in the preservation of historical buildings. The constant
upkeep and care for these buildings are very costly. And it was recognized that most of the old historical
buildings within Port of Spain lies to the east. These buildings are further
along in deterioration because they are of the oldest buildings within the
country. In addition it must be noted that this area is relatively poor, characterized by large numbers of the lowers class community. When these two
issues are combined we can see the difficulty Port-Of-Spain and conservation groups’
faces to preserve these old buildings.
Personally, when I visited the
Catholic Church in Port of Spain the architecture to me can tell so much about
our countries history. It helped me to visually learn about out different
colonial influences by the style of the buildings. I believe that these building
should be preserved or renovated or they should be put to adaptive reuse. This
involves finding a new use for a building that already exist. Old building can
be very useful in heritage preservation as well as it can be economical (Vattay, 2008). Therefore historical buildings can go hand in hand with development and
heritage protection. Thus, I believe
that sustainable development through architecture is important and achievable
throughout our ever changing environment.
The Evolution of Infrastructural Design
A diagram showing the transition of infrastructure within Port-Of-Spain
In the post-modern era unique/indigenous
architecture has become a thing of the past (Abel, 2004). Globalization and
cross-cultural contact resulted in the uniformity of architectural design globally.
As a result of this global movement, the transition to contemporary
architectural design can be seen through analyzing the past. In the Caribbean
however analysis can only begin in the 18th century as this was the
period that Globalization began to shape the Region. Within Port-of-Spain there
are many remnants of 18th century infrastructure such as churches
and antique buildings. These churches and old building were established as a
result of colonial expansion whereby European culture and subsequently their
architectural design were imposed on their colonies. This imposition paved the
way for the spread of ‘gothic’ style churches and ‘fairytale’ like houses, throughout
Trinidad.
Additionally in the late 19th
and early 20th century it was seen that there was a global movement
towards ‘modern’ architectural design. This type of design portrayed the
monotone, functionalist atmosphere of the city, whereby these buildings were
seen as mainly a “tool for economic development” (Harvey 1989, Gospodini 2004,
Sklair 2005). This era featured the height of the Industrial Revolution whereby
steelwork became an important part of urban life. This was not only because it
generated employment in the urban place but also because, it provided the materials
for construction work. These materials provided buildings with an improved
framework, so that structures would be highly efficient and functional, thus
reflecting the businesslike atmosphere of the city.
Furthermore in the mid-20th and
21st century there is seen to be two phases of architectural design
concurring at the same time. The first is a ‘revivalist’ movement where past architectural
designs are integrated into the post-modern place. The use of columns and
arches, styles adapted from the ancient Roman Empire are readily integrated
into today’s modern design. Furthermore, in Port-of-Spain it is also seen that
old buildings are now being refurbished and modernized, to be utilized in the
urban place. This causes the architectural design of buildings to become more
expressive and showcase the growing impetus for urban appreciation and
conservation of the past. The second however, is a continued evolution of
modern architectural design. Here it is seen that skyscrapers and glass
buildings are being built. This type of design continues to promote
practicality and functionality within the urban place, however it aids in
contributing to the distinctive/ unique eye appeal that goes with a city.
Personally, I
experienced this change in the environment of the city. A few years ago I
visited Stollmeyer’s Castle in a history field trip, from this experience I
found that the building was so outdated that I felt like I was in colonial
times. When I compared the Castle to other modern buildings around
Port-Of-Spain I can see how these buildings are complete polar opposites. From this
I realized that infrastructure is consequently evolving over time and the main
cause of this is a direct result of the cultural influences that affected
Trinidad. Port-Of-Spain is a city that reflects these different cultural
influences. Thus there are both historical and modern infrastructural design
can be see together in the city today.
Whose History is Port of Spain?
Trinidad and Tobago is a multicultural society with different historical influences from the British, Spanish, Africans, Indians and Chinese. However, as a result of colonization, slavery and indentureship by different groups of people there was the development of a dominant culture and subordinate cultures. These dominant and subordinate cultures have influenced the architecture of present day Port of Spain. This brings into question whose history is Port of Spain? Is it mainly reflective of European history or is it reflective of African, Chinese or Indian history and culture? As such the architecture of the city can determine this.
A row of Victorian style houses in Port-Of-Spain
In
a historic overview of the city of Port of Spain what can be clearly seen are
European style churches, castles and other Spanish and British style buildings
and houses (this can be seen from figure 6). In my experience moving through
the secondary streets of Port of Spain there are many colonial style houses
which are either preserved or are being used. There is a clear dominance of
colonial influence not just in the major areas in Port of Spain but also on the
secondary streets. This group of people
had a major influence on the material culture of the city through their
architecture. This was because they had the most power in the city at the time.
This European style architecture can be seen in almost every street of Port of
Spain like Queens Street, Charlotte Street, Abercromby Street and Fredrick
Street. These were the main areas and are still are the main areas of the city
Not only in Port of Spain but European influence can be seen throughout the
Caribbean in countries such as Jamaica, Haiti and Guyana for example. These are
some European style churches, great
houses and building remain preserved and are still part of the material culture
left by this dominant group.
African
cultural architecture in Port of Spain is not clearly visible as those of the
Spanish and British (Jordan, 2013). This is because this culture was
subordinate. The Africans had very little power and influence in the
architecture of Port of Spain. Their influence was not this type of material
culture. As such the history of Port of Spain cannot be identified as one of
African culture.
The Indians and Muslims were a major culture group during indentureship and more importantly during the architectural development of Port of Spain. There are several temples and mosques located close to the city in places like St. James. Thus, their style of architecture can main be seen on the outskirts of the city. This type of cultural architecture is not as dominant as those of the Spanish and British. This is because although the Indians were allowed some power they were still subordinated (Beckles and Shepherd, 2006). As such they did not have a major influence on the type of architecture in Port of Spain.
To
answer the question of whose history is Port of Spain the city can be clearly
identifies as British and Spanish history this is mainly because they had the
most power and influence at the time.
Presently,
the architecture of Port of Spain is dominated by old colonial style building
and modern buildings. This is because of preservation of heritage and modern
architectural development. Personally, I think Port of Spain is a mixture of
both the old and the new as can be seen in the figure. It has a history of
Spanish and British architecture but there is a new type of architectural
culture that has emerged which is one that is modern 21st century and unique
from those of the Spanish and British. These two type of architecture operate
together to create the foundation of Port of Spain architecture.
Scotiabank
The
economy of Trinidad and Tobago over the centuries has always been centralized
in the city of Port of Spain. It is the main economic area of the country. Over
the years the economy has been dominated by specific economic activities. These
include agriculture, industries and oil and gas. All these have influenced the
type of city which we see today. This brings us to the question what type of
city can Port of Spain be deemed as? The type of infrastructure whether it be
industries or unique architectural designs can play a critical role in
determining the type of city. Thus, how can Port of Spain be classified is it
Post Modern or Post Industrial.
In
analysing whether the city is a Post Modern city one must take into account the
characteristics of a Post Modern city. Post Modern cities have a particular
cultural style, a method of analysis, or an epoch in history (Dear, 1999). They
have a particular type of architecture that is unique or indigenous to that
city. Take for example Southern California and Los Angles they can be described
as unique in form and in structure (Dear and Flusty, 1998). Some of the
characteristics of these cities include a diversity in architectural style,
high technology, increase in signs and symbols as stated by Baudrillard (1988),
advertising in mass media that is termed hypareality and theme parks (Knox and
Pinch, 2006, p. 52). From these
characteristics the single example that can be drawn from this is the National
Theatre of Performing Arts (NAPA). Port of Spain does not possess any of the
other features of this type of city thus, it cannot be deemed solely as a Post
Modern city.
According
to Filip Majetić (2014) important characteristics of the Post Industrial city
are de-industrialization, tertiarization, economic polarization of population,
increase in home manufactures and “sweatshops”, increase in unofficial economy,
gentrification, may service jobs and flexibilization of labour. Many of these
characteristics can be seen in Port of Spain. There has been the
de-industrialization over the years of industries such as the Trincity
industrial estate and the O’Meara industrial estate. However, some industries
still remain such as Powergen as. Much evidence can also be found in the
polarization of the society. This is seen between West and East Port of Spain.
In the West power is concentrated as seen by the tall, modern and expensive
type architecture. In some areas like One Woodbrook Place the rich live in
million dollar skyscrapers. In the east there is less power and exclusion and
the infrastructure here is old, abandoned and not maintained. Also, with post
industrial economies there are many service sector jobs as well as business. Soctiabank in Port of Spain is evidence of a
post-industrial economy since this a service based business. In addition, there
are many other services such as those provided by private hospital and services
provided by self-employed persons.
Personally,
I think the city is more of a Post industrial economy this is because there are
many banks such as Unit Trust and First Citizens. Although, there is some
evidence of industries and postmodern architecture in the city this is not
dominant as the defining factor of the post industrial economy in Port-Of-Spain
is the service sector as well as the private sector.
Thus, it
is more appropriate to deem Port-Of-Spain as more of a Post Industrial city
because it fulfills much of the criteria of this type of city. However, there is
still some evidence of industries and a Post Modern building in the city. The
city is in a transition process in terms of development. This is because cities
evolve with the passage of time (Mumford 1938).
A restaurant/bar in downtown Port-Of-Spain
The City Gate Terminal
The Commercialization of Colonial buildings in Port-Of-Spain
In the nineteen century the major uses of the
buildings such as the one seen in the picture was used by for agro processing
when the economy was more industrial based. Other buildings were used as
apartment buildings by immigrant workers who worked in the industries. These
were the major uses of buildings within Port of Spain at the time. Today we see
a change in the use of infrastructure from apartments and agro processing to
more commercialized uses.
A restaurant/bar in downtown Port-Of-Spain
In
my experience, passing on the streets of Port of Spain there are number of old
buildings colonial style buildings with this Spanish and British style
architecture. These buildings have been renovated by private business owns and
reused to make places for businesses as well as clothing stores, restaurants,
barber shops, bars and variety stores. This can be seen in the picture. On the
above level of the building one can see a bar, whilst on the ground floor one
can see several small businesses which are all located in the same building.
This building was one used as apartments to house immigrant workers from the
agro processing plant. Presently, we see that this building has a change in the
usage. It is now used for more commercialized small businesses. Other buildings
in Port in Spain such as Mario’s are used by more formal local businesses.
Personally,
I think that this change in the use of space is expensive as many old building
are being purchased by business owners. The method of utilizing these buildings
is very efficient because not only does it facilitate the conservation of this
architecture but it also provides an income for business owners. Buildings such
as this one seen in the picture have performed a variety of uses over history.
I think that instead of demolishing old colonial architecture buildings should
be renovated and put to use by small businesses. Therefore, this building
should be a good example of how other old buildings should be used. Currently,
this has greatly contributed to the expansion of the commercial sector within
Port of Spain.
The Past hidden among us!
The City Gate Terminal
Port-Of-Spain is a BIG
place and some of us hardly even realize the expanse of Port- Of- Span and what
it contains. Don’t be confused BIG
doesn’t only mean in size it also refers to what is contained within the city
and meaning and value of these things. Often at times commuters pass through
the city unappreciative of the wonders and secrets it contains. They have
become so engrossed in the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives that fail
to see just how BIG the city
actually is. There is a hidden history
and untouched pride scattered throughout the city, almost as if hidden in plain
sight. However, the city itself has gotten so caught up in the attempt to catch
up in the competition of economic development that it has neglected what was
already there.
“I used to go train hopping eh... you does to time it just
right (laughter) or else”.
When I asked my mother about trains and rail roads in
Port-Of-Spain this was her response. The City Gate Terminal a place utilized by
thousands of people daily, used to house trains, rail road tracks and trolleys,
however, barely anyone knows this especially members of the younger public. These
trains used to facilitate communal socializing through the unique games
children used play such ‘train-hopping’. Port-Of-Spain no longer has any
railroads and trains and people only view this place as an intermediary stop to
get to their wanted destination. There is no appreciation that this way the
place where trains used to meet and place where fun games used to be played.
One would think that this would be something of cultural and historic
importance as the City Gate Terminal is reminiscent of past times.
The Twin Towers
Within Port-Of-Spain there are the Twin Towers. These towers
also known as the Eric Williams Plaza held deep symbolism for the entire nation
of Trinidad and Tobago. In the 20th century these buildings used to
be appreciated by all because it was a tangible representation the country’s
new founded independent power and wealth. In the 20th century, these
towers stood alone towering above the rest of the country. Therefore at this
time it would be a site that one could hardly miss passing through the city.
The intricate use of glass and concrete to give a magnificent design used to
‘awe’ passers-by. However, because of the city’s rushed development and its
willingness to play and compete with the big boys (America and England) even
more and bigger buildings were built. These building overshadowed our national treasure,
putting it in the shade. The city became cluster with high rise buildings and
as a result the splendor of this building dissipated to all. As a result a
building that used to be held with such pride and importance is now hidden
within the city. No one longer views the towers as a symbol of economic and
political independence, no longer views the towers with utmost pride and
because of this loss of appreciation the twin towers itself has become lost to
the public.
I have often heard my mother talking about her adventure
‘train-hopping’ and I never truly appreciated until now. As a child I was
unable to grasp the importance her stories had in relation to Urban Life. As a
member of the younger generation I also to, had never appreciated the
significance the Twin Towers had in the formation of modern day life. I guess
this why these Towers where chosen to be on the back of every dollar in
Trinidad.
Changing Public Spaces in Port of Spain
Public
spaces in Port of Spain are spaces that are open for public usage; they involve
areas that anyone in the society can use. Some examples of public spaces in
Port of Spain are the side walk such as along Fredrick Street and Queens
Streets for example. Other areas include the Brian Lara Promenade, Woodford
Square, Queens Park Savannah, Tamron Square and random bars and restaurants
along Port of Spain. These old building are also becoming more privatized as the
city becomes more commercialized. In the 19th century buildings allowed more
communal socializing. The over hangs from building which extended over the
street protected pedestrians. They were used to facilitate communication and
socialization as people could stand under the overhang and talk, “lime” and
socialize. Public spaces in nineteen century Port of Spain can be compared to
those of nineteen century major American cities like Boston, New York and
Chicago. Public spaces such as open spaces were used to foster socialization by
different classes (Banerjee, 2001). Here we see that old building in Port of
Spain in the 19th century had a similar use as they were
architecturally built in this design to encourage socialization between the
different immigrant workers.
In 21st
century Port of Spain some of these over hangs have been removed from some
buildings to prevent the homeless from staying.
Personally, based on this picture I think that by removing the over
hangs from old buildings this has reduced the amount of potential socialization
that could have taken place between people. This is because of the increasing
commercialization of Port of Spain and increasing privatization. Business
owners have removed this feature from building in order not to attract unwanted
pedestrians like the homeless. This development has contributed too much
exclusion of those people who are excluded from society. Even in modern
infrastructure today like banks this overhang is not included. This prevents
socializations as before society was more social
Therefore,
we see that Port of Spain has become more commercialized as the Central
Business District is expanding with many privately owned businesses. They have
transformed old colonial building from apartment and agro-processing to
businesses and they have altered the architectural style of these building to
make them more business oriented or more privatized. Increasing
commercialization has caused old colonial buildings that were once venues for
socialization to be lost. The use of over hangs as once public spaces for
socialization is beginning to decrease.
Johnathan and Menesheh’s blog titled ‘Urban St. James: Religion’ showcases the diversity of Trinidad through religious architecture. Here they showcase that the diversity of the Port-Of-Spain can also be seen through architecture. Trinidad has experience an influx migration of a variety of cultures and as a result it is projected through their established infrastructure. This is a great post as it makes reference to how infrastructure can reflect important aspects of Trinidad’s past. I am kind of jealous that I didn’t think if this topic first however nonetheless somebody did and it is now exposed to the wider public.
Port-Of-Spain is filled to brim with remnants of past architecture.
Whether it is from 18th century churches, 19th century homes
and 20th century buildings, the city is bursting with so much rich
culture and history. Although, there are efforts by organisations like Citizens
for Conservation, the perseverance of this history is not an easy one. Yet, the
distinction can be made that in certain areas there is a better upkeep of old
buildings than others. Through this difference in infrastructural upkeep the
aspect of social-polarization can be seen within the city of Port-Of-Spain.
When roaming through Port-Of-Spain it was noticed that western
side had a better upkeep of 19th century houses whilst on the
eastern side the 18th and 19th century buildings were
more dilapidated.
These homes on the western side were renovated by upper-middle
class residents not only to accommodate housing but also to facilitate the
development of small businesses. These upper-middle class residents have
sufficient income to renovate and upkeep old housings. Whereas on the other
side of Port-Of-Spain, it is known that mainly member of the lower class reside
there. These people work for minimum wage and thus cannot afford to renovate buildings
it that area. As a result the majority of these buildings are being sold in
which they are then destroyed to make way for new urban structures. Therefore a
financial divide can be seen when looking at the quality of old buildings
within Port-Of-Spain.
YOO-HOO!!!
LAST ENTRY
Our blog used infrastructure to focus on how aspects of the
past can be seen within Modern day life. We discovered that the older buildings
within Port-Of-Spain had a story to be told and it was our job to tell it, therefore
we used this blog as a platform to gives these rigid structures a voice. Although
we focused on infrastructure and history we have discovered some of our classmates’
blogs which highlight and delve into other aspects of Urban Life.
Osei
and Zonnia’s blog titled ‘Urban Monuments: Hats
off to Reading’ was very similar to ours. They looked at the importance of
urban monuments in relation to a country’s history. Being foreigners to
Trinidad they made comparisons between monuments within Port-Of-Spain to monuments
from their own homeland, St. Vincent. At what a great job they did! It was
interesting to see that both islands had an ‘Old Public Library’. In St.
Vincent there old library was also known as “The Carnegie Building”. It functions
as a museum for art of both present and past, displays artifacts of the
pre-historic past and art pieces. I found this to be very weird because
currently Trinidad’s Old Public Library is being renovated to do the same thing…I
guess we’re taking some hints you ‘guise’. However, it must be said that it is
a shame that Trinidad is only now realizing the historic importance of such
buildings. These buildings hold so many memories to so much people. My mother
was just telling me the other day when walking through town, how she got ‘licks’
when she was younger because after school she went to sign up and get
her library at Trinidad’s Old Public Library. It was a funny story and I
laughed it, but now I realize that these buildings all hold some deep memory to
someone, therefore we should preserve them.
Leah and
Jason’s blog titled ‘Urban Building Infrastructure in Port-Of-Spain Trinidad,
West Indies: MC
DONALDIZATION: GLOBALIZATION IN CONTEMPORARY TIMES’ discusses the effect
globalisation has on cities in Trinidad and Tobago. When reading through their
blog we instinctively made a connection ours. Although they discussed effects
of the concept of Mc Donalization, from the picture they use
We saw that MNC’s
also encourage the conservation of old buildings within Port-Of-Spain. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfVTC9fntHUNPa1fpEP9LZdV-imLw7gzAeOcWzoOEIH2KxKV6xex1qzKlUqUyk-GveeRl62DcwNkY6FhspTebVG1IItJCyez29bAKAXZdTklbYMpIFoAd6zVitTqwFIIxqug7z3Ohp-JW/s1600/IMG_20150409_114121.jpg
Although, the MNC, Subway may not know that they are doing this action aids in
conserving old buildings within Port-Of-Spain. This activity can be seen done
my many other MNC’S such as Mario’s. However, it must be said that although the
physical building is conserved the history, meaning and symbolism of the build
may be lost. I guess all can’t be a win-win situation.
Mario's Restaurant in Port-Of-Spain
Johnathan and Menesheh’s blog titled ‘Urban St. James: Religion’ showcases the diversity of Trinidad through religious architecture. Here they showcase that the diversity of the Port-Of-Spain can also be seen through architecture. Trinidad has experience an influx migration of a variety of cultures and as a result it is projected through their established infrastructure. This is a great post as it makes reference to how infrastructure can reflect important aspects of Trinidad’s past. I am kind of jealous that I didn’t think if this topic first however nonetheless somebody did and it is now exposed to the wider public.
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