Architectural Histories of Port-of-Spain

  Port of Spain is the Capital City of Trinidad. It has approximately 36, 963 residents in the city itself with various influx of routers within the capital on a daily. The architecture of the buildings in Port-of-Spain reflects two centuries of immigration. Architectural influences range from one cultural aspect to another. In Trinidad and Tobago, we were first settled by the Spaniards. However, there are very few examples of Spanish colonial architecture in the city. In an attempt to develop Trinidad under the Cedula of Population in 1733, immigration was encouraged. However there was a stipulation where immigrants should be Catholic. This brought about French settlers and slaves . In 1797, Trinidad became a British colony with a French population and governed by Spanish laws.

  In the early 1800's the city was geared towards disciplined urban development. Trinidad's early 19th century, architecture was that of 'Neo-classical style' popular under British Rule. Then virtually all of the important buildings from the 19th century were ecclesiastical or public buildings. Later on in the century, the buildings became more decorative.Until the beginning of the 20th century, central Port-of-Spain was a social center with families of merchants living above their commercial outlets. Gradually, various contemporary-styled buildings were erected and included art decor.

Mille Fleur
Photograph by Nicola Mathura and Dianne Mahabir

Cities are a product of time. (Mumford 1938). The picture above shows The Mille Fleur, one of the "Magnificent Seven" of Trinidad and Tobago. It simply means "thousand flower".  The house was erected in 1904 by George Brown with the assistant of Dr.Prada. Dr.Prada had a keen interest in building and design.He was a born Venezuelan who came to Trinidad and Tobago at an early age. The Mille Fleur was passed on from person to person after the sole kin of the Salvatori family sold it to a person who then sold it to the government.


It's architectural style has been described as French Provincial. Mille Fleur maybe less ostentatious than its neighbours but the quality and finishing is perhaps of higher quality. Currently Mille Fleur is in an advanced stage of deterioration as basic maintenance is not being done.  

 Even though change is inevitable. Structures like these should be preserved. The reason being is that it has rich history behind the infrastructural design. It holds sentimental values in the space which it occupies as well as the people who once dwell in that well crafted building. Imagine if the structure was to be demolished and a twenty-first building was to be erected. Would that building fit in with the rest of the Magnificent Seven? I do not think it will. It will however remove part of our infrastructural history of the Magnificent Seven. It is  one which should be preserved.  The Magnificent Seven is a reflection of our people and an important part of our heritage.

              Please view this video entitled  " Trinidad and Tobago- Magnificent Seven"

 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-anGv9nMILA

References: 

Citizens for Conservation (n.d). Retrieved  February 03, 2016, from 
http://citizensforconservationtt.org/main/index.php/builtherit/81-introduction-to-trinidad-and-tobagos-architecture

Citizens for Conservation (n.d). Retrieved February 03, 2016, from
http://citizensforconservationtt.org/main/index.php/builtherit/magnificent-seven/122-mille-fleurs

Mumford, L. (1938). The culture of cities. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co.