Apartment complexes

The three pictures above show two different types of residences in Trinidad.  The first shows the exterior of a modern apartment building found in Trinidad, including the security fence and bars on the windows.  The second shows the interior and how the rooms are divided.  The third is the historic Boissiere house in Port of Spain.

It can be said that all the Caribbean the Caribbean territories have a particular look to them.  For Trinidad, with its Oil and industry economy and its unique geography set away from most hurricane paths, the skyline and buildings hold in them the look of a nation with the money to build and without the fear to stop them.  But do these modern architectural styles match the lifestyles of the people living in them?

For starters, let us discuss the matter of exteriors.  Port of Spain at night has the majestic look of a postmodern metropolis, with tall gleaming structures in the economic center and the glittering lights of the residential areas climbing the hills up toward the sky.  Its an image that doesn't exactly scream Caribbean, and like most urban settings the image changes depending on distance.  The city appears as a marvel of modernism, at least when viewed from the Lavantille road look out; that is to say, when the view doesn't include Lavantille itself.  Viewed in its totality, one sees a battle between nature and industry, and between the modern city and the old-fashioned island.  Trinidad’s history with architecture is as eclectic and tumultuous as the nation’s people.  Consider Boissiere house with its Italian design, English materials, and subtle Asian accents, for instance.  Moreover, consider the way the historic house was designed to take advantage of both light and movement of air.  The pagoda style roofs and stained glass on the sunnier sides of the house turn direct sunlight into aesthetically charming shade, while the tall windows and doors, as well as the amount of them allow for ample airflow.  Here is a structure and style that speak directly to life in the Caribbean.

Compare that with the style of apartments currently being built, as in the picture above.  No specialized architecture to take advantage of the natural environment.  No specialized windows, in fact there are hardly any windows at all.  These apartments are merely large storage containers for human resources.  The intention has shifted from providing comfortable spaces for families to maximizing space for housing an increasing workforce.

The interiors tell a similar story.  When one mentions an apartment some might expect a full suite including kitchen, living room, and dining rooms.  In fact, what is often the case is that the apartments being offered are in fact single occupancy rooms, with other amenities such as kitchens, dining and living rooms being shared between the occupants.  These apartments are not designed to house families and people moving from family settings to these sparse conditions are faced with no choice if they want to take advantage of the employment opportunities available in urban areas.