The Old Fire brigade headquarters/ National library building

The Old Fire Brigade Headquarters was built in 1896-1897 and is located on the corner of Hart and Abercromby Streets Port-of-Spain. The Trinidad Theatre Workshop resided in this building from 1989-1999, until the building got renovated in 1999-2000. The building is shaped like an L, and portrays a Victorian architectural style. What stands out in this picture above? The grand tower that is seen right on the corner of the two streets! This gives the building its grand and monumental appearance. This building, majestic and tall, the symbol for safety in an earlier era. During the colonial era, fires often plagued Port-of-Spain, a city that was forced to be European when clearly Caribbean in nature. That fire house was the saving grace of the city when many buildings (constructed with European material) would burst into flames.

This structure blends right into the building that is situated at the back. It almost looks like it is one whole building right? No, the building in the back is another one of Trinidad and Tobago’s amazing architectural structure – The National Library Building. The National Library is the main building for the National Library and Information System (NALIS) (http://www.nalis.gov.tt/) in Trinidad and Tobago. The National Library is used annually for the NGC Bocas Literary Festival (http://www.bocaslitfest.com/) and the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (http://www.ttfilmfestival.com/).

To this day that Fire House still stands in the same area. In fact, it was in need of restoration thus English architect Colin Laird used his skills to both restore it and construct the National Library which incorporated the Fire House. Although we may have our nationality and our freedom, we are still connected to the imperial power by being a member of the Common Wealth countries. The symbolism of these two buildings joined, colonial and modern. The past and the future. It shows us that we know and accept our origins but we know where we are going. We have accepted our colonial past as it has influenced our culture, whether or not we want to admit it.

The Griffin and Ford Urban Model discussed that the cities of Post-Colonies are still influenced by the imperial powers and globalization. The construction of the city is still of that European design. Viewing the Old Fire Station, it can be determined that although we desired a city structure specific to us, there are still relics of the past. In fact we go out of our way to preserve these colonial structures which still reveal that dominance which is held over us. Griffin and Ford were completely accurate when stating that colonial powers have determined the outcome of cities. Griffin and Ford (1980) stated that the colonial powers "mandated everything from treatment of the Indians to the width of the streets". Note that the architect for the restoration of the Old Fire Station and the construction of the National Library was English. However, the mere architecture of the colonial Old Fire House was revered by Colin Laird who regarded the NALIS library as “ ‘regional rationalism.’ A strictly Caribbean and Trinbagonian expression in light and space encompassing the genus loci of the site.” (Caribbean Icons in Science, Technology and Innovation). Based on that quote by Colin Laird, we can decipher that he used tropical modernism architecture when designing the National Library because he considered the country’s climate and identity and depicted it both physically and grandly.

Not much information was found on the architecture itself for these two amazing structures but we can all agree that they’re fascinating. We know that the National Library is not depicted in its entirety in this this picture but just know it is one magnificent structure that is breath-taking. Just standing at Woodford square, looking at these buildings, you can notice how the country evolved from colonial to modern. The good thing about this picture, is that not only the Old Fire Brigade and the National Library is seen but one of the Twin Towers is also noticeable. This furthers defines the old and new present in the city of Port-of-Spain. However, this city makes it work. The old and new buildings together create a very unique sense of identity that makes us as citizens proud to live where the past, present and future exists. The city is not entirely colonial anymore and neither it is entirely modern but it is a place where you can move through time just walking by these buildings. ARCHITECTURE THROUGH TIME. Giving credit to the title of our blog.

References:

Caribbean Icons in Science, Technology and Innovation. “Colin Laird.” Accessed April 6, 2016. http://www.niherst.gov.tt/icons/tt-icons-2/31-colin-laird.htm

Ford, Larry, and Ernest Griffin. “A Model of Latin American City Structure.” Geographical

Review 70, No. 4 (Oct. 1980).

Repeating Islands. 2011. “The Bocas Lit Fest: The Trinidad and Tobago Literary Festival.” http://repeatingislands.com/2011/02/07/the-bocas-lit-fest-the-trinidad-and-tobago-literary-festival/

The Thinking Insomniac. 2011. “Architecture Sketch – The Old Fire Brigade Headquarters, Trinidad.” https://thinkinginsomniac.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/architecture-sketch-the-old-fire-brigade-headquarters-trinidad/

The Thinking Insomniac. 2011. “Colin Laird and the Old Fire Brigade Headquarters – Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Accessed April 6, 2016. https://thinkinginsomniac.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/colin-laird-the-old-fire-brigade-headquarters-port-of-spain-trinidad/

Wikipedia. “National Library and Information Systems.” Accessed April 6, 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Library_and_Information_System#The_National_Library