How our history is told in the design of buildings | Rudylynn De Four Roberts | TEDxPortofSpain

I am Trinidad and Tobago

I am Trinidad and Tobago I am Africa

I am Africa

I am Africa I am France I’m Scotland I am China and

I am France I’m Scotland I am China and

I am France I’m Scotland I am China and I am of the first peoples and I have

I am of the first peoples and I have

I am of the first peoples and I have friends families and neighbors who are

friends families and neighbors who are

friends families and neighbors who are from India from the Middle East and from

from India from the Middle East and from

from India from the Middle East and from other parts of Europe I’m a trainee

other parts of Europe I’m a trainee

other parts of Europe I’m a trainee I’m multi-ethnic and I come from a

I’m multi-ethnic and I come from a

I’m multi-ethnic and I come from a multicultural society our old buildings

multicultural society our old buildings

multicultural society our old buildings clearly celebrate this diversity in 1983

clearly celebrate this diversity in 1983

clearly celebrate this diversity in 1983 my involvement with the preservation

my involvement with the preservation

my involvement with the preservation Lobby in Trinidad began there I was

Lobby in Trinidad began there I was

Lobby in Trinidad began there I was locked

locked

locked Armon armed with like-minded friends

Armon armed with like-minded friends

Armon armed with like-minded friends standing in front of a bulldozer to save

standing in front of a bulldozer to save

standing in front of a bulldozer to save this building from demolition what is it

this building from demolition what is it

this building from demolition what is it about these old buildings what strange

about these old buildings what strange

about these old buildings what strange spells they cast that make up normally

spells they cast that make up normally

spells they cast that make up normally sane person want to do this well you

sane person want to do this well you

sane person want to do this well you know we saved the building we were able

know we saved the building we were able

know we saved the building we were able to negotiate special conditions with the

to negotiate special conditions with the

to negotiate special conditions with the planning authorities as compensation for

planning authorities as compensation for

planning authorities as compensation for the owners not demolishing the building

the owners not demolishing the building

the owners not demolishing the building has been restored it still stands and

has been restored it still stands and

has been restored it still stands and it’s been repurposed but my fascination

it’s been repurposed but my fascination

it’s been repurposed but my fascination with the old buildings goes back a lot

with the old buildings goes back a lot

with the old buildings goes back a lot further than that I remember as a child

further than that I remember as a child

further than that I remember as a child sitting in my grandfather’s living room

sitting in my grandfather’s living room

sitting in my grandfather’s living room tiny cottage looking at the reflection

tiny cottage looking at the reflection

tiny cottage looking at the reflection of the colored glass in the doors as a

of the colored glass in the doors as a

of the colored glass in the doors as a danced and played across the floor I

danced and played across the floor I

danced and played across the floor I remember seeing the patterns on the wall

remember seeing the patterns on the wall

remember seeing the patterns on the wall as his son filtered through the fretwork

as his son filtered through the fretwork

as his son filtered through the fretwork as it moved across the sky my

as it moved across the sky my

as it moved across the sky my grandfather built his house with his own

grandfather built his house with his own

grandfather built his house with his own hands he was a joiner a contractor a

hands he was a joiner a contractor a

hands he was a joiner a contractor a carpenter he owned a furniture shop

carpenter he owned a furniture shop

carpenter he owned a furniture shop he made his own furniture but above all

he made his own furniture but above all

he made his own furniture but above all he was an artist this was his life he

he was an artist this was his life he

he was an artist this was his life he created buildings like this we still

created buildings like this we still

created buildings like this we still have all his tools

have all his tools

have all his tools we still have his frets all the artists

we still have his frets all the artists

we still have his frets all the artists and artisans who created these buildings

and artisans who created these buildings

and artisans who created these buildings deserve our respect for their craft they

deserve our respect for their craft they

deserve our respect for their craft they are the ones who with the architect

are the ones who with the architect

are the ones who with the architect George Brown caused Porter span to be

George Brown caused Porter span to be

George Brown caused Porter span to be called the jewel of the Caribbean and

called the jewel of the Caribbean and

called the jewel of the Caribbean and indeed most of Trinidad adapted this

indeed most of Trinidad adapted this

indeed most of Trinidad adapted this kind of architecture these artisans used

kind of architecture these artisans used

kind of architecture these artisans used details from our ancestral lands and

details from our ancestral lands and

details from our ancestral lands and created these buildings that give us

created these buildings that give us

created these buildings that give us information about our Spanish French

information about our Spanish French

information about our Spanish French Creole and British heritage when we talk

Creole and British heritage when we talk

Creole and British heritage when we talk about Victorian architecture which is

about Victorian architecture which is

about Victorian architecture which is the architectural category that most of

the architectural category that most of

the architectural category that most of these small buildings fall into you must

these small buildings fall into you must

these small buildings fall into you must understand that in those days what

understand that in those days what

understand that in those days what happened was all the artistic details

happened was all the artistic details

happened was all the artistic details that were part of Victorian architecture

that were part of Victorian architecture

that were part of Victorian architecture most of them actually came from the

most of them actually came from the

most of them actually came from the colonies that Europeans had settled in

colonies that Europeans had settled in

colonies that Europeans had settled in we have clear influences where fretwork

we have clear influences where fretwork

we have clear influences where fretwork is concerned and where ballast treaties

is concerned and where ballast treaties

is concerned and where ballast treaties is concerned we have these influences

is concerned we have these influences

is concerned we have these influences come from Islamic nations and Islamic

come from Islamic nations and Islamic

come from Islamic nations and Islamic architecture depending on sometimes on

architecture depending on sometimes on

architecture depending on sometimes on who the client was you will see

who the client was you will see

who the client was you will see influences from Indian designs this

influences from Indian designs this

influences from Indian designs this particular house the client actually

particular house the client actually

particular house the client actually went to visit the Taj Mahal and give

went to visit the Taj Mahal and give

went to visit the Taj Mahal and give instructions that he wanted the vines

instructions that he wanted the vines

instructions that he wanted the vines and the flowers included in his fretwork

and the flowers included in his fretwork

and the flowers included in his fretwork I can’t tell you how many times I’ve

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve actually seen symbols religious symbols

actually seen symbols religious symbols

actually seen symbols religious symbols both Christian Hindu and Muslim

both Christian Hindu and Muslim

both Christian Hindu and Muslim incorporated into fretwork designs these

incorporated into fretwork designs these

incorporated into fretwork designs these designs were custom done and they were

designs were custom done and they were

designs were custom done and they were made by these artisans even the tile

made by these artisans even the tile

made by these artisans even the tile patterns that we see the tile that we

patterns that we see the tile that we

patterns that we see the tile that we saw on granny’s porch the tiles that are

saw on granny’s porch the tiles that are

saw on granny’s porch the tiles that are in the great houses and the

in the great houses and the

in the great houses and the churches in the public buildings the

churches in the public buildings the

churches in the public buildings the designs and patterns are from India and

designs and patterns are from India and

designs and patterns are from India and Africa the cast iron that we knew so

Africa the cast iron that we knew so

Africa the cast iron that we knew so well that’s all overboard a spin that’s

well that’s all overboard a spin that’s

well that’s all overboard a spin that’s all which Iran Tobago for that matter

all which Iran Tobago for that matter

all which Iran Tobago for that matter even that takes some of its influence

even that takes some of its influence

even that takes some of its influence from Africa

from Africa

from Africa Ghana’s Sankofa the stylized heart

Ghana’s Sankofa the stylized heart

Ghana’s Sankofa the stylized heart symbol is seen everywhere our buildings

symbol is seen everywhere our buildings

symbol is seen everywhere our buildings tell his story of what life was like in

tell his story of what life was like in

tell his story of what life was like in the good old days the fretwork the

the good old days the fretwork the

the good old days the fretwork the balustrading the way the rooms are

balustrading the way the rooms are

balustrading the way the rooms are organized I mean coming to think about

organized I mean coming to think about

organized I mean coming to think about it really the bedrooms all opened one

it really the bedrooms all opened one

it really the bedrooms all opened one and to each other it gave you an

and to each other it gave you an

and to each other it gave you an indication of what family life was like

indication of what family life was like

indication of what family life was like in those days you have the parents in

in those days you have the parents in

in those days you have the parents in one room the children in one room and

one room the children in one room and

one room the children in one room and the grandparents in the other room

the grandparents in the other room

the grandparents in the other room family was important and those fretwork

family was important and those fretwork

family was important and those fretwork panels that provided the ventilation so

panels that provided the ventilation so

panels that provided the ventilation so that it kept the house cool also had

that it kept the house cool also had

that it kept the house cool also had disadvantages because you have no

disadvantages because you have no

disadvantages because you have no privacy I mean I remember as a small

privacy I mean I remember as a small

privacy I mean I remember as a small child giggling and plotting with my

child giggling and plotting with my

child giggling and plotting with my little cousins and some in some mischief

little cousins and some in some mischief

little cousins and some in some mischief and we didn’t even realize that our

and we didn’t even realize that our

and we didn’t even realize that our grandmother could hear us these

grandmother could hear us these

grandmother could hear us these buildings were created by our

buildings were created by our

buildings were created by our grandparents our great grandparents and

grandparents our great grandparents and

grandparents our great grandparents and great great grandparents contrary to

great great grandparents contrary to

great great grandparents contrary to misinformation out there they were not

misinformation out there they were not

misinformation out there they were not built by slaves these buildings that we

built by slaves these buildings that we

built by slaves these buildings that we cherish now and that we love came from

cherish now and that we love came from

cherish now and that we love came from the late 18-hundreds

the late 18-hundreds

the late 18-hundreds and the early 1900s but we’re losing

and the early 1900s but we’re losing

and the early 1900s but we’re losing them every day we are losing these

them every day we are losing these

them every day we are losing these buildings and we’re losing them two

buildings and we’re losing them two

buildings and we’re losing them two concrete cylinders international styles

concrete cylinders international styles

concrete cylinders international styles that have absolutely no bearing on

that have absolutely no bearing on

that have absolutely no bearing on anything that makes us Trinidadians its

anything that makes us Trinidadians its

anything that makes us Trinidadians its progress and on behalf progress we

progress and on behalf progress we

progress and on behalf progress we cannot endure progress fashions change

cannot endure progress fashions change

cannot endure progress fashions change and as fashions change the building

and as fashions change the building

and as fashions change the building gonna change as well but what’s also

gonna change as well but what’s also

gonna change as well but what’s also wrong about keeping the best of our

wrong about keeping the best of our

wrong about keeping the best of our heritage buildings why can’t we preserve

heritage buildings why can’t we preserve

heritage buildings why can’t we preserve some of our historic neighborhoods let

some of our historic neighborhoods let

some of our historic neighborhoods let these neighborhoods contribute towards

these neighborhoods contribute towards

these neighborhoods contribute towards diversifying the economy let them

diversifying the economy let them

diversifying the economy let them contribute towards cultural heritage

contribute towards cultural heritage

contribute towards cultural heritage tourism one of the ways we can do this

tourism one of the ways we can do this

tourism one of the ways we can do this is by recycling the old buildings this

is by recycling the old buildings this

is by recycling the old buildings this encourages preservation we can recycle

encourages preservation we can recycle

encourages preservation we can recycle our buildings these old buildings make

our buildings these old buildings make

our buildings these old buildings make good restaurants did make good bars

good restaurants did make good bars

good restaurants did make good bars offices museums places for cottage

offices museums places for cottage

offices museums places for cottage industry the list goes on in the picture

industry the list goes on in the picture

industry the list goes on in the picture here we see the booze residents which is

here we see the booze residents which is

here we see the booze residents which is now our pop very popular restaurant and

now our pop very popular restaurant and

now our pop very popular restaurant and Cipriani Boulevard was built about 1883

Cipriani Boulevard was built about 1883

Cipriani Boulevard was built about 1883 the other building is Arab sea house

the other building is Arab sea house

the other building is Arab sea house which was turned into consultants office

which was turned into consultants office

which was turned into consultants office about 40 years ago and that was one of

about 40 years ago and that was one of

about 40 years ago and that was one of the first buildings in built in the

the first buildings in built in the

the first buildings in built in the tranquility estate when it was changed

tranquility estate when it was changed

tranquility estate when it was changed into housing Lots in about 1886 a

into housing Lots in about 1886 a

into housing Lots in about 1886 a preservation industry provides a

preservation industry provides a

preservation industry provides a marvelous opportunity for improving our

marvelous opportunity for improving our

marvelous opportunity for improving our cadre of specialists workers there are

cadre of specialists workers there are

cadre of specialists workers there are hundreds of new careers that can be

hundreds of new careers that can be

hundreds of new careers that can be created for our young people we have

created for our young people we have

created for our young people we have professionals we need technicians we

professionals we need technicians we

professionals we need technicians we need artists need people trained in

need artists need people trained in

need artists need people trained in maintenance and management the list was

maintenance and management the list was

maintenance and management the list was on we can take advantage of this helping

on we can take advantage of this helping

on we can take advantage of this helping to diversify the economy and also to

to diversify the economy and also to

to diversify the economy and also to bring employment to young people these

bring employment to young people these

bring employment to young people these are our buildings when we destroy them

are our buildings when we destroy them

are our buildings when we destroy them we destroy the historical contacts for

we destroy the historical contacts for

we destroy the historical contacts for the cultural expressions of our people

the cultural expressions of our people

the cultural expressions of our people and these small buildings are just as

and these small buildings are just as

and these small buildings are just as important as the grand decorated ones

important as the grand decorated ones

important as the grand decorated ones our architecture is joyous it talks

our architecture is joyous it talks

our architecture is joyous it talks about the way we live

about the way we live

about the way we live the verandas you like to sit on the

the verandas you like to sit on the

the verandas you like to sit on the veranda and talk to anymore cause the

veranda and talk to anymore cause the

veranda and talk to anymore cause the streets in the evening talk to the

streets in the evening talk to the

streets in the evening talk to the people on wood so we took details from

people on wood so we took details from

people on wood so we took details from our ancestral lands European technology

our ancestral lands European technology

our ancestral lands European technology and added our love of life and we built

and added our love of life and we built

and added our love of life and we built Irie joyous comfortable buildings and be

Irie joyous comfortable buildings and be

Irie joyous comfortable buildings and be daiquiri to them like Queens or the

daiquiri to them like Queens or the

daiquiri to them like Queens or the band’s I can’t tell you how often people

band’s I can’t tell you how often people

band’s I can’t tell you how often people stop me to complain about the state of

stop me to complain about the state of

stop me to complain about the state of our historic buildings my friends and I

our historic buildings my friends and I

our historic buildings my friends and I we do this preservation or be full of of

we do this preservation or be full of of

we do this preservation or be full of of country we won’t have jobs we all of

country we won’t have jobs we all of

country we won’t have jobs we all of other things that we’re doing we run

other things that we’re doing we run

other things that we’re doing we run businesses we our families that’s why we

businesses we our families that’s why we

businesses we our families that’s why we need your help

need your help

need your help and while you may not be willing to

and while you may not be willing to

and while you may not be willing to stand in front of a bulldozer there are

stand in front of a bulldozer there are

stand in front of a bulldozer there are other things that you can do well you

other things that you can do well you

other things that you can do well you could bring water for those of us in

could bring water for those of us in

could bring water for those of us in front of the will do is a but other than

front of the will do is a but other than

front of the will do is a but other than that you can you can support fundraise

that you can you can support fundraise

that you can you can support fundraise and activities you can attend

and activities you can attend

and activities you can attend educational programs that promote

educational programs that promote

educational programs that promote heritage tourism add your name to our

heritage tourism add your name to our

heritage tourism add your name to our voice so that the powers that be and the

voice so that the powers that be and the

voice so that the powers that be and the people who make the decisions will

people who make the decisions will

people who make the decisions will understand how important this aspect of

understand how important this aspect of

understand how important this aspect of our heritage is will understand that

our heritage is will understand that

our heritage is will understand that they need to encourage a businessman to

they need to encourage a businessman to

they need to encourage a businessman to take advantage of the economic

take advantage of the economic

take advantage of the economic opportunities that come with a heritage

opportunities that come with a heritage

opportunities that come with a heritage tourism sector when all is said and done

tourism sector when all is said and done

tourism sector when all is said and done this is our history this is our culture

this is our history this is our culture

this is our history this is our culture this is our heritage let’s preserve it