Martinique Architecture.

The inhabitants of Martinique took as a starting point the practices of their cultures of origin in the design of the buildings and the houses. Their architecture, although not neglecting the esthetism, is before very practical. The tropical climate has its characteristics, and nature can be wild there (cyclones, earthquakes...). The builders have to adapt to it.

The Huts

At the time before Cristophe Colomb, Arawaks live in small villages of huts generally installed at the edge of a court of water or near the sea. A hut larger than the others, "Carbet", centralizes the common life, while others, smaller, "Ajoupas", are used at rest. By convenience and safety, the kitchen is separated from the remainder of constructions. The design of these shelters will give ideas to the first colonists. On their arrival on the island, they start to build "rustic single part huts". The frontages are made braided branches and sometimes of cob, a vegetable cover plays the role of roof, and a small external building accomodates the kitchen. They are called "the huts in gaulettes", of which some are still visible in the south of Martinique. With the wire of time, the first huts are improved. Boards cover the frontages and of the tiles are used for the roof. Most sophisticated see themselves equipped with a cemented base, more comfortable than the ground beaten, and more resistant to moisture and the bad weather. In the agglomerations, where the grounds are expensive, the architecture of the hut evolves by gaining a stage. One speaks then about "house of borough". The ground floor is built out of cement to avoid the propagation of the fires, while the stage remains out of wood. Often, a balcony out of wrought iron or wooden comes to decorate the whole.

Cemented Huts (Trois-Ilets)

The borough of Trois-Îlets knew to preserve a habitat characteristic of West-Indian architecture. In the center, huts at cemented bases and the painted frontages of colors sharp give a charm particular to the commune.

Houses of Borough (Fort-de-France)

Resisting to an intense urbanization, houses of borough remain in the town of Fort-de-France like in the majority of the agglomerations of Martinique.

The Houses of Masters

At the beginning of colonization, the colonists, who they are landowners or not, live about under the same conditions. The house of the Master is hardly that a little improved hut around which revolve those of committed and of the slaves. The introduction of the finished island, and economic success helping, the habitat is different gradually. The slave remains in his hut while the Master builds a comfortable house with covered gallery and second stage in withdrawal, "the View-point". Of European inspiration, the house of Master is remarkably adapted to the tropical climate. The sloping tiled roof overflows largely for better protecting the dwelling from the torrential rains, and a covered gallery isolated the parts from stay and reception of external heat. All is made to optimize the circulation of draughts fresh. The houses are built on heights exposed to the Trade winds, and the windows are not glazed, but are not equipped with shutters. Lastly, a tiled ground contributes to preserve the freshness of the place.

Habitation Clément

Dating from the XVIII century, the Habitation Clément is one of the most beautiful example of this type of architecture. The field of the dwelling also accomodates an old rum distillery and its wine storehouses of ageing. The whole is opened with the public.

Open everyday from 9H00 to 18H00. Tel : 05 96 54 62 07.

Metal architecture

Girl of the industrial revolution of the XIX century, metal architecture gains a great success in Europe and soon in the Antilles. Before very practical, it makes it possible to build solid buildings ready to resist the attacks of the cyclones or the jolts of the earthquakes. In Martinique, the town of Fort-de-France devastated by the terrible fire of 1890 then completed by the cyclone of 1891 will be used as ground of experimentation. The architect Henri Picq raises the cathedral and builds the Schoelcher Library. The majority of the markets of the island then are modernized and equipped with a metal skeleton.

Schoelcher Library (Fort-de-France)

With its coloured cupola and its frontages, the Schoelcher library is undoubtedly the most beautiful monument of the city. Built in the fields of the architect Henri Picq, it was initially presented at the World Fair of 1889 in Paris, before being dismounted and being transported by boat to Fort-de-France. Intended to accomodate the collection of books offered by the abolitionist Victor Schoelcher, for a free access of each one to the culture, the library proposes today a bottom of 130000 books and remains open to all. A night lighting particularly emphasizes the structure of the building which then resembles a pagoda.

Saint-Louis Cathedral (Fort-de-France)

Built in 1671, the Saint-Louis Cathedral does not escape the destiny animated from the city. Set fire to by the soldiers of Ruyter, it is destroyed on several occasions (earthquake of 1839; set fire to of 1890; cyclone of 1891; earthquake of 1953). The current building was almost entirely rebuilt in 1978 in its version end XIX century due to Henri Picq, the architect of the Schoelcher Library. The interior will surprise you by his astonishing clearness. Do not fail to throw an eye with Large the Organ and the stained glasses which recall the history of the city.

Photographic Library

Les Trois-Îlets
Cemented Huts.

Habitations
L'habitation Clément.

Description of a Caribbean carbet at the end of the XVII century :

"The houses of the Caribbean are called carbets; I do not know the etymology of this name. I never intended to say that it had some in all Martinique of others that is bigger than the one of the Rose. This carbet had approximately sixty feet length on twenty-four to twenty-five feet broad; it was made about like a market. The cover was sheets of cabbage tree and went down as low as the rafters. With ten steps of this building, it had another of the size about of half of the first, which was shared into two by a palisade of reeds. The first room was used as kitchen; seven or eight women or girls were occupied making cassave. The second room was used for apparently to lay down all these ladies, with the children who are not yet allowed in large the carbet; there were other pieces of furniture only baskets and hammocks. The floor was of beaten ground, strong Net and extremely plain. There was a rather good fire towards one the length third of the carbet, around whose the eight or nine Caribbean, squatted like when his needs are made, smoked while waiting for that some fish, that trunks are called, were cooked.."

Père Jean-Baptiste Labat, "Voyages aux Isles" 1693-1705.

The Forts :

As of the first years of colonization, forts are built by the colonists. Fort Saint-Pierre in 1635, and Fort Saint-Louis in 1638. The island is not sure. Arawaks are combative, and English or Dutch can unload constantly. At that time, time of the lords owners of the island, the colonists can count only on themselves and their limited resources. The forts are only one coarse assembly of logs. Piles out of wooden surround and protect a keep. With the end of XVII century, at the time of the annexation of Martinique to the royal field, and the taking into account of its strategic importance, of broad appropriations are freed for the transformation of these forts into true citadels like Vauban's ones.

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