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This page is about the architecture of Barbados, not the history of Barbados. For other uses, see Ih2211/sandbox (disambiguation).

The architecture of Barbados is a reflection of the country's cultural and political history. The architectural style of the buildings in Barbados are heavily influences by British colonial and West African architecture. British architectural influence in Barbados originated as a result of the official British colonisation of the island in 1627. The West African influence in Barbados' architecture can be attributed to the arrival of West African salves by the British for the purpose of cultivating the land for industry in order to achieve economical and financial gain for Britain. The emergence of sugar plantations during this time, marked the beginning of European and West African architectural influence on Barbados.

Characteristic to Barbados' architectural landscape, are the large structures constructed for the use domestic and military purpose for the British. These buildings were constructed using methods and layouts consistent with the colonial Georgian and Jacobean architecture of English heritage. The financial state of Barbados during certain periods, permitted the creation of these architectural buildings.

Whilst the structures aesthetically look the same as the English structures, adaptations had to be made according to the environmental circumstances limited by the Barbados' Caribbean isolation. The materials that were utilised for in constructing the architecture on the island, were used so that they could withstand the impact of the weather. Heavy rains and rapid winds are habitual to Barbados, due to the islands exposed geographical location to the North Atlantic ocean. In this way, Architecture had to adapt to the elements so that they may not deteriorate over time. The coral that surrounds Barbados, was also used in the architecture of the plantation houses specifically because it was readily available and when made into stone, could be used as an integral support framework for the large colonial structures that were being developed.

Domestic Structures

Plantation Houses

St Nicholas Abbey, Barbados

In Barbados, the European planters built their own housing structures out of materials they could source readily and that were more durable, using architectural methods they already obtained. Georgian Architecture is the most prominent architectural style that was used in building the houses for Barbadian Plantations of the Sugar Industry, whilst other styles including Jacobean style architecture is also a contributor to Barbados's architectural heritage ^[2]. Jacobean houses still exist today on Barbados and include Drax Hall, St. Nicholas Abbey and The Principles Lodge at Codrington College.

The Georgian influence can be see in the grand scale of the Barbadian plantation houses. Large and often double stair cases were prominent design features inside the houses. Grand halls were also a main feature of the interior architecture. The construction of these architectural buildings was primarily achieved through the labour of the Afro-Barbadians.

Plantation houses in Barbados over time became mixed architecturally. Georgian styles would be paired with Bajan design features. This is because the weather on Barbados was threatening to the structural stability of the buildings, meaning that in order to preserve the buildings, the architecture would have to adapt to the environment on Barbados. These adaptions created the emergence of a new and unique style of architecture known as 'Caribbean Georgian'^[3]. Through adaptations, the 'Caribbean Georgian' style was established after 1765 as a prominent form of architecture that was constructed with the combinations of influences of Georgian style design with environmental Caribbean practicality^[4][3]. Such changes in design can be seen through the height of Georgian influenced buildings. In Barbados, these buildings were constructed as being much lower than the original Georgian design seen in other countries. Reasons for this change include the threat of severe hurricanes which could cause damage to the buildings of they were higher and therefore less stable in the wind. Another change that was used in the architectural style of Caribbean Georgian was the addition of Demerara windows. This window style would prevent the house from getting too hot in the Barbadian climate and therefore served as an important architectural element within the Caribbean Georgian design. Porches and awnings were also added to the plantation houses as methods of reflecting heat and humidity and preserving cool temperatures in a tropical climate.

Materials of the traditional Georgian style were also adapted in Barbados Plantation Houses. Rather than wood, the plantation houses were constructed using coral that lined the shore of Barbados^[1]. Coral material was used frequently because the wood that would have originally been used was all removed in order to cultivate specifically flat land for the plantation fields. Coral Stone is created from coral quarries along the shoreline of Barbados. The mined coral blocks could be used themselves as structural material, or used as plastering. They served as a fundamental material to the architecture of Barbados because it is durable and locally sourced.

Chattel House, Barbados

Chattel Houses

The Chattel House is an architectural housing design characteristic to the Barbados region. It is a structure built out of wood and without additional materials such as nails. It has a small rectangular floorplan that usually consists of two rooms^[5]. The wooden Chattel house was originally built upon loose coral block structures that enable the structure to be moved and transported to different locations, rather than remain permanently within the ground it is built upon. The transportable model allowed seventeenth-century sugar plantation salve workers to easily disassemble and transport the building structure from one plantation to another. This relocation occurred often after trade agreements between the European planters’ lending of land and Barbadian worker's labour, fell through. The workers would then be forced to move to another location for work, taking their houses with them.^[5].

Chattel House, Barbados

The architectural design and planning of the Chattel House was created in accordance with the natural environment of the Barbados landscape. The roof of the Chattel house is designed to be on a steep slant. This prevents the high wind that is characteristic of Barbados weather from lifting the roof off the building. The steepness of the roof also quickly deflects the rain from seeping into the interior of the building. The windows on the Chattel House are also designed to prevent weather impacts. The windows of the Chattel House are built using extra reinforcements, such as the shutters, so that they can also withstand the harsh wind and rain from causing severe damage to the external and internal structures of the house. The positioning and configuration of the Chattel house was chosen according to the direction of the weather. The Chattel house would be moved around during placement in order to prevent further damage from the weather elements.

Modifications were made to the Chattel house after 1650. These modifications were directly influenced by the British colonial structures that were built on the island. Larger extensions and structural building attachments were introduced to the Chattel house by fitting with the pre-existing structures. This offered more room for the people who lived in them. Terraces were also added to the front of the Chattel house. This mimicked the European Plantation buildings that also had terraces. The architectural additions referenced existing design elements that could be seen around the island. The bright colours characteristic of the Chattel House remained in reference to similar design qualities of West African architecture^[6].

Civic and Military Structures

Bridgetown and Garrison

Main articles: Bridgetown and Garrison Historic Area

Historic Bridgetown and Its Garrison.

Bridgetown in Barbados is a historic port town that served as a military trade post to the New World for the British Colonial empire. The area began construction in 1705. Overtime, its construction has been extended to include the significant barracks and St Ann's Garrison, which was built as a fort to keep slaves for the British Empire in the Americas. Residing alongside the Garrison, are a series of hospitals and other buildings that make up the architectural layout.

The Bridgetown and its Garrison are the remains of British colonial militarily influence of the 17th Century. The architectural street layout of Bridgetown and its Garrison, reflect the layout of the streets seen during English Medieval times. Characterised as a 'serpentine shape' street layout, the design links Bridgetown with the Garrison and the port through a main thoroughfare and represents a semi-planned urban landscape brought to the Caribbean by British colonial forces.

The Garrison in Barbados is constructed of near 100 buildings and sites. The architecture at St Ann's Garrison in Barbados, is deliberate in its construction. The architecture is again a mix of European and Bajan vernacular, in order to accomodate the weather in Barbados as well as the needs of health maintenance for those that were kept in its vicinity. The architectural addition of verandahs are used throughout the design. This is in order to prevent heat from occupying the building, and allowing cool, fresh air to travel through. The purpose of this design layout was to minimise the impact of disease with the hospital. The verandahs also serve as a practical design, as they can be constructed easily using locally produced materials as well as to accomodate a more economical structure where large posts could support the verandah framework and not utilise unnecessary products in this process.

Originally, the Garrison and its accompanying buildings were constructed from wood. They were later rebuilt with stone due to irreparable damage from a hurricane. Through this reconstruction, the garrison was expanded further in order to strengthen its structure. Additionally, the stone was utilised so that it may prevent heat and humidity for Barbadian weather, from infiltrating the building. Iron posts were also included in the renovation of the garrison buildings. This occurred after 1831 when more durable materials such as ballast bricks and iron were introduced by the English after the abolition of Slavery.

Modern Architecture

Buildings constructed in Barbados today, do not reflect the architectural styles of the buildings pre-existing on the Island. This due to the lack of artisan skill in Bajan architecture construction, combined with the minimal wage provided to these workers. Foreign migration to Barbados has also meant that people from different countries who chose to build on the island, do not have appropriate cultural appreciation for Bajan or colonial structures. Caribbean Georgian and Bajan architecture are therefore not commonly constructed today. Since the 1930s, Barbados architecture has been influenced by international design with the increase of tourism

The materials used in the creation of modern architecture in Barbados today, have been influenced by architectural styles movements in the 20th Century. Such movements, including the 1960s and 1970s, influenced the creation of Barbadian structures that focussed less on the durability of architecture for the Barbadian climate, ad more on the design that referenced international style. With the rise of modern forms of transport, architectural materials used in other economically advanced countries, can be easily sent to Barbados for construction. As with previous architecture in Barbados, modern Barbadian Architecture is designed according to the climate so that air may be able to travel through the the building, creating a breeze to cool the interior structure.