travel the caribbean antigua and barbuda antigua architecture
Aside from the portside shops and the large resorts, Antiqua's indiginous architecture is similar to that found on most eastern Caribbean islands.
Both residential and commercial architecture on the island is often unfinished.
Often the lower floors are near finished and painted in bright colors while the upper floors are just skeletons.
On Barbados, this was explained to us as examples of owners who didn't want to go into debt so they built and improved in increments that corresponded to their inpocket funds.
TRAVEL: 2018
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unless noted otherwise all images copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
Typical appearance of many buildings found on Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda, Eastern Caribbean, 2018.
The structural ties for a second level are erected along with the first level, but often are left for completion at a later date... often years down the road.
Another example of a building under construction, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda, Eastern Caribbean, 2018.
Example of a simple house, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda, Eastern Caribbean, 2018.
These structures are often only supported at the corners on concrete blocks or native stone.
On other islands, we heard that in older times these homes were owned by people who only rented the property below.
When landlords wanted their land for other use, the home owners would simply disassemble their house and move it to another site.
Although this particular house does not look as piecemeal as some others we saw, the foundation is similar.
An example of a more finished home, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda, Eastern Caribbean, 2018.
An example of a totally unfinished home, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda, Eastern Caribbean, 2018.
copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
page last revised january 2020