The Red House: Restoration
ABOUT
The Red House was built in 1844, expanded multiple times to its current form and named The Red House in celebration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee - June 1897. It has had a checkered history of the water riots, the coup and multiple restoration attempts. In 2006 Parliamentarian consensus was to restore parliament’s home to its Iconic stature. The Commission offered our practice an outstanding opportunity to be a part of the architectural history of Trinidad and Tobago’s most iconic historical building.
THE PROBLEM
The Red House lacked it’s iconic status. And although housed in temporary facilities, parliament also lacked a fully operational facility.
THE CHALLENGE
Our commission in 2012 was to address the following main goals:
Restore the Two Chambers for the members of parliament and the senate
Expand the complement of members of parliament from 41 to 63
Separate MP access from public
Provide a secure link to the proposed Companion Building
Integrate seamlessly, state of the art Building Services.
Restore the historic fabric of the existing
THE SOLUTION
We met with the client to understanding their needs, did extensive historical research and adapted existing space for required functions and services.
The building was successfully revivified, in that all planning issues were fully resolved and its historical architectural elements preserved. The parliamentarians now occupy a functioning building that meets their needs and also be visited and appreciated by the public at large.
