Port-au-Prince Iron Market, Haiti
Port-au-Prince Iron Market, Haiti
The 1891 Iron Market – known locally as Marché en Fer and perhaps Haiti’s most important public gathering place – was severely damaged by fire in 2008. In 2010 it suffered the devastating effects of an earthquake that affected 3 million people in Haiti and killed many thousands of Port-au-Prince’s citizens. The 5,000m2 building is a key part of the local economy, and following the earthquake only the landmark central tower of the market remained standing, although leaning visibly after all four legs slipped off their foundation stones. The adjacent market hall was severely damaged at one end.
We prepared the engineering strategy for its US$12 million restoration and worked alongside John McAslan + Partners, who led a multi-disciplinary team including hundreds of local artisans in this restoration project, which proved an extreme test of design, research, materials sourcing and logistics. Key historic building details were restored where possible with new elements engineered by us to meet current seismic requirements.
The project won the Sustainability Award and a Commendation in the Heritage Award at the Institution of Structural Engineers Awards in 2012. The judges commented that “...the structural engineer demonstrated sound but novel engineering judgement to develop solutions appropriate to the context...” and “Appropriate innovation had to be born out of basic structural principles, as was beautifully demonstrated in the case of the clock tower.”
Awards:
Institute of Structural Engineers Awards, Sustainability Award, 2012
Civic Trust Awards, 2012
International Property Awards, Five Star award, Public Service Architecture, 2011
International Property Awards, Best in Region, 2011
RIBA International Awards, 2011
WAN Awards, Effectiveness, 2011
Client: Digicel Foundation
Architect: John McAslan + Partners
Photos: Courtesy of the architect