the Complex : a Context
A former British colony, the character of the Barbadian housing stock strongly reflects the residue of the Plantation economy and the ensuing socio-economic dynamics of the society. Barbadians are highly conscious of social mobility and social strata and this self-consciousness is often manifested in a pre-occupation with the ownership of a “piece of the rock”.
The location of housing, the size of land, size of house and materials of which housing is built act as powerful markers in Barbadians’ claim to their sense of identity. The response to the need for housing has revealed this highly culturally charged approach to housing.
Generally, the result has been the division of expansive swaths of land into a large number of small lots which create a sense of individual ownership, but which sprawl throughout suburban areas and now into the agricultural belt
In addition, the benefits of incorporating social amenities, safe and accessible “green” or recreational spaces are readily overlooked in these housing developments. This absence has exacerbated the in-efficiencies associated with a car-centered transportation culture which results in exorbitant traffic congestion, air and sound pollution and the absorption of land into road networks.
The efficiency of such an approach to housing development comes into question as such a small nation has only so much land to make available. A re-imagination of the approach to provide housing solutions has become necessary. Housing solutions must therefore not only take into account the nuances of Barbadian society but must also respond to the need for the sustainable use of land.
The intensifying effects of Climate Change present further challenges and the re-occurrence of extreme weather events tests the resilience of the infrastructure around us. Extreme temperatures and flooding are just some of the climate-related factors which compel a re-imagination of how we replenish the built environment, and they highlight the inescapable fact that our built environment must work with and not against the natural environment.