In an attempt to stimulate development, life on the streets in the city has ultimately become a race against time. Consequently, as individuals attempt to complete their busy routines on a daily basis, they often fail to appreciate the relationship between place, space and time. Urban spaces are characterized by high levels of activity and the fast-pacedmovement of individuals. In a study conducted by Bedford (2007), a comparison between data from 1994 and 2007 revealed a 10 percent increase in the speed of movement of individuals in 32 cities.
The heightened activity and increased speed with which individuals conduct their affairs is synonymous with the advancement of technology and development in cities. In fact, the study published by Bedford (2007) indicated that the fastest walkers along the streets of cities were citizens of Asian countries who comprise the "tiger" economies which are quickly developing. In the context of theCaribbean, the capital city boasts a higher rate of activity because of the greater complexity of urban services provided. In an analysis of the spatial patterns in Eastern Caribbean countries, Rojas (1989) stated "Given the fact that only a few intermediate size towns exist, and they also have relatively low levels of functional complexity, it follows that the majority of the population gravitates over the capital cities to satisfy a high proportion of their demand for urban services."
On one of our visits to Port-of-Spain, one aspect of the relationship between place, space and time observed was the historical influence on architecture in the city. According to Discover Trinidad (2008), the original inhabitants of Trinidad and Tobago were Amerindian tribes from the South American mainland. However, the island was rediscovered by Christopher Columbus, who claimed the island for Spain on his third voyage in 1498. The arrival of the Spanish who brought war, enslavement and disease to the indigenous people resulted in genocide. One of the methods the Spanish settlers used to achieve superiority over the natives was the imposition of Christianity via Catholicism. This was evident in the 18thCentury when the Spanish Empire issued the Cedula of Population. The Cedula of Population was a law encouraging population growth through immigration, offering incentives such as free grants for land and exemption from the majority of taxes. (National Library and Information System Authority, 2016) In tangent with the Haitian revolution, the legislation facilitated the migration of mainly French planters and their slaves provided that they were of the Roman Catholicdenomination.
By the end of the 18th Century, the English had conquered the island but Trinidad was still characterized by an expanding and predominantly Roman Catholic population. For this reason, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was completed in 1832 to accommodate the growing Catholic population. (MacLean, 2009) The cathedral which was constructed during colonization by England, features the Gothic Revival architectural style inspired by the medieval Gothic style.Originating in England, the Gothic Revival architectural style emphasized a movement of romantic and picturesque architecture which reflected a desire for prestige, grandeur and beauty by the public. (Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, 2015) Elements of the building include decorative crowns which catch the eye as the extend to the heavens, towers, pointed-arched windows, battlements and stained glass windowson the interior. Given the presence of French immigrants, the Cathedral also boasts elements of French architecture including a tall doorway and stone balustrades. According to Besson (2012), other features of the French architectural style brought by the immigrants included jealousied windows, wooden chattel houses, pitched roofs and extensive lattice woodwork. In addition, Port-of-Spain is comprised of buildings of the Spanish Colonial architectural style such as the "Cabildo" located on Sackville Street.
Similarly to Bedford (2007) in his study, we observed that our appreciation for the architecture and history was not shared with the majority of pedestrians. Rather, the appreciation was overshadowed by the speed of movement. It would seem as if our desire for modernization and development has devalued our sense of identity since we do not value our history. This observation was not based on the hustle of pedestrians but the movement away from traditional architecture in favour of modern architecture. Development is necessary but not at the expense of our historical journey which shaped the society of the country into what it is today. Therefore, there is a responsibility for all individuals to exhibit an interest in the relationship between our urban spaces and time rather than solely focusing on what the city can offer.
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Photograph by : Brendon Taylor
References
Bedford, Keith. 2007. " World's cities step up pace of life in fast lane". Life. Accessed March 21, 2016. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pedestrians-speed-study-idUSL0235779220070502.
Besson, Gerard A. 2012. " Architecture in Trinidad and Tobago". The Caribbean History Archives. Accessed March 20, 2016. http://caribbeanhistoryarchives.blogspot.com/2012/03/architecture-in-trinidad-and-tobago.html.
DiscoverTrinidad. 2008. "History of Trinidad". Page last modified May 20, 2008. http://trinidad.discover-tt.com/history.html.
MacLean, Geoffrey. 2009. "Cathedral of Immaculate Conception". Places of Worship. Accessed March 21, 2016. http://citizensforconservationtt.org/main/index.php/builtherit/powbuilt/97-cathedral-of-the-immaculate-conception.
National Library and Information System Authority. 2016. "Slavery and Emancipation in Trinidad and Tobago". Emancipation Day. Accessed March 20, 2016. http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Research/SubjectGuide/EmancipationDay/tabid/189/Default.aspx?PageContentID=224.
Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. 2015. "Gothic Revival Style 1830-1860". Accessed March 20, 2016. http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/architecture/styles/gothic-revival.html.
Rojas, Eduardo. 1989. "Human Settlement of the Eastern Caribbean". CITIES 1: 243-258. Butterworth & Company (Publishers) Limited.
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