Still Standing

Ever since first encountering Henry Glassie's work on vernacular architecture, I have had a special interest in that aspect of material culture. Those who share this focus will appreciate Adom Philogene Heron and Marica Honychurch's Still Standing: The Ti Kais of Dominica, which deals with a distinctive type of residential structure (Ti Kais) that evolved on the island of Dominica after Great Britain outlawed slavery in its territories in the 1830s. The writing of Philogene Heron and the photographs of Honychurch provide an enjoyable read/view and document an aspect of material culture that is fading, but still very much alive.Not to be confused with the Dominican Republic (located on the island of Hispaniola), Dominica is a small English-speaking island nation located in the Caribbean north of Venezuela. Originally colonialized by the French, its governance fell into the hands of Great Britain following the Seven Years’ War (known as the French and Indian War in the United States). As is true of numerous Caribbean islands, Europeans used the island for many years to produce cash crops, which were originally grown by enslaved laborers for export. These, at various times, included coffee, cocoa, sugar, limes, grapefruit, and bananas. Although such an economy could be lucrative, the island and its people were vulnerable to boom-and-bust cycles due to the overreliance on one crop.Today, small farms, construction work, government jobs, and the service industries dominate the economy. The tourism industry also thrives because the island has pristine ecological assets that include flora, fauna, and geological features, such as hot springs. This is where the Ti Kais houses emerged in the nineteenth century and where numerous examples continue to exist.Ti Kais houses are small (typically two rooms) and are a product of cultural melding that combines French, West African, and Indigenous characteristics. The style became commonplace on the island in the post-emancipation period beginning in the 1830s when those who were formally enslaved and their dependents, no longer tied down by servitude, were able to relocate at will. The result was the popularity of a type of house built over a period of several generations that is distinctive, scattered throughout the island and identifiable as Ti Kias. Although many of these structures have not survived, a large number remain; they testify to the history of the country and the ingenuity of its people. Although these little houses might appear to be insubstantial, in reality they are strong and durable. Some examples are over 130 years old.Philogene Heron attributes the ability of these structures to survive to the folk techniques used to build them that consider the dangers of hurricanes and flooding. Thus, instead of nails, wooden pegs fashion the skeletons of the houses, a technique possibly influenced by ship-building practices. This construction method makes them less vulnerable to destruction caused by high winds. With pieces of the roof fastened to houses in this traditional manner, high winds might remove some of the roof, but other parts have higher chances of survival. However, the common use of metal roofing in contemporary times has largely eliminated this feature.Since the 1960s, the dominant form of architecture has changed, and new buildings are likely to utilize concrete or concrete-block building methods. However, as Philogene Heron observes, these newly introduced methods of construction are not well-suited for the extreme forces of nature that periodically batter the island. For example, Maria, a Category 5 hurricane, caused great damage in 2017. It destroyed many modern structures, yet Ti Kais homes survived. Thus, the author suggests that these little houses are examples of vernacular craftsmanship that fit within and reflect the environment in which they exist.Philogene Heron and Honychurch provide many examples of both the interior and exterior of these houses. I was especially interested in the interior views, to which scholars all too often do not give adequate attention. Honychurch provides a variety of interior photographs that show how these little houses can provide inviting environments, despite their compact size.Looking at the book without reading it, the casual observer might assume it contains an air of pessimism because the cover photograph depicts a weathered and unpainted structure, which could foreshadow the death of a tradition. Such an interpretation is wrong. Honychurch's photographs demonstrate the vibrant life of the people of Dominica and the milieu that these examples of vintage folk architecture continue to nourish. Heron Philogene's writing echoes the same point when he introduces us to representative residents.Richly adorned with colorful photographs, the publishers apparently envisioned a coffee-table book; if so, it fills that role admirably. However, positioning the book in this manner may work against its role as an important example of architectural documentation and interpretation. For example, the book does not number its pages or contain an index, but it does provide a useful bibliography. These omissions are annoying, but they do not detract from the text and the pictures that are both artistic and informative.Still Standing significantly documents a specific form of vernacular architecture. Not only are the structures themselves analyzed, but it also considers, in intimate and informed detail, the social context in which the structures have long served and the people who live in and maintain them. Anyone interested in folk architecture will benefit from this book

History · Island Studies and Pacific Affairs · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies