THE NATURAL

AND BUILT
ENVIRONMENT
2

BUILDING
Factors influencing the design of a building:
1. History – History of the site, is it prone to flooding or land slide?
Is it built-up? What was its previous use?
2. Material – Choice and availability of materials
3. Culture – influences the shape and style of the structure.
Family custom.
4. Climate – wet, hot, cold, windy, would determine where windows or
balconies are placed in a building
5. Cost – Determines affordability
The influence of other cultures on Caribbean
building styles.

1. British;
2. French;
3. Indian;
4. American;
 European architectural features influencing
building design in the Caribbean
1. British; European
2. French;
Brickwork — walls made from bricks that are arranged in various patterns

Wooden casement — windows that have their sashes hanged to swing like doors

Steep roofs — these are pitched at 45º or more

Arches — curved member spanning openings to create a decorative feature

Staircases — built with decorative features such as balustrades to improve the interior of a building
British
1. Bricks (brickwork) - walls made from
bricks that are arranged in various
patterns

St John’s Cathedral
2. Arches- a structure that spans a space
and supports structure and weight above it.
British
3. Steep Roof-

4. Dormers- a structural element of a

building that protrudes from the plane of a
sloping roof surface
 British
5. Casement Windows- windows that have
their sashes hanged to swing like doors

6. Architraves- the lintel or beam that rests

on the capitals of the columns.

Window architrave
French
1. Louvered windows and doors

2. Veranda
French
3. Lattice work

4. Ornate mouldings
 French
5. Double doors

6. Plaster walls
Indian
1. Court yard

2. Circular roofs
Indian
1. Open floor plan

2. Domes
American
1. High rise building

2. Dry wall
 American
1. Steel frame building

2. Split-level building with separate roofs for each

American
Panel construction