On April 18, we celebrate the annual International Day of Monuments and Sites. This year’s theme is ‘Heritage Under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts’. In light of this, we are sharing several scenarios of natural disasters in the Caribbean that impact cultural heritage in the region.
2024 was the hottest year ever recorded in the Caribbean. Average temperatures in St Maarten, Sint Eustatius, and Saba reached 28.4°C, while Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao saw an average of 29.1°C. That same year also marked an above-average hurricane season in the Atlantic region.
This trend is expected to continue in the coming years: temperatures that keep on increasing and a rise in heavy rainfall or floods. With record-breaking ocean temperatures fueling storm activity, the Caribbean faces an increasing number of hurricanes – particularly affecting Saba, Statia, and St Maarten. Not only are hurricanes becoming more intense, but they are also expected to occur more frequently.
Coping with the heat
The changing climate has significant consequences for cultural heritage on the islands. One major challenge for heritage conservation is keeping historic buildings cool and making them a comfortable place to stay.
Take, for example, the Hof van Justitie in Curaçao, a remarkable courthouse built in 1860. With its rich history, the monument has played an essential role in the judiciary and government of the Dutch Caribbean islands. Over the years, several renovations have been carried out. However, poor air conditioning, mold and an outdated layout have led to the building being empty. With our design we want to carefully restore this monument. As part of its renovation, we are implementing insulation and climate control systems to ensure a comfortable working environment for the Court of Justice when it reopens.
We previously showed in the new series Zoom-Out how we design heat resistance buildings.
Floods and storms
The heavier rainfall and increasing tropical storms have caused significant damage in Curacao over the past year. Lyongo explains: “It sounds counterintuitive but flooding actually increases when the climate—and especially the wet season—becomes drier. When the soil is dry, it absorbs less water, making floods more likely. The expectation is that the “wet season” in Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba will become even drier, intensified by the rising number of extreme heat days.”
This growing challenge requires thoughtful planning. That’s why we integrate water management into every project and spatial analysis we conduct. For example, when designing the Mongui Maduro Library, located next to a historic plantation house as an extension of the collection, we carefully considered water flow. Where does the rainwater go? Is there enough vegetation to absorb it, and can these plants survive even during dry seasons? Are there obstacles that cause pooling? If water accumulates in certain areas, we develop solutions to redirect it.
We’ll extend more on this subject in our Zoom-Out series over the next couple of months.
Hurricane resilience
On the Windward Islands, however, the wet season is becoming even wetter, requiring greater attention to flood mitigation strategies. In addition, the increase in hurricanes calls for the design of better buildings. When Hurricane Irma struck the Caribbean in 2017, St Maarten was hit hardest. A staggering 91% of the island’s buildings were damaged.
We are proud to share that the buildings we have designed in the Windward Islands have never suffered significant hurricane damage. When renovating a historic structure, you must account for extreme weather conditions and sometimes make adjustments accordingly, Lyongo explains. “Centuries-old buildings weren’t designed for today’s hurricanes. Captains Quarters was complete destroyed by hurricane George in 1998. When make the reconstruction drawings we used old pictures and historic drawings. For the new design we’ve used thicker studs and had more braces in our wood frame construction to make sure the structure was hurricane resistant. Since the building has cladding on both the exterior and the interior it is difficult to notice this modification.”
In the next Zoom-Out, in May, we will tell more about how we design hurricane-proof buildings.
