The philosophy of PECARD ARCHITECTE

Rooting architecture in local traditions — born of the experience and common sense of generations confronted with natural elements that are sometimes violent — is far from backward-looking; on the contrary, it is profoundly modern, in the best sense of the word. We are among those who believe that modernity in architecture does not mean following new trends or the fashions of the moment, as these are fleeting and often arise from a context ill-suited to the place.

On the contrary, we consider that historical roots and traditional know-how form a solid foundation for designing an authentic architecture that responds perfectly to local constraints. Architecture becomes contemporary through its adaptation to the requirements of our time, in particular to the evolution of lifestyles and techniques.

We did not wait for Hurricane IRMA to apply anti-cyclonic measures. Indeed, as early as the summer of 1979, we had to face two major hurricanes within two weeks. At the time, everything was simpler, because the people of St. Barth were used to such natural events and built accordingly. Small volumes, small openings closed with solid wooden shutters, roof framing inspired by shipbuilding and solidly anchored — everything was designed to resist cyclones. Likewise, in the absence of a public water network, every house had its own cistern, and that precious resource was well protected from salt-laden cyclone waters by a simple gutter-disconnection system.

Many houses had an elevated water tank fed by a hand pump, allowing domestic water to be distributed purely by gravity, the whole system operating without electricity. Since the tank was most often located above the bathroom, this ingenious system had the double advantage of heating the domestic water and turning the bathroom into a shelter room in the event of a cyclone. Evolving needs in terms of space, light, etc., together with new materials and techniques, have allowed an unprecedented evolution of architecture in St. Barth — enabling both the best and the worst. Although Hurricane IRMA was exceptionally powerful, it must be acknowledged that the anti-cyclonic features — often insufficient or even ignored — had not evolved accordingly. Without claiming triumph, we were able to observe that the systems we usually recommend generally held up well. A few improvements should further reinforce this essential protection.

Located in an area of very high seismic activity, the island will have to face major earthquakes in the future, as has already happened in the past. More dangerous still, because they can occur at any moment and without warning, earthquakes require strict application of the European seismic standards, which are updated regularly. Applied from the earliest design stage by the architects, structures are then calculated by specialized engineering firms. Geological risk is also a major concern on the island, given the presence of liquefiable soils, areas prone to landslides, or exposed to falling rocks. In all cases, a geotechnical study is an essential prerequisite for the design of any construction project. Here again, contemporary architecture is significantly more vulnerable to seismic and geological risks than traditional light-weight, small-volume, single-storey construction.