Architectural Heritage & Conservation
Cataloguing and protecting the structures that hold local memory
We produce measured drawings, condition assessments and photographic records of historic structures, indigenous Caribbean building traditions and urban landmarks — and we place that record in the public domain so owners, municipalities and researchers can all work from the same evidence.
Field documentation
Our survey teams pair a licensed architect with student assistants to produce hand-measured plans, elevations and sections of contributing structures. Each record set includes a materials inventory, a photographic elevation series, a written condition note and a recommended intervention priority. Records are deposited in the Foundation's open archive within ninety days of fieldwork and are consultable free of charge.
Traditional building knowledge
Much of what keeps a Caribbean building standing is not in any code: lime renders that let masonry breathe, deep balconies that shade the wall behind them, shutter systems that ventilate a room during a storm, and roof geometries developed over generations of wind exposure. We interview master builders and carpenters, record their techniques with drawings and video, and publish them as usable technical notes rather than folklore.
Owner and municipal guidance
Owners of historic properties frequently face a choice between an unaffordable restoration and an irreversible replacement. Our guidance documents set out reversible, staged alternatives with realistic cost ranges gathered from local contractors, and our staff review proposed interventions at no cost for structures inside documented districts.
Loss documentation
When a structure cannot be saved, documenting it becomes the last act of stewardship available. We maintain a demolition and storm-loss record so that the geometry, materials and detailing of lost buildings remain available to future restoration, litigation and scholarship.