I remember when this building first went into construction. I went to school opposite to the new construction site and everyday my friends and I would try to guess exactly what this 'structure' was going to be. It looked like a huge metal spider, or maybe it was supposed to be a spaceship.
"But why build one? Don't those things just land somewhere?" I remember my best friend asking once :/
It definitely looked like something straight out of a horror movie. Right in Trinidad and Tobago. Much to our disappointment, we were all wrong.
The National Academy of the Performing Arts or NAPA as we locals know it is the first of its kind in Trinidad. It is described as "the permanent home for the development of talent in the performing arts." The Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (UDeCOTT). The architectural design is supposed to be reminiscent of the national flower of Trinidad and Tobago, the Chaconia. (Okay, so it isn't a spaceship.) Designed to fit 1500, with state of the art lighting and sound systems, NAPA also comes equipped with a hotel for visiting performers and students.
Who even designs buildings like these? Apparently many people around the world do!
An iconic design is usually one that is 'ground breaking' and one that sets new standards in its field. It is a design that other designers and manufactures follow, as it becomes a bench mark for other similar products. Furthermore, an iconic design is one that stands up to the test of time, remaining a good design, despite the passing of years, decades and even centuries.
I think that this theory is definitely applicable to Trinidad in terms of NAPA. We see that the architects and contractors behind this "spaceship" specifically designed NAPA to look like the national flower of Trinidad and Tobago. This does wonders for the locals (those that actually know what the design is supposed to be). This gives us a sense of feeling and belonging to the buildings. It is our own, designed specifically for us to enjoy, to utilise and to love.
In my opinion NAPA can be classified as Iconic architecture; although we are yet to see the design withstand the test of many decades (but I have faith that my spaceship will). While NAPA may not be like anything we may see in London or Dubai or more economically developed countries, it can be classified as 'iconic' on our own scale. "The rising occurrences of these image-making and tourism attracting capacities of this iconic building may have been viewed as successful in transitioning the city's image from declining and de-industrialising to being a global tourism destination and cultural centre." (Barrett and Hall 2012, 205)
NAPA is definitely an essence. At night, the building illuminates so beautifully leaving all in awe. Our own iconic building that we love.
Naturally, everyone would understand why I thought this was a spaceship of some sort.
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PS. All photos taken by yours truly :)
The two articles below give a different side to the concept of "iconic architecture." Very interesting to read because it is a parallel view to what Hall and Barrett showed us.
Tim Hall and Heather Barrett, Urban Geography, 4th ed. (Abingdon: Routledge 2012) 204 - 206.
Why Cities Need Iconic Buildings? Michael Maltzan
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