Architectural Memory: Créole Houses as Living Monuments in Port Louis, Mauritius

Résumé

This study examines the vernacular architecture of Port Louis in Mauritius island through Créole houses. These houses development because the early architecture of the French colony on the island was not adequately adapted to tropical climate and material resources. Over centuries, the Créole houses have adjusted to the local materials, economy, climate, and culture of the island. The enslaved who were the primary builders of these houses, contributed immensely to the vernacular adaptations. Yet, Créole houses remain understudied despite representing an architectural heritage which links Mauritius to the global network of the French empire and to Africa and Asia. The study seeks to catalogue Créole houses through an examination of their architectural elements, typologies, and craftsmanship. Using archival research, field surveys, and oral histories, this research sheds light on how the enslaved adapted colonial design principles, through their Indigenous Knowledge Systems, to create structures suited to the tropics. One of the research outputs for this study is the first definition of Créole houses in Kreol Morisien. This study will not only provide a visual but also a local architectural vocabulary in Kreol Morisien and contribute to the broader discourse on the preservation of vernacular heritage in postcolonial contexts of the Global South. In doing so, it will advocate for a reimagination of heritage practices to integrate local expertise to ensure the survival of Créole houses as vital components of the cultural landscape of Mauritius.

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