Montserrat Needs To Think Green In Architectural Design, Says Island’s Only Female Architect
KINGSTON, Jamaica (GIU) — Financial constraints should not restrict architects from finding ways to “Go Green” on Montserrat, says Public Works Department (PWD) architect designate Linda Dias.
Dias recently sat on a panel of guest critics for the final design studio presentations of the first and second year Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies at her alma mater, the Caribbean School of Architecture at UTech in Jamaica.
The panel consisted of some of the student’s lecturers, including two Jamaicans who have worked as architects at the PWD for the government of Montserrat, David Cuthbert and Vivian Gordon.
Students were required to design a dwelling for an array of characters that included a personal physiotherapist and her family, an artist and her family, an elderly couple, and a young professional couple.
“These presentations were based primarily on implementing sustainable elements into the designs for a number of different characters in multiple site locations. In Montserrat, we tend to design in a vacuum – being forced (because of financial constraints) to consider the present, with very little consideration being lent to future maintenance and self-sustainability of our island’s built environment,” Dias noted.
“If we are able to enhance key elements in our architectural designs such as passive cooling, implementing the use of more sustainable materials and construction techniques — and even properly strategizing our rainwater collection and distribution, we will be able to see a vast reduction in our annual maintenance expenses.
“Green Architecture” isn’t just about installing solar panels and including more vegetation into our designs – it’s about considering the future of our structures as much as we consider their present.”
Dias, who is the only local female architect on island, works for the government of Montserrat and also runs her own local design firm Aeon Studios.
Montserrat Needs To Think Green In Architectural Design, Says Island’s Only Female Architect courtesy of Caribbeannewsnow.com
While in Grenada, we went to dinner at Water’s Edge at Bel Air Plantation in St. Davids.
Nestled on a hillside overlooking a secluded bay and the Caribbean Sea, Bel Air Plantation, is a gracious island hideaway featuring an intimate collection of only eleven Villas and Cottages. Water’s Edge, the restaurant at Bel Air features award winning island cuisine infused with local herbs and spices complimented with an extensive wine selection. The restaurant allows for dining on an open air verandah or an upstairs lounge overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
Service from our server, who wore a few hats that evening, was also our bartender. Her service was exceptional. She made a fruit punch, that was simply amazing.
Our delicious dishes in the order of appearance were for starters the Callaloo Tartlet, which is a puff pastry filled with callaloo in vermouth sauce and topped parmesan cheese. In addition, the Chicken Satay, which is a marinated chicken, gently grilled and served with a spicy peanut sauce.
For the main course we had the Grenada Rum & Ginger Chicken: grilled boneless breast of chicken flamed in rum and served in a ginger cream sauce with roast potatoes/ Basmati Rice and seasonal vegetables. The last picture is of the Grilled Snapper and Basmati Rice.
For dessert, we had a pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate pie with ice cream which we devoured before we thought about taking any pictures.
All in all we highly recommend dining at Water’s Edge at Bel Air Plantation in “Spice Isle” Grenada. The food and service was exceptional, and we are sure to return on our next visit to Grenada.
For more info:
Bel Air Plantation Resort
St.David’s Point
Grenada, W.I.
Telephone: +1 (473) 444-6305
Fax: +1 (473) 444-6316
Toll Free: +1 (866) 504-3359 (US and UK only)
Located @ 70 W 3rd St., Negril Village is a must do if you live in the NY tri state area or if you are ever visiting. A few weeks ago we were back in our old stomping grounds and decided to go to brunch at the suggestion of a few folks in our party.
We are not saying that Caribbean restaurants with good ambiance and good food doesn’t exist, it is just that they are rare. You are more than likely to find take out spots with good food and little or no seating or an atmosphere not befitting a date, and/or lunch or dinner meeting.
Negril at least to some in our party, was an introduction to good Caribbean food and good ambiance in NYC’s Village.
For appetizers we had the salt fish fritters also known as fish cakes, with guacamole. We never had fish cakes with guacamole before, and trust it won’t be the last. Already searched for the recipe for guacamole to make the next time we do make fish cakes. Our main dish was the jerk chicken and waffles. The chicken was moist with “nuff” flavor. Our dish was replete with papaya, cantaloupe, grapes and watermelon. Others in our party had the lobster omelet and the West Indian omelet with salt fish and callaloo.
The atmosphere has a very cosmopolitan island feel…if there is ever such a thing.
It has been known to get real busy on the weekends, so making a reservation maybe wise.
For more information
Negril Village
70 W 3rd St.
New York, NY 10011
(212) 477 – 2804
(212) 228 – 9556 http://www.negrilvillage.com/
The following is some coverage on Negril Village by Local Flavor presented by Tava beverage
