Historical Site 2

Main Street, Road Town

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

The architectural design - compact, proportioned structures - used construction methods that withstood 60 plus years of onslaughts from hurricanes.

The forms of these buildings, all residents and visitors have been made aware of in recent years, can withstand earthquake tremors that, on any given day, one may be surprised at their intensity and duration.

I drew a structure's construction only because I did not have a camera on me to document it. Actual 4" x 4" posts were in each corner and visible above grade because the structure was elevated. Diagonal bracing "let in" intermediate framing.

The exterior was made of thick horizontal wood members. Hip framing from the corners to the center was fastened to the top plate. There may have been an overhang but it was not extravagant as it might have been taken by a tropical storm. Openings were shutters held in place with long pieces of wood. Houses grew from connecting more "modular" forms.

Main Street is the oldest part of Tortola that has representations of all kinds of architecture as it progressed in the territory. Many historical sites exist along Main Street.

There is the architectural design of individual structures and the architectural design of the street. Several studies have examined and the social block and provided solutions to maintain its historical proportions while satisfying modern considerations.

Sir Georges Plaza was the place where slaves were sold to British settlers. It was the site of the first electric power station. In the 50s and 60s, the Plaza served as an open air market place.