Left to right, CBC Presenters Doug Hoyte and Kimberley Skeete speaking to BIA Biennale Committee members Michael Lashley, Abigail Pilgrim and Gordon AshbyThe Barbados Institute of Architects (BIA) recently launched the 8th Biennale of the Federation of Caribbean Associations of Architects (FCAA). This distinguished regional conference will be headquartered at the Barbados Hilton Hotel from September 27 – 30, under the theme, “The Joy of Architecture”.
Speaking on Good Mornin’ Barbados, President of the BIA, Michael Lashley said that the Association was pleased to host the Conference as Barbadians would have the opportunity to see architecture at its best. “Barbadians are typically very conservative and this is reflected in our architecture. We will be having an Exhibition as part of the Conference which will showcase works from around the region giving locals the opportunity to see cutting edge designs – many of them now built - that are sure to impress.”
He said that the main objective of the FCAA is to gather Caribbean architects and architects from neighbouring countries of the Caribbean basin in order to reinforce the professional, artistic, intellectual and friendly relations between them.
Biennial Committee volunteer, Abigail Pilgrim, spoke of the areas that would be covered at the Conference including the meeting of the Executive Committee and General Assembly of the FCAA, the Biennale Design Competition, lectures, seminars, tours and the trade exhibition with products and services from around the region and beyond. She defined the ‘joy of architecture’ as the creation of spaces that serve and uplift us from era to era with such components as safety, security, and environmental sustainability being critical inputs by the architects.
BIA member Gordon Ashby said that Barbados at present does not have a building code but a draft code, currently under review by government, is already being incorporated in the local architects’ designs. He described the Biennale as not only a great platform for established professionals in the area such as architects, engineers, builders and manufacturers, but it would also be a good learning ground for current and future architectural students.
President of the FCAA Eric Halley also joined the launch through video. He said that, with the support of FCAA, a number of strides were being made between the European Union and CARIFORUM countries for architects to work in different countries through free trade. He said that the last conferences were held in Puerto Rico and Cuba and that he is inviting all the FCAA members to come and share in the Barbados event.
About The FCAA Biennale
The FCAA Biennale is the only regional event that brings together architects from the English, Spanish, French and Dutch speaking Caribbean. The FCAA represents national associations of architects from Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Curacao (Netherlands Antilles), Dominica, French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Nevis, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago and the US Virgin Islands.
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