THE EDITOR, Sir:
I NOTE the letter to the editor from the Hon. Maxine Henry-Wilson, Minister of Education, and wish to urge her to pause from her mission to add the air-conditioning, or otherwise substantially alter the design of this building, which is the ministry building at Heroes' Circle. Adding air-conditioning is not necessarily an improvement.
I would ask the Minister to consult with the architects and engineers in the country about how it is possible to work with the present building, without adding the air- conditioning. Air-conditioners require electricity, an item becoming more expensive every day because of our dependence on oil to generate electricity.
This building was designed to be self-sustaining back in the day by the visionary Architect / Engineer Wilson Chong (the Architect of the National Stadium). It was designed in the tradition of Caribbean architecture, developed over centuries by the original colonisers to work with the environment. It is oriented along an east-west axis, and has all its glass windows facing north to benefit from the northern light. The south of the building is protected by its entire length with a corridor with the louvers to shade the building from the sun. The floor plan is a simple open plan, and allows for ample ventilation from the crossing wind through the short side of the building. My recollection of this space is from evenings spent doing homework in the cafeteria, waiting for my father who worked at the ministry at the time. I cannot recall a day that was hot or uncomfortable.
It is ironic that today I am an architect, and so understand the design of this wonderful, yet simple building. Even if the minister would insist on provision of air-conditioning, there are ways to supplement the design, so the programming requirements of the minister and others using the building, could continue to be an example of sustainable design, and the future of self-determination, and honouring our environment by using renewable energy.
In the meantime the minister could call on the local architectural fraternity to assist in any way in the preservation of the integrity of this architectural icon. This gesture may help to renew the vision and sense of hope, that was so abundant back in the day, when independence was like a moon shot.
I am, etc.,
HUGH M. DUNBAR
hmd-energy@erols.com
Via Go-Jamaica
