Uploaded on 2017-02-16 by Naita Chamberlain

Hello, this is Naita Chamberlain from Kingston, Jamaica. I posted two images that illustrates two opposites of construction both located in Kingston, Jamaica. Both tells us the cultural identity and globalisation occurring in Jamaica.The first image is of the historic landmark Devon House, which showcases the use of locally produced materials and illustrates the tradition in both culture and materials of Jamaica. The house was designed to adapt to the local climates with operable windows, open verandas and as I mentioned earlier materials that were locally produced. In the second image is the head office of Digicel, a telecommunication company in Downtown, Kingston. As you can see, the designer tried to utilise all 'green building techniques' in the structure in the shading devices, the wind turbines on the roof, photo-voltaic panels on the roof and glazed windows. This is a clear example of the influence of globalisation in the wrong context. Although we do use glass in the construction industry, as you can imagine, most of these materials were probably manufactured overseas. Also for this one in particular, considering that the building is located by the ocean, covering the structure with just glass is overkill and does not reflect Jamaica's cultural identity. With that being said, it is important to note that Jamaica and the Caribbean on a whole is still trying to find their own architecture, however it should reflect their culture and not borrow someone else's.