The major buildings of Port Louis: A review

1. The Waqf Building
   
   
The Waqf fabric built in 1818, is one of the oldest, despite now, is scathed, of the British days. From its early days till now, the building has been primarily used as a commercial building. The ground level of the building was used as shops which provisioned the ships which docked in Port Louis Harbour. Between 1880 and early 1900s, the first floor used to be a hotel known as L’Hotel L’Orient. It was one of the first and rare hotels that could be found in the town centre. After all, it was located in a strategic location next to the railway line which passed through the heart of the city, close to the Custom House, the Immigration Depot, the Civil Hospital and the Central Market. Throughout time, the first level purpose was changed to a warehouse, whereas, the ground floor since the 20th century till now have been occupied by small outlets (Peerthum, 2011).
The complex consisting of four structures of plastered and white-washed over basalt and brick is a typical nature of the Georgian period. It is very noticeable how the façade proportion had more importance in its design than the decorations. The overall block is characterised by double storeyed buildings on the north, south, and west and with a single storey facing the east. Despite being used later as a warehouse; the building’s simple elegance was not detracted.

Waqf fabric now used as retail outlets and for advertising purposes, Port Louis, Mauritius, 2016 (photograph by author)
2. The Municipal Theatre
   
The Port Louis Municipal Theatre, timeless in its presence, is one of the first-born in the Indian Ocean as well as in the Southern Hemisphere. Opened in 1822, it has since occupied a very significant place in the Mauritian society and the city of Port Louis. Shows were of all taste and night trains were even made available to the convenience of the public.
The theatre was designed in a neoclassical style by the distinguished architect of the French colonisation period, Pierre Poujade. He was assisted by Pierre Thuillier for the interior composition and decoration. (Port Louis – The Municipal Theatre during the Colonial Times – 1905, n.d.)

Photographer unknown, The Municipal Theatre in Port Louis, Mauritius representing French neoclassical architecture with decorated facades with a combination of colonnades, rotundas and porticoes , 1905
The building stands very graciously on the street of Port Louis in front of the municipality. The façade composition follows a very pure symmetrical balanced proportion. The magnificent classical columns used on the portico stands very elegantly and gives the building a very strong outlook. The odd numbered openings; five on first floor and three on the last floor, is very well aligned to have a central one and equal numbers on both sides. The openings are moreover treated with timber shutters and arches, flat and triangular pediments that have been set in a way to accentuate the symmetry of its expression. The roof is very distinctive with the triangular pediment and the dentils used as decorative features together with the presence of the moulded cornices on the façade. Moreover, the building composition comprises of much more ornamental features that express the neoclassical influence. We can notice the circular windows that are placed under the gable, the decorative edges with the exposed cut basalts and the balustrade with the very detailed casted elements.
3. The Central Market
   
   

Photographer unknown, The Central Market Entrance, with a distinguished gateway made of cut stones, Port Louis, Mauritius, 1938
The central market, similar to the various shops and warehouses around the city, was a response to satisfy the growing trading nature of the port. It was built in 1844 with the provision for many merchants to conduct their business activities in one uniting location. The central market since its construction till present days has always been a vibrant and very attractive place in the city. Its deliberated location was near to the port as well as near the railway lines, showing that there was a prominent level of town planning in that era.



Photographer unknown, alleyway of paved stones of the Central Market, Port Louis, Mauritius

The entrance of the market is a hybrid representation of the so-called vernacular architecture and Georgian architecture with a marked taste of proportion and symmetry, at the level of the gateway linking the market to the streets leading to the railway line. The gateway is a symbolic emblem of the Central Market, made of perfectly cut quarried basaltic rocks. The alleyway of the market is made up of paved stones in staggered fashion.



The Post Office


In the heart of the city, the Central Post Office erected in 1868 during the early British colonial period have been motionless in its presence. The front part of the building has the words “Post Office” written in the Oxford style. The inscription of the date '1868 A.D' is also clearly distinguished. The strategic location of the post office along the path of the railway allowed for a very fluent operation of the postal activities throughout the island. The gracious block has served as central post office and bureau to the Postmaster General for more than a century. Presently, the general post office still serves its original purpose, as well as an integrated postal museum The building is an important structure as a representation of architectural evolution of colonial building during the nineteenth century. The overall character of the building is a satisfying example of the sophisticated craftsmanship which developed during the mid-Victorian era. The erection of the building required more than eighty workers which consisted mainly of Indian and non-Indian vagrants as well as prisoners from the Port Louis prison (Betchoo, 2014). Few of the skilled labour were also provided by the ex-indentured workers, Indo-Mauritians and Creoles (descendants of slaves and apprentices) who were involved on monthly contracts.






Photographer unknown, The Central Post Office constructed with basaltic rocks by the indentured labourers in the 1930s with a distinguished Georgian architecture, Port Louis


The overall structure consists of large stone blocks together with thick iron and wooden beams. The building’s face expresses a very harmonious symmetry with the five arches in the middle and the two triangular pediments on either side with the circular openings centered under the gables. The building expresses itself as a late Georgian style mixed with a touch of neo classical Victorian architecture. As we observed the structure more closely, we can notice the Egyptian influence in its composition; the common moulded cornices have been replaced rather by sculptured frieze. Clerestory windows on the façade that are taller and in size proportionally larger than the wall surfaces, also represent this Egyptian style. The skilled craftsmanship works can be perceived also on the clock that is positioned on the central axis of the façade which is highly sculptured with details in the stones.