Still Standing

by Adom Philogene Heron
photographs by Marica Honychurch

£21.50

ISBN

9781838041588

PUBLISHED

2022

FORMAT

Paperback
Also an eBook

ISBN

9781838041588

Published

2022

Format

Paperback
Also an eBook

This beautifully illustrated book is a celebration of the vanishing vernacular architecture of Dominica. These small wooden homes, ingeniously crafted and carefully adapted to their environment, have withstood hurricanes and earthquakes since their emergence in the post-emancipation period. While many modern, concrete homes have been destroyed, they are “still standing’. Even so, they are under threat from the forces of ‘modernity’ and ‘development’.

With an introduction by anthropologist Adom Philogene Heron that explains the historical evolution and importance of the ti kai, Still Standing takes us on a visual journey into the ti kai of today. Each home, photographed by Marica Honychurch is a tribute to traditional building skills and design; each one, described by its occupant, has an individual story of survival and well-being. Still Standing does not wish to paint the ti kai ‘as some quaint relic of an island’s past, but, as both living, ever evolving examples of creole heritage and as a model of “resilient” and sustainable dwelling.’ We believe that the stories and images in this book provide powerful evidence for vernacular conservation and thus inspire new respect for Dominica’s history and culture.

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What they say

“A truly superb introduction to a traditional, yet evolving, element of Caribbean vernacular architecture and a fine example of creolization in material culture.
– New West Indian Guide 98, forthcoming in “Bookshelf 2023”, spring 2024

“The threat to the ti kai makes this book even more valuable as a record, and as a call to preserve buildings of high architectural and historic value… reading the book was an illuminating and humbling experience… While the apparent certainties of modern development are crumbling all around, the humble ti kais are still standing.”
– Royal Institute of British Architects journal. Read the article here.

“Beautifully presented and engaging… Ti kais speak so subtly of the notion of home in a tropical climate.”
– Jonathan Glancey, Author, critic and former Architecture Correspondent of the Guardian newspaper.

“A must read for anyone interested in the architecture of the Caribbean or more generally the social anthropology of buildings.”
– Louis P Nelson, Professor of Architectural History, University of Virginia

“An outstanding example of the study of traditional building in the round.”
– Martin Cherry, Former President of the Vernacular Architecture Group and Research Director, English Heritage

“A truly superb introduction to a traditional, yet evolving, element of Caribbean vernacular architecture and a fine example of creolization in material culture.
– New West Indian Guide 98, forthcoming in “Bookshelf 2023”, spring 2024

“The threat to the ti kai makes this book even more valuable as a record, and as a call to preserve buildings of high architectural and historic value… reading the book was an illuminating and humbling experience… While the apparent certainties of modern development are crumbling all around, the humble ti kais are still standing.”
– Royal Institute of British Architects journal. Read the article here.

“Beautifully presented and engaging… Ti kais speak so subtly of the notion of home in a tropical climate.”
– Jonathan Glancey, Author, critic and former Architecture Correspondent of the Guardian newspaper.

“A must read for anyone interested in the architecture of the Caribbean or more generally the social anthropology of buildings.”
– Louis P Nelson, Professor of Architectural History, University of Virginia

“An outstanding example of the study of traditional building in the round.”
– Martin Cherry, Former President of the Vernacular Architecture Group and Research Director, English Heritage

Still Standing by Adom Philogene Heron + Marica Honychurch | Papillote Press book launch video

My Ti Kai, My Home

Olive Bell, the Dominican architect remembers life in a ti kai as a child and how that experience inspired her to become an architect.

“Other books have been written and published in and around the Caribbean on vernacular architecture, Caribbean styles, gingerbread houses and the likes but none have resonated so strongly with me as this one has. ‘Still Standing’ captures the essence of what I experienced as a child growing up in a ti kai in Giraudel; those memories are precious and I would not exchange this for anything else”. Read more.

About the Author

Adom Philogene Heron

Adom Philogene Heron is an ethnographer of the Caribbean whose scholarship centres on Caribbean ecologies, hurricanes, and repair; Britain’s haunted post-imperial land/seascapes; and Caribbean fatherhood and family lives. Adom has Dominican roots, tracing family ties to the village of Colihaut.

About the photographer

Marica Honychurch

Marica Honychurch is a photographer and videographer from Dominica. After living abroad, she has returned to her roots working in travel, portrait and documentary. She has been published in international magazines and online publications as well as exhibiting her work around the Caribbean.

About the Author

Adom Philogene Heron

Adom Philogene Heron is an ethnographer of the Caribbean whose scholarship centres on Caribbean ecologies, hurricanes, and repair; Britain’s haunted post-imperial land/seascapes; and Caribbean fatherhood and family lives. Adom has Dominican roots, tracing family ties to the village of Colihaut.

Marica Honychurch

Marica Honychurch is a photographer and videographer from Dominica. After living abroad, she has returned to her roots working in travel, portrait and documentary. She has been published in international magazines and online publications as well as exhibiting her work around the Caribbean.