Iron Market

Downtown Port-au-Prince

Yesterday, I went with a posse of Architecture for Humanity volunteers to tour the Iron Market prior to it's public opening. We thought it would have been open by now, since it was commemorated on the anniversary of the earthquake by Bill Clinton himself, but there was still painting equipment here and there. It took us a few false starts before we were able to find the well-disguised entrance in between two booths. We had to wait until the Prince's Foundation and the Duany Plater-Zyberk planning firm joined us to begin the tour. 

The Iron Market is an important cultural institution in Port-au-Prince and was built in the 1890s. Once it opens, the vast space will be filled once again with the sights, sounds and smells of 900 vendors. 

The Iron Market was one of the limited sources of positive news at the 1 year anniversary of the earthquake. Digicel owner Denis O'Brien spared no expense for its complete reconstruction after being heavily damaged by fires and the earthquake. It is the first public building to have been restored since the earthquake. However, we must wait for its use by the public for it to become a true symbol of community rebuilding. 

On a way here, we stopped by all the most symbolic victims of the earthquake, the great Cathedral and the Presidential Palace. To be honest, I could not bear to take a picture of the Presidential Palace. To stop there and stare, a disaster tourist sitting up in our shiny white truck in front of a tent camp was very uncomfortable. In Petionville, our privilege is much easier to bear.

Interior stalls of Market

Outside the Market

Originally made in Paris for a Cairo train station, the Iron Market somehow ended up in Haiti.

Stalls crowd around the gated Iron Market.

The center section was the only part that withstood the earthquake. The minarets were originally intended for the Egyptian market.

Underneath the center section. Behind the Market is a tent community and a deconstruction project.

Spiral staircase up into the minarets.

ADZ planner looking into the original side of the Iron Market. The other side was made from scratch since it was completely destroyed, so it uses more modern materials like steel I-beams.

Looking over the inhabitants behind the Iron Market.

The roof has solar panels. Compared to the usual state of structures in Haiti, this unassuming roof is quite beautiful.

View over the existing street market from the center section of the Iron Market. They sell all sorts of things here, including boxes of champagne.

The ruins of the Port-au-Prince Cathedral