Architecture and temporality

Saint-Pierre: The forgotten museum city

Abstract

On 8 May 1902, at 7:52 a.m., the city of Saint-Pierre was no more, ravaged by the Pelean eruption
of its Montagne. In a matter of seconds, one of the Caribbean's most important cities was wiped out.
More than a century later, life goes on, leaving the ruins as a reminder of a past not to be forgotten.
But this former capital, emptied of its 30,000 inhabitants on the eve of the eruption, is still struggling
to regain its former dynamism and glory.
And yet, nestled in a gully high above the city, Domaine DIKI's architecture blends history, culture
and modernity to create a sensitive setting. With its large overhanging roofs in the colors of tropical
dwellings, the rehabilitation of the ruins of this former dwelling once again resonates as a touch of
hope and rebirth.
Despite the looming threat of risk, the project finds its place and flourishes alongside the surrounding
nature, reminding us perhaps that architecture is first and foremost about accepting that not
everything can be mastered, and that risk is reason enough to make it worthwhile to exist even for a
moment.