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Guardians of the Soul: Angels and Innocents, Mourners and Saints, Indiana's remarkable cemetery sculpture
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West Springfield Massachusetts: Stories Carved in Stone by Rusty Clark features information on early New England gravestone carvers with more than two hundred photos and illustrations. Please visit the Dog Pond Press website.
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From Seaside Cemetery To Cayman Landmark |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Monday, 27 June 2005 |
June 24, 2005
Series: From Recovery to Renaissance - An Architectural Review & Design Ideas for the Cayman Islands By: Caribbean Architect Pedro F. Theye (T.J.T. Architecture Ltd. Cayman)
Last Friday’s article focused on how we could create Cayman village boulevards which could incorporate pedestrian promenades, native street trees and monumental focal points. The creation of village boulevards allows us a new opportunity to end or begin them on focal points such as civic, religious or historical landmarks.
One such focal point is the Cemetery at the start of Eastern Avenue on West Bay Rd. It is arguably one of Cayman's most visible historical / sacred sites, which unfortunately has one of the least appealing appearances.
In general, Cayman’s seaside cemeteries may have been overlooked as one of the most important elements in Cayman's unique urban fabric. I doubt another place in the world has as many cemeteries by the sea per capita. We have the unique opportunity to establish these seaside cemeteries as important national monuments.
For unique urban features, to be established as a landmark, we must first improve their present condition. With a conservative budget each seaside cemetery can be refurbished with improvements to their boundary walls and landscape. In the before and after images it is easy to see how easy improvements to the street side wall and entrance can quickly enhance the cemetery’s appearance. Step one can be cladding the existing walls with irregular Cayman limestone. At the same time a redesign of the entrance can allow for gates which are set back in to the cemetery allowing for a mini plaza with extruded benches from the walls. The pillars holding the gates can be topped off with ornate street lamps as well as a rod iron decorative arch with the cemetery’s name.
In the last few years we have seen a precedent being set by the creation of neighborhood parks which were designed with the same natural stone walls with entry arches. The reuse of the similar design elements can create a nation wide consistency for all public spaces regardless of their particular use. That consistency also allows visitors to take notice of public landmarks and parks.
The historical importance of town cemeteries is seen in almost every country. In the Caribbean you can find some of the most surreal cemeteries from Havana’s Colon Cemetery to Puerto Rico’s San Juan Cemetery by the Spanish Fort. The Colon Cemetery is one of the most impressive in the world with triumphal entryways as well as tree-lined boulevards and street names. The impressive modern and classical architecture of the mausoleums and tombstones are second to none.
The restoration of a Cayman’s Seaside Cemetery is not only an opportunity to create a landmark but an opportunity to honor the ones who laid the foundation for the present day Cayman Islands.
http://caymannetnews.com/2005/06/865/real/landmark.shtml |
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