City Hall

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Lamentin City Hall was built in 1931 to replace the former town hall, destroyed by Hurricane Okeechobee in September 1928. This cyclone devastates much of the commune, forcing the Ministry of Colonies to entrust architect Ali Tur with the reconstruction of administrative buildings. The objective was to ensure a stylistic and urban homogeneity in the city centre, where Tur also designs justice of peace, the school group, the market, and the Church of the Holy Trinity.

The building adopts an Art Deco style, typical of the 1930s, with a symmetrical facade, a loggia in entrance porch, and a balcony overlooking the street. It was inspired by an earlier building (1906), destroyed by the same hurricane. Inside, decorative details include ceramic stoneware tiles and moulded concrete claustras, characteristic of Tur's works. The whole reflects a desire for modernity while integrating local elements.

Ranked a historic monument on 8 June 2017 after a first registration cancelled in 2009, the city hall also benefits from the 20th century Heritage label. It embodies the post-disaster reconstruction and influence of Ali Tur in Guadeloupe, where his achievements mark the urban landscape. Its architecture, both functional and aesthetic, illustrates the challenges of reconstruction after a major crisis.

The building is integrated into a coherent administrative complex, including public buildings and commemorative spaces (such as the memorial to the dead). This comprehensive project aims to restore a visual identity to Lamentin, while meeting the practical needs of a municipality undergoing reconstruction. Decorative materials and motifs, such as graphic claustras, emphasize Tur's attention to detail.

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