Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-André de Morne-à-l'Eau, Guadeloupe, was built between 1930 and 1933 by the architect Ali Tur to replace the building destroyed by Hurricane Okeechobee in 1928. This project, the first of its kind for Tur, marks a break with traditional wooden constructions, favouring reinforced concrete. The architect incorporates claustras and caisson ceilings to optimize natural light and ventilation, indirectly inspired by Auguste Perret's work, including the Church of Notre-Dame du Raincy (1923). The cost of construction rose to 1,800,000 francs at the time (about 1.2 million euros today).

The bell tower and the presbytery, originally planned separately from the church, were erected in 1936. The bell tower, open with vertical claustras and surmounted by a patted cross, was restored in 2020 thanks to the Heritage Lotto. The building, which was listed as a historical monument in 1992 and in 2017, embodies the post-cyclone architectural renewal in Guadeloupe. It also illustrates the adaptation of modern principles (beton, light games) to tropical climatic constraints, while serving as a religious and community symbol for the local population.

The church adopts a basilica plan without transept, with a central nave 13 meters high, illuminated by vertical bays. These openings, combined with moulded concrete claustras, create characteristic clear-obscured effects. The parvis, bordered by the presbytery, forms a harmonious ensemble designed by Tur, reflecting its overall approach to island reconstruction. Between 1930 and 1936, his agency built a hundred buildings in Guadeloupe, including five churches, marking the colonial architectural landscape.

External links