Town hall

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The town hall of Pointe-Noire, built in 1931 by architect Ali-Georges Tur, is part of an extensive project of the Colonial Ministry to rebuild Guadeloupe after the destruction of Hurricane Okeechobee (1928). This building, with its strict lines, was part of a complex including the prefecture, the palace of the General Council and the courthouse of Basse-Terre. Its architecture reflects the modernist influence of Ali Tur, author of nearly a hundred public buildings in Guadeloupe during the interwar period.

The town hall, located in Place de la Liberté, is distinguished by its almost square plan, its awnings and balconies in relief, as well as its isolation which accentuates its visibility. Nearby, a republican column decorated with a bust of Marianne (1889) completes the whole. The site, including the gardens and the column, was listed as historic monuments on 2 April 1992 for its exemplary preservation among Ali Tur's work. By the 1960s, the building, which had become too small, had lost its municipal function in favour of a new neighbouring building.

Built for a cost of 275,000 francs (a contract of 6 October 1931), this monument symbolizes both the post-disaster reconstruction and the celebrations of the tricentenary of the French presence in Guadeloupe. Its architect, originally from Tunis, imposed a functional style, lastingly marking the urban landscape of the island. Today, it bears witness to the administrative and architectural history of Guadeloupe under the Third Republic.

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