Mortuary house

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Lamentin's mortuary house is a civilian building built in 1931 by architect Ali Tur as part of the reconstruction of the city after the damage caused by Hurricane Okeechobee in September 1928. The project, entrusted by the Ministry of Colonies, aimed to restore civil and religious buildings, with a focus on urban and architectural homogeneity in the city centre. Ali Tur designed several emblematic buildings in Lamentin, including the justice of peace, the city hall, and the church of the Holy Trinity.

The mortuary house, one of the four still existing realized by Tur, is a small concrete building in sober style, evoking a temple thanks to its pediment. It was used to expose the deceased before their burial. This monument, located on Rue du Débarcadère, was listed as historical monuments on 28 August 2009 for its architectural and historical interest, reflecting Ali Tur's work in Guadeloupe.

The hurricane of 1928 had devastated much of Lamentin's infrastructure, requiring complete reconstruction. Ali Tur, a prolific architect, marked the city with its coherent style, combining functionality and aesthetics. The mortuary house, though modest, illustrates this approach, while responding to a social and cultural need of the time: to offer a worthy place for funeral ceremonies.

Today, this monument reflects both Lamentin's urban history and Ali Tur's architectural heritage. Its inscription in 2009 underlines its heritage importance, both for the commune and for Guadeloupe. The mortuary house remains a rare example of this type of construction in the French Antilles, linked to local funeral traditions and colonial history.

External links