Haiti - Heritage : The Hyppolite market, decisive step
The restoration of Hyppolite market, classified National heritage by presidential decree on May 11th, 2010, arrived at a decisive step in its execution. Numbers of metal parts of the market structure, especially the columns, or entire parts of the building, such as pinions of the central pavilion, the four towers, openings, archways and wrought iron fence were transported to the metalwork workshops "Art et Ambiances" of Drouillard to undergo restoration work. These interventions have started by stripping layers of paint applied successively for more than a century on the building. Then the workers have carried out the delicate brushing of each metal to remove any traces of rust or paint residues.
Interventions of restoration or replacement of missing parts follow the progress of the cleanup. Once this slow and arduous process is complete, the metal parts will be ready to receive a base coat of paint for protection against the weather before getting the final layers. The choice of your stein-finals to be applied to the restored building was not easy. Reports of laboratory analysis found that the building had changed color several times in its century of existence. The final choice brought after numerous historical and aesthetic considerations, the hue closest to the one she had before the fire on May 29 2008.Trois industrial warehouses were required to house the pieces and parts of the building restoration. Although the four central towers had to be placed on concrete pedestals arranged for them on the court, their imposing size prevented their installation in warehouses.
In the workshop Drouillard, about sixty workers, trained in the circumstances, and technicians specializing in steel structures are activated in various tasks under the direction of the restorers : Eveline Craan, architect, Philip Dodard, painter and sculptor Dimitri Craan, engineer, Guy Constant, graphic designer. Françoise-Kenol Berhmann, architect of the firm IDCO provides technical supervision and architectural restoration work on behalf of ISPAN.
George Howard, operator of the restoration of the Market Hyppolite commutes between Drouillard workshops and site of the street Traversiere where rework the foundations of the north hall have been completed as well as the flagstone of floor. A first cargo of metal parts (columns, beams, etc..) forged on United States in the workshops of the Helmark Steel Inc.. arrived at the port on September 28 and immediately sent off to work. Their installation began on September 29.
At this step, all the efforts of architects, engineers, technicians and workers are focused on the deadline of January 12, 2011, which will bring the first anniversary of the quake, the date for completion.
