Luxury Indian Ocean LUXURY INDIAN OCEAN #8 EDITION 2019 | Page 104

IMMOBILIER
Refuge coloré dans les hauteurs de La Réunion
Colorful refuge nestled in La Reunion mountains
Nestled amid age-old trees and flower beds, these homes stand out
for their lavishly decorated interiors, where solid wood furniture and
Chinese porcelain set the standard of elegance.
Last but not least, Creole cottages are found sparsely throughout
the countryside or clustered in the historic centres of towns and
villages such as Port-Mathurin (Rodrigues), La Digue (Seychelles),
and Mahebourg (Mauritius). Their quixotic charm and vivid colours
inevitably catch the eye of visitors who, once inside, are welcomed
by a red floor - typically called chalis, which is traditionally polished
with a coconut husk.
Smart construction
While the early occupants of the islands would rather build
expeditious shelters against the elements, permanent settlement,
which came as a natural consequence to the increase of marine
trade and plantation economy, forced islanders to get organised.
In the course of the nineteenth century, ship carpenters would
exploit local wood resources, including ironwood, ebony and “bois
de natte”, to build more solid housing. The provisional huts with
their Latan palm roofs were progressively replaced by houses
made of wood or stone.
“Indianoceania's architecture is the result of common sense”, writes
Pr. Jean-Michel Jauze. Climate proofing, separation of living quarters
from domestic rooms (kitchen and bathroom) as well as the use of
local materials became prevalent. However, the kingpin of Creole
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architecture and the abiding link between Indian Ocean residences
is the verandah.
Function meets style
Whether rustic or chic, Creole properties all share the same
dedication to practical aestheticism. Back in time, the construction of
a house hinged on the talent of local artisans: carpenters, tinsmiths,
stone-carvers…
Wrought iron arabesques, also called lambrequins, adorn roof edges,
window awnings and balustrades. Such embellishments also play a
part in the draining of rainwater. The roofs are actually sloped to
45 degrees to withstand climate challenges. The most pretentious
houses have a raised foundation made of broken basalt stones, which
provides insulation from the ground while offering protection from
flooding and insects.
Finally, as seen in La Villebague (Mauritius), the Wegdewood blue
paint obtained through the mixture of lime and permanganate is
applied to the joinery to keep termites away. According to the authors
of “La Vie en Varangue”, the same blue coating is used on colonial
houses in South-Carolina as a protection from insects and… ghosts!
Truly, the Creole architecture of the Indian Ocean islands is a shared
heritage that deserves to be preserved and treasured. It not only
contributes to the foundation of a regional identity, but also to the
promotion of the islands through a one-of-a-kind cultural experience.