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Pierre-Richard
Villedrouin
Architect
sustainable architecture Haïti, architecture durable
Subcontracting Factories
Tabarre
Construction: 1972-1974
These archival photos show the two factories built by Villedrouin—one for his mother and the other for a cousin. Both buildings were located in an industrial development zone near the airport, designated for subcontracting facilities.
The factories were designed using prefabricated beams and polygonal vaults, minimizing the use of timber and reducing formwork costs. The extensive use of prefabricated concrete blocks—often cast in place rather than assembled from the ground up—significantly reduces the consumption of timber, a particularly scarce resource in Haiti.
Prefabricated cement triangles acting as buttresses are cast in situ within formwork and integrated directly into the structure. These triangular elements form visible structural pillars and reinforcements—particularly on the facades—and contribute to overall stability. Their shape and assembly create a rigid triangulated framework, lending the building both strength and lightness.
An innovative system utilizes hollow cement units—approximately 40 cm long and 15–20 cm wide—featuring a bell-shaped cross-section with small flanges. Assembled side-by-side, these units form prefabricated beams designed to support the roof. By interlocking and being bonded with concrete, they create lightweight, strong, reticulated slabs that offer superior thermal insulation compared to sheet-metal roofing or solid concrete slabs. This lightness also facilitates handling: the units are designed to be easily lifted and installed.
The structures, divided into 7-meter sections with a total length of 28 meters, incorporated openings for natural light and airflow. This approach proved effective: the interior remained cool even during the intense heat of the plains, unlike other facilities that require air conditioning.
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