Pierre-Richard
Villedrouin
Architect
sustainable architecture Haïti, architecture durable
Maison Hilda Williams
archival photograph
This house served as both a residence and a studio for Hilda Williams—a sculptor and close friend of the architect—who was deeply involved in the design and highly pleased with the result.
The structure is a rectangular pyramid of approximately 90 m², featuring an inverted trapezoidal skylight on the upper level; this was the only large glazed area, aside from the trapezoidal doors on the ground floor.
It was built using blocks measuring 10 cm in height and 20 x 40 cm in plan, designed to allow natural ventilation through small openings—though these were later sealed due to issues with dampness.
The water supply system operated via gravity: an underground tank (supplied by CAMEP) fed an upper tank located above the pyramid to provide water pressure for the shower.The layout included a living room, a bathroom, and a kitchen at the rear on the ground floor, along with a staircase leading to the upper level, which housed a bedroom and a bathroom.