Ten design firms put their vision on the line during a national architectural competition, bidding for the right to design the Straw Market and the surrounding area devastated by fire in September 2001 and a chance to recreate a major part of downtown Nassau. The competition lasted for three months, but when it was over, the architect who won got an extra prize.
Announcement of the judging was made at an exhibit at The Central Bank Monday with Minister of Trade & Industry Hon. Leslie Miller, Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism Agatha Marcel and Executive Director of the Nassau Tourism & Development Board Frank Comito.
It fell to Comito to announce the winner.
“And the winner is,” said Comito, awaiting a silent drum roll, “Michael Foster.”
When the applause died down, Comito told the audience that the very happy, but tired-looking Foster had given birth to two projects this week – in addition to the right to remodel a chunk of downtown, there was a new bundle of joy at home. Foster had just become a new dad.
“This has been a very special time in my life,” Foster said later, “It is a great opportunity to help shape Nassau. From the time of the fire, I was thinking about it. Long before the competition was announced, I was eating, drinking, sleeping, thinking about what could be built that would be fitting and what an opportunity we had available to us. For me personally, something like this only comes along once in a lifetime and I am so proud.”
The light-hearted moment followed hundreds of hours of serious work – by organisers, competing architects, judges, including two experts brought in from the U.S., an advisory team of local professionals and the support of sponsors.
A panel of judges had selected Foster’s work from among entries as varied and wide-ranging as an intriguing design that called for major land reclamation and another that envisioned almost a sea urchin or octopus-like approach with extended arms. Each entry was labelled only with a letter of the alphabet during two days of analysis, review and judging. “It is so good to know that we have Bahamian architects capable of this world-class architecture,” said Mr. Miller, who had worked intimately with the project from its inception, listening to and observing hours of review.
“What we will create here will be second to none.”
The Ministry of Trade & Industry along with corporate sponsors funded the national competition. Of the 10 entries, five finalists were selected after the first round of judging. They were then given the opportunity to refine drawings and re-submit for the second round. Each of the five finalists received a cheque in the amount of $3,000 from Mr. Miller at the exhibition where all 10 drawings will be on display through April 2. Corporate sponsors included Bahamas Realty, British Colonial Hilton, Burns House, Colombian Emeralds, Commonwealth Bank, John Bull and Solomon’s Mines. The Antiquities, Monuments & Museums Corporation also contributed with various types of support.
“Requirements for the drawings were very specific,” said Mr. Comito. “They had to provide for 500 vendors, adequate restaurant, night club, restroom facilities, delivery and emergency vehicle access. And they had to present a design that was compatible with what exists now and exciting in its own right.”
According to Diane Phillips, NTDB Historic Nassau Committee Chairman, one of the judges, the selection process was a challenge.
“There were several intriguing designs,” Phillips said. “A lot of thought and creativity had gone into the work. What we had to base our decision on, in the final analysis, was finding a design that was original and exciting while actively providing for both ‘v’s – the work environment of the vendor and the experience of the visitor.
That meant the design had to be open, airy, breezy, inviting and not overwhelming in size or proportion to existing structures — something that said ‘Here is a place of fun, activity, liveliness’ and at the same time clearly giving a sense of being truly Bahamian.”
