Bridging Isolation: Closing the Socio-spatial Gap in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad through Retroactive Infrastructure

Abstract

The central business district in the original downtown core of Port-of-Spain (POS), Trinidad and Tobago, is experiencing the effects of urban decay, further exacerbated by spatial segregation between itself and the informal area of Laventille in East POS. The urban decay can be reversed through public and residential development. However, this thesis focuses on the development of public space implemented through a retroactive design framework, to bridge the socio-spatial gap between the low-income community of Laventille and the central business district. This retroactive approach in the context of POS entails developing Prince Street into a creative farm for design skills learning, with a costume design trade school, and the subsidiary program of a sports and recreation hub. Together, these programs will spatially connect East POS to the downtown core while providing new public space for creative expression and education, and sports and leisure.