Clay as Structure: Exploring Creole Architecture

Something I have really enjoyed making has been these tiny creole houses that hold tea light candles. I really love creole architecture for its simplicity and bright colors, making it a great project to remake in clay. Below are some examples of the creole houses that I’ve made.

Creole architecture is heavily influenced by the tropical climate, French colonial history, and locally rooted design elements—earthen materials, saturated colors, and iconic wooden shutters that respond to heat and light. You can find a place in Martinique called Le Village de la Poterie, which takes you through the history of the clay industry on the island including the manufacture of red clay terra cotta roof tiles. This is where I first got the idea to make small creole houses. I really miss living in the Caribbean, and these small houses are a way for me to pay homage to my time there.

This was the first creole house that I made, which has a roof made to emulate the sun-aged sheet metal roofs found on some houses. I used underglazes to paint the house, and also added some bouganvillea that wrap around the sides.

For this creole house, I made the roof in the traditional terra cotta shingle style, and for the colors I was inspired by a friend of mine’s tiny house, pictured below.