The Red House

The Red House

The Red House is the seat of Parliament in Trinidad and Tobago. The architectural design of the Red House is of Beaux-Arts style. The original building was destroyed in the 1903 Water Riots and was rebuilt in 1907. The Red House is located centrally within the capital city Port of Spain

The Red House has three floors. The basement level is an art gallery, first floor contains offices and reception areas, third floor contains the Senate and House Chambers and officers. If you are talking about the peak of the building that is just the building design. That is open-air space.

The first Government Building on the site of the existing Red House was constructed between 1844 and 1848. The buildings compromised two blocks as a concession to allow Prince Street, now Sackville Street, to remain open to St Vincent Street and Brunswick Square., now Woodford Square. In 1892, in an effort to provide much-needed accommodation, alterations were carried out. Two new buildings of two floors were erected on either side of the northern building, used for the Court House- one to house the Registrar, the other the Record Office. Ornaments were also added to the exterior of the building. In 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, the Government Offices were painted red and subsequently became popularly known as “The Red House”. The building was destroyed by fire in the Water Riots of 1903.

With D. M Hahn as the architect, the Red House was then rebuilt using most of the external walls, but with added galleries and the Chambers at the northern and southern ends. Additional ornamentation in neo-classical style was added to upgrade the appearance and the building was reopened in 1907. The Red House is currently being restored