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| Queens Royal College. Taken 14th February 2016. |
The last on the list of these eccentric and ornate colonial buildings is Queen’s Royal
College. QRC, as it is locally known, was the first of the Magnificent Seven to be erected, with the foundation stone having been laid on the 11th of November of 1902 by acting Governor Sir Courtney Knollys. It was designed by alumnus and Chief Draughtsman of the Public Works Department, Daniel M. Hahn.
The original building was constructed at a cost of what would equate today to TT$111,982.16 and could accommodate 180 students in six classrooms. The lecture hall, however, could accommodate excess of 500 people.
The imposing European style architecture can be clearly distinguished in the details. The primary architecture is reminiscent of German Renaissance.
German Renaissance has its influence from French Renaissance where the style was introduced to Germany half a century after it was rooted in France. German Renaissance lacks the refinement of that of France (that observed in Ambard's House is Late Baroque of the French age of Baroque) and instead adopts some aspects of Elizabethan architecture, characterized by tall, decorative chimneys, square paneling, friezes (History of Art, "a long, narrow band of sculpture that runs along the architrave of a building." The most famous is the one on the Parthenon in Athens shown below) and decorated ceilings.
Features of German Renaissance can range from dainty and delicate looking to grotesque and boisterous. Characteristics include rounded arches and domes, columns, intricate ceilings and a symmetrical front profile.
German Renaissance has its influence from French Renaissance where the style was introduced to Germany half a century after it was rooted in France. German Renaissance lacks the refinement of that of France (that observed in Ambard's House is Late Baroque of the French age of Baroque) and instead adopts some aspects of Elizabethan architecture, characterized by tall, decorative chimneys, square paneling, friezes (History of Art, "a long, narrow band of sculpture that runs along the architrave of a building." The most famous is the one on the Parthenon in Athens shown below) and decorated ceilings.
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A long strip from Athen's Parthenon Frieze. Source: Alamy.com. Accessed 4th April 2016 |
Features of German Renaissance can range from dainty and delicate looking to grotesque and boisterous. Characteristics include rounded arches and domes, columns, intricate ceilings and a symmetrical front profile.
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| Example of German Renaissance. St. Ulrich and St. Afra church, Augsburg Germany Source: SacredDestinations.com. Accessed: April 4th 2016 |
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| Example of German Renaissance. St. Anne's church, Augsburg Germany Source: SacredDestinations.com. Accessed: April 4th 2016 |
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| QRC Main Hall ceiling. Source: Kee-Chanona Ltd: Restoration of the Queen's Royal College Building Accessed: 4th April 2016 |
Of the Magnificent Seven, QRC is in the best condition and stands as the leading boys' secondary school in the Caribbean. This is due to the arduous and tedious restoration that was done. In the process of restoring this building of prestige, paint had to be carefully stripped to determine the original colours, decorative features and other significant architectural elements were rejuvenated and protected, past botched and unsuccessful attempts at restoration were replaced and modern building codes and standards were met, all in an attempt toward the precise return of the structure to its past glory.
Kee Chanona Ltd. was contracted for the daunting task on November 8th 2006 and rehabilitation commenced in January the following year with construction being supervised by the Ministry of Works and Transport's Historical Restoration Unit. The contract was worth a whopping $34, 489, 635.04.
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