The rebuilding of what is known today as the Red House began in 1904 and was completed three years later.
It was opened to the public in February, 1907. The construction and design were done by D.M. Hahn, who at the time was Chief Draughtsman of the Public Works, at a cost of over $200,000.
The Red House is surrounded by the Ministry of National Security and part of the Magistrate's Court to the north; Government offices and Fire Services Headquarters to the south; Woodford Square to the east; and Police Headquarters, the offices of legal practitioners and Colonial Life building to the west.
The entrance to the Red House is widely used by pedestrians in the city. It conveniently connects Woodford Square, leading to the shopping and business area in the heart of Port of Spain, with St. Vincent Street on the opposite side.
Recently, the late Prime Minister's body lay in State at the Rotunda of the Red House, a central area where a fountain is located under the dome in the middle of the building. An account of the architecture of the Red House is given in "Voices in the Street."
" . . . the 'gesso' work in the Legislative Council Chamber and the Justice hall was estimated at $7,200 . . . The ceiling in the Chamber is wedgewood blue with white 'gesso' work (a prepared surface of plaster of Paris as a ground for painting), and was the work of Jackson & Sons, an English firm.
"The decorations were made in England in panels, and shipped to Trinidad in crates. An Italian craftsman was sent to install the ceiling.
"The entablature and dais at the eastern end were also designed by D. M. Hahn. The columns and entablature are made of purple heart wood, while the paneling is fustic.
"The passageway between the two buildings which replaced the double archway is no longer open to vehicular traffic, but remains open to pedestrians. The fountain in the centre of the rotunda was designed by D. M. Hahn as a means of cooling and ventilation for the offices, in the days before air-conditioning.
"The offices of the early Red House, with the exception of the Governor's office and that of the Colonial Secretary, were very much the same as they are today, and comprise offices for the Parliament, Law Libraries, and the Legislative Council Chamber, which is now the Parliament Chamber."
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