IN reviewing Compton Dick, the late head architect of the Ministry of Housing, we must recognise the need for respect for logic and reassessing of ideas before judgement, based on what we think we know. Incidentally, I have learnt through the first article, from a colleague that Compton was fired, losing all of his benefits, thus an explanation of how he deteriorated prior to his demise. The essence, however, is his contribution to the discussion on the architectural aesthetics of Georgetown and oncoming housing schemes, which in many cases merely exploit the real and serious need for housing by providing horrid accommodations. But first, I think we should understand that the concept of ‘Victorian Architecture ´ should be erased from architectural discussions as a reference definition instead, the term “Colonial Period” would be more on the ball for the simple reason that the Queen Lady never commissioned any particular building designs, the term is purely a British custom of attributing titles to historical periods, using the name of current royals. Any exploration on the ‘net’ or through books will lead to the architecture in the Victorian period as different from anything done here, I have not done it, but I intend to explore Castellani, who is regarded as a senior architect of our 19th-century colonial buildings; he, If my memory serves me correctly, was Italian. Exploring an internet post- Victorian period architecture is credited to influences from Egypt and the Orient.

I must return to the short passing document Compton Dick left with me on his thoughts about housing schemes in Guyana; I must actually identify the source of the following analogy that Compton drew a perspective from; Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian mystic, architect, social reformer and writer. Steiner’s era had tense traffic of European mystics, prophets and the like, but I do agree with the following quote by Compton, as it distinguishes itself from any modern period, but is embedded in human architectural expressions from our earliest collective periods. As best as I can interpret Compton’s calligraphy as follows, “A survey of history recalls that certain styles in architecture, or certain types of architecture, have been associated with certain forms of government. Indeed, politics have, at times, had a strong influence on architecture. Steiner was not an architect, but he did design buildings and formulated a design philosophy. Did this philosophy have political connotations? These are the premises…like man, architecture stands between earth and the cosmos, belonging to both, created by both, and hence should express both. Life is a period of development and physical unfolding which should be reflected in architecture, using the metamorphosis theme.” This was not a hifalutin term implied by Compton because if we pay attention, from Pyramids to Temples, to Stonehenge, even forcing an understanding through Idols and art, all revolve around the human effort to understand through our mystery systems, the language of consultation between the cosmos and the connection to nature that sustains life. Compton inherited a book on Albert Speer from me. It was actually exchanged for a book he had. The after-‘Housing’ years were not cohesive with the brethren I had come to know before. He never spoke about what I learned a few days ago. I had inherited the weights after Mohan and his family left these shores. A few times, Compton would show up on Church Street, where I lived, to exercise, often bringing a woman. Still, there was an air of disconnect that I only now understand. The disconnect was existing between the earth that was his manifest self, and the cosmos that sustained him. None of us understood until that brother who worked with him came back home recently. We spoke for a few hours, less of them on Compton, but enough to know better. To conclude with his most profound quote-” Using the metamorphosis theme, or by personal ‘expressionism’ that architecture should serve real human needs and ought to be commensurate with the activities it is to house, i.e., through anthroposophy, to find an organic solution and a living form. If there is such a thing as architectural imagination, that can spring fully from the head of ‘man’ and he should be allowed to set this free. That it is a matter of primary importance to enter the realm of industry and commerce with architectural shaping power and organising sense.” This latter statement is the most realistic argument made. Should Compton had been understood, the example set would have eclipsed the dismal and confusing constructs we now have. We are still dressing up imitation Christmas trees with fake snow. In closing, I wish to repeat a theme I wrote about before, that the future of Guyana will most likely be grounded in ‘Home Businesses.’ Do the designs exist with the material suggested in this article for comfort? If they do, I missed them, otherwise, we will continue the mimicry of mediocrity towards continued discomfort.