RE Creole Architecture

Réunion Island

The creole architecture of Réunion Island is not only built of local materials such as wood for the structure, cladding and joinery; but also of imported metal used as corrugated sheet, which has now largely replaced traditional vetiver thatch or shingles for the roofing. Today these vernacular houses, known as cases, are more often than not, found "off the beaten track."

Watercolour of a little red house in lush tropical vegetation, "Ti case rouge," by William Walkington
Ti case rouge
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a footpath between stone walls and shaded by trees, at Grand Bassin, "Allée créole," by William Walkington
Allée créole
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a small green house beside a footpath in Grand Bassin, Réunion Island, "Case créole," by William Walkington
Case créole
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a creole house and vegetation seen from a footpath, "Case verte à Grand Bassin," by William Walkington in 1996.
Case verte à Grand Bassin
Plein air watercolour, 24.5 x 34 cms, signed Walkington and dated 96. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a little wooden house at the top of a sunny sloping garden, "Ti case des hauts," by William Walkington
Ti case des hauts
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.
Chosen for a postcard illustration by the editor Agedis.

Watercolour of a little white house with a red roof, and many palm trees, "Case ensoleillée des hauts," by William Walkington
Case ensoleillée des hauts
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.
Please note that this is a scan of a distant blurred photo of the framed original, and that it does not show the entire painting!

Watercolour of houses with a good view of the ocean, "Cases des hauts avec vue sur l'océan," by William Walkington in 1995.
Cases des hauts avec vue sur l'océan
Plein air watercolour (dry scratched), 24 x 33.75 cms, signed Walkington and dated 95. Available.

Watercolour of the gable end of a small house clad in galvanized steel sheets, "Case bleue," by William Walkington
Case bleue
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a little yellow house in strong sunlight, shaded by trees, "Case jaune," by William Walkington
Case jaune
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a little yellow ochre house in a very lush tropical garden, "La verdure," by William Walkington
La verdure
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.
Please note that this is a scan of a photo of the original, and that some colour has been lost!

Watercolour of a little orange house set in a lush tropical garden, "La case orange," by William Walkington
La case orange
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a little white house partially hidden by golden cane palms, "Multipliants," by William Walkington
Multipliants
Watercolour, 37 x 26 cms, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a small white house in a creole garden with colourful flowers, "Jardin créole," by William Walkington
Jardin créole
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a little white house set in a shady garden, "Ti case blanche," by William Walkington
Ti case blanche
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a small metal clad house in a tropical garden with sea view, "Case avec vue sur mer," by William Walkington
Case avec vue sur mer
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.
Please note that this is a scan of a photo of the framed original, and that the reflection is on the frame's glazing!

Black and white scan of a watercolour of a little house in a tropical garden, "Case de Grand Bassin," by William Walkington
Case de Grand Bassin
Watercolour, 23.5 x 33.5 cms, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.
This is the scan of a photocopy, and if possible, an alternative colour photograph would be much appreciated.

Although strictly speaking the two paintings that follow are not of creole, but of colonial architecture, they are inspired by the creole-like garden seen through the windows. These are impressions of the Jardin de l'Etat of Saint-Denis, as seen from the Museum of Natural History of the Réunion. This building was originally constructed for the Conseil Colonial in 1834.

Watercolour of a window view of a man walking down a path in a tropical garden, "Fenêtre chemin," by William Walkington
Fenêtre chemin
Watercolour, 34 x 23.5 cms, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection. 		 

Watercolour of a window view of palm trees waving in a sunny tropical garden, "Fenêtre palmier," by William Walkington
Fenêtre palmier
Watercolour, 33 x 23.5 cms, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Creole architecture sometimes adopts a colonial style, as represented below by the paintings of the house and gardens of the Maison Folio. This property can be visited at the former spa town of Hell-Bourg.

Watercolour of a window view of a very lush sunlit tropical garden, "Fenêtre," by William Walkington
Fenêtre
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.
Photographed through the glazing of the framed original.
Please note that a second version of this painting can now be found
in the post dated 11th July 2022 "Fenêtre sur Jardin Tropical".
 		 

Watercolour of a sunny corner of a creole house with a white ornate chair in front, "Maison Créole," by William Walkington
Maison créole
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a sunny corner of a creole house with many flowering plants, "Angle fleuri," by William Walkington
Angle fleuri
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a sunlit corner of a creole house with many flowering plants, "La case ensoleillée," by William Walkington
La case ensoleillée
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a lateral view of an ornate colonial style marquise and garden, "Marquise avec vue," by William Walkington
Marquise avec vue
Watercolour, 24.5 x 25.5 cms, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.
Photographed through the glazing of the framed original.

Watercolour of an ornate marquise with wooden chairs and umbrellas in front of an open door, "Marquise," by William Walkington
Marquise
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of a circular fountain in front of a planted alley leading to a creole house, "Fontaine," by William Walkingto
Fontaine
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

Watercolour of three ornate white chairs and a table with tea for two in a garden, "Les trois chaises," by William Walkington
Les trois chaises
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection

Watercolour of two white chairs and a table with three glasses of orange juice in the sun, "Orangeade," by William Walkington
Orangeade
Watercolour, signed Walkington and undated. Private Collection.

A missing painting?

Should you possess a watercolour that you cannot find here but you think should be on this page, please refer to the section about missing paintings in "Other Information."


1 comment:

  1. Anonymous10 January 2023 at 07:48

    les Cases Créoles sont magnifiques.
    ..grand bassin... helbourg ...

    ReplyDelete

But should you wish to make enquiries about an eventual acquisition, or if you prefer to send a private message about any subject, please email me at the following address: william.walkington@wanadoo.fr

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