Historic Iron Market First Building To Be Restored After Haiti Eartquake

Yesterday marked the opening of Port-au-Prince's historic Iron Market, a bustling and important space for commercial activity in the city center. Just one year after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the famous landmark has been restored by UK firm, John McAslan + Partners, and was bankrolled completely by Irish mobile phone entrepreneur Denis O’Brien, whose company Digicel, dominates the Haitian cellphone market. The renovation went beyond restoring the open market to pre-earthquake status, and completely renovated and rebuilt the entire site with new solar panels on the roof.

Port-au-Prince, Iron Market, haiti, haiti eartquake, john mcaslan + partners, historic renovation, haiti recovery

Restoration of the Iron Market is seen as a symbol of hope to the people of Haiti who are largely still living in tents and makeshift shelters. Amazingly, the project was completed in less than a year, which was due to JMP’s previous experience working in Haiti as well as O’Brien’s commitment to the restoration and his $12 million donation. “It’s amazing it’s been so fast,” McAslan said. “It’s the only project which has been completed of any scale. But it could have taken five years without such a determined client.”

The Iron Market was originally built in 1891 and over the last century has become a cultural, historical and architectural landmark in Haiti. A fire damaged the market in 2008 and then last year’s earthquake demolished it, leaving behind only the landmark towers. JMP designed and facilitated the restoration, which brought it to a level of even before the fire in 2008.

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3 Comments

zotolan March 7, 2012 at 7:59 pm

Great job Mr.O’Brien, your determination proves anyone who really want to spent money to do something in Haiti is possible and can be done. You did in small period of time.congrats, and thank you for helping Haiti restore his beautiful iron market.

eternite December 13, 2011 at 2:14 pm

A lesson for the NGO’s: A private sector did it, not them. Thanks Mr. O’Brien for your unrelenting committment on Haiti. Not only the historic iron market, but also The Marriot hotel project & more. Why Can’t the NGO perform like that with all the funds availble to them?

jeannine February 9, 2011 at 6:34 pm

May lhe Lord bless you Mr O’Brien.You are a savior.Haiti needs a lot of kindhearted creatures like you to be able to rename .Long life to you,and thank you so much for helping this beautiful island.