A precursor to the concrete typhoon proof pillbox style of buildings common to contemporary Guam were wood and tin homes. These simple homes were the dominant form of residential housing until the 1960s.
Wood and Tin Houses Read Post »
A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated steel having a semicircular cross section. Following the retaking of Guam by the United States during World War II, construction began in earnest to transform the island into a military stronghold capable of striking the Japanese mainland.
Throughout Guam’s history the most common type home was a rectangular pole and thatch structure with a raised floor. Today this type of structure has been replaced for the most part by concrete homes.
Pole and Thatched Homes Read Post »
The Spanish introduced cal y canto or lime mortar and stone construction to Guam. This includes the rare de silleria or dressed cut stone, and the more common mampostería.
Latte structures are stone archaeological remains unique to the Mariana Islands. A stone pillar supports a hemispherical capstone to form a latte.
The arrival of Supertyphoon Karen in 1962 launched a new chapter in the architectural evolution on Guam. With ninety percent of the buildings on the island decimated by the estimated 176 mile per hour winds, federal rehabilitation funds were invested for the creation of housing developments.
Kaiser Pre-Fab Homes Read Post »
Cement blocks or as they are known in the construction industry, hollow block concrete masonry units (CMU), have been the most common form of housing construction since the 1980’s on Guam. Standard 8×8×16 concrete blocks are simply stacked on top of one another to create the walls of the home.
Hollow Block Cement Homes Read Post »
During Spanish colonial rule on Guam, the Spanish authorities constructed the best churches and the best bridges of large rectangular hand-cut stones, or de silleria. In these de silleria structures they did not cover the dressed limestone or coral blocks with plaster.
From pole and thatched homes to those made of concrete and reinforced steel, Guam has seen an evolution in building styles since the arrival of Americans in 1898.
Changes in Construction Styles Read Post »
