Cesar Castellani Explained

Cesar Castellani (died 2 August 1905) was an architect. He was born in Malta. He was attracted by the prosperity of British Guiana and emigrated there in 1860 with a group of Italian priests.

Designs

Castellani designed a number of prominent buildings in Guyana, including Brickdam Cathedral; Castellani House,^[1] once the Guyana Prime Minister's residence;^[2] the Brickdam Police Station;^[3] and the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.

He made alterations and additions to the Church of the Sacred Heart on Main Street (1872-1882), which opened in 1861, for the colony's Madeiran labourers.

The design of the Victoria Law Courts, credited to Baron Harco Theodor Hora Siccama, has Castellani's signature style, and Castellani was working for Siccama as a draughtsman.^[4]

In 1875, he completed the installation of a sunken panelled ceiling of the Parliamentary chamber in the eastern wing of the Parliament Building.^[5]

Cesar Castellani died in Georgetown, British Guiana on 2 August 1905.^[6]

Notes and References

1. News: Kandasammy. Lloyd F.. Around the Museums of Guyana. 20 August 2012. Stabroek News. 24 April 2008. 20–22.
2. Web site: A new look at old Georgetown. 27 March 2008. Guyana News and Information. 29 October 2017.
3. Web site: Historic Stabroek. National Trust of Guyana. 8 September 2020.
4. News: Architects of historic buildings By Lennox Hernandez, Senior Lecturer, Department of Architecture, University of Guyana, for the National Trust of Guyana . Guyana Chronicle via Land of Six People. 8 September 2020. 19 February 2006.
5. Web site: Parliament Building. Alluring World. 8 September 2020.
6. News: Cesar Castellani: Our most prolific nineteenth century architect By Lennox Hernandez, Senior Lecturer, Department of Architecture, University of Guyana, for the National Trust of Guyana . Guyana Chronicle via Land of Six People. 8 September 2020. 5 February 2006.