The Bohío and the City: Ephemeral Architecture and Urbanism in the Late Spanish Colonial Caribbean

Florida State University associate professor Paul Niell discusses the relationship between bohíos and urban life in the Caribbean during the 18th and 19th centuries under Spanish colonial rule.
This presentation will explore the relationship between bohíos —thatch-covered dwellings— and urban life in the late 18th and 19th-century Caribbean under Spanish colonial rule. It will serve as a valuable opportunity to deepen the understanding of Caribbean architectural history and its urban implications.
Besides, this event will delve into the significance of ephemeral architecture from an urban perspective, examining how research can reveal the role of bohíos as residences bought and sold by aspiring city dwellers, and how their stories can be recovered within this historical context.
Leading the presentation will be Paul Niell, an associate professor of art history at Florida State University and the 2024–2025 Samuel H. Kress Senior Fellow at the National Gallery’s Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts. This research institute promotes the study of art, artifacts, architecture, urbanism, photography, and film across various cultures and historical periods.