For well over a century, the Iron Market – Marché de Fer – in Port-au-Prince has been a bold symbol of Haiti’s independence and ambition, serving as the focus of commercial life in the city. The structure was ravaged first by a fire in 2008 and then by the catastrophic earthquake that destroyed much of the Haiti’s infrastructure and housing in January 2010.

John McAslan + Partners’ (JMP) restoration of the Iron Market is the first major project to be realised since the natural disaster hit, making the market’s restoration an incredibly important milestone in Haiti’s recovery. This second issue of JMP’s online journal documents the significant achievement of the project’s completion, recognising not just JMP’s role as leaders of the design team, but also the vital funding and support the practice has received, and the phenomenal work carried out by local craftspeople, metal workers and artisans. This issue features some of the people that made the project happen, a look at how the market was transformed, and a selection of news and media reports about the project.

The market was opened by US President Bill Clinton on 11th January 2011, in time to mark the first anniversary of the earthquake. 1,500 people gathered at the market to see the inauguration, bringing the structure back to life. The practice is extremely proud to have worked on such a significant symbol of Haiti’s recovery over the last year, reinstating the Iron Market as a regular gathering place for millions of Haitians and a vital source of hope for Haiti’s ongoing rebuilding effort.

John McAslan, Chairman and Founder, John McAslan + Partners