Haiti's Gingerbread Houses

Haiti's Gingerbread Houses
William Daniels / Panos for TIME

Landmarks
Even before the earthquake, the gingerbread houses left a distinct impression on many Haitians. The bombastic forms are, however, not without function. Many of the houses feature high ceilings for enhanced ventilation in the Haitian heat, four-sided roofs to better resist hurricane winds and expert carpentry that allows more flexibility in earthquakes.

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