Report of the Third Havana Harbour Charrette
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Report of the Third Havana Harbour Charrette Conducted 29 March to 4 April, 2009 Cuban and Norwegian Chapters Council for European Urbanism Report of the Third Havana Harbour Charrette - 29th of March to the 4th of April, 2009 Charrette Organizers: Cuban and Norwegian Chapters - Council for European Urbanism Charrette Partner: Academy of Urbanism (UK and Ireland) Julio César Pérez Hernández Audun Engh Claus Zapffe John Pilling Jana Milosovicova Report Editor: John Pilling Report Date: January 2, 2010 Table of Contents Summary 1 Introduction 2 Background Information 3 Process 15 Recommendations 21 Conclusions 45 Social Events 46 Notes 47 Report of the Third Havana Harbour Charrette 29th of March to the 4th of April, 2009 Charrette Organizers: Cuban and Norwegian Chapters Council for European Urbanism Charrette Partner: Academy of Urbanism (UK and Ireland) Report Date: January 2, 2010 Charrette Participants Special Thanks Joanna Alimanaestianu Mr. Jan Tore Holvik, Ambassador and Lisa Reeve Stearns, Consuelo Althouse Norwegian Embassy Richard Aylwin English Embassy Chargé D’Affairs Caitlin Jones and Stever Ashmore Stephen Bradshaw Raymel Capote Delgado Jenny White, Secretary of Science and Culture from Milvia Cespedes Tejeda The British Council, Giles Cherry Marco Giomini, Cultural Advisor of the Italian Embassy Alexis de la Cruz Alvarez Harald Wisgirdatis, First Secretary and Counselor at Angela Dabkiewicz the German Embassy Nelson Edwards The Local Government of Casablanca Audun Engh The Catholic Church in Casablanca Joel Estevez Gonzalez Office of the Historian of Old Havana Julio César Pérez Hernández Union of Artists and Writers in Cuba Yanei Garcia Polo Union of Engineers and Architects of Construction in Cuba Hector Gomez The Faculty of Architecture of Havana Alexis Ginard Yosiel Marrero: The Antonio Núñez Petra Havelska Jiménez Foundation ´Nature and Man´ Ståle Holgersen PhD Alberto Enrique Garcia Nancy Kenney Professor Mario Coyula Esteban Martinez Hernández Orestes del Castillo Jana Milosovicova Oriam Morales Steve Purviss John Pilling Jean Rice Marien Rios Diaz Gerlins Rivero Julio Cesar Romaro Kathrin Rupp Monica Santos Monica Soffi Sarah Timmermann Juan Carlos Toledo Martinez Loren Witzel Claus Zapffe Roger Zogolovitch Summary Thirty architects, landscape architects, planners, and designers from Australia, Europe, North America, and Cuba recently came together for the third Havana Harbour Charrette. The purpose of this, and the other two charrettes preceding it, is to bring together members of both the international and Cuban design community to propose strategies for implementing the concepts of “A Master Plan for XXI Century Havana,” authored by Cuban architect Julio César Pérez Hernández In Mr. Pérez Hernández’s words, “the plan is not an official document, but an act of love for the City of Havana and those who live there.” The charrette’s focus is the waterfront revitalization portions of the master plan. The harbor was historically the economic engine of Havana’s economy but like many leisure (including more cruise ships); to light rail - and ensures total ports has been hit by its inability and a roll-on-roll off ferry terminal. connectivity,” added, Pérez to handle large container shipping Pérez Hernández commenting Hernández. resulting in obsolescence of the port on this year’s results, said: “Again, Roger Zogolovitch, representing facilities. as with the master plan, the three the UK-based Academy of Urbanism The study area comprises Old international charrettes held in 2007, that was attending the charrette for Havana, the elevated link from the 2008 and 2009 have provided a long the first time said: “The charrette was National Railroad Station, the former term vision and a comprehensive provocative, exciting and a highly Tallapiedra power station, the Atarés planning strategy for the area for the creative intervention with contributors peninsula, the traditional Afro-Cuban first time in history. drawn from all over the world. The community of Regla, the redundant “Team work stemming from the opportunity of engaging with the adjacent oil refinery and the attractive charrette has produced lots of ideas social, economic, historical and fishing port of Casablanca. that encompass the proposal of a cultural heritage of Havana made the It is generally believed that the spine boulevard along the harbor journey memorable.” harbor’s regeneration can provide a perimeter to become a buffer zone “The open ended charrette process good model for the rest of the city. that grants protection and public has the benefit of a two way exchange The charrette’s strategic space, and allows views to the water.” - of us all learning form the Cuban development proposals provide for “The transformation of the current experience and in our final report up to 25,000 units of social housing, derelict industrial character of the leaving our imprint of ideas, emotions community services, and infrastructure harbor and its conversion into a and visual response as part of the supported by 2.5 million square modern recreational, commercial and exciting process of evolution of this meters of for-profit construction for sport harbor provides the city with a extraordinary Caribbean city. The UK international enterprises. magnificent opportunity to create new Academy of Urbanism welcomes its Proposed commercial activities to economic and urban values, a new inclusion and our members present be housed in the for-profit buildings image and a safe environment.” enjoyed the creative engagement.” are based on the capabilities of “The harbor, thus, can become a Cuba’s well-educated workforce. gateway to the city with new mixed- see note 1 They include extra-care and use buildings responding to the private housing; health services for waterfront, a new public transportation international patients; small-scale, system that incorporates different clean industry; expanded maritime means of transport - from bicycles 2009 Havana Harbour Charrette Introduction: The III Havana Harbour Charrette took place between March 92th and April 4th in Old Havana, Cuba with the participation of people from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, England, Germany, Norway, Slovakia and United States of America. The Charrette was preceded by a week tour of three World Heritage Sites of Cuba: Havana, Cienfuegos and Trinidad led by Cuban Professor Julio César Pérez as in the two previous editions. The III Havana Harbour Charrette was organized by the Cuban and the Norwegian Chpaters of CEU together with US architect John Pilling and Slovakian urban designer Jana Milosovicova. The Academy of Urbanism (UK & Ireland) co-partnered the event , and Moderno AS (Norway) handled its financial administration. The III Havana Harbour Charrette was developed JM according to the schedule prepared, proposed and submitted by Julio César Pérez to the CEU and the As the design work progressed, Julio César Pérez met organizers. Who all agree about focusing on different with all the teams to focus on the aspects that were either aspects of the harbor and the detailed planning of criticized or needed refinement. Some elaboration on the Casablanca as the revitalization of the Havana waterfront concepts of the Master Plan for XXI Havana arose from is one of the key concepts stated in A Master Plan for XXI these meetings. century Havana (1) and the Harbour Sector is one of the The III Havana Harbour Charrette was filmed by Nancy most important sectors defined in it. Kenney, President of New Urbanist Media, and Consuelo A complete set of scale plans and aerial pictures was Althouse for further educational use on–line as Charrette provided for the different teams to use in their work. Development. See note 2 2 - Cuban and Norwegian Chapters C.E.U - Council for European Urbanism Background Information The Havana Harbour Charrette and “A Master Plan for XXI Century Havana” Havana is a city full of magic and poetry and a city with The plan aspires to recreate a pedestrian friendly urban a spirit - Genius Loci - that gives life to both people and ambience that encourages outdoor living - according to place. It is still today a polycentric city with a heritage Cuban’s idiosyncrasy - and social and cultural integration spanning over 450 years within an extension of 727 where people can meet, work, relax, and enjoy. square kilometers and a current population of over 2.2 All around the world cities by the sea try to get million inhabitants. Although housing, public transportation advantage of their location and the enormous potential that and infrastructure are critical issues that affect its current waterfronts have for promoting outdoor living, recreation functioning, the diverse kinds of urbanism and architecture and related cultural and commercial activities. that inform its still well kept urban fabric are worth saving. Paradoxically, Havana’s growth along colonial times “A Master Plan for XXI Century Havana” is a neglected the relationship between the city and sea based comprehensive urban project conceived and developed by only upon defensive criteria. It wasn’t until the beginning Professor Architect Julio César Pérez Hernández and his of the twentieth century that this issue was addressed with team. The Master Plan was not commissioned by anyone, the Malecón. it is a work of love, a professional and human endeavor for The master plan envisions waterfront redevelopment the salvation of the city and it has been done for free. It is as a key concept to increase public space and to provide not an official plan, but an individual reflection on the city, noticeable improvement to public transportation. its history, and its urban evolution and at the same time a The harbour sector is considered in the Master Plan to proposal for preserving its urban and architectural legacy be the most important part of the waterfront development. while creating new economic and urban values for the The principles of its regeneration can be applied to the rest future. of the city. For the first time in history the Master Plan for Havana In environmental terms, the proposal involves sanitation provides a vision for a comprehensive plan and spans from of the harbour area and the existing rivers.