Report of the Second Havana Harbour Charrette Conducted in March 2008 Cuban and Norwegian Chapters Council of European Urbanism 2008 Havana Harbour Charrette Report of the Second Havana Harbour Charrette 9th to 15th of March 2008 Charrette Organizers: Cuban and Norwegian Chapters Council of European Urbanism Julio César Perez Audun Engh Claus Zapffe Report Editor: John Pilling Report Date: June 30, 2008 Table of Contents Summary 1 Background & Purpose 2 General Principles 4 Events 12 Process 13 Design Studies & Recommendations 18 Source Materials & Notes 37 Charrette Participants Special Thanks Nick Archer Adrian Lee Orestes del Castillo, Office From Casablanca: José Baganha Oriam Morales of the Historian of Old Havana Peter Baird Enrique Pedrero and the Heritage, Community Luis Amado, Mayor Marion Bledsoe Julio César Pérez Hernandez and Environment NGO Irania Padilla, Deputy Milvia Céspedes John Pilling Omar Felipe Mauri, Head, Mayor Alexis de la Cruz Michael Porter Havana Chapter of UNEAC Barbara Suarez, Head of Santiago Delgado Marién Rios Jan Tore Holvik, Chargé Housing Audun Engh Terry Sweeney d’Affairs, Norwegian Embassy Arturo Rague Valdez, Joel Estévez Juan Carlos Toledo in Havana Council of Veterens of the Guillermo Fuentes Maria Uriarte John Dew, British Ambassador Revolution Alex Ginard Loren Witzel to Cuba Sheila Guanche Perez, Héctor Gómez Claus Zapffe Jenny White, Secretary of Youth Club Teacher Science and Culture, British Niurka, Youth Club Director Council in Havana Lolky Ferrer Professor Architect Orlando Inclán Niklas G. Kaste 2 - Cuban and Norwegian Chapters C.E.U - Council for European Urbanism Summary The iconic importance of Havana Harbour and the need for a vision for its future embodying the principles of European Urbanism are the inspirations for CEU’s charrettes in Havana. Participants from Europe (England, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Spain), the United States of America, and Cuba conducted The CEU’s Second Havana Harbour Charrette from the 9th to the 15th of March, 2008. It was conducted according to the schedule submitted in advance for agreement with CEU and CEU Norway by Julio César Pérez . Photo by Claus Zapffe Old Havana proposals reinforced Regla & Refinery proposals advocated Casablanca’s designs weave existing ongoing work and ideas. The power for conserving the existing, small scale with new and call for the revitalization of station of Tallapiedra is a potential “New and expanding similar street patterns the rail lines, creation of sports facilities Tate.” The elevated link from the National into the refinery area as it was planned in the existing ample green areas and Railroad Station to the Atarés fortress during the 2007 Charrette. An axis from development of regulations that take into could be a park. A relocated Metrobus the entrance to Regla Vía Blanca - one of account the existing landmarks. It includes terminal could calm the Central and Frater- Havanás most important roads - to the new parks and squares as a natural gate- nity Parks. A Woonerf district on Cárdenas harbour that maximizes local topography way and new housing respectful of the ex- Street can extend the Prado in tune with and natural conditions could allow for isting topographic condition in a way that the same concept and specific proposal ocean views. Also derived from this, a the buildings fit into the landscape without for extending the Prado along the Capitolio suggestion was made about the possibility producing visual disruption, a condition till reaching the Fuente de la India monu- of considering Vía Blanca in the lay out of analyzed and thought of during the 2007 ment coming from the Master Plan for XXI the subway system that is another main Charrette.. Century Havana, and giving continuity to concept of the MP. Social events for the Charrette were this.. The Casablanca team met with local a welcome session sponsored by CEU Atarés has potential as a new resi- representatives of the government, the Norway, a cocktail reception by the British dential district, combined with green and Catholic Church, the youth and other Ambassador, and a dinner hosted by Nor- cultural issues. Improving pedestrian institutions. They identified a sustain- wegian Embassy Chargé d’Affairs relationships and separating traffic by able development concept to apply locally The Charrette’s organizers and par- completing the main road (Primer Anillo given the absence of land speculation. ticipants concluded that redevelopment of del Puerto) can create the waterfront spine The model should learn and be based on Havana Harbour can create a great asset, from Atarés to Regla as it was stated in the the experience of join ventures that have Havana’s gateway and one of the great 2007 Charrette. worked in the country in the past. places in the world. June 30, 2008 - 1 2008 Havana Harbour Charrette Background and Purpose “Like you, I would like to help the people who live in Cuba maintain control over their own lives and environ- ment.” This goal is shared among the organizers of the two C.E.U. charrettes already conducted as they make plans for the 2009 Charrette. As with so many once-thriving in- The ground work for the charrettes Havana Harbour is just such a site. Julio dustrial harbours throughout the world, started separately on two sides of the César expressed his belief “that the Havana’s port confronts a host of prob- Atlantic. Cuban architect Julio César principles applied to the regeneration of lems which include: Perez began to work on a document titled Havana harbour can be applied to the rest - centuries old pollution exacerbated ‘A Master Plan for XXI Century Havana’ of the city. One of the key aspects is to by the minimal natural turnover of its during his Loeb Fellowship at Harvard turn the current industrial character of the waters; University’s Graduate School of Design harbour into a sport and recreational one - aged and obsolete industries and in 2001 and 2002. In 2003 Norwegian allowing at the same time for the increase energy infrastructure; lawyer Audun Engh joined 60 others in of public space in its entire perimeter and - dock facilities rendered obsolete by Stockholm, Sweden to finalize and sign the creation of new mixed use areas.... .” 2 their incapability of servicing Panamax the Charter for European Urbanism (the These individual beliefs lead Audun and post Panamax shipping; Charter of Stockholm), which created and Julio César to meet at international - insensitive modernizing development the Council for European Urbanism. He conferences and to realize their common common to so many cities now as a became C.E.U.’s secretary. interests.. As a result the Charrette idea result of the pressures of the global Individually, both the lawyer and ar- was firstly conceived in 2005 at the C.E.U. economy. chitect understood the challenges experi- Congress in Berlin and later followed up enced by cities worldwide, and they saw through 2006 and publicly announced at Official plans have been conducted for the affinity between cities in Europe and the Venice Charter Revisited International Havana as a region (the first in the 16th cities inspired, founded and influenced Conference held in Venice, Italy and at century) and there are some studies for its by Europe, such as Havana. Audun’s the Sustainable Urbanism International harbour, but there is no visionary docu- nascent C.E.U. stated the importance of Conference held in Leeds, England also in ment for Havana Harbor comparable to dealing with “the conversion of dis-used 2006. those developed for many of the other industrial and military sites that have historic harbours of the world. resulted from the economic conversion.”1 2 - Cuban and Norwegian Chapters C.E.U - Council for European Urbanism C.E.U.’s Cuban Chapter launch docu- - believes that cities and towns should The iconic importance of ment declares that it be shaped by physically defined and - acknowledges and supports the urban universally accessible public spaces Havana harbor and the lack traditions of the country and their good and community institutions and that of a vision for its future practices along centuries with mostly a urban places should be framed by Inspires C.E.U.’s charrettes. European influence, thus it is commit- architecture and landscape design that ted to preserve them and apply them celebrate local history and local cul- Through the good work of Audun, Julio to new developments to foster histori- ture, geography and building practice. César, and the Charrette’s other organizer, cal continuity. - is composed of multidisciplinary pro- architect Claus Zapffe, C.E.U.’s First Ha- - believes that everything is connected fessionals committed to reestablishing vana Harbor Charrette took place success- with everything else so it advocates the relationship between the art of fully in 2007. Major accomplishments in the reconciliation of both human building and the making of community addition to the design proposals included needs and ecological imperatives. It within a coherent and supportive physi- the creation of the C.E.U. Cuban Chapter is against the waste of natural and cal framework and welcomes institu- and its launch document. cultural resources derived from sprawl tional and professional relationships The Charrette’s participants agreed and the erosion of society’s built heri- with similar organizations throughout to do their work in concordance with a tage. It is also against any racial, social the world. declaration created in Havana in 2003 that or cultural segregation and the loss of Julio César presented. Also important was cultural identity. The 2003 Havana Declaration3 states a solid argument from Adrian Lee entitled - honors all principles stated in both the that its citizens have a right to: “Sunken Treasure” concluding that the Charter for European Urbanism and 1. socially integrated housing. principles applied to the regeneration of The Charter of the New Urbanism but 2.