The Metamorphosis of Cuban Architecture; development, decay and opportunity 1 The Metamorphosis of Cuban Architecture; development, decay and opportunity. Robert Kerr 0568580 University of Edinburgh April 2009 The Metamorphosis of Cuban Architecture; development, decay and opportunity 2 Front Cover image: Crumbling deterioration of Havana (Photo: Author) The Metamorphosis of Cuban Architecture; development, decay and opportunity 3 Table of Contents Plates ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Prologue ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... 9 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 12 1.1 Decay ......................................................................................................................... 15 1.2 Romantic Decay ........................................................................................................ 17 2. The Development of a Cuban style and Colonial Cuba ......................................................... 20 3. 1898-1958 – The Cuban Republic ............................................................................................. 33 3.1 American Intervention and the birth of the Cuban Republic .................................... 33 3.2 A „true‟ Cuban Republic ........................................................................................... 39 3.3 A Dictator: Fulgencio Batista .................................................................................... 45 4. Revolutionary Cuba ................................................................................................................... 54 5. Epilogue: The future, opportunity, and what might have been ............................................ 55 Appendix ......................................................................................................................................... 69 The Metamorphosis of Cuban Architecture; development, decay and opportunity 4 The Metamorphosis of Cuban Architecture; development, decay and opportunity 5 Plates Plate 1 – Havana‟s „romantic‟ weather-beaten Malecón .................................................................................................. 8 Plate 2 – Life continuing amongst the ruthless subdivision ............................................................................................. 8 Plate 3 – The degradation of Centro Habana’s building stock – perceived „romantic decay‟ ....................................... 12 Plate 4 – The „time capsule‟ ........................................................................................................................................... 14 Plate 5– Solares – tenement blocks ................................................................................................................................ 16 Plate 6 – Cuartería – dilapidated rooming house ........................................................................................................... 16 Plate 7 – Building conditions in Habana Vieja .............................................................................................................. 18 Plate 8 – Building conditions of Trinidad ...................................................................................................................... 18 Plate 9 – Artistic impression of an indigenous settlement .............................................................................................. 20 Plate 10 – A rural bohío near to Baracoa ....................................................................................................................... 20 Plate 11 – A glorified bohío for tourist accommodation ................................................................................................ 20 Plate 12 – 16th century house in Vieja ............................................................................................................................ 22 Plate 13 - Casa almacén in Plaza del Cristo, Havana .................................................................................................... 22 Plate 14 – The introduction of the mezzanine level underneath the high patio colonnade. ............................................ 22 Plate 15 – The mezzanine level expressed on the facade. .............................................................................................. 22 Plate 16 - Castillo de la Real Fuerza (1561) .................................................................................................................. 22 Plate 17 – Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro (1589-1630) ....................................................................................... 22 Plate 18 – The sugar plantations. ................................................................................................................................... 24 Plate 19 – Mirador de La Loma del Puerto .................................................................................................................... 24 Plate 20 – Plaza de Armas.............................................................................................................................................. 24 Plate 21 – Paseo del Prado ............................................................................................................................................ 24 Plate 22 – Palacio del Segundo Cabo (1770-1791) ....................................................................................................... 24 Plate 23 – Palacio de los Capitanes Generales (1776-1791) ......................................................................................... 24 Plate 24 – Havana Cathedral (1748-1777) ..................................................................................................................... 24 Plate 25 – Calzada del Monte, Havana .......................................................................................................................... 26 Plate 26 – Fountain of Nobel Havana ............................................................................................................................ 26 Plate 27 – (Left to right) – The development of the Colonial house plan from the 17th century to the 18th and 19th centuries. ............................................................................................................................................................... 26 Plate 28 – Casa Diego Velázquez ................................................................................................................................... 28 Plate 29 – techos de alfarjes ........................................................................................................................................... 28 Plate 30 - Casa de Francisco de Basaba (1728 / 1841) ................................................................................................. 28 Plate 31 – The zaguán for the Palacio del Segundo Cabo ............................................................................................. 28 Plate 32 – The barrotes or window grills that developed outside the windows. ............................................................ 28 Plate 33 – Persiennes and a mediopunto above. ............................................................................................................. 28 Plate 34 – Bayamo ......................................................................................................................................................... 30 Plate 35 – The Malecón .................................................................................................................................................. 34 Plate 36 - Asociación de Dependientes del Comercio (1907) ........................................................................................ 34 Plate 37 – Capitolio (1910-1929) ................................................................................................................................... 36 Plate 38 – Presidential Palace (1920) ............................................................................................................................. 36 Plate 39 – „Havana is the city of facades’ ...................................................................................................................... 36 Plate 40 – Vedado, Havana ............................................................................................................................................ 40 Plate 41 – Miramar, Havana .......................................................................................................................................... 40 Plate 42 – Vista Alegre, Santiago de Cuba ..................................................................................................................... 40 Plate 43 – Hotel National, (1930) ................................................................................................................................... 42 Plate 44 - Santísima Trinidad Episcopal church ...........................................................................................................