VIVA LA CUBANIDAD! PRESERVING MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN HAVANA, CUBA VIVA LA CUBANIDAD! PRESERVING MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN HAVANA, CUBA Historic Preservation Studio: PR 840 Pratt Institute, Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment Spring 2016 Beth Bingham, Visiting Assistant Professor Nadya Nenadich, Adjunct Associate Professor Mercedes Bellino, Inna Branzburg, Dominique Cuoco, Lian Farhi, Jacob Gavigan, Fareen Islam, Rebecca Krucoff, Idil Magil, Stephanie Morabito, Kristen Oliver, Andrew Salimian, Anya Seepaul, Karol Xuan Report Design and Layout: Inna Branzburg Cover Image: Edificio Solimar, Center Havana, Cuba. Ecopoliticstoday’s Blog Website, 2012. 2 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT OUR STUDIO 5.........ABOUT THE STUDIO CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION HP Flicker 8.........CUBA HISTORY CUBAN INDEPENDENCE This following report was created by the Pratt Historic Preservation Studio of Spring, 2016. The Batista Era historic preservation studio began by learning that our client was Docomomo US, a branch of Cuban Revolution Docomomo International whose mission is dedicated to the preservation of modern architec- The Special Period ture, landscape and design. Through advocacy education and documentation, they provide 11.......HISTORY OF MODERNISM & MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN LATIN AMERICA leadership and knowledge by demonstrating the importance of modern design principles in- History of Modern Architecture cluding the social context, technical merits, aesthetics and settings of these important pieces Modern Architecture & Preservation of American history (Docomomo US, n.d). Throughout the studio we would be considering and Modern Architecture in Havana studying the preservation of modern architecture in Havana. It was a bit surprising as we associ- Historic Preservation in Cuba ated Cuban architecture with colonial architecture. This proved a challenge being that colonial architecture still is the most prominent, well known and recognized architectural style in Cuba. 20...... CHAPTER 2: RECOMMENDATIONS 22...... CUBAN PEOPLE The studio began with our class knowing very little about Cuba. After conducting our initial re- Introduction & Call to Action search we discovered Cuba was home to several architectural styles each corresponding to Background History & Context its own set of political, social and cultural values. Modernism was no exception, it has also been Recommendations for Consideration adapted to the climate and the culture of Cuba. During our trip to Cuba we attended lectures 35.......CUBAN GOVERNMENT and tours where we met architects and preservationist, and learned about the different tools An Introduction & Call to Action used to preserve architecture in Cuba. We saw many great modern buildings particularly in the Background History & Context Vedado neighborhood. Through our discussions we learned a lot about the model that Cuba was Recommendations for Consideration using to preserve colonial architecture in the Old City as well as some of the possible hindrances to 46.......OFFICE OF THE HISTORIAN the preservation of modern architecture. Beyond what was happening in Cuba itself, we learned An Introduction & Call to Action about the complicated relationship between the Cuban government and foreign entities. Background History & Context Recommendations for Consideration Through the knowledge gained we understood that in order to promote architecture many 53.......INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES of the typical tools used to carry out historic preservation in the US would not work. We had to An Introduction & Call to Action think outside the box to even begin to address our client’s mandate. This being to promote Background History & Context the preservation and recognition of modern architecture in Cuba. Our recommendations Recommendations for Consideration speak to four main audiences: the Cuban people; the Cuban government , the Office of the City Historian and the International community. The proposed actions are modest and set the 68...... CONCLUSION stage for a more concrete effort, and most importantly we aimed to build on tools and mod- els that are already in place within the Cuban culture. Ultimately, achieving the client’s goals 69...... BIBILIOGRAPHY through the utilizing of tools that were already used by the Cuban government and people. 73...... APPENDIX We would like to thank our professors, Nadya Nenadich and Beth Bingham, and visiting profes- sor John Shapiro for their guidance and support throughout this entire process. Additional thank you to the following professionals who spent time to educate our class on many Cuban subjects: Victor Marin, Carlos Rodriguez, Eduardo Luis Rodriguez, Ron Shiffman, David Burney, Jill Hamberg, Norma Barbacci, Angel Ayón, Alian Alejandro and Medina Cabrera. 4 5 INTRODUCTION CUBA HISTORY HISTORY OF MODERNISM & MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN LATIN AMERICA HISTORY OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE MODERN ARCHITECTURE & PRESERVATION MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN HAVANA HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN CUBA PSPD Flicker INTRODUCTION CUBA HISTORY This report is a product created by the Pratt Historic Preservation Studio conducted in Spring Cuba’s history is rich and diverse, but for the purpose of this report, we we will expand upon 2016. Our Client of the Studio was DOCOMOMO International whose mission is to document specific instances in time, which provide a logical framework for understanding the causes of and promote the preservation of architecture worldwide. Our assigned study area was Hava- the revolution, communism and how they fit into the construction of modern architecture in na, Cuba with the task to focus on Historic Preservation issues pertaining Havana’s modern ar- Havana . Following a brief look at Cuba’s history, will look more specifically at the built environ- chitecture. This proved a little challenging at first because colonial architecture was the most ment which will be followed by several recommendations that aim to utilize already function- prominent, well known and most recognized Architectural style in Cuba. The studio began ing models in Cuba to promote and preserve modern architecture. with our class knowing very little about Cuba with much of what we knew was incorrect. Af- ter conducting some research we discovered Cuba was home to several architectural styles 1896 1933 1959 1972 1989 each corresponding to its own set of political, social and cultural values. Modernism was no exception, it was all adapted to the climate and the culture of Cuba. During our trip to Cuba we attended lectures and tours where we meet architects and preservationist and learnt how best we to promote the saving of heritage. We saw many great modern buildings particularly Colonial Independence Batista E a r l y S o v i e t S p e c i a l in the Vedado neighborhood. Through our discussions we learnt a lot about the model that Castro Castro Period Cuba was using to preserve colonial architecture in the Old city as well as some of the possible hindrances to the preservation of modern architecture. Beyond what was happening in Cuba itself we learnt of the complicated relationship between the Cuban government and foreign entities. Through the knowledge gained we understood that in order to promote architecture -- CUBAN INDEPENDENCE some many of the typical tools used for Historic Preservation would not work. We had to think For both the United States and Cuba, 1898 marked one of the most pivotal moments in their outside the box to even begin to address our clients mandate. Our recommendations speak history. It was in this year that Cuba finally succeeded in formally severing ties from Spain, its to three main audiences: the Cuban People, the Cuban Government and the International Colonial overlord. In many ways this marked a new era in the Western world, where the United community the proposed actions are modest and set the stage for a more concerted effort States had become the dominant regional economic and military power. This time represent- and most importantly we aim to build on tools and models that are already in place in the ed a period when American businessmen and industrialists were able to quickly take control of Cuban culture. Ultimately achieving the client's goals utilizing tools that were already used by Cuba’s resources, namely sugarcane production, which in turn shaped the built and physical the Cuban government and people. environment very quickly. Built Environment There are two major public work projects built during this period, and both show the extent of American influence on the built environment. The major architectural work during this period is Cuba’s Capitolio, modeled off of the United States’ legislature. Construction on the Cuban monument began in 1926 and, though it took $17 million and over 5,000 workers to complete, the building was fin- ished in just three years. As Nick Miroff of the Washington Post pointed out, “No expense was spared. Framing the Capitolio’s grand entrance are 12 massive stone columns, each five feet thick, and two 21-foot bronze figures representing Work and Virtue by the Italian sculptor Angelo Zanelli. Inside, under the soaring steel-and-stone dome, is Zanel- li’s 48-foot bronze Statue of the Republic, an Athena-like female figure plated in gold that weighs 30 tons and remains one of the larg- El Capitolio de La Habana, bajo construcción, est indoor statues in the world.” entre 1925 y 1928. Wikimedia Commons. 8 9 The building, though similar to the US Capitol, has certain Cuban adaptations, with interior courtyards that encourage air circulation through the building.