CUBA

EXCURSION TO CUBA

the first study tour of PAR - the forerunner of GLOBUS - engaged in brough us to havana. the principal objective was the preparation of joint urban design project in the suburb of ALAMAR with students of the havana university of technology, ISPJAE. but urban design in a distant country requires a minium understanding of the local context, the traditions, mentality and expectations.

Apart from the mandatory site visit, an introductory semniar was organized at the local partner univesity, other visits in havana have been organizes. such as to the different exemplary housing solutions from the past; to the central parts of the city, the model village VINALES and the arts schools - the most famous example of cuban revolutionary architecture.

ALAMAR

THE PROGRAM

PROGRAM DEUTSCH
Programa aleman.pdf

Inhalt der Excursion war eine vergleichende Auseinandersetzung mit der Problematik von Großssiedlungen des sozialen Wohnungsbaus nach über 20 Jahren Belegung in unterschiedlichen klimatischen und sozialen Kontexten. Insbesondere standen dabei die Gestaltungsfrage des öffentlichen und halböffentlichen Raums sowie der sozialen Infrastruktur im Vordergrund. Im Rahmen eines Workshops zusammen mit Kommilitonen der cubanischen Partneruniversität wurden die Defizite einer Großsiedlung vor den Toren Havannas analysiert, und konkrete städtebauliche bzw. Freiraumplanerische Entwicklungs-perspektiven entwickelt. Bei einem geplanten Gegenbesuch von Studenten der cubanischen Hochschule wurde später ein entsprechendes Projekt in Deutschland bearbeitet. Die Projektzusammenarbeit sollte auch als Auftakt und Test für die Entwicklung eines Sandwichprogramms mit dem ISPJAE im Zusammenhang mit dem geplanten Master-Aufbaustudiengang International Urban Development an der TUD verstanden werden. Ein formaler Kooperationsvertrag zur Erleichterung des Studenten- und Dozentenaustauschs zwischen beiden Universitäten existiert sein 1997

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PROGRAMA ESPANOL
Programa espanol.pdf

the satelleite city ALAMAR has been built from the 1970s onwards and was progressive at the time as it would provide modern and spacious housing close to the beach and most parts are actually still considered very attractive compared to rotten inner city tenements.

LOTS OF SPACE

in an economy where land distribution is not regulated through the market, there is lots of space either for wide streets or for private puposes - like in th case of the local artist GALLLO ALAMAR who created a sort of open air recycling museum.

LOTS OF SPACE

other residents use the space round the buildings for urban gardening, garages, even shops etc. of course, the open space also implies maintenance expenses, which are not a priority for the cuban state under current conditions. particularly in the more peripheral zones, rubbish tends to accumulate in these zones.

while the original parts of ALAMAR were of relatively high standard, the later and more distant zones are clearly disadvantaged - with prefabricated housing blocks and less 'official' greenery in the public space. this sector is commonly nicknamed LA SIBERIA - the far east [by the way, also the soviet embassy employees got their housing close to this zone - avoiding too much contacts with the cuban population. during the 'special period', after the disagregation of the socialist block, also public transport ceased functioning well - resulting in some individuals providing alternative transportation privately. the most distant parts were worse off, and got the nickname LA SIBERIA among the locals.

LA SIBERIA

the cuban authorities were worried about the critical conditions or LA SIBERA and had asked the faculty of architecture to think about possibilities of physical improvement of the zone. For one day, also a pre-school group of kids participated. for the german students, this task became a semester project and was to be concluded in germany by the end of term, and discussed with the cuban students during their return visit to germany in the coming year.

THE STUDENT PROJECT

for students of architecture, the visit of some remarkable examples of early revolutionary architecture in cuba is a must. within havana, the - unfortunately never finished - the national schools of art (ISA), designed by ricardo porro, roberto gottardi and vittorio garrati are outstanding. they are located in the west of havana, set in an inspring landsacpe and leave an impression of architecture and landscape than any visitor will remember forever.

THE NATIONAL ARTS SCHOOLS

for cuban revolution, it was important to demonstrate the advance above the former batista dictatorship, where the rural population was not given any attention at all. therefore, a rural model village of highest standards was justified, and built close to the natural reserve of vinales, in western cuba. the constrution was of the most simple, and quickly to assemble, SANDINO prefabricated construction system.

VINALES

for students of architecture, the visit of some remarkable examples of early revolutionary architecture in cuba is a must. within havana, the - unfortunately never finished - the national schools of art (ISA), designed by ricardo porro, roberto gottardi and vittorio garrati are outstanding. they are located in the west of havana, set in an inspring landsacpe and leave an impression of architecture and landscape than any visitor will remember forever.