Havanas Unique Architecture and Preserving It

Havanas Unique Architecture and Preserving It
By Christine Andersen

“Walking through the streets of Havana is like walking through a nirvana of color, smells, culture and history. Roaming the narrow hallways, tourists enter small shops filled with the same souvenirs they’ve seen all over the city. Locals look out over the city squares from their balconies as groups of friends sit down for a cup of coffee at the Cafe El Escorial. As they enjoy each other’s company they admire the vibrant, colorful buildings that surround them.”

A woman sits on a balcony as the sun begins to set over Havana Vieja (Old Havana). The contrast between the colors of the buildings showcases the unique architectural style of Cuba.
Museo de la Revolución (The Museum of the Revolution), one of the many buildings in Havana Vieja which are currently undergoing construction in an effort to protect it’s history.
An inhabited house in central Havana, worn down by harsh tropical weathers, one of an estimated 1,170,000 homes in Cuba which have been deemed to have sub-par living conditions by the National Housing Institute.
A work of art near the Museo de la Revolución, embraced by most, viewed as a way of enhancing the streets of Havana. Buildings act as a canvas for artists to express their creativity and their personal view of Cuban culture.
A man sits outside his house in central Havana, enjoying the cooling temperature. He smiles pleasantly, asking to get his picture taken.
A desolate building in downtown Havana features the slogan “Viva el revolución (Long Live the Revolution),” which refers to the Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro in 1959.
The view from the highest terrace looking over Fusterlandia in the Jaimanitas district of Havana, a neighborhood decorated with colorful mosaic, tiled works of art. José Fuster, the Cuban ceramist and artist, began Fusterlandia in 1992 by decorating his home, and since has spurred into a community effort.
The Ministry of Informatics and Communications building, located in the Plaza de Revolution (Revolution Square) features a metal sculpture of Cuban revolutionary guerrilla fighter Camilo Cienfuegos. The words below read, “You’re doing fine Fidel.”
A bright pink house along the Avenida de los Presidentes represents iconic Havana; pastel colored architecture.
Quintessential Havana; 1950’s cars and brightly painted houses. While a lot of the architecture in Havana is worn down, there are still some that haven’t been plagued by the harsh conditions.