The Modernist Homes of Pre-Revolutionary Cuba

[El Presidente]

Love the architecture from this period 

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-strikingly-wellpreserved-modernist-homes-of-prerevolutionary-cuba

Photographing history in Havana’s Nuevo Vedado neighborhood.

BY ANIKA BURGESS

IN 1957, BUILDERS FINISHED CONSTRUCTION on the last private residence in Havana to be designed by Cuban architect Ricardo Porro. Situated in the Nuevo Vedado neighborhood, it featured a sharply angled roof and a wave-shaped exterior wall. In the nearly 60 years since its completion, little appears to have changed, except for today, it is surrounded by a tall iron fence.

It’s not the only modern architecture in town, either. Havana might be more closely associated with image of crumbling Colonial structures, with those oft-photographed brightly colored classic cars. Yet in the 1950s, there was a boom in construction for modernist architecture, for those who could afford it. According to Architectural Digest, it was the Spanish immigrants who first brought the modernisme from Gaudi, followed by Art Deco and other styles in the 1920s. At the time, Cuba was riding high, with one of the most per capita income of any Caribbean country and a thriving nightlife.

 

Then, of course, came the Revolution of 1959 and many of Cuba’s architects left the country. Porro, however, returned to Cuba from Venezuela. He was commissioned to work on the National Arts Schools, until his designs fell from favor before leaving in exile in 1966. In the same decade, the Architects Association ceased to exist and the architecture school became known as the “Faculty of Construction Work”.

Recently, photographer Stephen Allen roamed the neighborhood of Nuevo Vedado. The high fence at the Porro home is not unique to the area, as is evident in nearly every photo. Curious, Allen spoke to some residents, who told him they were all erected after the Revolution, but there was no consensus as to why: security, said one, or possibly status.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[99call]

Wonderful thread!!  love this. 

I can't explain why, but nothing more evocative than a slightly faded, modernist architecture

[NSXCIGAR]

Huh. It's almost like Cuba wasn't trapped in time and had a burgeoning middle class...

[fungi]

One of my favorite things about traveling is taking strolls through residential neighborhoods. I love seeing how people live and taking in their design aesthetic.

When I finally buy a house, I hope to slowly make it my own so that it reflects bits and pieces of my travels throughout the years.

[Habana Mike]

Pretty cool! Will need to visit the area next time down (looking at you 2022).

[Fuzz]

Not too far away from we stayed the last 2 times in Miramar. There are quite a number of casa particulares for rent, but it is a quieter neighbourhood. Maybe a little too quiet for a bunch of rowdy Aussies!

[El Presidente]

I like the Nuevo Vedado area. 

We use to stay there a lot in some casa's close to an excellent restaurant called La casa.   Its owner Alejandro was an excellent operator and in those days good restaurants in havana were few. 

Then Greg and I got kicked out of our house. Simple misunderstanding involving an impromptu 3am pool party.  Damn you Greg! 

We were up the road from the zoo.  We should  have checked in on their domestic cat exhibit (see stamp thread )  We use to have a fair few house parties and if we needed extra aces would pull them in from the bus stop. 

Our two man guitarist band broke up at one party. They were  well into a bottle of rum each and had a punch up after Rafael decided Miguel was singing the corus too loudly.  Loved those guys and they played several parties. They broke up at some stage in each. 

Some great times had in Nuevo Vedado.