meeting a Cuban architect

I was extremely please to meet Mr Miguel Coyula, architect. Having just returned from a meeting with him I will endeavour to summarise our converstaion whilst I prepare lunch.

I chanced to meet Miguel simply by showing up at the Havana City Model that his group developed. I felt bad that I wasn't able to call ahead for an appointment, but nevertheless I proceeded and it provided to be a most fruitful conversation, I'll summarise, topically, below.

LIVING CITIES OR CITIES TO LIVE IN?

Miguel showed me on the model how the city of Havana has developed over time. Different coloured buildings are shown based on their time of construction: Colonial (1500-1899), Pre-Revolution (1900-1958) and Revolution (1959-onwards). It is clear to see that most buildings in Havana are 1900-1958, when there was a building boom. The major influence on these buildings was the from private developers building for the market economy. Much of this development is analogous to American cities f that period and is quite functional to this day. The colonial-era buildings are everyone's favourite. They have an enduring functionality and beauty. The layout of these buildings are appropriate for the climate, built with narrow streets that provide shade and inner atriums that allow for ventilation. After the revolution there was an 'explosion' of change which was reflected in the architecture. Early revolution architecture was bold, innovative, and functional. As time progressed the Soviet influence gave rise to long narrow and compact concrete, flat-roofed buildings. These buildings were built to provide a stanard level of housing fo people, many of whom fomerly lived in inner-city slums or in under-developed rural areas. One wuch development can be seen in Alamar on the east side of the city. Residents of this area refer to it as 'Siberia' beacuse of its distance from the city centre, lack of amenities and stark, cold, appearence. Miguel points to this as a good example of design influencing people's thoughts and lifestyle (in a negative fashion).

Some of his most recent work has been to work opposite of this... Community-based design and planning forums. A group of professionals from all areas, sociologists, architexts, psychologists, engineers, etc... all work to provide the community residents with a 'toolbox' of experts to help them achieve what they want. Making people the subject of the design rather than the object of it. A recently project with a group of Afro-Cubans in a certain area of Havana had the perspective home occupiers given a piece of paper to draw their 'dream home' on. The resultant designs caried somewhat, but many of them included a small room which seemed to have no function. When asked of the purpose of this room, it was identified as a place for their gods. Something that would have easily been left out by an architect, but is central to many Afro-Cuban's life and happiness.

Miguel once told the city planners that the measure of succes in buildings was not in the construction of x housing units for y price in z time, but happy families. He got some 'frusterated looks' from the planners. He says that in this, he is preaching a new faith of widening our view as designers, being more comprehensive.

THE SPECIAL PEROID

Miguel remembers well the special period. He says that it was very catastrophic. I would personally draw a comparison with war and post-war years in Britain (1939-1955). People felt the need to change their ways of live very deeply. Like Britons, Cubans were well equipted to compensate for the lack of food and oil by good education and stong support from the state. The dramatic change in the food system can be used as an example of something good and long-lasting that came from this period.

Miguel offered me an example of something that did not 'stick', as it were. With a two-thirds drop in oil imports, most cars were parked. The city buses went from 1500 down to 400. The drop in car travel was very noticable with cleaner air and quiet streets. Visitors claimed that Havana was the 'Caribean Amsterdam'. Bicycles were brought in from China and made available to purchase through work-places at a cost of about $1. Nearly everyone bought a bicycle and used it regularly. Many people thought that this would be a perminant feature of Havana. However, as soon as fuel became available at a reasonable price from Venuseula, this practice ended. Cars are now just as popular (if not moreso) than before. Miguel says this is a good example of how the bicycles were not seen as a 'solution' by the Cubans, merely a 'band-aid' treatment or stop-gap measure. The change was not cutural, more reactionary.

Contrasting this with changes in the food system, one of the possible reasons for success if the fact that the 'new food system' has put more control in the hands of both the producer and the consumer. Previously the food system was cenralised, there were more imports and choices, but prices were controlled and quality was not always a factor. Small, de-centralised market gardens and street markets allow direct contact between producers and consumers, as well as greater feedback. The prices at markets are also cheaper, because there is competition and de-regulation. This sustem has in-turn affected the diets of the Cuban people as they nor eat more 'whole' foods and make do with what is available at the markets.

CUBAN PARADOXES

Ninety percent of Cubans own their own homes, basically mortgage free. After the revolution they were able to buy their own homes with a 0% mortgage. However, there is currently little to no money available to repair or renovate them. If the average salary is less than $20 a month, and one gallon of paint is $5 you can understand why this is.

Another paradox is the system of earnings and housing. Socialism is supposed to allow for payment of wages based on contribution to society. However, in practise this does not always work.

[Postscript... My meeting with Miguel was not nearly long enough. He is planning on coming to the UK at some point, and I hope to meet him again. In the mean time I am looking for some of his academic publications in English).]