Miguel Coyula Explains Cuban Architecture

During the Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida presentation Miguel Coyula an urban planner and Cuban Architect on Feb 11 explains Cuba built its character of what it is today because of its rich history starting in the 1500s to the present. Even Cuban architecture is influenced by the European concept.

Through history Cuban architecture, Massachusetts stones are used in the old Havana Streets acting as stabilizing compound in the process of picking up sugars. In a presentation of Miguel Coyula in a published article in Havana Times, he said, "That means when you are walking around on the streets of Havana, you are walking on US soil."

The architect further explained that the way Cuban architecture is highly influenced by European discipline is due to the fact that children of the Spanish settlers back then studied in Europe and brought back ideas in Havana. Real Cuban culture has less impact in the country because of the rapid extermination in a 30-year span putting 250,000 indigenous Cubans killed.

One great example of a European architecture inspired is the 85-Square block tombs and statue in Havana cemetery with most materials are Carrara marbles from Italy. Another Cuban architecture discipline that greatly inspired Cubans was when American built Hotels and Casinos during the 1950s' when Cuba welcomed Mafias Family coming from the US.

It was only at a time when Fidel Castro defeated Fulgencio Batista in taking control over Cuba and made a new social order, in a report on Places Journal. Miguel Coyula said, at that time, most changes were focused in forbidding evictions, gentrification, and homelessness. Such necessities did not require the State to put incentives with buildings resulting in mass deterioration and Cuban architecture.

By 1993, when remittance from abroad was permitted to enter Cuba was the time that the Cuban architecture industry flourished once again in the country. It was partly different during the takeover because Family income was not sustainable.