In the middle of the Caribbean, Cuba is one of the most beautiful islands in this archipelago. The Island of Cuba is characterized by unique landscapes and a privileged climate all year round. In addition, Cuban architecture has had a very particular stamp, always authentic and legitimate.
Since the beginning of the 16th and 17th centuries, Cuban architecture has been developing in various ways. It started with the social and cultural mix in the port of Havana, where culture and society came together to create a commercial metropolis in the country's capital.
Its climate, culture, and nature provide a peculiar and very original styled architecture that must adapt to three parameters: it must be cool enough for the island's heat, it must have wood and straw to maintain the ancient architecture; and in turn, it must adapt to nature.
This development had a great artistic evolution until 1959, with the beginning of the Cuban Revolution; socialism and economic restructuring were the brake on the development of Cuban architecture, which has remained stagnant to this day.
The Spanish influence that Cuba had, is represented in its architecture with the famous colonial house, sharing various elements of the houses and palaces of Spain, and especially highlighting the mansions, palaces, and squares with columns and portals. Spanish heritage is reflected differently in Cuba than in other countries, since it had to adapt to the island's climate, which explains the number and variety of portals. Some moments that represent this "City of Columns" are the National Capital of Havana, the central highway and the Presidio Modelo, located in and around the capital.
Within the baroque, you can also admire the Convent of San Francisco de Asís, whose main feature is that the bell tower is on the main facade.
The ignorance and lack of technique of the Cuban architects of the time made a unique fusion of the Baroque style.
On the other hand, in the domestic architecture, developed in the 18th century, the Spanish Baroque style is displayed, extending several walls within the city and the use of wood for buildings combined with limestone. These two joint elements give a unique expression to the Cuban architecture of these times; it can be seen reflected in the Cathedral of Havana, which has a combination of interior woods and exterior stone murals that is quite magnificent.
Cuban houses were built as buildings large enough for the size of the island. In this way, the social level of the family could be seen, depending on the size of their home, to which, in some cases, they added a second floor. Mudéjar art is developed, characterized by the Arab and romantic fusion of the 10th century, that arose in the south of Spain and spread to the island. It is characterized by Gothic and Renaissance elements with elements of Muslim art. The elements that stand out from the 16th and 17th centuries are the curved lines as a finishing design element, the play of light on the facades and the columns and decorative walls.
In the following years, the architecture evolved into a neoclassical model, mostly categorized by the paving of streets, using wood to pave them, the outline of malls, among other features that were gradually urbanizing the city.
This is how Cuba has gone through various events that have developed its architecture in different fields. Within the colonial era, its structural and monumental beauty is presented on large scales. In the period between the colony and the Cuban Revolution, urban and social architecture developed, determining social classes with architecture and its details. Finally, after the Revolution, we see the turn that architecture takes when focusing on other aspects such as the complete urbanization of neighborhoods that stand out for having all the services in one place and equitably rationalized housing.
Definitely, Cuba is a country full of cultural architecture that tells its history through its monuments.
Post written by Bruno Ivich