<strong>Cuban</strong> <strong>Mortar</strong> <strong>Tiles</strong> International Cooperation and Regeneration through the Redis<strong>co</strong>very of a Lost Craft Report on the History and Current Production of <strong>Cuban</strong> <strong>Mortar</strong> <strong>Tiles</strong> Author: Anna Joynt (architect) Independent researcher supported by The British Academy, 10 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH Tutor in Havana, Cuba: Felicia Chateloin Santiesteban Consultant: Aníbal del Prado Period of research: May to September 2009 <strong>Cuban</strong> Institutions: Offi ce of the City Historian, Havana, Cuba Faculty of Architecture, University of Havana, Cuba
Acknowledgements Firstly to the British Academy for generously funding this research. Thank you to all the following for giving your time and for making my research so enjoyable – In Trinidad, la Arq. Nancy Benítez Vázquez for a special inside tour of Trinidad and for sharing your heritage knowledge, and to Gil and Ana-Sofi a Lemes for wel<strong>co</strong>ming me in your lovely house with its excellent mosai<strong>co</strong>s. In Cienfuegos, Arq, Irán Millán for your <strong>co</strong>nsiderable time, informative (and amusing) insight into Cienfuegos, and for specially rooting out documents: Eyda Nancy González Pérez, Yolanda, Dayana and David of the Offi ce of the City Conservador for kindly showing me your city, and to Anibal Barrera, for your valuable practical knowledge. In Las Tunas, at the Empresa Provincial de Mantenimiento y Construccion, thanks to Jorge Velasquez Sera, Dignora Menenzes Garcia, Norge Batista Figarero, Yanciel Samora Pascual for wel<strong>co</strong>ming me to the factory and providing such clear and useful information. To Frank for the moto-ride and visit to the excellent mosai<strong>co</strong> fl oor you had created. In Santiago de Cuba, to Arq. Omar López Rodríguez for introducing me to beautiful Santiago and to your <strong>co</strong>lleagues Gisela Mayo Gómez, Arq. Odalis Quintara Caton,, Marilin Piña, Martha Calderón who kindly showed me the impressive patrimonial and masterplanning work which provided good <strong>co</strong>ntext for a study of heritage mosai<strong>co</strong>s. In Bara<strong>co</strong>a, to Alejandro Hartmann Matos and Indira for taking <strong>co</strong>nsiderable time (and at a weekend!) for such a hilarious, sociable and fruitful tour of your city paradise and its unusual mosai<strong>co</strong>s hidrauli<strong>co</strong>s. In Santa Clara, to Omelio for your interest and useful introduction to Felicia Hernández. Thank you Felicia for sharing your historical and practical knowledge, and in particular for opening up my interest in post-revolutionary production. In Sagua la Grande to Raul Villa for the impromptu whirlwind tour of your interesting, tourist-free town and of the magnifi cent Casino Espanol. In Camaguey to Jose Barreras for the introduction to Yaxely, to whom thanks sharing your architect´s up-to-date knowledge and experience of restoration of mosai<strong>co</strong>s. In Spain, to Arturo Hernandez for your excellent book which was a very useful reference, for your immediate interest and offer of help. To Jordi Griset for your time, your driving skills, and swift, generous email responses to my technical queries. Albert Marti for enjoyable factory visit, email responses and superb lunch. In Havana, to José Flores and <strong>co</strong>lleagues at the CUJAE Ofi cina de Trámite for processing my visa so effi ciently; to staff at the Empresa Constructora de Monumentos; to Clarita in the library of the Union de Arquitectos e Ingenieros de la Construccion de Cuba. To Alejandro Alonso, Pedro Contreras Suárez for giving me Art Decó and Art Nouveau leads. In the Ofi cina del Historiador to Inclán, to Pedro Diaz for spotting the newspaper clipping for the Las Tunas factory, to Yamira Rodriquez for sharing all your historical research and sources on mosai<strong>co</strong>s, to Daniel Taboada, the maestro, for such an amusing and informative interview and for sharing your <strong>co</strong>mprehensive knowledge. To Mario Coyula for your strong support for this research from the beginning. A huge thank you to Felicia Chateloin Santiesteban for being so closely involved, hands-on, dedicated, good fun, for steering me along most interesting intellectual paths. And fi nally to Aníbal del Prado for your support from the beginning, for sharing so patiently and kindly your extensive knowledge, thoughts, introducing me to useful <strong>co</strong>ntacts, being so organised, taking such care, and for being such a delight to know.
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