You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
28 | the <strong>Alamar</strong> travel guide<br />
sustainable, as residents do not necessarily need to visit the center of Havana, in<br />
order to find shops or other daily supplies.<br />
These illegal add-ons of course contradict with the core idea of this neighborhood,<br />
as it was meant to be a neatly planned, orderly modernist environment. The Cuban<br />
government considers these sheds as degrading the image of <strong>Alamar</strong>, therefor the<br />
future of these arbitrary extensions is unpredictable.<br />
5<br />
Fig. 2.9 One of the towers constructed<br />
with the MD construction system is easily<br />
recognizable by its height.<br />
MD construction system (5)<br />
When we walk further, you can find two<br />
buildings that can not be easily classified within<br />
the previously discussed construction systems.<br />
These buildings can be found along the originally<br />
planned center of <strong>Alamar</strong>, which is the main<br />
infrastructure axis. They are made according<br />
to the MD construction system. The main<br />
difference with the surrounding buildings is easily<br />
recognizable: the height. The buildings consist of<br />
twenty floors and have, in contrast to the other<br />
housing, a different use of the ground floor. Also<br />
a corridor on the ground floor allows you to walk<br />
through the building to the other side.<br />
6<br />
Fig. 2.10 New space appropiation outside the<br />
apartment block by a new resident.<br />
New development (6)<br />
Behind the MD towerblocks, bright colors<br />
indicate the latest developments in <strong>Alamar</strong>.<br />
Considering these new buildings, you can easily<br />
recognize the same ‘errors’ as were made in<br />
the rest of <strong>Alamar</strong>. Despite the effort of making<br />
public space more coherent, the confusion<br />
between public and private is still present. Even<br />
though the new blocks were built only few<br />
years ago, there are already signs of the same<br />
‘public space appropriation’ found in the other<br />
parts of <strong>Alamar</strong>. Appropriation itself is not a bad<br />
phenomenon, but it might cause again a possible<br />
new conflict between residents and authorities<br />
in the near future.<br />
Another essential misstep is the mono-functional<br />
approach. Strong communities and public life<br />
is deeply embedded in the Cuban culture. In<br />
practical terms, this always comes with some<br />
level of trading and entrepreneurship. The<br />
housing blocks should reserve space and offer<br />
a certain level of flexibility to adopt spaces for<br />
their changing needs. Otherwise, the result will<br />
be again a residential area that will be dependent<br />
on transport to and use of other parts of the city.
Change language