Havana: 5 Urban Proposals by Design Action Studio

f i ve u r b a n p ro p o s a ls

This book is a collection of studio projects

completed by the Fourth-Year students of

Marywood University School of Architecture's Fall 2016 Cuba Studio.

table of contents C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

HAVANA WATER REMEDIATION

PUBLIC PLACE

HAVANA 2024

Ivan Hanson Emma Mucilli Kelsey Segraves

102

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T Decoding the Built and Social Infrastructure of the Urban System

Calzada del Cerro | Cerro, Havana

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T SYNOPSIS

SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE [noun]

Through decoding the built and social infrastructure of Havana’s urban system, our intention is to develop a spatial network that exploits the street as a social place and environment for community interactions. The program we chose focuses on an organization of public and commercial spaces which sustains Cerro’s residential community. With that in mind, our strategy first recognized the Calzada as a disengaged datum. Second, we decided that through analyzing section and intersection would serve as tactical implementations for specific design interventions. Over time the Calzada will form into a catalytic system where community interactions shape the urban environment of Cerro and how it operates.

Non-physical framework in which community interactions with and within the city, shape the urban environment and how it operates

INTENT Developing a spatial network that exploits the street as a social place and environment for community interactions.

PROGRAM An organization of public and commercial spaces which sustains Cerro’s residential community.

2 TACTICAL 2 TACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATION 2 TACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION 1 DISENGAGED 1 DISENGAGED DATUMDATUM 1 DATUM DISENGAGED

3 CATALYTIC 3 CATALYTIC SYSTEM SYSTEMSYSTEM 3 CATALYTIC

INTERSECTION INTERSECTION SECTION SECTION SECTION INTERSECTION 8

THE ANALYSIS

Through the specific lens of Havanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Demographics and communities, we analyzed the built and social infrastructure of the city as an urban system. Within this large scale system, the main influential urban components are Government, Economy, Public Spaces and the Residential Sector. Through community interactions, there are direct connections between demographics and public spaces and residential sphere. With public spaces, it is a relationship focused on memory, meaning and use for and by the people. With the residential sector, the relationship is based on ownership and economic freedom.

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

HAVANA: THE URBAN SYSTEM

Overall, government affects public space through preservation efforts by the Office of the City Historian (OCH). Public spaces affects economy through tourism, which can also lead to social and economic marginalization in areas of the city. Economy affects the residential sphere through building conditions and maintenance. Government affects the residential sphere through the market and general affordability. This is a broad analysis of the city and how it functions as an urban system. Going forward, we used this system to analyze potential sites and how they function within the fabric of Havana.

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

SITE ANALYSIS TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION

RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS NEIGHBORHOODS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS NEIGHBORHOODS RESIDENTIAL

NODES (INTERSECTIONS) NODES (INTERSECTIONS) BUS STOP SECONDARY CIRCULATION SECONDARY CIRCULATION NODES(INTERSECTIONS) (INTERSECTIONS) NODES SECONDARYCIRCULATION CIRCULATION SECONDARY TERCHIARY CIRCULATION TERCHIARY CIRCULATION FERRY PORT PRIMARY CIRCULATION PRIMARY CIRCULATION TERCHIARYCIRCULATION CIRCULATION TERCHIARY PRIMARYCIRCULATION CIRCULATION PRIMARY

BUS STOPEL VEDADO EL NUEVO VEDADO VEDADO NUEVO CERRO VEDADO BUSSTOP STOP ELVEDADO VEDADO NUEVO VEDADO MIRAMAR MIRAMAR CAYA HUESO CAYA SANTO HUESO SUAREZ BUS EL NUEVO VEDADO FERRY PORT MIRAMAR CAYAHUESO HUESO MIRAMAR CAYA 60,000 60,000 FERRY PORT FERRY PORT Cost of 2 Bedroom ApartmentCost of 2 Bedroom Apartment 60,000 Cost of 2 Bedroom Apartment 60,000 Cost of 2 Bedroom Apartment NORTHERN

NORTHERN N NO OR TRHT HE RE NR N

PUBLIC SPACES PUBLIC SPACES PUBLIC SPACES SPACES PUBLIC

PLAZAS MONUMENTS

RELIGIOUS PARKS PARKS PLAZAS PARKS PLAZAS PARKS PLAZAS MONUMENTS TRANSPORTATIONTRANSPORTATION MONUMENTS TRANSPORTATION MONUMENTS TRANSPORTATION

CERRO ATARES LUYANO ATARES CERRO ATARES SANTO LOS ITIOS SUAREZ LAWTON LOS ITIOS CERRO ATARES SANTOSUAREZ SUAREZ LOSITIOS ITIOS SANTO LOS 10,000

SOUTHERN H AVA N A

HISTORIC SITES HISTORIC SITES HISTORIC SITES SITES HISTORIC

RELIGIOUS THEATERS RELIGIOUS RELIGIOUS MUSEUMS

N NN

1mi

CEMETERIES THEATERS THEATERS THEATERS MUSEUMS CATHEDRALS MUSEUMS MUSEUMS

1mi 11mmi i

MONUMENTS CEMETERIES CEMETERIES CEMETERIES GOVERNEMENT CATHEDRALS CATHEDRALS CATHEDRALS 2.5mi

WESTERN H AVA N A

LUYANO LUYANO LAWTON LUYANO LAWTON LAWTON 10,000 10,000 10,000

SOUTHERN WESTERN H AVA N A H AVA N A S OS OU UT HT HE RE NR N WWE SETSETRE NR N AVAN NA A AVAN NA A H HAVA H HAVA

FORTS FORTS MONUMENTS FORTS MONUMENTS MONUMENTS FAMOUS STREETS FORTS FAMOUS STREETS GOVERNEMENT FAMOUSSTREETS STREETS FAMOUS GOVERNEMENT GOVERNEMENT

2.5mi 22. 5. 5mmi i

5mi

5mi 55mmi i

At the beginning of our research, we looked at Havanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transportation routes as modes of primary, secondary and tertiary circulation, where intersections became nodes within a network. Residential neighborhoods were analyzed to understand district locations and costs of living. Analysis of public spaces allowed us to understand the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lack of quality public and green space for the community. Parks and plazas are significant public programs within Havana. However, these two programs are unevenly distributed across the city and tend to populate around areas protected by tourism and preservation efforts. Analysis of historic sites showed locations of public nodes of interest. These were particular sites that we wanted to avoid due to influences from tourism and preservation efforts by the OCH.

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

SYNTHESIZED MAP

By layering these diagrams, the relationships between them synthesized decisions we made in choosing four general neighborhoods: Nuevo Vedado, Cerro, Santo Suarez and Regla. This allowed us to not only understand what the sites had to offer, but how the sites performed within the urban system as we understood it.

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

1 NUEVO VEDADO • Rental district in La Plaza de La Revolucion. • Political and administrative center. • Colon Cemetery spurred the development of the cultural and urban fabric. • Good Building Conditions as outlined by the OCH.

• Lined by 1920s mansion, “Calzada del Cerro” links Cerro to Habana Vieja and southern municipalities . • Mansions were transformed into multi-family housing units, which are still being used today.

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

2 CERRO

• Quality of living ranges from healthy communities to poor ghetto areas. • Poor building conditions as outlined by the OCH. • High residential percentage within the urban fabric.

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

3 SANTO SUAREZ • Culturally historic and vibrant community in Diez de Octobre. • Significant for its economic and administrative aspects. • Shares similar building characteristics as Cerro. • Multi-family housing. • Average building conditions as outlined by the OCH.

• Unlike other neighborhoods, this suburban-like area is surrounded by commercial and industrial sites. • Disconnected from the urban core, Habana Vieja.

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

4 REGLA

• Community is predominantly Afro-Cuban. • One of the first area in which the Santeria religion was established. • Distinct subset of Cuban culture and identity. • Poor building conditions as outlined by the OCH.

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

CERRO | CONTEXTUALIZING THE URBAN SYSTEM Within the urban system, of the four initial neighborhoods, we wanted to avoid areas with ties to preserved public spaces or sites. Thus, Nuevo Vedado was not an appropriate choice. Furthermore, the neighborhood has a very stable economy and good building conditions. In Santo Suarez, even though building conditions are not ideal, the neighborhood has a very stable economy and culturally vibrant community. In Regla, you can see a clear disconnection within the urban system. However, with closer examination, we found fewer opportunities for a systematic intervention. In Cerro, the built fabric has a very high residential percentage, 78%. However, building conditions are poor and can be linked to Cerro’s weak economy. About 70% of the workforce travels to other municipalities for work (typically to Habana Vieja, Plaza de Revolucion and Diez de Octubre). In turn, Cerro is one Havana’s poorest municipalities. With a lack of formal public spaces, in Cerro, like many disenfranchised parts of the city, the community use street space as public activity grounds rather than solely for transportation. In fact, 69% of open-air space is street space. Thus, we looked towards developing the street (more specifically, Calzada del Cerro) as social place which both sustains and empowers Cerro’s residential community.

Looking more specifically at Calzada del Cerro, we examined the first half-mile after crossing into the Cerro municipality from Habana Vieja. Historically, it has acted as a connection and avenue between Habana Vieja and outlying agricultural lands. With development, the Creole Elite started to build along the Calzada. With what started out as modest homes, the street began to become lined by colonnaded mansions by the 1920s.

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

CALZADA DEL CERRO

Currently, the Calzada del Cerro while a significant datum within the community, acts linearly; as merely a connection thread within the urban fabric. It is disengaged with its secondary streets and the community. We realized it as an opportunity to reengage with the community and transform the street into a catalytic system which sustains Cerroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residential sphere. On the street scale, we analyzed the Calzada through section and intersection. The intersections are seen as concentrations of activity which filter out to secondary streets. Four initial intersections we focused on are: Estevez, Pila, Diez de Octubre and Matadero. The sections speaks more about momentum along the street and between intersections. We looked at the street as a series of combinations of vehicular and bike traffic, building and colonnade edge conditions and sidewalk qualities. 17

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

INTERSECTION ANALYSIS 1 ESTEVEZ

2 PILA

ESTEV

PILA

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

3 DIEZ DE OCTUBRE

4 MATADERO

CALZADA D

EL CERRO

CTU EO

D 10 MATADERO

MATADE

EXISTING COMBINATIONS

SECTION CONDITION KEY

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

SECTION ANALYSIS

A B

1 3

C D

3 4

INTENT

HAVA N A

Developing a spatial network that exploits the street as a social place and environment for community interactions.

Cerro is one of Havana’s poorest municipalities. IMPACT ON

CATALYTIC SYSTEM of public and • Lack commercial programs. • Poor residential conditions. • Weak economy.

INTERSECTION

SECTION

INTERSECTION

After examining the Calzada del Cerro through intersection and section, we revisited our intent in regards to implementing a systematic intervention along the Calzada del Cerro. Overall, the problems facing Havana and Cerro impact the Cerro community, specifically, in regards to a weak economy, poor living conditions and lack of quality public space. Our proposal is to engage the Calzada as a social and economic catalyst to support the community and residential sector. We plan to do this through promoting local entrepreneurship. This will be accomplished through implementing a zoning policy, which sets up programs and parameters that directly affect the street. With this and specific design tactics, the street will become the Calzada Catalyst.

POO

COMMUNITY 40,000

housing units

ENGAGE CALZADA

PROMOTE LOCAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Most travel to Habana Vieja, Diez de Octubre and Plaza de la Revolucion for work.

Economy can not support residential sphere.

CERRO

SECTION

Work Outside Cerro

D I TI ON

2 TACTICALSYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION 3 CATALYTIC

70%

pove r t y

• Poor transportation infrastructure. • Inability to support maintanence. • Tourism driven economy.

N CO

1 DISENGAGED DATUM 2 TACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION

THE PROCESS

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

Lack of quality public spaces. No support from economy or preservation efforts.

PROPOSAL

AS A

SOCIAL CATALYST

Ground floor program zoning. Commerical spaces are locally owned and operated. Community geared programs.

ZONING POLICY

Sets up parameters for street manipulations. Programmatic matrix. Develop relationship between the Calzada’s interior and exterior spaces.

CALZADA CATALYST STREET EFFECTS Create momentum that priotizes pedestrian circulation over vehicular. Sidewalk widths guided by program. Bicycle lanes are primarily offset from sidewalk edge. Public green spaces and amenities are implemented in residual spaces.

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

PROGRAMMATIC MATRIX Through examining the urban system, we understood Havana and Cerro within a larger lens. Moving forward, studying Cerro and more specifically, the Calzada del Cerro, at a smaller scale, we developed a matrix of programmatic decisions and design tactics to guide our decision making process, in regards to both intersections and sections along the street.

INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE URBAN SYSTEM

BUILT

POLICY

SURFACE TREATMENTS

SPACES OF VOID

UNBUILT MARKET PLACES

COMMERCIAL PLACES

STREET INFRASTRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS

LIGHT

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

Our intention was to implement heavier design decisions at two main intersections of the Calzada: Cuatro Caminos (Northern Corner) and Esquina de Tejas (Southern Corner). These implementations will aid in establishing those intersections as prominent nodes at the beginning and end of the portion of the Calzada we studied. The programmatic matrix allowed for a more systematic approach at tackling not only the intersections, but establishing the Calzadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in the larger urban system of Havana.

Left Untouched Promoting Local Entrepreneurship

PUBLIC SPACE

Complimentary Implementations Traffic Regulations Traffic Pattern Reconfigurations Repairing Existing Infrastructure

GOVERNMENT

Zoning Regulation Transit Restructuring Complimentary Interventions Converting to Green Space

Temporary Market Place

ECONOMY

Fixed Market Place Commercial Places Demolition (Built)

RESIDENTIAL

Demolition (Street)

HEAVY

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

PARAMETRIC PROCESS G IN

•

N ZO

O Using the parametersPRguided by the ground-floor program zoning, we developed a parametric relationship between the interior and exterior conditions. The first step in this process was to take the colonnade as a constant variable and offset it 4’ for the ES AN minimum sidewalk width. EL DE

FSE OF

IAN STR

BIK

DE NA N O OL TC

4 GE

- Particular programs assume R different parameters for the street PTO - Zoning aids in regulating the UL C T S momentum of circulation along the R | YMEN O sidewalk T O A PL - Zoning may be complimented byOC L DE other forms of programing (green • Colonnade edge shifts to acquire space)

the parameters of the bike lanes. • Threshold between sidewalk edge and bicycle lanes may vary. • Space between these edges may provide green space, medians, - Colonadeon-street edge shifts to acquire parking and other street the parameters of the bike lanes amenities. - Threshold between sidewalk edge and bicycle lanes may vary M - Space between these edges may RA provide green space, medians or ROG P on-street parking

ING

N ZO

FT - Colonade edge pressures other

street parameters - Sidewalk width offsets 4 ft. to 8 ft. according to the program it is N adjacent to RIA - Offset creates varying threshold EST D between the interior and exterior PE

E BIK

ES AN

- Place a locator (point and location source) for every given program - Use locator attributes and location ’ING PT to develop a relationship between UL program and street manipulations ‘ SC

E TH

- Locator bec has a param the street ed - The sculptor street accor zoning

A AD

•

Particular programs assume different parameters for the street. • Zoning aids in regulating the momentum of circulation along the sidewalk. • Commercial zoning may be - Particular programs assume complimented by public forms of different parameters for the street R programing (green PTO - Zoning aids in regulating the space). UL

- Place a loca source) for e - Use locator to develop a program an

momentum of circulation along the SC T R | YMEN sidewalk O T - Zoning may be complimented by CA PLO LO DE other forms of programing (green space)

- Colonade edge shifts to acquire the parameters of the bike lanes - Threshold between sidewalk edge and bicycle lanes may vary M - Space between these edges may RA provide green space, medians or OG PR on-street parking

- Particular pr different pa - Zoning aids momentum sidewalk - Zoning may other forms space)

ING

N ZO

CALZADA DEL CERRO PROGRAMMING

T - Colonade edge pressures other - Colonade is a distinctive feature of 4F street parameters E the street ES DGwhich implements - Sidewalk widthcommercial offsets 4 ft. to 8 ft. After implementing a heavy approach atE the we remains generated and public LAN : intersections, E - Colonade edge constanta zoning policy, E L E according to the program it is AD and untouched BIK IAB programs throughout the Calzada’s ground-level. These programs directly effect the width, bike lanes, flow ofNtraffic, NN Calzada (sidewalk adjacent to AR EDGE - Sidewalk width varies ‘within’ it’s A O V I L street amenities), thus, creatingANaT relationship between Moving forward, we setEup - Offset creates varying threshold STR a series of edge the Calzada’s interior COand exterior spaces. DE ET ground-level programming. ST NNA between the interior and exterior ED were chosen S Sidewalk width varies ‘beyond’ it’s N parameters to guide the reconfiguration of the entire street, according to the Specific programs P F CO OLO OF edge

- Colonade e the parame - Threshold b and bicycle - Space betw provide gre on-street pa

after conducting research inC other parts of Havana. These programs have been found to be successful in both facilitating community interaction on the street and sustaining the local neighborhood economy. With the average Calzada variables taken into consideration (sidewalk, colonnaded sidewalk & road widths), the minimum sidewalk width has been set to 4’ and 8’ as the maximum. Sidewalk width will vary depending on the program of the adjacent ground level buildings. Two bike lanes will be implemented at 5’ wide for each lane of traffic. The maximum width allotted for vehicular circulation will be 20’, for two lanes of traffic. 24

: LE IAB E R G A T V E ED

- Colonade is a distinctive feature of the street - Colonade edge remains constant and untouched - Sidewalk width varies ‘within’ it’s

E DG

A NN LO

E DE

T - Colonade ed

street param - Sidewalk wid according to adjacent to

- Locators become sculptors for multiple programs - Two or more locators have a parametric relationship with the street edge - Changing the attributes of both scupltors for a desired effect BARS RESTAURANT ICE CREAM

BAKERY

CAFE

VENDOR

MINI-MART

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

U |M G M IN RA PT’ UL ROG C S P ‘

LTI

MARKET

PARAMETRIC PROCESS • •

•

Place a locator (point and location source) for every given program. Locator can be any object; it is merely a means to mold the street edge according to program. Locator attributes, location and DA ZA scale develop the relationship AL C between program and street THE G manipulations. T’IN

•

Locator becomes a “sculptor” that has a parametric relationship with the street edge. • The sculptor manipulates the street - Locator becomes a sculptor to that edge according program zoning. has a parametric relationship with width, bike lanes, the•streetSidewalk edge TI- The sculptor manipulates the is affected by vehicular circulation UL M street according to program | these manipulations. G M

IN RA PT’ UL ROG C P ‘S

zoning

U ‘ SC

•

All sculptors have a parametric relationship with the street edge. • Residual space can be formed between different edges (sidewalk, bike lanes, vehicular circulation. • Green medians, and - Locators becomespace, sculptors for multiple other programs street amenities can be - Two or more locators have a implemented the parametric relationship and with maintain the street edge Calzada a social place.

- Changing the attributes of both BARSscupltors RESTAURANT ICE CREAM for a desired effect

BAKERY

CAFE

VENDO

PARAMETRIC PROCESS

LPT CU T S EN R| TO LOYM A C P LO DE

- Place a locator (point and location source) for every given program - Use locator attributes and location to develop a relationship between program and street manipulations

ING

P T’ UL

DA L ZA A C

- Locator becomes a sculptor that has a parametric relationship with the street edge - The sculptor manipulates the street according to program zoning

U |M G AM N I PT’ OGR UL ‘SC PR

‘ SC

- Locato multip - Two or param street - Chang scuplto

LTI

PROGRAM KEY ING

BAR

RA OG R P ICE CREAM SHOP

N ZO

CAFE | EATERY

- Particular programs assume different parameters for the street - Zoning aids in regulating the momentum of circulation along the sidewalk - Zoning may be complimented by other forms of programing (green PARK | MINI-MART R space) TO

PTO UL SC NT E YM O L P

- Place a locator (point and location source) for every given program - Use locator attributes and location to develop a relationship between CINEMA HEALTH CENTER program and street manipulations

P UL

CA LO DE

RESTAURANT

BAKERY

IK NB

ES AN

VENDOR MARKET - Colonade edge shifts to acquire the parameters of the bike lanes - Threshold between sidewalk edge and bicycle lanes may vary - Space between these edges may

PARKLET

G T’IN

- Locato has a the str - The sc street zoning

DA L ZA A C

TRAFFIC STOP

‘ SC

COMMUNITY CENTER

BUS STOP

25 - Particular programs assume different parameters for the street

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

CALZADA DEL CERRO PROGRAMMING

MING

ining its effect the n Cerro’s

d at

IES

FES

ER AT |E

-Promotes day-time activity -Close proximity for workers and residents -8 FT. offset provides space for program amenities -Thin threshold between interior and exterior

WIDTH

ION

DIT

WIDTH

5‘

A WIDTH

ION

DIT

S CE LA ETP

-Supplies produce for locals -Momentum of pedestrian traffic accelerates due to convenience -6 FT. offset accommodates space for pedestrian

UR STA

TS AN

AR |B

-Promotes night-time activity -Encourages moments of leisure and slows momentum -8 FT. offset provides space for program amenities

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

IT Y

RA OG PR

N MU

M CO

-Interior driven program -Complimented by green space to provide exterior community activity -6 FT. offset provides space for faster momentum of pedestrian circulation

R DO

IXE

S CE PA S N

-Promotes day-time activity -Convenient access of cultural products to locals and tourists -4 FT. offset to encourage slower momentum for pedestrian circulation

| EN

E GR

-Allows for temporary markets -Compliments adjacent programs -4 FT. offset to encourage pedestrian flow into green space

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

SITE PLAN s.01

ESQUINA DE TEJAS

s.02

s.03

s.04

s.06

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

s.05

s.07

CUATRO CAMINOS

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

INTERSECTION 1 CUATRO CAMINOS (The Four Corners) HISTORY • Mercado Cuatro Caminos is a crucial part of the intersection as it is one of the largest food markets in Cerro providing community needs. • This intersection also manifests itself within an area where a majority of the community bus routes meet. • It is the first intersection along the Calzada, making it a gateway for the rest of the colonnaded street. NORTHERN CORNER • Mercado Cuatro Caminos has always been a large market for the community of Cerro. • CURRENT: The conditions of the Mercado are very poor and the inner courtyard is no longer utilized. SOUTH-WESTERN CORNER • Cuatro Caminos has been a prominent area for vehicular traffic and bus routes since the 1950s. • CURRENT: The intersection is mainly utilized for buses. Sidewalk conditions are worse and crosswalks have essentially been deemed useless, as the entirety of the street is used to cross.

EXISTING PLAN BUILDING CONDITIONS

GOOD

FAIR

POOR PROGRAM KEY

RESTAURANT

PROPOSED PLAN BAKERY

VENDOR

MARKET

PARK

BUS STOP

• By implementing programs (local venders, day-time and night-time eateries) which compliment the market and which utilize surrounding open space, the intersection is active throughout the day. • The intersection’s open space is driven by the performing arts and complimented by the immediate programs.

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

CUATRO CAMINOS | AXONOMETRIC

• Traffic circulation is regulated to allow for optimum walk ability and bike traffic. • The insertion of a bus stop will aid in establishing the Cuatro Caminos intersection as prominent node along the Calzada. • Reducing vehicular lane size allows for ample pedestrian circulation on sidewalks.

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

INTERSECTION 2 ESQUINA DE TEJAS (The Corner of Tiles) HISTORY • Since Havana was fortified, the area was named after the French roof tiles which adorned the mansions. • While still heavily traveled today, Tejas was most popular between the 1920s & ‘60s. • The intersection was the literal crossroads of Havana, with 4 main roads (Calzada del Cerro, 10 de Octubre, Infanta and Monte) that connected to Plaza de Revolucion, Habana Vieja and the Eastern municipalities SOUTHERN CORNER • The former Moral Bar, a popular travel rest stop a • CURRENT: 24 hr Food Mart, that contains one of two privately owned businesses on the Esquina. WESTERN CORNER • This use to be the site a mansion turned cinema. • The corner also housed a cock-fighting arena • CURRENT: Two residential housing towers, 18 & 20 stories tall. NORTHERN CORNER • Constructed in the 1920s, the North corner building was inhabited by a famous bakery that rivaled Havana’s best. • CURRENT: Ground floor is unused, top two level are residential

BUILDING CONDITIONS

GOOD

FAIR

POOR PROGRAM KEY

RESTAURANT

ICE CREAM SHOP

BAR

VENDOR

MINI-MART

PARK

BUS STOP

• This highly travelled intersection is surrounded by ample open and green space and historically significant buildings. • Revitalize and implement eateries and night-life into the existing infrastructure to complement the needs of the community and the northern anchor point.

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

ESQUINA DE TEJAS | AXONOMETRIC

• A temporary outdoor market will enliven the existing green space. • Similarly to Cuatro Caminos, this intersection calls for a bus stop which promotes the intersection as a node along the Calzada. • This anchor point encourages walk ability and sustains activity within the open spaces

8’ C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

STREET SECTIONS8’

5’

10’

5.5’

8’

15’

5’

9’

10’

4’

2’

9’

s to acquire he bike lanes sidewalk edge ay vary e edges may e, medians or

4’

s.01

4’

5’

6’

5’

10’ 6’

7’

10’ 17’

4.5’

8’ 5’ 5’

8’

s.02

8’ 8’

5’

8’ 2’

5’

10’ 5.5’

10’

4’ 9’

10’

4’ 6’

8’

33’

5’

8’

15’

2’

5’

10’

4’

2’

9’

10’

4’ 8’

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

11’

5’

6’

re es dge

may s or

4’

5’

8’

6’ 23’

17’ 10’

5’ 5’ 10’

10’ 2’

9’

s.03

4’ 6’

13’

8’ 8’

10’

8’

15’

5’

10’ 5.5’ 10’ 2’

10’ 10’

s.04

4’ 4’

9’ 6’

8’

MARKET

PARK

11’

5’

33’

5’

PARKLET

10’

COM. CENTER

2’ CINEMA

2’

HEALTH

BUS STOP 8’

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

STREET SECTIONS

s.05

4’

5’

5’ 4’ 5’

5’

23’

12’

10’ 10’

9’

4’ 13’

7’

s.06

8’ 9’ 11’

4’

10’

8’

9’

15’ 5’

5’

10’ 2’

5’ 2’

10’

4’ 6’ 10’

33’ 2’

10’

4’ 8’

RED-LIGHT

4’

5’

23’

10’

8’

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

9’

13’

15’

5’

10’

s.07

4’

2’

9’

6’

ire nes edge

may s or

6’ 8’

17’

5’

10’ 2’

10’

4’ 6’

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

PHYSICAL MODEL The physical model depicts programming zoning and the resultant effects on the Calzada del Cerro. Building heights are diagrammed as a relief model, with the tallest building as the deepest within the model. The gray sidewalks outline the changes that have occurred due programming the parameters set up.

CONCLUSION The parameters, policies and workflows established throughout this project are deployable across Havana, as similar colonnaded street conditions happen elsewhere in the city. This was one model that examined how the street can be exploited as a catalyst for social and economic change. However, this model can be adapted for other neighborhoods and communities of Havana. Ultimately, the Calzada Catalyst has strived to mediate between the built and social infrastructure of the city. This project aims to create and establish a viable threshold between the interior and exterior spheres. The street, along, with this threshold, not only sustains dense residential neighborhood. It also engages the street as a social place, an urban venue for the community to interact with and benefit from.

IMAGE 1: Top View

C A L Z A D A C A T A LY S T

IMAGE 2: Perspective View, Esquina de Tejas

IMAGE 3: Perspective View, Cuatro Caminos

ION LUT L PO

EXPLOITATION

URBAN SPR AW L

ON TI

IND

Y TR

US Na+ Cl-

TA C

According to the World Water Institute, water scarcity is currently the most under appreciated global environmental challenge

DIS TR IB U

Na+ Cl-

LT IN

TR U SIO N

O FC

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PUBLIC PLACE

Ivan Hanson Emma Mucilli Kelsey Segraves

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PROJECT INTENT

Implement a series of strategies to develop meaningful public places through the use of nodes tailored to the resident community of Central Havana. These nodes should operate as catalysts to revitalize the sociocultural quality of life and facilitate physical and economic movement throughout the municipality.

Central Havana

Havana, Cuba

The premise of the project grounds itself in the anticipation of tourism growth in Havana in the next two years. The relaxing of tensions between the United States and Cuba are having huge ramifications on the tourism industry in Cuba. From 2000-2014 the average annual number of tourists was 2.7 million. But by 2018, studies suggest that the Cuban tourist count will surpass 5.7 million. This is good for Havanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy but poses problems for the current infrastructure and communities in Havana. The left side of the graphic illustrates the current trajectory of Havana and how tourism dollars find themselves in exclusive tourist areas and fail to benefit Havana as a whole. A greater influx of tourism will only emphasize this problem. The right side of the graphic envisions how Havana could work economically with this project and strategy. By setting new zones for development and tourism, the wealth is evenly spread in Havana and allows communities and residents to benefit from the fruits of a tourism economy. This project essentially proposes the globalization of Havana. But hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the catch: unlike previous zones that succumb to tourism development in Havana and in other historically significant centers around the world, this strategy uses a set of guidelines and incentives that require developers to maintain the identity and essence of the unique neighborhoods that are being developed. This will improve the residents quality of life, allow for a more vibrant economy, and will hold the culture and physical fabric of the individual neighborhoods in Havana intact.

CUBA

Projected Path

Globalization

USA

January 2015 Obama Administration lightens restrictions on travel.

Proposed Strategy

Havana

Tourism Strategy

Current Economic State

Current Economic Trajectory

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

SMART GLOBALIZATION

Current Economic State

Economic Vision with Strategy

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

WHY PUBLIC PLACE?

KEY TERMS

Public place is one of many possible filters that could be used to regulate the tourism and globalization in Havana. Public place was chosen for its ability to affect the residents in the same way they have been neglected, from development and progress, in the years up to this point. Tourism benefits can be directed and focused on residents in the following ways:

Nodes

Landmarks

Strategic concentrations of community activity that exist at the junction of converging paths; combine public place and landmarks to represent the surrounding community

Derived from Kevin Lynchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definition. External points of reference that are simple, unique, and identifiable qualities of a location. Allow an observer to recognize their location and use the landmarks as way-finders or guides. Examples include an iconic building, a material change, a particular view, or a sensual experience that is unique to a place.

Smart Globalization Create public places that will be desirable zones for developers, but enact guidelines that will preserve the identity of the location while implementing globalism and development.

Selective Preservation

Public Spaces Areas that are accessible to the general public; may or may not be actively used; are not designed as a way to affect the community by itself. Are not actively designed with the intention of giving the sense of place. In order to do so, they need well-designed supporting elements.

Use the existing crumbling buildings as revitalization points and use the guidelines to ensure new buildings respect the context but act in a way that acknowledges the step being taken towards modernization; economically, socially, and through architecture.

Create a Unified City Using each of the unique developed nodes as base points, the public places within them create a commonality between each node in that they all are all sources of revitalization. And at the same time they separate themselves from one another, breaking the monotony in the urban structure of Central Havana and accentuating the uniqueness of the places. This connection and accentuation creates a vibrated diverse unified city in regards to the communities within.

ACCESSIBLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY

POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY AFFECT A COMMUNITY

CAN PROVIDE SOCIAL INTERACTION

Public Places Actively used public spaces that contain a composition of thought-out public spaces, which in conjunction, create a place which has an essence and identity different from other places. Public places are areas of gathering, they have multiple programs which attract different demographics at different times and public places are easily accessible and identifiable for both residents and tourists in a city. BIKE CULTURE WALKABILITY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES

ACCESSIBLE

MAY OR MAY NOT BE ACTIVELY USED

NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY CELEBRATION OF HERITAGE LANDMARKS AND VIEWS

CULTURAL

TO OTHER PLACES

PLACES TO GATHER

CONNECTED

SOCIAL

TO THE RESIDENTS

Examples of public spaces include: bus stops, pocket parks, vacant lots that have fallen into public domain, and public gathering points when looked at in isolation such as churches and markets.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITY

FLEXIBLE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES

MULTIPLE ACTIVATION TIMES PROGRAM DIVERSITY

COMMUNITY DRIVEN HEART OF A COMMUNITY LOCAL BUSINESSES

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

WHY CENTRAL HAVANA? When looking for a smaller area to implement and further study this project in Havana, the municipality of Central Havana was chosen. Central Havana is the most dense of Havanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 15 municipalities, making it a good location to implement the strategy, because it would affect the most people. Central Havana Havana

7 households per acre

36 households per acre

Central Havana is also home to the most crumbling and dilapidated buildings for its area. This allows the project to revitalize and make a physical difference in regards to city 14% of buildings structure on a in Central greater scale than Havana are crumbling any of the other municipalities. Additionally, Central Havana has the least amount of open or green space compared to other municipalities. The block structure within Central Havana creates a monotonous series of solids that all have roughly the same height. Pedestrians have a mundane view of the city and difficulty determining where neighborhoods begin and end. Central Havana is listed as the worst municipality in a number of categories, so if the strategy can work in Central Havana, it can work in greater Havana.

Centro Habana 90,941

Habana Vieja 56,577

Plaza de la Revolucion 31,894 Regla 12,122

Playa 13,397

Cerro 32,117 Marianao 16,001

La Lisa 9,582

Diez de Octobre 43,539

Guanabaoca 2,399

Habana del Este 3,149

San Miguel del Padron 15,447

Arroyo Naranjo 6,335

Cotorro 3,087

POPULATION DENSITY (per square mile)

Boyeros 3,715

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

EXISTING CONDITIONS Central Havana suffers from the amount of buildings that fall into disrepair, they become a hindrance on the community and a deterrent for those who would visit. The map shows crumbling buildings and blocks in brown. The photos below illustrate the conditions.

CRUMBLING GREEN SPACE BUS STOP TRANSFER BUS ROUTE

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

EXISTING PROGRAMS Analysis of Central Havana proved that we whenever certain programs are placed in proximity to each other, more activity occurs. In some cases, when certain programs are near each other, there is a certain public place typology present such as parks, plazas, or pedestrian streets. These existing relationships were base points to develop an understanding of how the city works and where zones of activity occur. Some of the identifiable programs are as follows;

Markets open-air markets + grocery stores

Landmarks prominent memorable buildings

Religious Buildings churches + religious centers

Shopping clothing + pharmacies + others

Schools universities + primary schools

PROGRAM GREEN SPACE BUS STOP TRANSFER BUS ROUTE

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

SITE SCORING Using the program map and knowledge about neighborhood structure in Havana, 6 different zones or nodes which acted as gathering points for residents and tourists alike, were determined. These are the areas that receive funding for tourism development that are illustrated in the first graphic by the maroon base. These places are essentially the existing public places found in Central Havana. Although they were not constructed to be public places according to this project’s definition, they work in a similar fashion. The only downside to these existing precedents in Central Havana, is that they are geared solely to their place’s clientele, not the residents in the neighborhoods they occupy. The Industrial Design School operates solely for the school and the students. Callejón de Hamel, although it includes residents, operates solely to attract tourists. But once that was understood, a scoring system could be created to score each of these existing nodes and then look to find areas that would benefit from becoming public places. The scoring system is based on four main categories as seen to the right: placemaking, program diversity, building conditions, and access are the four lenses used to assess each of the existing nodes. This system was also used to assess the potential public place sites in the coming pages.

PUBLIC SPACE

UNIQUE CULTURE

LANDMARK

VEHICULAR TRANSPORTATION

PLACEMAKING

BIKING CULTURE

LOCAL VS. TOURIST

ACCESS

URBAN MATRIX

PROGRAM DIVERSITY

WALKABILTY

CULTURAL SPACES

CONDITIONS

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

GATHERING SPACES

MATERIALS

BUILDINGS INFRASTRUCTURE

PUBLIC STRUCTURES

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

IDENTIFIED NODES 1. CallejĂłn de Hamel This resident-formed pedestrian street acts as a center for cultural and religious gatherings in the area.

2. Plaza Carlos III The shopping mall and market in this area produce a large amount of Central Havanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revenue.

3. Gran Templo Nacional

This intersection is a major tourist stop because it includes Parque de la Santa Varela and Iglesia Del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus.

4 5

4. Parque fe de Valle Many locals and some tourists gather at this park because it is one of the main wi-fi spots in the city.

5. Barrio Chino This pedestrian street is lined with shops and vendors in the heart of China Town.

3 2

6 EXISTING NODE

6. Industrial Design School The school, Union building, and park invite a variety of different communities to share one central area.

WALKING ZONE GREEN SPACE BUS STOP TRANSFER BUS ROUTE

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PROPOSED NODES A network of connections, both physical and economic, will be made between the new and existing nodes within Central Havana. The goal is to create vibrant areas of activity in order to improve quality of life for the residential community. Increased tourism in Central Havana will generate funds in order to further development of the network.

Playa

existing node node anticipated development new node phase I new node phase II phase III connections developer developer funds 68

Old Havana

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

SITE SELECTION After all six of the proposed nodes were scored according to the site scoring matrix, the two nodes with the worst scores were chosen to move forward. In reality, all of these nodes and their connections would be developing, but for the sake of this project, just two were chosen to focus on.

5. EL PONTÓN

1 2 6

6. IGLESIA SAN NICOLÁS

5 69

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

YEARS 0-5

PHASE I: DEVELOPER INITIATION

PREPHASE Prephase defines public space typology, new block structure, and new circulation, and then hands the urban guidelines to the developers.

Phase I is the initial insertion of funds used to develop each node as a catalyst point. Developers work to define and establish public place and set framework for further development in each specific zone.

In this phase, the mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office creates an autonomous organization to run and facilitate the development of nodes while the community designates a representative to relay their interests with the organization.

State

Resident Node Connection Guidelines

City

Community

Developer

EXISTING NODE

City Sponsored Organization 70

Community Representative

Developer

Anticipated Development

NEW NODE Local Development

YEARS 6-10+

PHASE II: LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

PHASE III: CONNECTION

Phase II focuses on filling in the gaps in the urban fabric and integrating the site into the surrounding context. Local business owners and small local developers should add elements to support the public place and follow the cues set in Phase I.

Phase III introduces connections that are designed to reinforce the definitions of public place found in a zone. The connections use heterotopic strategies that focus on peaking peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awareness by accentuating differences in architecture and place along a path. Integrate the public place into existing outlying neighborhood dynamics.

Node Connection

Guidelines

Developer

EXISTING NODE

Developer

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

YEARS 2-7

Developer

Anticipated Development

NEW NODE Local Development

EXISTING NODE

Developer

Anticipated Development

NEW NODE Local Development

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PREPHASE: EL PONTÃ&#x201C;N Site number 5 is a public sports complex, or park. The park was in its prime condition in the 1960s but has since fallen into disrepair due to lack of maintenance funding. The area is subject to crime due to the lack of security, broken facilities, and large amount of trash. Prephase analyzes the existing conditions and changes the circulation and block structure accordingly. For this site, the blocks were restructured to create a more elongated and contained park area and circulation was changed to allow for a pedestrian street.

1. EXISTING CONDITION

2. PROPOSED BLOCKS TO RESTRUCTURE 72

3. CONFORM TO THE EXISTING BLOCK GRID

4. CONGREGATE CENTRAL BLOCKS

5. PROPOSED STRUCTURE

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PREPHASE: IGLESIA SAN NICOLÁS Site number 6 in the node network is a Catholic church. The church was in its prime condition in the 1850s and since then, the surrounding area has fallen into disrepair. There is a plaza pequeña in front with surrounding open air markets used by residents. For this site, the blocks were restructured to facilitate movement from the main circulation route toward the church by breaking up larger blocks. Additionally, the blocks were restructured to create larger plazas for residents to congregate around the church.

3. DIVIDE LARGER BLOCKS

1. EXISTING CONDITION

4. EXTEND OPEN SPACES

2. PROPOSED BLOCKS TO RESTRUCTURE

5. PROPOSED STRUCTURE 73

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PHASE I: DEVELOPER INITIATION These guidelines are part of prephase and are designed to guide the decisions of developers in Central Havana to create an urban fabric comprised of various zones. The guidelines will help invigorate the city through global economics but still maintain the Cuban identity and preserve the unique cultural heritage found in neighborhoods across the city. Phase I is the initial insertion of funds used to develop each node as a catalyst point. Developers work to define and establish public place and set framework for further development in each specific zone.

PLACE Integration to Public Space. Provide integration from site to designated public space.

Recognize Rhythms in Context Respect and reflect the surrounding rhythms. Or Deliberately break rhythms to peak peoples awareness.

Building Placement for View and Circulation Consider the implications of building placement and how it allows for specific views and circulation to and from a site.

Gathering Spaces Treat gathering spaces as centerpieces of public places by introducing supporting elements. Tailor gathering space to welcome a variety of demographics.

Include Landmarks Landmarks are any visible, unique, place identifier. They and are the basis for the style and rhythms that occur through subsequent blocks.

Respect Plant Life Where possible keep existing foliage. If foliage is removed, comparable plant life native to the area should be planted in its stead.

ARCHITECTURE Use Mixed-Use Residential Buildings Allocate at least 50% of a ground floor to public programs. Reserve residential and private functions for any floors except the ground floor.

Design with Pedestrians in Mind Create transition zones to the building. Resolve the first two floors of a building differently than the rest of the building to allow for human interaction with the facade.

Design Buildings Proportionate to Street Design taller buildings around PUBLIC PLACE to increase density. Increase building height at street corners. Ensure buildings respond to setback differences among buildings.

Respect Vernacular Architecture Use and re-purpose local materials, in a way that values Cuban architecture. Respect existing rhythms found on facades.

Encourage Views to PUBLIC PLACE Use building form to create physical connection with public scale. Or Shift building programs to give visual connection to public space.

INFRASTRUCTURE Light Pedestrian Areas Provide lighting in outdoor occupied areas to ensure a safe and inviting environment for people throughout the day.

Replace Crumbling Buildings When assessing the zone for a site, look first for crumbling buildings to rebuild the block and increase density.

Create Permeable Block Structures Allow for degrees of open and closed space within a block. Provide access through the block to facilitate movement, views, etc. Consider placing public programs in the block interior.

Integrate all Types of Circulation Allow for public transportation points that are accessible and visible to pedestrians. Incorporate existing circulation patterns through the site and zone.

Create Safe Pedestrian Environment Provide areas for pedestrians that are visibly distinguishable and provide a transition or buffer zone from vehicular traffic.

Provide Furniture in Outdoor Spaces Provide seating and some type of outdoor furniture for pedestrians and occupants. Provide biking amenities to encourage biking around the zones.

Landscape Transition Zones Landscape to aid in transitioning from building to streetscape and to act as a buffer to the street.

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

INFRASTRUCTURE

PHASE I: IMPLEMENTATION The orange highlighted areas below show which areas are proposed to be affected by developers in Phase I. This is just one possible proposal, there are a variety of ways that this phase and all subsequent phases can be implemented.

Existing Node

Industrial Design School

Existing Node

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE 76

PHASE I: EL PONTĂ&#x201C;N In this site, the developer initiation occurs along the newly created pedestrian street and in the half of the park closest to the tourist sector of the surrounding area. The guidelines of this phase will allow developers to revitalize the highlighted areas below in a variety of ways that all lead to the creation of public place. The guidelines called out below and to the right are just a few of the many possibilities that could be implemented during Phase I of the overall strategy.

In this site, the developer initiation occurs along the main street used for circulation that is close to San Nicolas. By developing and revitalizing this street, people will be drawn to the area from the main circulation and then will be encouraged to venture further into the urban fabric or residential sector in the area toward the church and plazas. The guidelines of this phase will allow developers to revitalize the highlighted areas below in a variety of ways that all lead to the creation of public place. The guidelines called out below and to the right are just a few of the many possibilities that could be implemented during Phase I of the overall strategy.

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PHASE I: SAN NICOLAS

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PHASE II: LOCAL DEVELOPMENT Phase II is comprised of two parts: -Local Implementation, focuses on strengthening the block structure closer to the public space -Local business owners and small local developers should add elements to support the public place and follow the cues set in Phase I in order to fill in gaps in the urban fabric -Neighborhood and Node Integration, focuses on integrating the site into the surrounding context. -Integrate the public place into existing outlying neighborhood dynamics

PLACE Mimic Phase I Architecture Recognize the public space typology and respond in a way similar as the architecture created in Phase I. Support Phase I development by following the rhythms created to unify the zone.

30% of Building Footprint Open Air Offer a minimum of 30% of building footprint to open air public use in order to increase the gathering space and interaction areas in a zone (ie. rooftop garden, balcony, ground level space).

Allow for Small Public Spaces Encourage locals of varying age groups to gather in small public spaces through small local businesses and everyday amenities such as markets, schools, churches etc.

ARCHITECTURE Take cues from Phase I Take cues from practices set by the developer in Phase I to inform the architectural style of new buildings.

Use Mixed-Use Residential Buildings Allocate at least 50% of a ground floor to public programs. Reserve residential and private functions for any floors except the ground floor.

Respect Vernacular Use and re-purpose local materials, in a way that values Cuban architecture. Respect existing rhythms found on facades.

Proportion Buildings to Context

Building heights should not differ from the heights and proportions found in the surrounding context. Phase II buildings may extend out of the urban fabric in the way Phase I does when appropriate.

INFRASTRUCTURE Light Pedestrian Areas Provide lighting in outdoor occupied areas to ensure a safe and inviting environment for people throughout the day.

Replace Crumbling Buildings When assessing the zone for a site, look first for crumbling buildings to rebuild the block and increase density.

Allow Pedestrian Flow through Building Consider the implications of building placement and how it allows for specific views and circulation to and from a site. Allow for safe pedestrian flows in front of the building.

Rebuild Street Front / Infill

Reinforce block structure by filling in necessary voids and maintaining the street front.

Provide Furniture in Outdoor Spaces

Provide seating and some type of outdoor furniture for pedestrians and occupants. Provide biking amenities to encourage biking around the zones.

Landscape Transition Zones

Landscape to aid in transitioning from building to streetscape and to act as a buffer to the street.

Phase II focuses on the local development in support of public place. Phase II begins once Phase I has defined the public place typology and has set the way in which it supports it through an architectural means. Phase II takes cues from Phase I and the surrounding context to further the extents of the public places influence into the community, activating the community to take part by means of residences, small businesses, and the sense of culture present in the area. In return, Phase II also helps Phase I continue forward by offering more means of development and income once the community has been brought it formally.

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PHASE II: IMPLEMENTATION

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE 80

PHASE II: EL PONTĂ&#x201C;N For this site, the local development occurs in the second half of the park toward the residential sector. This phase integrates the park into the surrounding context. The guidelines of this phase will allow smaller local developers to revitalize the highlighted areas below in a variety of ways that all lead to the creation of public place. The guidelines called out below and to the right are just a few of the many possibilities that could be implemented during Phase II of the overall strategy.

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PHASE II: IGLESIA SAN NICOLĂ S For this site, the local development occurs in the two plazas near the church and their surrounding areas in the residential sector. This phase further helps to create places for people to gather and facilitates movement from the main circulation into the surrounding context. The guidelines of this phase will allow developers to revitalize the highlighted areas below in a variety of ways that all lead to the creation of public place.

The guidelines called out above and to the left are just a few of the many possibilities that could be implemented during Phase II of the overall strategy.

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PHASE III: ZONE CONNECTION The connection is designed to reinforce the definitions of public place found in a zone. It does this by creating use of heterotopic strategies that focus on peaking peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awareness by accentuating differences in architecture and place along a path.

PLACE

Proportion Buildings to Context

Building heights should not differ from the heights and proportions found in the surrounding context. Phase III buildings should not extend out of the urban fabric in the way Phases I and II do.

INFRASTRUCTURE Light Pedestrian Areas

Connect PUBLIC PLACES through Block Structure Recognize the public space typologies in each area and connect them in a way that responds to different block structures present within the two zones that are being connected.

Use Landmarks as Connection Identifiers Enhance existing landmarks and incorporate newly revitalized buildings in a respectful manner (ie. facades, metering, rhythms) to provide nodal points along connection pathways.

Create Nodal Points along Connection Consider the implications of building placement and how it allows for specific views and circulation to and from a site.

Provide lighting in outdoor occupied areas to ensure a safe and inviting environment for people throughout the day.

Replace Crumbling Buildings When assessing the zone for a site, look first for crumbling buildings to rebuild the block and increase density.

Accentuate Pre-Existing Pedestrian Flows Connections should accentuate pre-existing pedestrian and public transportation flows (ie. buses, taxis, heavily used sidewalks)

Allow for Pedestrian Flow Through Buildings Enable a Heterotopic Experience The use of elements from surrounding context in a different way. The use of different elements in the same way. The use of new organization that is related to existing one.

ARCHITECTURE Respect Vernacular Use and repurpose local materials, in a way that values Cuban architecture. Respect existing rhythms found on facades.

Use Mixed-Use Residential Buildings Allocate at least 50% of a ground floor to public programs. Reserve residential and private functions for any floors except the ground floor.

Consider the implications of building placement and how it allows for specific views and circulation to and from a site. Allow for safe pedestrian flows in front of the building.

Provide Furniture in Outdoor Spaces

Provide seating and some type of outdoor furniture for pedestrians and occupants. Provide biking amenities to encourage biking around the zones.

Landscape Transition Zones

Landscape to aid in transitioning from building to streetscape and to act as a buffer to the street.

Phase III focuses on connecting different nodes through the use of Heterotopic Design. This type of design is intended to celebrate the differences between neighborhoods rather than creating one homogeneous vernacular for all connections throughout Central Havana. This strategy allows for flexibility in the ways listed to the right.

ENABLE HETEROTOPIA Heterotopia is: 1. The use of elements from surrounding context in a different way. 2. The use of different elements in the same way. 3. The use of new organization that is related to existing one.

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PHASE III: IMPLEMENTATION

Industrial Design School

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PHASE III: CONNECTION The connection is designed to reinforce the definitions of public place found in any one zone. It does this through the use of heterotopic strategies that focus on peaking peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awareness by accentuating differences in architecture and place along a path. The guidelines of this phase will allow for revitalize the highlighted areas below in a variety of ways that all lead to the creation of connections between different public places throughout Central Havana.

The guidelines called out above and to the right are just a few of the many possibilities that could be implemented during Phase III of the overall revitalization strategy. 84

Each node, or area of activity, within Central Havana is connected to other nodes within close proximity in order to create a network or fabric throughout the municipality. These connections are crucial in order to ensure that the differences between these zones and unique public places are brought to an inhabitant’s, or perhaps a tourist’s, attention.

There are many different categories of connections such as physical, visual, economic, etc. A few of the connection possibilities are shown below, but there are so many more possible ways to connect two zones.

The guidelines that have been created for this project allow for varying interpretations of Phase III, but all directions eventually lead to the creation of public place.

SELECTED SITES

PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION

VEHICULAR CIRCULATION

CRUMBLING BUILDINGS

LANDMARKS

VISUAL

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

PHASE III: POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

SITE MODEL The final site model was designed to give the observer a better understanding of the strategy phasing process and to see just how much a piece of the city could be transformed through this place making strategy. The model was constructed at 1â&#x20AC;?=100â&#x20AC;&#x2122; in order to view a significant part of the urban context at a scale where the physical details do not inhibit design. The goal was to zoom out from the guidelines and show the strategy on another scale. The light brown hatches represent crumbling buildings; since the buildings are uninhabitable, they were interpreted as vacant lots from a developers perspective. The grey represents the same possible speculative design shown on the previous pages. This speculation is broken up into 5 pieces according to phase and site in order to understand how individual phases between the two sites impact the urban fabric as a whole. These grey speculative pieces are interchangeable with the existing brown pieces, shown to the right in the dashboard at the bottom, in order to potentially single out just one part of one phase if needed. The model was a simplified representation of the urban strategy and illustrates the two different approaches that could be taken at the two selected sites.

In closing, this project was not composed to offer concrete, single handed solutions to improve life of Havanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residents through an architectural means. Rather, this project is designed to lay the groundwork for many different designers and innovators to come into designated zones of opportunity and to implement a solution based on their needs that simultaneously fits within the guidelines provided to create places within Central Havana.

CADRE FOR PUBLIC PLACE

CONCLUSION

These places, which are like nothing that has been seen there before, fit in with the community because they are so aware of their respective surrounding areas. The purpose of this project is not to prescribe where certain programs must go, but rather to acknowledge that a city is a living system, with changing needs and times. The goal is to accommodate these changes with an urban mesh full of different activities, communities, industries, and residences, all constructed around a sense of public place.

HAVANA 2024 REBUILDING THE URBAN MACHINE

HAVANA EXPO

THE URBAN MACHINE The specialized systems which work in concert with each other to promote the vitality of an entire city

Havanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Urban Machine Systems such as transportation and public works have been severely under utilized within the city, compounding the problem overtime. Many of these systems are inter-dependant, not allowing the others to work properly as a result of their own shortcomings.

The Kick-start As a re-introduction to the global economy, Havana will host a Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exposition showcasing its rich history and underlying issues which become the theme of the Expo. The changes proposed by the Expo offer an instance where it is possible for large scale redevelopment and permanent infrastructural change giving Havana the catalyst it needs to update.

The Method All structures developed for the Expo will following a set of guidelines. The guidelines will ensure continuity between all sites and the rest of the built environment. 90

Existing Conditions Currently, the conditions in Havana are unsuitable by the standards of industrialized nations. Outdated roadways, compromised of cobblestone and crude paving, are in disrepair due to the lack of material and suitable workers. The other systems which depend on this base infrastructure to function, cannot work properly rendering them virtually useless. In order to accommodate for the influx of visitors from the Expo, these base systems must be updated, benefiting the event and the city.

30 mi. New Roads

2,300 Tons of Waste Daily

26 Collection Trucks

Roads Potholes and unpaved areas

Cramped side-streets

Missing cobblestones

Heavy primary road trafﬁc

Unﬁt sidewalk conditions

Unrepairable sewers & drains

BEFORE THE EXPO

PREPARING FOR THE EXPO

Transportation Irregular stops

Small bus ﬂeet

Distant stop locations

Outdated buses

Unable to access many streets

720,000 Daily Capacity

48 New Buses

50 Stop Locations

Public Works Lack of skilled workers

Inaccessible side-streets

Price of imported materials

Unable to access many streets

Throughout the entire city

BEFORE THE EXPO

Preparations for the Expo Fixing the underlying issues which persist in the city allow other components of the urban machine to function more fluidly. The increase in human traffic, waste and resource usage associated with the Expo can be mitigated through implementing these changes and permanently rehabilitating the failing system for the Cubans that will remain after the conclusion of the fair.

Funding and Application Site Reservation Fee

Initial Government Funding

The necessary updates to the roads, transportation infrastructure and waste management must be the foundation on which all other components of the fair can be built. Without these base requirements, the influx of tourists, visitors and traffic would not be sustained during the Expo

treets

Critical Waste Management Repairs 92

Primary Road Repairs

Bus System Integration

Public Works Revitalization

Street Clean-up

DURING THE EXPO

THE EXPO Site Identification To first define areas within the city that would be suitable for re-development, the current condition of existing structures had to be assessed. Central Havana was found most in need of updating and rebuilding. These sixteen sites chosen (shown in red on the map) contained the largest densities of unfit buildings with the most usable structures surrounding it, making it easier to make informed decisions when designing.

Structuring the Exposition When participating in an Expo, countries with exhibits are required to build their own exhibition spaces. Traditionally, it has been difficult to re-purpose these spaces after the event, due to the lack of common design schemes and functionality. This exhibition will utilize a system of guidelines which will focus on highlighting and maintaining aspects of the Cuban culture. After the Expo is complete, buildings constructed for the fair will make programmatic changes and create entire blocks and habitable space for the residents of Central Havana.

Worlds Expo Map Key Bus System

All Crumbiling Buildings Exhibition Space 100

200 M

300 M

DURING THE EXPO

PAVILION TYPOLOGIES DURING AND AFTER THE EXPO DURING International -

The most common typology, these buildings will showcase the visiting nations History, technologies, and culture.

Corporate -

to incentivise global businesses to spread into Cuba, corporations have the option to create areas to showcase their product as well as to maintain their exhibit space as offices after the completion of the fair.

Specialized

These exhibits feature the top five countries in each respective field relating to the current infrastructural and social problems facing Havana. These exhibits will serve a functional purpose and remain along with the building after the completion of the expo.

AFTER Open Programs -

These spaces will be tailored to the individual needs of each block.

Office Space

Due to Cubaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s isolation, many companies have not been able to establish a foothold in Cuba. Companies will be able to come in and establish the framework needed.

Community Center -

These community centers would act as a small hub within the immediate area serving as a space to gather and learn.

Market

Bodegas are a common occurrence throughout the city. These small markets will act much as the bodegas do but maintain a constant stock of commercial goods.

Focuses of the Guidelines

From the sixteen sites we have chosen two to focus on when explaining the guidelines.

SITE 11

EXPLORING THE GUIDELINES

2 10

11 12

SITE 13

15 7

3 4

13 5 6

PROGRAM ANALYSIS 8 9

150

300

Loding

Schools / church

Green Space

Government

Crumbiling Buildings Walking Zones

One way streets

Entertainment

Grochery Food

All of these builidngs are intented to be reused after the Expo. Many as housing but others for the community, ofďŹ ces and open programs availible for any renter.

EXPLORING THE GUIDELINES

Program Transition During the expo the ground floors will consist of programs such as specialized pavilions, corporate pavilions, and International pavilions meanwhile floors 2-5 will consist of lodging for Expo workers and visitors. After the worlds Expo the ground floors will transform to programs such as corporate offices, research centers, community centers and grocery markets. Yet floors 2-5 will remain as housing but will be occupied by local residents following the Expo.

DURING EXPO

POST EXPO

Specialized Pavilions

Research Center

Corporate Pavilions

Corporate OfďŹ ces

Lodging

Residential Housing Community Center

International

Grocery Market Open Program

Introducing the Guidelines The guidelines are a set of measured restrictions by which all foreign nations who plan to construct exhibit spaces will need to abide by. The Expo will give these countries the opportunity to collaborate with local architects in order to design their blocks to their personal liking while also maintaining the Cuban aesthetic. These guidelines are set in place to protect the city of Havana from rapid redevelopment and to preserve design elements that have been a part of the cities landscape. These guidelines

are a means of maintaining the Cuban aesthetic while simultaneously rehabilitating and improving upon the existing city. This document serves both current and future city redevelopment. Seven main topics have been chosen in order to renovate urban areas such as maintaining existing structures, public spaces and interior conditions. 96

The seven main topics covered in the full guidelines, this book only covers the specific guidelines that involve building form Cuban aesthetic and public space.

EXT:

SPG: PUB: PED: AES: PRV: INT:

EXTERIOR CONDITIONS SITE PLANNING PUBLIC SPACE PEDESTRIAN CUBAN AESTHETIC PRIVATE SPACE INTERIOR CONDITIONS

The primary concerns highlighted in the guidelines cover the reprogramming of the buildings, building forms, public spaces and maintaining the Cuban aesthetic. The majority of the primary floor programs in the buildings will change when the Expo is over to suit the needs of each particular area. Floors 2 and above will consist of housing for visitors to the event and be turned over for permanent housing upon the fairs completion. To best express the application of these codes on a broad range of sites, we chose to isolate two sites that represented the extremes of the other sites in the city. Sites 11 and 13 were chosen because they are differ from each other in size and the amount of buildings that will remain on the site. Although both of these sites are different, they both follow the same design guidelines we have set in place. The guidelines are used to maintain the Cuban aesthetic while giving the designers freedom to utilize Cuban elements while still incorporating their individual styles.

Site 11 is a smaller site and only has one building that will remain, allowing for more room to add buildings giving it a higher FAR and more potential unit space.

SITE 11 - STATISTICS LOT SIZE SITE STATISTICS

LOT COVERAGE

UNIT CAPACITY

SITE 13 - STATISTICS

FLOOR AREA

FAR

70,013 SF

85,999 SF

MAXIMUM

MINIMUM

ACTUAL

55%

25%

46.7%

MAXIMUM

MINIMUM

ACTUAL

MAXIMUM

MINIMUM

ACTUAL

232

168

MAXIMUM

MINIMUM

1.23

RESIDENTS CAPACITY

UNITS PER ACRE

MAXIMUM

RESIDENTS PER ACRE

145

Site 13 is a larger site but it has numerous, scattered buildings that will remain making less of the actual lot size usable. This resulted in a lower FAR, less primary programs and less potential unit space.

EXPLORING THE GUIDELINES

SPECIFICS ON SITES 11 & 13

MINIMUM 105

SITE STATISTICS

LOT COVERAGE

UNIT CAPACITY

ACTUAL 133

FLOOR AREA

FAR

116,032 FT

55,115 FT

0.47

MAXIMUM

MINIMUM

ACTUAL

55%

25%

54.2%

MAXIMUM

MINIMUM

ACTUAL

RESIDENTS CAPACITY

212

ACTUAL

LOT SIZE

UNITS PER ACRE

RESIDENTS PER ACRE

MAXIMUM

MINIMUM

136

124

MAXIMUM

MINIMUM

ACTUAL

MAXIMUM 56

MINIMUM 32

ACTUAL

ACTUAL 52

EXPLORING THE GUIDELINES

THE CUBAN AESTHETIC The codes are in place to influence the placement of buildings, programmatic elements, aesthetics, and public concerns so that this exposition can provide the most aid for the city. Maintaining the Cuban aesthetic through windows, doors and arches on building facades was a critical component to the preservation of the area . These designs are to be implemented as an idea to use when following guidelines : AC 1 - (Reflect the aesthetic of adjacent facades on the site). Cuban architectural ornamentation serves more than a decorative purpose within these sites. These features provide relief from direct sunlight in the sub-tropical climate and also help to differentiate between the structures. AC 5 - (Long/tall windows with ornamentation, molding, balconies where appropriate) AC 8 These facades also make use of vibrant color palettes (color palette variation should be based on existing schemes within the city) and maintain the materials used throughout the cities architecture in AC 9 (Material choices should be limited to items and systems that maintain a smooth finish that can be treated and withstand potential tropical storms) These aesthetic components are not meant to reinforce the ones already found within the existing structures, but to identify them, and utilize components from each to create a blend of old and new.

Concrete

Stucco

Cinder Blocks

Implementing these guidelines in relation to sites 11 and 13, walking through the process of how a designer would produce their building form. After selecting a site, programmatic elements of surrounding sites, traffic patterns, and primary streets must be defined in order to make base design choices.

EXPLORING THE GUIDELINES

BUILDING FORM

The vast majority of structures in Havana are currently unsuitable for living or rehabilitation. Once cleared, 50% to 90% of the block area is available for redevelopment SPG. 2 - Utilize the existing building footprints as a template for ground floor construction

EXT. 2 - Make historically accurate renovations to remaining buildings where deemed necessary

More intricate components of the city are now considered when looking at the block design such as Implied paths of circulation, alignments and building heights. EXT. 3 - Integrate existing buildings within the new structures being added SPG. 4 - Building layout must accommodate comfortable pedestrian pathways and green-spaces AES. 2 - Respond to differences on either side of the block

SPG. 6 - Primary movement routes throughout the site are defined by existing green-spaces, paths of egress and traffic patterns PED. 1 - 6â&#x20AC;&#x2122; to 10â&#x20AC;&#x2122; sidewalks along the block perimeter with areas for planters and soil beds

The public area within the block structure should be the product of decisions made when determining the form of the surrounding designs. This can create vastly different layouts depending on existing conditions SPG. 5 - One publicly accessible green-space within the entire block structure PUB. 4 - Space intended for the public should incorporate areas for sun, shade, seating and landscape features 99

EXPLORING THE GUIDELINES 100

SITE 11 SITE 13 On both sites we used building code EXT 3 to begin to make our initial zones for areas that we are able to redevelop. The placement and size of the buildings utilized code SPG 2 to allow for as many components of the historical city to be preserved. Maintaining these subtle aesthetic components allows for established hierarchies on the site to continue within these new buildings. Site 11 corresponds with SPG 5 which is written loosely to allow for integration into the existing structures. Site 13 is an instance where it becomes more difficult to create one unified space due to the remaining buildings. This variance allows for the green spaces to work on multiple areas of the design be it on roofs, ground floors or secondary spaces. PS 1 is one of the only codes that will implement something not found within dense Central Havana. The tight city plan does not allow for much open areas due to the overcrowded buildings and small pocket parks dispersed within the city.

The model designed is intended to be a design tool when designing within the parameters set with the guidelines. Being able to see simple massing options quickly when designing can be a great help during the design process.

EXPLORING THE GUIDELINES

DESIGN TOOLS

101

URBAN AGRICULTURE

CUBA’S AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY Economic Output Examining the problems found in the agricultural economy, led to the observation that more is currently being invested in the agricultural economy than is being returned in Cuba’s Gross Domestic Product. This affects the country’s infrastructure negatively as other economic fields grow to take the place of agriculture, resulting in even less food and a progressively worsening economy.

Freshwater Usage As the economy failed, the infrastructure failed as well, resulting in an increase in wasted freshwater affecting the availability for agricultural use. The availability of freshwater is imperative to the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Cuba, and when wasted water continues to rise, less water can be directed to the citizens, decreasing their health and making them prone to diseases.

104

URBAN AGRICULTURE

Cubaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Economy Post Soviet Bloc. Under the Soviet Bloc, Cubaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agricultural economy was successful through the use of market driven production, causing them to grow a limited number of goods and ignore proper crop rotation and diversity. After the fall of the Soviet Bloc, the economy of Cuba was weakened

through their economic output and production levels, as well as their exports and imports. Land conditions were also negatively affected, seeing an increase in infertile, and inorganic soil as well as increased salinity issues and land erosion. The soil issues pose

problems with agricultural production and force a series of investigations into plants that are best suited for the soil conditions.

105

URBAN AGRICULTURE

CUBAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IMPORTS

Agricultural Focus

106

URBAN AGRICULTURE

CUBAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S EXPORTS

Agricultural Focus

107

URBAN AGRICULTURE

CASE STUDIES Michigan Urban Farming Initiative Detroit, Michigan The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative is an agricultural cooperative based in Detroit. It is entirely run by volunteers and provides for individual homes on a paywhat-you-can basis. The policy used in this cooperative would not be successful in Cuba due to a lack of incentive for the volunteers.

Vivero Alamar Alamar, Cuba

Vivero Alamar is a CPA located just outside of Havana. It primarily provides for individual homes and employs over 160 citizens. It produces around 600,000 pounds of produce annually, feeding the majority of its immediate community. Expanding on this case study, this proposal is also looking to provide for the citizens of Cuba while improving their operational process. 108

SOIL

ISSUES

SALVADOR

REPUBLIC

LAND

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

LAND CONDITIONS (HECTACRES) 2006 CUBA

In an attempt to remediate their economy, the state dissolved large scale traditional farms and replaced them with small scale forced cooperative farming. These farms worked well for a time, but the policy separated the farm processes from the general assembly through the president, limiting control over the

COLOMBIA

DOMICAN REPUBLIC

EL SALVADOR

cooperatives. The system has not yet failed but, is inefficient and slows production. This break in the system is where we seek to remedy the issue and propose a slightly different alternative that would accomplish similar goals to the original, but in a fashion that puts the farmers first.

COOPERATIVE FARMING

URBAN AGRICULTURE

CPA: Cooperative Production of Agriculture

Co-ops have been able to provide members with more autonomy and responsibilities; they are seen as a way to reduce state expenses while upgrading the Cuban economy.

machinery

purchasing

repair shop

The Cuban government introduced several regulatory updates to further transform the agricultural sector.

payroll

president

procurement

MACHINERY

accounting

If cooperatives have become an integrated part of the economy, they have the potential to grow with the changes and act as a buffer against disruptive impacts.

livestock

general assembly

economy

Cubans on limited incomes resent the higher costs, but those who can afford to shop at the markets find higher quality and more variety than in state stores.

PROCURE

crop production

ECONOMY

sugarcane

RETURN

production

Over time, democratic workplace systems take hold, and the co-ops that are successful become favored employers.

storeroom

equipement

parts stores

109

URBAN AGRICULTURE

PROPOSEDPOLICY POLICY PROPOSED CITIZEN

STATE

MANAGER

FARMERS

PRODUCTION

CFL: Cooperative Food Loop This policy proposes is empowering the citizen with the intent of beginning a cooperative to approach the state. Once the a contract is established with the Cuban Government the citizen assumes the role as the cooperativeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manager, responsible for the two different sites. The manager maintains full oversight of the cooperative but its responsibilities are split with the farmers. The manager has administrative roles like procurement

and purchasing while the farmer is responsible for the agricultural processes of maintenance, production and harvesting. An open dialogue is crucial for the overall efficiency of agricultural production and economic output of the cooperative. The land being activated for this policy and payroll incorporates both urban storeroom brownfield locations across Havana. Implementing hydroponics at the urban sites allow expedited agricultural

production. Whereas the brownfield sites become soil restoration sites to remediate the contaminated land before reintroducing traditional farming. The policy operates at two Workers are drawn to cooperatives for the time scales: the urban, hydroponic working conditions and pay by and rarely sites are agriculturally activated because of their the six month mark where as the to co-op commitment brownfield, soil restoration principles. sites take parts stores up to twenty-five years to produce. The availability of

CFL: COOPERATIVE FOOD LOOP

ADMINISTRATIVE

Activated Policy Timeline economy

farmers

purchasing

People who want to start a cooperative must first submit a proposal for state contract approval.

FOCUSED

110

procurement

LABOR

manager

accounting

fresh produce, eggs, meat, and similar products is increasing as a result of successful cooperative farms and their ability to sell products on the open market.

Successful coops have been able to provide their members with more responsibility and autonomy, and usually a significantly higher standard of living than state-run

agronomist

machinery

POTENTIAL SITES

hydroponic growth

crop production

RESPONSIBILITY

farmers production

Successful coops have been able to provide their members with more responsibility and autonomy, and usually a significantly higher standard of living than state-run enterprises. Cooperatives have the potential to help meet both ideological as well as economic needs of the country. Cooperatives are now seen as key to overall economic reforms.

harvest

agroforestry

traditional farming

The availability of fresh produce, eggs, meat, and similar products is increasing as a result of successful cooperative farms and their ability to sell products on the open market.

purchasing

manager

facility maintenance

People who want to start a cooperative must first submit a proposal for state contract approval.

FOCUSED

procurement

accounting

parts stores

LABOR

economy

storeroom

ADMINISTRATIVE

payroll

Workers are drawn to cooperatives for the working conditions and pay and rarely because of their commitment to co-op principles.

URBAN AGRICULTURE

CFL: FoodFOOD Loop LOOP CFL: Cooperative COOPERATIVE

food production & distribution

record & report

Cooperatives are also seen as positive business models for small, privately owned enterprises. It is part of a broader effort to â&#x20AC;&#x153;upgradeâ&#x20AC;? or reform the Cuban economy.

111

URBAN SITES: HYDROPONIC FARMING DAY 1

MONTH 1

DAY 1

MONTH 6

MONTH 1

MONTH 6

URBAN AGRICULTURE

URBAN SITES: URBAN HYDROPONIC FARMINGFARMING SITES: HYDROPONIC URBAN SITES: HYDROPONIC FARMING STEP 1

STEP 2

DAY 1

STEP 3

MONTH 1

STEP 1

STEP 4

MONTH 6

YEAR 1

STEP 2

STEP STEP 3 3

STEP 1

DAY 1

STEP 2

DAY 1 MONTH MONTH 1 1

STEP 5

YEAR 2

STEP 4

MONTH 6 6 MONTH

YEAR 1

STEP 5

YEAR 2

Step 1: Contract + Loan The development of the urban site begins with the contract between the citizens and the Step 1: State. A minimum of two individuals approachContract+Loan the State A minimum of two individuals approach the state with interest in beginning a with interest in beginning a farm. farm. The State hasStatea hascache a cache of land and Step 1: buildings available for use within program. of land and buildings available Contractthe agreed initial between State for use and will cover Contract+Loan and People, now titled as managers of land. cost of the lease. This cost will A minimum of two individuals approach theback state with interest be paid once thein farm is beginning a farm. STEP 1 2 under full production. DAY 1 STEPMONTH 1

YEAR 2

Step 1: Contract+Loan

YEAR 2

A minimum of two individuals State has a cache of land and approach the state with interest inbuildings available for use within program. beginning a farm. BROWNFIELD State has a cache of land and buildings available for use within program. Contract agreed between State and People, now titled as managers of land.

STEP 1

Contract agreed between State and People, now titled as managers of land.

Step 2-3: Farm Activated

STEP 4YEAR 2

STEP 3 MONTH 6

YEAR 1

STEP 5 YEAR 2

SITES: SOIL RESTORATION STEP 1 STEP 1

DAY 1

The citizens become managers, hire farmers, and begin training them in hydroponic farming with the assistance Step Step 2-3: 1: of the Ministry of Agriculture. Farm Activated Land Lease FarmState Manager hires During this time, the STEP 1 A minimum ofFarmers two individuals subordinates, as state with interest in members ofproper the Co-op. provides and installsapproach thethe beginning a farm. State issues and installs proper equipment for hydroponic State has a for cache of land and equipment non-tradtitional Step 2-3: buildings farming. available for use within farming. Productionprogram. is then able Training of Farmers by Managers Farm Activated Contract agreed between with aid from Ministry of State to be initiated. and People, now titled as Agriculture.

STEP 2 DAY 1

STEP STEP 3 3

STEP 2 STEPMONTH 2 1

MONTH 1 DAY 1

STEP MONTH36

MONTH 6YEAR 5

STEP 4 4

YEARSTEP 1

MONTH 6

STEP 4

YEAR 1

YEAR 25+

YEAR 2

STEP 5 STEP 5

STEP 5

YEAR 2

BROWNFIELD SITES: SOIL RESTORATION

112

STEP 2 DAY 1

STEP 3 MONTH 6

STEP 4 YEAR 5

STEP 5

YEAR 25+

Step 2-3: Farm Activated SITES: SOIL RESTORATION BROWNFIELD Farm Manager hires subordinates, Farmers as members of the Co-op.

Farm Manager hires subordinates, Farmers as members of the Co-op.

managers of land.

STEP 1 State issues and installs proper equipment for non-tradtitional

STEP 2 DAY 1

STEP 3 MONTH 6

STEP 4 YEAR 5

YEAR 25+

STEP 5

YEAR 5

STEP 2

DAY 1

STEP 3

MONTH 1

STEP 4

MONTH 6

STEP 1

Step 4: Full Production

STEP 2 STEP 2 DAY 1

DAY 1

STEP 5

YEAR 1

STEP 3 3 STEP

MONTH 1

STEP 4

MONTH 6

MONTH 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 1

MONTH 6

STEP 4

YEAR 1

STEP 5

YEAR 2

STEP 5

YEAR 2

Agricultural production begins, and is overseen by the managers. The Cooperative Step 4: earns freedom from the State Full Production by repaying the initial cost Agricultural production begins, run by managers. of the lease. Throughout this State supervision suspended. Contract process, the surplus of payback the to State begins based on exchange of produce Step 4: and/or currency. Cooperative’s production is Surplus of Cooperative’s available to sell on the open Full Production production is available to sell on open market. market. Agricultural production begins, run

Step 4: Full Production

by managers.

STEP 1

Agricultural production begins, runState supervision suspended. Contract payback to State begins by managers.

YEAR 25+

STEP 2 DAY 1

URBAN AGRICULTURE

URBAN SITES: HYDROPONIC FARMING STEP 1

STEP 3

MONTH 1

STEP 4

MONTH 6

STEP 5

YEAR 25+

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

based on exchange of produce and/or currency.

State supervision suspended. Contract payback to State begins Surplus of Cooperative’s production is available to sell on based on exchange of produce open market. and/or currency. Surplus of Cooperative’s production is available to sell on open market.

Step 5: Outreach

STEP 1

Step 5: Outreach

STEP 1 STEP 1

DAY 1

Once the farm is under full production, the site is activated through community outreach. The outreach is dependent on Step Step 5: 3-4: site distinction and Outreach analysis. The Planting outreach consists ofMinimal an urban Urban site being active and clearing and preparing agriculturally successful calls forSTEP 1 of land for initial planting of first the beginning of program: a requiredportion. site ofUrban Program. Urban Program = Community Seed, fertilizer, irrigation and philanthropy within Outreach. A required philanthropy Step 5: centralized monitoring material provided by centralized within city site. state. the city site.

Outreach

STEP 2 DAY 1

STEP 2 STEP 2

MONTH 1

MONTH 1 DAY 1

STEP 2 DAY 1

STEP STEP 33 STEP 3

MONTH 6 6YEAR 5 MONTHMONTH 6

STEP 4 STEP 4

YEAR 1

STEP 3 MONTH 6

STEP 4

YEAR YEAR 25+1

YEAR 2

STEP 5 STEP 5

STEP 4 YEAR 5

STEP 5

YEAR 2

STEP 5

YEAR 25+

Outreach is open for commerce Initial portion planted, time line for citizens and tourists not of regeneration based on qualifying for the aid. lifecycle of foliage.

Urban site being active and agriculturally successful calls for the beginning of Urban Program.

Urban site being active and STEP 1 agriculturally successful calls for Urban Program = Community the beginning of Urban Program.Outreach. A required philanthropy

STEP 2 DAY 1

STEP 3 MONTH 6

STEP 4 YEAR 5

YEAR 25+

STEP 5

113

URBAN AGRICULTURE 114

URBAN SITES: HYDROPONIC FARMING Step 1: Contract + Loan (Underutilized Site)

Step 2-3: Farm Activated

URBAN AGRICULTURE

URBAN SITES: HYDROPONIC FARMING

115

URBAN AGRICULTURE 116

URBAN SITES: HYDROPONIC FARMING Step 4: Full Production

Step 5: Outreach

URBAN AGRICULTURE

URBAN SITES: HYDROPONIC FARMING

117

BROWNFIELD SITES: SOIL RESTORATION URBAN AGRICULTURE

Farm Manager hires subordinates, Farmers as members of the Co-op.

YEAR 2

BROWNFIELDBROWNFIELD SITES: SOIL RESTORATION SITES: SOIL RESTORATION BROWNFIELD SITES: SOIL RESTORATION STEP 1

STEP 2

DAY 1

State issues and installs proper equipment for non-tradtitional farming.

STEP 3

STEP 1

STEP 1 STEP 1

STEP DAY 1 2

STEP 2 STEPMONTH 2 1

DAY 1

STEP 5

YEAR 25+

YEAR 5

DAY 1

Step Step2-3: 1: Training of Farmers by Managers Farm Land Activated Lease with aid from Ministry of Agriculture.

STEP 4

MONTH 6

STEP 3

STEP 33 STEP

MONTH 6 MONTH 6 YEAR 5

MONTH 6

STEP 4 STEP 4

YEAR 1

YEAR 5

STEP YEAR 2 4

YEAR 25+

STEP 5 STEP 5

STEP 5

YEAR 25+

Farm Manager hires subordinates, Farmers as The brownfield soil members of the Co-op.

restoration sites the process starts once State issues and installs proper the land lease is signed in Step equipment for non-tradtitional Step 2-3: 1: farming. conjunction with contract loan. Farm Activated Land Lease Farm Manager hires Training of Farmers by Managers A minimum ofFarmers two individuals subordinates, as approach state with interest in with aid from Ministry of members the of the Co-op. beginning a farm. Agriculture.

Step 1: Land Lease

State issues and installs proper State has a for cache of land and equipment non-tradtitional buildings farming. available for use within program. Training of Farmers by Managers Contract agreed between with aid from Ministry of State and People, now titled as Agriculture. managers of land.

A minimum of two individuals approach the state with interest in beginning a farm. STEP 1

A minimum of two individuals State has a cache of land and approach the state with interest inbuildings available for use within program. beginning a farm. State has a cache of land and buildings available for use within program. Contract agreed between State and People, now titled as managers of land.

Step 2: Land Cleared 118

State passes land information to Ministry of Construction. Land / Building prepared for new

STEP 2 DAY 1

Step 2: Land Cleared

Contract agreed between State and People, now titled as managers of land.

STEP 1

After the paperwork is settled the land information is passed on to the ministry of construction for theStep clearing 2: of site and other debris Landfor Cleared the start of the soil State restoration. passes land information to Ministry of Construction. The cost of this is covered by Land / Building prepared for new tenants via demolition, new the state and rolled into the construction, land clearing and Step 2: necessary changes to Agriculture budget. other property.

Land Cleared

At cost to State rolled in to agriculture budget.

State passes land information to Ministry of Construction. Land / Building prepared for new tenants via demolition, new construction, land clearing and other necessary changes to property.

STEP 3 MONTH 6

STEP 1

STEP 4

STEP 2 DAY 1

STEP 5

YEAR 25+

YEAR 5

STEP STEP 33 MONTH 6 MONTH 6

STEP 4 YEAR 5

YEAR 5

STEP 4

YEAR 25+

STEP 5

YEAR 25+

STEP 5

Urban site being active and agriculturally successful calls for the beginning of Urban Program.

YEAR 25+

BROWNFIELD SITES: SOIL RESTORATION STEP 1

STEP 2

DAY 1

MONTH 6

STEP 1

qualifying for the aid.

Step 3-4: Planting Minimal clearing and preparing of land for initial planting of first portion. Seed, fertilizer, irrigation and monitoring material provided by state. Initial portion planted, time line of regeneration based on lifecycle of foliage.

STEP 2 DAY 1 DAY 1

STEP 2 STEP MONTH 2 1 DAY 1

STEP 5

YEAR 25+

YEAR 5

STEP 1 STEP 1

Step Step5:3-4: Outreach is open for commerce Outreach Planting for citizens and tourists not

STEP 4

STEP 3

STEP 4 STEP 4

STEP STEP 33 MONTH 6

MONTH 6 MONTH 6

YEAR 1

YEAR 5

STEP 4 YEAR 2

YEAR 25+

STEP 5 STEP 5

STEP 5

YEAR 25+

Urban site being active and agriculturally successful calls for The first set of planting the beginning of Urban Program.

occurs to re mediate the soil once Urban Program = Community the site has been prepared. Step Outreach. A required philanthropy Step 5: 3-4: centralized within city site. The planting would occur in a Outreach Planting systematic among Urban site beingthe active and Outreach is open fashion for commerce Minimal clearing and preparing agriculturally successful calls for for citizens and tourists not of for initial of first theland beginning of planting Urban Program. divided site. portion. qualifying for the aid. Urban Program =until Community This process will continue fertilizer, irrigation and Outreach. A required philanthropy Step 3-4: Seed, monitoring material provided by centralized within the plants reach fullstate. maturitycity site. Outreach is open for commerce portion planted, for citizens and touriststime not line and the soil is fully Initial restored. Planting of regeneration based qualifying for the aid. on

URBAN AGRICULTURE

Urban Program = Community Outreach. A required philanthropy centralized within city site.

STEP 3

lifecycle of foliage.

Minimal clearing and preparing of land for initial planting of first STEP 1 portion.

STEP 2 DAY 1

STEP 3 MONTH 6

STEP 4

STEP 5

YEAR 25+

YEAR 5

Seed, fertilizer, irrigation and monitoring material provided by state. Initial portion planted, time line of regeneration based on lifecycle of foliage.

Step 5: Plant Rotation

STEP 1

STEP 2

DAY 1

STEP 2 DAY 1

STEP STEP 33

MONTH 6 MONTH 6

STEP 4 YEAR 5

YEAR 5

STEP 4

YEAR 25+

STEP 5

YEAR 25+

At this stage depending on economic need the site may start planting crops for the market or remain as an open Step 5: growth system withPlant intentRotation to feed into the cooperative. Portion control initiated, forest-rotation maintaned.

Step 5: Plant Rotation

Step 5: Plant Rotation Portion control initiated, forest-rotation maintaned. Rotation of foliage accounts for one empty plot.

Rotation of foliage accounts for one empty plot. Life cycle monitored until fertile soil is fully restored. Implement agriculture on site, based on economic need.

Portion control initiated, forest-rotation maintaned. Rotation of foliage accounts for one empty plot. Life cycle monitored until fertile soil is fully restored.

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BROWNFIELD SITES: SOIL RESTORATION Step 1: Land Lease (Underutilized Site)

Step 2: Land Cleared

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BROWNFIELD SITES: SOIL RESTORATION Step 3-4: Planting

Step 5: Plant Rotation

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INITIAL ACTIVATION OF CFL Explaining the cooperative policy in action, overtime, the goal is for the activating of sites to be spread across the city from an urban, hydroponic system coming online while a brownfield, soil restoration site is begun on the out-skirts of the city.

Nearing full activation of the policy, the city of Havana has the potential of possessing a body of farming hubs operating in multiple time scales but all at once establishing a network of urban agriculture affecting the production distribution and consumption of food for Habaneros.

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FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions QUESTIONS

ANSWERS

What crops can be produced by Hydroponics? What plants will work to restore the soil within the brownfield / post industrial sites surrounding Havana?

Hydroponics is most successful growing vegetables and rices. Soil Restoration could use plants such as the mangrove tree and bamboo.

Why chose a hydroponic system to implement in the Urban sites rather than organoponics or plastic farming which are both currently existing in the city.

Hydroponic agriculture is a system that uses dramatically less water while having an expedited rate of production, ideal for the quick turn-around desired.

Is the Havana citizen that approaches the State to begin a cooperative food loop required to manage both the urban and brownfield sites?

Yes, for the policy to remediate food distribution and production issues, it must work on the long and the short term scale: the hydroponic and brownfield sites.

What incentivizes the citizen to begin a Cooperative Food Loop? Can a non-citizen of Cuba become a manager and initiate a Cooperative?

The policy focuses on remediating Havana first and the economics second, instills new pride in the citizens who are in fact the only people able to start a cooperative.

When the citizen approaches the State are they able to choose what land the cooperative that they manage is going to be located?

No, the State has a prepared cache of land to be connected through a cooperative with the intention of levelling the economic field for any citizen interested in a co-op.

What is the architectural implication of this project, being that it is so heavily focused on urban planning and logistic designing?

Havanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current issues can not be resolved with a singular small scale project, the policy takes an architectural stance in the urban sit and its community outreach.

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Special thanks to our studio professors

Jayashree Shamanna and Gabe Fuentes, also known as Jay-Jay Gabrams. Thank you for reminding us to compile this book, almost forgot.

This book took the authors one week, and five hours to compile after a long semester of hard work and dedication.

the habaneros Calzada Catalyst Jamie Lee Michelle Kleva Sarah Becker Caleb Freeze Havana Water Remediation Thaisha Roldan-Sanchez Tyler Nathanson Thomas Missal Christian Simrell Cadre for a Social Place Emma Mucilli Kelsey Segraves Ivan Hanson Expo Havana 2024 Kayleen Zeko Edward Sanborn Nicholas Zaino Michaela Giacommaza Urban Agriculture David Markfelder Tyler Shiner Megan Brody Andrew Ansbrow

MUSOA