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Facts about Cuba: Restoring Old Havana

Many of the historical Havana buildings are crumbling and in decay. Old Havana looks like a huge open air museum. UNESCO declared Havana a
"World Heritage Site" and with the aid of Unesco over two square kilometres in Old Havana were restored in collaboration with the Office of the Historian of the City of Havana represented by his chief Eusebio Leal. A beautiful square such as Plaza Vieja (Old Square)(picture above) is almost completly restored and the restorations in the side streets are started too.
The concepts used in the restoration process were praised by independent experts and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, they were proposed as a model for the rest of Latin America. Havana malecon view

Facts about Cuba: Restoring the Havana Malecon

The construction of the Havana Malecon began in the early 1900's and around 1920 it became the main route along Havana City with a length of over 8 kms and six lanes. The wide promenade is also a place for Cultural and Political manifestations.
Many of the historical Havana buildings along the Malecon are in decay and heavily exposed to influences of the sun and the nearby sea.
Several restoration projects are in execution between the Paseo del Prado and the hotel Deauville section of the Malecon.

Havana Malecon restoration of street lamps

Restoration and painting of the historical street lanterns (left above)and restoration of buildings along the Malecon
(pictures Havana-guide.com May 2009)
Havana Malecon restoration

Havana Buildings:
LOPEZ SERRANO Building

The first skyscraper in Havana was the López Serrano building located at 13th and L streets Havana Vedado. This building with twenty floors looks like a smaller copy of the Empire State Building in New York. The building was named after José Lopez Rodriguez, a poor immigrant from Spain who arrived at the age of nineteen and became one of the major millionaires in Cuba.

Lopez Serrano building Havana Cuba

Lopez Serrano building Havana Vedado

FOCSA Building - Edificio FOCSA (1956)

This big building located at 17th and M street in the Vedado district is a 35-storey complex that contains over 400 penthouses and apartments. At the top floor is the restaurant La Torre with a panoramic view over Havana City. It's been said that this was the tallest building in the world at that time.
Nowdays the building is in decay and needs maintenance.

Edificio Focsa building Havana Cuba

Edificio FOCSA - Focsa building Havana Vedado

Edificio Focsa Havana Cuba Vieuw over Havana

Stunning views over Havana City
view from restaurant LA TORRE on top of the FOCSA building

BACARDI Building - Cuban Architecture - Cuba Art Deco

One of the finest Art Deco buildings in Havana that is located at the Avenida de Belgica (Avenue of Belgium) The Bacardi building a jewel of Cuban Architecture was longtime the highest point in Havana. The building was property of Don Emilo Bacardi founder of the Bacardi Imperium and after the Revolution confiscated by the Cuban Government. In the year 2001 the building was restored with its original decorations, beautiful marbles and Cuban Art Deco accessories.

Photo: courtesy of Annie Mole

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