INTBAU Cuba and INTBAU Scandinavia in partnership with C.E.U. Norway And C.E.U. Cuba invite you to the 2015 Havana Urban Design Charrette. The 2015 Havana International Charrette on Urban Design will build on our previous work from 2007-2014. International architects, planners, artists and people in general are invited to join Cuban experts and local communities for a one-week Charrette from March 15-21 2015 to develop proposals for the regeneration and development of the waterfront area of MIRAMAR.
The Charrette will fit both educational and professional purposes and will give participants an introduction to the history of Havana’s cultural heritage through close contact with its traditions, architecture and urbanism. The Charrette seeks the participation of individuals who share a respectful attitude to new interventions in historical contexts, and who value the creation of places humans can live in, work in and enjoy.
The charrette will be preceded by a study tour of Havana. For more information, click here.
Project Objectives
- Elaborate ideas for the development of the waterfront sectors of the district of Miramar.
- Promote an integrated vision between the natural condition and the built environment.
- Promote and highlight the importance of Miramar for the new image of Havana and for social and cultural integration.
- Evaluate the benefits of the transformation of the district of Miramar for the future of Havana in economical and urban terms.
- Improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of the district of Miramar, preserving its image and getting advantage of its privilege site.
- Propose the increase of urban open space, housing and commerce in the area and its impact at city level.
- Turn the current dilapidated image of several parts of the district of Miramar into a contemporary and joyful one.
- Reshape the urban landscape of an area currently dilapidated and lacking character by increasing the green areas.
- Reinforce the cultural identity of the district of Miramar within the city of Havana.
The Charrette is designed for architects, planners, art historians, antiquarians, writers, students and anyone with an interest in the history, traditions and culture of Cuba. the full Charrette programme and a description of the MIRAMAR area are included at the bottom of this page.
Participants are responsible for their own travel to Cuba, accommodation and meals. We can assist with arranging accommodation for you, either in private apartments (casa particular) or in an international style hotel.
Our previous Charrettes have brought together participants from Cuba, UK, Us, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Argentina, Mexico and other countries. you can read reports on past Charrettes online on John Pilling’s website and also the following websites:
www.intbau.org
https://www.intbau.org/urbanism-a-architecture/547-cuba-charrette-2014.html
https://www.intbau.org/urbanism-a-architecture/546-cuba-study-tour-2014.html
What is a Charrette?
A Charrette is an intensive planning session where citizens, designers and others collaborate on a vision for development. it provides a forum for ideas and offers the unique advantage of giving immediate feedback to the designers. More importantly, it allows everyone who participates to be a mutual author of the plan.
Registration & Costs
The registration fee for international participants is 450.00 CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos), approx. USD $500 and its equivalent cost in other currencies like Euros and British Sterling Pounds. This is a mandatory registration fee that serves to exclusively cover expenses during the Charrette, such as studio equipment, transportation costs, and renting the venue and lunches.
A limited number of student scholarships to cover the registration fee are available. To apply, please contact Audun Engh on audun.engh@gmail.com .
Travel
Participants are asked to arrange their own travel to Havana. Airlines with connections from Europe include Air France, British Airways, Iberia, and Virgin Atlantic (from London). There are also flights to Havana from the US (Miami, New York, LA, Tampa and other cities), Canada, Mexico, all countries in Europe, Australia and other Latin American countries.
Some ATMs can be found, but they are rare compared to other countries. No cards issued by US banks will work in Cuba. It is recommended to bring cash for the trip. Euros, UK Pounds and Dollars are accepted in any currency exchange shop. US Dollars will be subject to a 10% tax whenexchanged.
Visas
You will need a visa to visit Cuba. Please contact your local Cuban embassy. A tourist visa will be the simplest to obtain. New regulations require you to submit the name of the hotel or the address and registration number of the Casa Particular when applying for a visa. We will provide you with this information with sufficient time if you prefer Casa Particular accommodation.
We can on request arrange Casa Particular (rooms in private houses and apartments) accommodation in the Vedado district for 50 CUC, Cuban Convertible Peso per night (approx, 55 $, 35 Euro, 30 £). This price is per room, single or double occupancy. Most of our participants at the previous Charrettes chose this option, although some preferred to arrange for their own accommodation. We can make some suggestions if you prefer hotel accommodation.
STUDY TOUR March 8-13, 2015
Preceding the Charrette, we will arrange a one-week Study Tour of Cuba, visiting UNESCO World Heritage Site Havana. You are welcome to register for one of the events, or both. for a detailed programme and more information on the 8-13 March tour please go the 2015 Cuba tour page.
US Participants
We have had us participants for the previous tours and workshops. due to the us trade embargo, us citizens will have to travel under either a general or a specific license. for further information, please go to the website of the United States Department Of The Treasury Office Of Foreign Assets Control.
You may email us or contact one of the travel agencies listed below for additional information on licences.
Abc Travel Agency in Miami, Florida
Common Ground Education & Travel Services in Cambridge- MA
Marazul – Www.Marazul.Com
You May Also Contact The Center for Constitutional Rights fn New York On Ccr@Igc.Apc.Org This E-Mail Address Is Being Protected From Spambots. You Need Javascript Enabled To View It For Free Legal Advice On Travel Regulations.
The Organizers
The Charrette is organised by INTBAU Cuba and INTBAU Scandinavia, in partnership with the Academy of Urbanism (UK) and the Cuban and Norwegian Chapters of The Council for European Urbanism. We have organised similar events in several countries, including Norway, Germany, The UK, Romania and Italy. In September 2008 C.E.U. Norway organised The Third International C.E.U. Congress on Climate Change and Urban Design in Oslo, Norway.
Professor Julio Cesar Perez-Hernandez is responsible for the academic and professional programme in Havana and the Cuban participation. He is a practicing architect and urban planner, professor and author and has been a visiting scholar and visiting professor at Harvard, Notre Dame and a speaker at many international conferences across Europe and has lectured widely in the USs, Europe, Canada, Bermuda, and Cuba. A Loeb Fellow at Harvard Graduate School Of Design 2001-2002 and an adjunct professor at the School of Architecture in Havana from 1998 to 2006, he is also the author of the major books ‚ÄúInside Cuba‚Äù, published by Taschen in 2006 and of ‚ÄúInside Havana” also published by Taschen in October 2011 and two forthcoming books about Cuban architecture and urbanism. as a practicing architect and urban planner he¬¥s designed and built buildings in the us, Cuba and Spain. he’s the author of “a master plan for 21st century Havana‚Äù registered at the library of congress in Washington dc for copyright and also of many articles edited by professional journals. Julio Cesar Perez leads and organizes the international Havana Charrette on urban planning and urban design every spring -since 2007 he is a member of the guild of writers and artists of cuba and the recipient of several international and national awards. his writings have been published in progressive planning, the journal of bio-urbanism, the new york times, Alinea Editrice, Arquitectura Cuba and Arquitectura y Urbanismo. Professor P√©rez Hern√°ndez is the founding president of the Cuban Chapters of INTBAU and C.E.U.
John H. Pilling, AIA has been an instructor at the Boston Architectural College since 1993. His studies, which focus on cities of Mexico and The Caribbean, Have Been Done With the Friendship at The Faculties af Architecture at Cujae in Havana And Campuses of Tec. De Monterrey (Itesm) In Guadalajara And Mexico City. He has travelled regularly To Cuba since 2001 to do research on its architecture and urban design. In addition to his academic work he practises full time in metropolitan Boston.
Audun Engh, Oslo, Norway. Education in Law. Project Manager for Conferences, Workshops fnd Charrettes held in several countries, including The Climate Change and Urban Design Conference in Oslo, 2008, and INTBAU Scandinavia workshops in Transylvania, Romania. Member of The INTBAU College Of Chapters, Representing INTBAU Scandinavia. Board Member of CEU – Council for European Urbanism.
Participating Cuban Experts
Professor Architect & Urban Planner Julio César Pérez, UNEAC, CEU, INTBAU, ICOMOS.
Professor Architect And Urban Planner Esteban Martínez, CEU, INTBAU.
Architect Juan Carlos Toledo, CEU, INTBAU.
Architect Joel Estévez, CEU, INTBAU.
Architect Alexis De La Cruz, CEU, INTBAU.
Architect Héctor Gómez, OHCH, CEU, INTBAU.
Cuban Supporting Organizations
Office of The Historian of The City of Havana, OHCH
Uneac (National Union of Artists And Writers of Cuba)
Unaicc (National Union of Architects And Engineers of Cuba)
National Physical Planning Institute
Faculty of Architecture of Havana / CUJAE
Fundación El Hombre o La Naturaleza
Instituto Nacional de Geografica y Astronomia
Further Information and Registration
Julio Cesar Perez-Hernandez President INTBAU Cuba Chapter
Email:  jcaesar2010@gmail.Com
Cell Phone: (1) 574 343 6549
www.caesar-studio.net/wordpress
Audun Engh, Secretary, INTBAU Scandinavia
St Olavs Gate 9, N-0165 Oslo, Norway
Tel: +47-92-62-26-26
Email: Audun.Engh@Gmail.Com
2015 Havana International Charrette Programme: 15-21 March, 2015
Led and organized by Professor Julio Cesar Perez-Hernandez
Site of the 7th Havana International Charrette: Miramar waterfront.
Venue: Hotel Ambos Mundos, Old Havana, Cuba. The First Hotel Ernest Hemingway Stayed At In Havana.
Day 1. Sunday, 15 March.  Evening Cocktail Reception
Welcome and Introduction by Dr. Eusebio Leal Spengler; Director of The Office of The Historian of The City of Havana (to be confirmed), Prof. Julio César Pérez-Hernandez, Cuban ond Norwegian Chapters Of INTBAU, Audun Engh; Council for European Urbanism. Followed by a Buffet and Drinks Reception. Hotel Ambos Mundos. Mercaderes Street, Corner of Obispo. Old Havana. 5.30 pm.
Day 2. Monday, 16 March. Walking Tour Of The Site. . Led by Professor Julio César Pérez
Morning 9.00 am. Walking Tour of Miramar. Meeting at La Chorrera Fortress Malecón, 5th Ave.
12.30-1.45 pm Lunch on your own or at the venue.
2.00- 5.30 pm Lectures. Introductory Lecture by Professor Julio César Pérez:: Miramar
General Introduction to the Charrette. Other Presentations To Be Announced
Work in teams
Venue: Hotel Ambos Mundos, Mercaderes Street, corner of Obispo. Old Havana
Day 3. Tuesday, 17 March, 2015. Working Session
Morning 9.00 am. Studio. Work Session: Preliminary Ideas. Led by Professor Julio César Pérez
Discussion of first Ideas and Proposals
12.30- 1.30 pm Lunch. Hotel Ambos Mundos.
1.30- 5.30 pm Afternoon Session. Studio Work at The Venue.
Discussion and Organization for Presenting Preliminary Ideas.
Venue: Hotel Ambos Mundos, Mercaderes Street, Corner Of Obispo. Old Havana
Day 4. Wednesday, 18 March, 2015. Working Session
Morning. 9.00 am. Studio Work. Preliminary Ideas. Led By Prof. Julio Cesar Pérez-Hernandez
Adjustment of Team Work according to training and affinity
12.30- 1.30 pm Lunch. Hotel Ambos Mundos.
1.30- 5.30 pm Afternoon Session. First Pin Ups Preliminary Ideas. Led by Prof. Julio Cesar Pérez-Hernandez
Venue: Hotel Ambos Mundos, Mercaderes Street, corner Of Obispo. Old Havana
Day 5. Thursday, 19 March. Working Session
Morning. 9.00 Am. Studio Work. Readjustment of Proposals. Led By Julio Cesar Pérez-Hernandez. Venue: Hotel Ambos Mundos, Mercaderes Street, corner of Obispo. Old Havana.
12.30- 1.30 pm Lunch. Hotel Ambos Mundos.
1.30- 5.30 pm Afternoon Session. Work On Proposals & Organization of Final Public Presentation.
Venue: Hotel Ambos Mundos, Mercaderes Street, corner Of Obispo. Old Havana
6.30 -8.30 Pm. Reception At Norwegian Ambassador´s Private Residence (Confirmation Pending). Minimum Formal Attire Required
Day 6. Friday, 20 March.  Work Preparation For Public Presentation And Discussion
Morning. 9.00 am. Studio Work. Final Proposals’ Readjustment And Organization Of Readjustment Public Presentation. Led by Professor Julio Cesar Pérez-Hernandez.
12.30- 1.30 pm Lunch. Hotel Ambos Mundos.
2.30- 5.30 pm. Afternoon Session. Studio Work. Preparation For Final Presentation.
Venue: Hotel Ambos Mundos, Mercaderes Street, corner Of Obispo. Old Havana
Day 7. Saturday, 21 March.  Final Public Presentation And Conclusions
Morning. 9.30 am. Public Presentation For Miramar Waterfront. Led by Prof Julio César Pérez
Introduction: Professor Julio César Pérez. Presentation: All Team Members
Public Discussion
Conclusions: Professor Julio César Pérez-Hernandez
Venue: Hotel Ambos Mundos, Mercaderes Street, corner Of Obispo. Old Havana
Lunch on your own
Evening: Cuban Party (To Be Confirmed)