Havana International Study Tour
The Tour will provide the participants with an introduction to the history of the Architecture and Urbanism of Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its urban evolution.
The expert guide will be Professor Julio Cesar Perez Hernandez, who is currently Associate Professor at the School of Architecture of the University of Notre Dame. He has lectured widely about Cuban Architecture and Urbanism in the most prestigious institutions in the US, Canada and Europe and has been a guest speaker at many international conferences on Urban Design and Architecture. He is the only Cuban Loeb Fellow in history at Harvard University where he was selected the 2012-Wilbur Marvin Visiting Scholar.
Professor Perez Hernandez was Adjunct Professor at the School of Architecture in Havana from 1998 to 2006 and he is the author of two major books “Inside Cuba” (2006) and “Inside Havana” (2011), published by Taschen and drafted “A Master Plan for 21st Century Havana”, a comprehensive urban project for the future development of Havana. He is the author of numerous articles published by professional journals and was guest of the WorldCanvass TV program at the University of Iowa in 2015. His next two books on Cuban architecture and urban design will be published in 2018 by Trinity University Press, San Antonio, Texas, USA. Julio Cesar Perez has led the annual Havana International Charrette on Urban Planning and Urban Design since 2007 and has led numerous International Study Tours for international institutions and VIPs along the past 20 years.
Study Tour Programme
Day 0. Arrival. 5.30 pm Lecture by Professor Julio Cesar Perez Hernandez: ‘The Future of Havana’
Day 1. Morning Walking Tour of Old Havana. 9.00 am-12.30 pm. Meeting at Plaza de Armas.
Lunch
Afternoon. Walking Tour of ‘The Walls’ district. Meeting at statue of Jose Marti at the Parque Central
Evening. Free
Day 2. Morning Walking Tour of El Vedado. 9.00 am-12.30 pm. Meeting at University of Havana
Lunch
Afternoon: Bus Tour of El Vedado
Evening. Free
Day 3. Morning Bus Tour of Miramar. 9.00 am-12.30 pm.
Lunch
Afternoon: Free
The Organiser: This Study Tour is organized by INTBAU Cuba who have successfully organised and led similar events since 2007. Professor Julio César Pérez is the Chair of both chapters C.E.U. & INTBAU Cuba.
Dates: 11-13 March 2018
Cost: The registration fee for the International Study Tour is $1,250.00 USD per participant or its equivalent in other currencies, such as Euro, British (Sterling) Pounds, etc.
To register for this tour or for further information please contact jcaesar2010@gmail.com
Havana International Charrette
The 12th Havana International Charrette will focus on El Vedado and will build on the previous work developed by INTBAU Cuba since 2007. International developers, businessmen, architects, planners, artists and people in general are invited to join Cuban experts and local communities for a Charrette from 14-17 March 2018 to develop proposals for the regeneration and development of El Vedado district and its waterfront area.
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 while focusing on the garden city of El Vedado and its waterfront area. 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 where humans can live in, work in and enjoy.
Project Objectives
• To test and evaluate the ideas of “A Master Plan for 21st Century Havana” and their feasibility and implementation based on the city´s current needs
• Elaborate ideas for the development of the waterfront sectors of El Vedado and urban infill
• Promote an integrated vision between the natural condition and the built environment
• Promote and highlight the importance of a long-term vision for the garden city of El Vedado that preserves its fabric and character and grants social and cultural diversity
• Evaluate the benefits of the transformation of El Vedado in economic and urban terms to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants
• Propose the increase of urban open space, housing and commerce along the waterfront and evaluate their impact at city level
• Reshape the civic and urban landscape of El Vedado and surrounding neighborhoods by increasing the green areas and by exploring new mixed-use infill development
• Interact with local experts about the building environment and business possibilities in Cuba
Charrette Programme
Site of the 12th Havana International Charrette: El Vedado Waterfront
Venue: Hotel Ambos Mundos, Old Havana
Day 1. Morning Session 8.30-12.30 pm. Introduction. Lectures and presentations. Work in teams.
Lunch on your own 12.30-1.30 pm
Afternoon Session 1.30-5.30 pm. Studio Work. Preliminary ideas and proposals.
Day 2. Morning Session 8.30-12.30 pm. Studio Work. Review of preliminary ideas and proposals.
Lunch on your own 12.30-1.30 pm
Afternoon Session 1.30-5.30 pm. Studio work. Presentation of preliminary ideas.
Day 3. Morning Session 8.30-12.30 pm. Studio Work. Refinement of proposals.
Lunch on your own 12.30-1.30 pm
Afternoon Session 1.30-5.30 pm. Studio work to prepare final presentation
Day 4. Morning Session 8.30-12.30 pm. Final Presentation. Introduction: Professor Julio César Pérez Presentation: All Team members. Public Discussion.
Final Remarks: Professor Julio César Pérez Hernandez
What is a Charrette?
An especially intense workshop where people meet and work.
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 through its personal contribution, ideas and work as part of a team. The Charrette is designed for developers, investors, architects, planners and anyone with an interest in understanding business in Cuba; its history, traditions and culture.
Our previous Charrettes have brought together participants from Argentina, Australia, Colombia, Cuba, UK, USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia and Mexico among other countries.
The Organisers
This Charrette is organised by INTBAU Cuba who has successfully organised and led similar events since 2007.
Participating Cuban Experts:
• Prof. Arch. & Urban Planner Julio C. Pérez, Chair CEU & INTBAU Cuba. UNEAC
• Architect & Urban Planner Joel Estevez, CEU, INTBAU
• Architect & Urban Planner Alexis de La Cruz, CEU, INTBAU
• Architect Jorge Araguez, CEU, INTBAU
• Architect & Urban Planner Esteban Martinez, CEU, INTBAU, UNEAC
Cuban Supporting Organisations:
• Office of The Historian of the City of Havana, OHCH
• National Guild of Artists and Writers of Cuba, UNEAC
• National Guild of Architects and Engineers of Cuba, UNAICC
As usual, the Charrette will be preceded by an International Study Tour led and guided by Cuban Professor Julio Cesar Perez Hernandez, whose schedule is available upon request.
Dates: 14-17 March 2018
Cost: The registration fee for the Havana International Charrette is $1,250.00 USD per participant or its equivalent in other currencies, such as Euro, British (Sterling) Pounds, etc.
To register for the Charrette or for further information please contact jcaesar2010@gmail.com
General information for the Study Tour and Charrrette:
Travel: This is a high-level educational trip. Every participant will receive an official Letter of Invitation from INTBAU UK. It will be used for the application for a visa to travel legally to Cuba.
Visas: Every international participant will need a visa to visit Cuba.
Airfare: All participants are responsible for obtaining their visas and airfare from the place they live to travel to Havana. This means that all participants must arrange their own trip.
Accommodation: All participants are responsible for their accommodation either in hotels or in a Casa Particular (rooms in private houses and apartments).