36 C O N T E X T 1 3 0 : J U LY 2 0 1 3 NICHOLAS FALK Regenerating historic areas in Cuba The regeneration of Cuba’s historic cities shows what can be achieved with very limited resources and could offer models for former colonial cities in other parts of the world. The history of Cuba over the last half century, and its world heritage sites, shows not only what can be achieved with very limited resources, but also the limitations of relying on tourism as the main engine for economic growth.To understand the challenges of urban renewal in this historic area we need to appreciate a little of Cuba’s colonial history and its extraordinary situation as an isolated experiment in putting communism into practice. For many centuries part of the Spanish Empire, and strategically located near Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba was largely developed for its crops of sugar and tobacco. There are some extraordinary planned colonial towns such asTrinidad and Cienfuegos, where fine mansions contrast strikingly with the largely single-storey homes of the mass of residents.The shacks of the former slaves have disappeared, but the ruins of old sugar mills can still be glimpsed. Cuba’s history of slavery has left it with a multi-cultural population with an exceptionally rich musical heritage. By the end of the 19th century, as in many countries, the rich had moved into new suburbs, leaving the older areas to become multi-tenanted slums. After gaining independence from Spain, Cuba entered into a strange relationship with the USA, and American companies ended up owning the main industries and utilities. Cuba’s proximity to the USA and its favourable climate made it a natural destination for tourists. Havana grew into a fine modern city with wide boulevards and impressive buildings in areas such as Miramar and the Rampa. Wealthy Cuban families built magnificent houses but its position as one of the wealthiest Latin American countries in the 1950s was associated with some of the greatest inequalities. The poor moved from the country into dense areas such as Havana’s OldTown, which few tourists would have visited. The restoration of monuments and buildings goes back to 1929, with work on some of the palaces. The breakthrough in designating historic areas came when the Office of the Historian was established in 1938 to protect what was special about the part of Havana that had been developed in colonial times. An overwhelming desire for freedom and for the downfall of Batista, who had become a dictator, culminated in a successful revolution led by Fidel Castro, with support from both the countryside and the towns. American outrage at the nationalisation of key industries and larger properties led to the extraordinary long blockade, as well as all kinds of dirty tricks to depose Castro. After attempts at economic diversification, for example into medical products, Cuba was forced into a deal with Russia. For a time this went well, as a high The Gran Teatro de La Habana, the headquarters of the Cuban National Ballet.The building dates from 1908. Behind it is the domed El Capitolio, completed in 1929.The seat of government until the 1959 revolution, it is now home to the Cuban Academy of Sciences.
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