My
dream of Havana
Preserve the shells of the old buildings along the
Malecon.
Why
should all our heritages be hidden behind walls? Why are we paying tickets in
the entrance to have a short glance back to the forgotten past? Why not walk
in the streets and feel the beauty and silence of old times without passing
among cars in the shadow of huge and ugly functional buildings? In Havana the
time have been unchanged in many years. That is something special
and something we should take care of.
The
old Havana as a living museum.
Walking the
backstreets of old Havana last year, I do some thoughts of this wonderful town
in the future. What ever will happen, I am sure that the the modern times
will come also here. Supermarkets, restaurants, offices and a lot of cars.
Like everywhere else in this world, the relics from the past will be gone and
never to be brought back again.
Refering to the idea of listening to the
ground, I give my ideas in spite I am not one of the local people. But I want
to come back some day, and my hope is that the Havana soul still will be
there.
Well, my friends, this is my dream:
Don't let
the very old part of town get into a business center or luxus homes for the rich
ones. Let it be the people's part of the town with everything that people
need.
This is my idea: Let the shells of the damages buildings be recovered
as they are, and rather build in the ugly bunkers which is the need of a
modern town. Markets, discos, museums and parking garages
I remember very well the
streets of Cienfuegos. Walking under the arcades and listen to the sound of
the horseshoes. (If I close my eyes and ears for the cars). I was like to be 100
years back in time. This is therapy for the human brain. This is something
the modern world has forgotten. We cannot stop the world, but we can decrease
the sight of traffic everywhere. Especially Cuba will explode when people get
the possibility to buy cars, as we have seen in East Europe
and underdeveloped countries. Thousands of cars parked in front of beautiful
buildings and gardens. Is this what we want to see when we take a walk in the
town?
My whishes for Havana is a lot of hidden parking places. Underground
garages or parking houses. Many of them, but here is my question? Why are
parking houses always ugly, while status buildings like opera and theater is
the proudness of the town? They all are houses in the sight of people and
together make the environment we are living in.
Let
the cars out of the vieu.
- or
this?
Do we want
this?
Malecon and the safety.
As I can
consider, the main streets in Havana are broad and functional. Let the traffic
be there and not inside the charming old town. Walking streets only? No, I
really don't mean that. But a part of Cuba's soul is the funny vehicles.
Imagine the old part of town, where the narrow streets are, filled up with
horse cabs? May be the bisitaxi, cocotaxi too. And the old americans! Don't hide
these cars away. They are the real and special Cuba, as I see. Take care of
them. But let the modern traffic be outside.
Malecon is
the blood vein of Havana. Beautiful, but dangerous. First of all it is a life
gamble to cross the road. Is it possible to make some level crossings that
fell into the environment? Soft curves may be? An architect competition? May
be the best is underground passages. The seaside should be a pleasant walk.
Not a trap because of the slippery algae which appears some places. Make
a system to drain away the water and rather put some benches for the elder ones.
And for the youths who are playing with their life to dive in the wild water.
Some steps may be, to get safe up again from the cliffs.
Let
the traffic out of the old town.
Save
the Soul of Havana
Well, this
was some of my thoughts. Selfish, may be, because I want to come back to Havana
as it was, or what it can be. May be this is nothing new. May be it is to far
from reality. Anyhow, it is given to you, out of my head and I can sleep
well.
Best whishes from Birgit Skjæret.
I hope the
best for all of you, a productive charette and a happy time in
Cuba.