TerraViva Competitions launches THE CUBAN SQUARE, a new architecture competition that aims to explore the potentialities of Plaza de la Revolución (Havana, Cuba) in order to come up with creative design proposals capable of giving it a new life. Prizes up to 6.000 € will be awarded to the winners selected by an international jury panel composed by, among others, Andrea Branzi, Yu Ting (Wutopia Lab), Paloma Herrero E. (Stefano Boeri Architetti), Francesca Porro (Inside Outside);

BRIEF
Thanks to its extraordinary historical memory and to the authenticity of its precious architectural legacy, Havana can certainly be considered a “Heritage City”. Its genuine and engaging spirit derives not only from the renowned quality of its music and rhythms, its lively street life and friendly atmosphere, but also and specially from its built environment.
The designation of Old Havana as a UNESCO site in 1982 was an important distinction that drew the attention to the preservation of its urban fabric. The program to recover the historical centre had global recognition and it has expanded successfully to other Cuban cities, contributing to the preservation of the local culture and to the development of new touristic appeal.
Unfortunately, during the last decades it has not been possible to replicate these experiences in other neighbourhoods beyond the Old Havana, where the implementation of comprehensive programs is highly required. In fact, there is actually one particular place that outstands among the others and which deserves special attention, not only for its massive extension but also for its unique history: Plaza de la Revolución.
Thought and imagined as the new heart of the Cuban capital, the current state of the square is way far from that reality. Surrounded by the concrete building of the Ministry of the Interior – known for the huge mural of Che Guevara – and by the Telecommunications one with the iconic image of Camilo Cienfuegos, Plaza de la Revolución seems to be standing still, waiting to be to be rediscovered…