Hablemos de la Arquitectura Moderna

In March 2024, Friends of Havana co-organized Hablemos de Arquitectura Moderna in Havana together with Docomomo Cuba and the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba. Held over three days at the Hotel Habana Libre, the meeting brought together Cuban and international architects, historians, preservationists, and cultural leaders to address a growing challenge: how to protect, restore, and promote Cuba’s extraordinary legacy of modern architecture.

The event opened with a keynote lecture by Leo Marmol, the Los Angeles architect and preservation specialist known for leading the restoration of Richard Neutra’s iconic Kaufmann House in Palm Springs. Marmol spoke about the need for rigor, flexibility, and respect in the conservation of modern buildings, emphasizing that modern architecture must be preserved not as a static monument but as a living part of contemporary cities.

The program included leading voices from across the Americas. Speakers from the United States included Chandler McCoy of the Getty Conservation Institute and conservationist Rosa Lowinger, while Latin American participants included Mariana Quiroga from Argentina, Hugo Segawa from Brazil, Iván San Martín from Mexico, and Hannia Gómez from Venezuela. Cuban speakers included Eduardo Luis Rodríguez, David Viciedo, and Patricia Rodríguez Alomá, helping connect international preservation debates to the Cuban context.

A major theme of the meeting was how modern architecture can also become a cultural and economic asset. Mark Davis and William Kopelk of Modernism Week in Palm Springs shared their experience building one of the world’s most successful festivals dedicated to modern architecture. Their participation helped spark discussion about how Havana might similarly celebrate and promote its modern architectural heritage through tours, exhibitions, and cultural programming.

The meeting concluded with site visits and workshop sessions focused on practical next steps, including identifying priority buildings for restoration, developing stronger preservation tools, and exploring ways to bring greater international attention to Havana’s remarkable modern architecture.