The Office of Havana City Historian will open on March 8 the Ellas restauran exhibition, a selection of fourteen works on architectural rehabilitation projected by women.
A x E has contacted its organizers –Kenia Elena Diaz Santos, Maria Buajasan Gomez and Yamira Rodriguez Marcano–, so as to specify details related to the selection, contents and purposes of this exhibition.
Ellas restauran, as explained by the general coordinator, engineer Maria Buajasan Gomez, Research and Development director for the General Division of Architecture and Urbanism: “it’s an initiative promoted by our institution within the framework of ‘Strengthening the territorial information system through applications linked to projects of architecture and urbanism’ joint project, implemented with the support of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (COSUDE) and efforts by our International Cooperation Office”.
“We want to highlight the work made by architects, engineers, researchers, designers and technicians with outstanding careers, through a display of projects carried out in Old Havana Historic Core (except for Casa de las Tejas Verdes, Miramar) from 1996 to 2010, representing the diversity of functions which define the cultural, tourism, commercial and real estate atmosphere of this Mankind Heritage area. Some of these projects have been awarded in different spheres. Though the female contribution is fairly shown, we consider important to point out that the rehabilitation of this part of the city is the result of women and men working together, equal conditions”.
Yamira Rodriguez Marcano, researcher for DGPAU and also project coordinator, specifies precedents inspiring the exhibition: “The participation of women in the construction field is presently decisive.” There are more architects, engineers, designers who, in the creation and (or) regeneration of works, inscribe their names in the history of these professions. In the region, the precedents can be identified with the presence–during the 1940s– of Puerto Rican Gertie Besosa Silva and Dominican Margot Taule in their country’s schools of architects, engineers and surveyors, perhaps one of the first events of this kind in the Caribbean. In Cuba, there have been outstanding architects such as Elena Pujals, Maria Elena Cabarrocas, Silvia O’Bourke, Margot del Pozo, and one of the most famous ones: Gabriela Menendez, author –along with her husband Nicolas Arroyo– of emblematic works of Cuban modern architecture such as the Sports City (the Palace of Sports), National Theater and Habana Libre Hotel (Hilton). Ever since, the participation of women in this traditionally men-rated activity became usual in our country. ”
Engineer Kenia Diaz Santos, general director of DGPAU, comments that the intention of Ellas restauran is “emphasizing the decisive presence of women heading technical teams, building companies and investment groups; in the historic research; the study and diagnosis of buildings; the formation and spreading of heritage value and giving their contribution in numerous productions aimed at social matters such as houses, health and education centers, museums, libraries, cultural centers, and those value buildings which, due to the considerable grade of deterioration, demand and extraordinary personal effort, as well as highly trained professionals. It’s been a multiplied effort since the 1980s. As written by Eusebio Leal, City Historian, ‘the role played by women in the Cuban society has been naturally expressed in our Institution.”
Kenia Diaz Santos concludes that “the exhibition represents a minimum display not only related to the work carried out by the General Division of Architecture and Urbanism Projects, but also in keeping with the contribution and technical-professional collaboration received by DGPAU in order to realize it: women and men who are investors, constructors, town planners, economists, archeologists, museologists, sociologists, restorers and conservators from different divisions of the City Historian Office, and other institutions whose help we appreciate.”
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Rehabilitation projects included in Ellas restauran
Chocolate Museum (Mercaderes no. 251-255, Amargura corner), Marques de Prado Ameno Hotel (O’Reilly no. 253 between Cuba and Aguiar), Museum of Habanera Drugstore (Compostela no. 257, between Muralla and Teniente Rey), Prat Puig House (Teniente Rey no. 159, Aguiar corner), San Felipe Neri Concert Hall (Aguiar no. 402 Obraria corner), the Venue of Lizt Alfonso Ballet Company (Compostela no. 661 between Luz and Acosta), Antiguos Almacenes de San Jose Cultural Center (Desamparados Avenue s/n), Planetarium (Mercaderes no. 309 between Teniente Rey and Muralla), Card Museum (Muralla no. 101 Inquisidor corner, Old Square), “Victor Hugo” House (O’Reilly no. 311, between Habana and Aguiar), Palacio del Marques de San Felipe Hotel and Santiago del Bejucal (Oficios no. 152, Amargura corner. San Francisco de Asis Square), Clock Museum Store (Oficios no. 212 Muralla corner), Parque del Agrimensor and Arsenal (Egido, Arsenal, Mision and Agramante streets), all of them belonging to Old Havana Historic Core, and in Miramar: Casa de las Tejas Verdes (2 street no. 318 between 3rd. and 5th. Avenues).
Opening ceremony: March 8, 4:00 pm
Location: Gallery of “Ruben Martinez Villena” Library
Address: Obispo no. 59, Plaza de Armas, Old Havana Historic Core
March 8-18, 2011
Free entry
