Havana's Historic Center hosts Vernacular Architecture Seminar

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 26 (ACN) The 18th Conference on Vernacular Architecture 2024 kicked off today in Havana's Historic Center, in order to promote the architectural and patrimonial values of the Cuban nation.

Tatiana Fernandez de los Santos, director of the Restaura Branch Company that belongs to the Office of the Historian of the City of Havana (OHCH), said that the event celebrates two decades of its first scientific session and the 505th anniversary of the founding of the Villa San Cristobal de La Habana.

The Conference, organized by the Gonzalo de Cardenas Chair of Vernacular Architecture, is the result of the efforts of the company Restaura, other institutions of the OHCH and various actors who defend the existence of the buildings that are at the very root of our identity as a nation, Fernandez de los Santos affirmed.
During the opening of the event, the prizes of the Photography and Literature contest organized by the Chair were awarded.

The exhibition "Recuento y reencuentro: 20 aniversario de las Jornadas" (Countdown and reunion: 20th anniversary of the Conference) was also opened, featuring the winning images of the photography contest throughout these two decades of the event.

Until March 27, the conference will deal with topics related to the early Havana house, Sevillian tiles, glazed nature and the houses of the Rayonera de Matanzas, as well as other aspects of patrimonial interest.

Founded in 2003, the Gonzalo de Cárdenas Chair of Vernacular Architecture belongs to the Research and Development Department of Empresa Restaura.

This academic space, led by renowned architect Daniel Taboada, supports the promotion, dissemination, research and safeguarding of vernacular architecture in Cuba and the world.