Diario las Américas., 1958-01-09
thv
Nei9h-bor
By RUIZ

SODH-SllISC IhS (ONAlIA NC
came the Republic of Cuba, con-
structions in the capital have in
creased at a fast rate, and archi-
tectural progress has been marked
in Havana. A great number of
architects and engineers, both Gu
ban and foreign, have developed
beautiful styles, which they have
applied to magnificent buildings for
public or private offices, as well as
hotels and elegant private resi-
dences. Specially in the private
homes, a true national style has
been created, with the blending
of North American and European
modern styles and the high quail
ty of colonial architecture.
During the American occupation
only n building of Importance
was constructed, the School of Arts
and Crafts, which was of simple
lines and adequate proportions.
The Presidential Palace, started
as the Provincial Government
building, shows many of the faults
of the primitive office building,
and many changes had to be made
later to adapt it for presidential
residence. However, architect Mar
tineZ Inclan pointed out that sal
though it lacks the proportion of
the great palaces, and it has sew
eral defects, any modern architect
could take pride of being the u
thor of the design of a building
which, in construction, is among
the best in Havana"
The National Capitol was built
during the regime of Gerardo Ma
chado, at the site of the old Villa
nueva Railroad Station, where they
had started, during the regime of
President Gomez, the construction
of a presidential palace. The cost,
according to official figures, was
SIG, $40, TAB and was considered by
many then as a wasteful ~ostenta-
ton of suntuosity. 1t is estimated,
however, that today it could not be
duplicated with the expenditure
of fifty million dollars.
The University of Havana,
founded in 1923 by the religious
Order of the Preachers in the con
vent of San Juan de Letran, was
transferred in 1912 to the Con-
vent of Santo Domingo, and again
to the hill occupied by the Military
School, using the buildings that
were already there. From 1928,
there have been many changes, and
beautiful buildings have been un-
der construction, among which
special mention should be made
of the University Library, the IN
ly school in Cuba that has such a
building for cultural purposes,
with all the modern convencien-
ceS.
Among other public buildings of
Importance are the Institute of Sc
condary Education, the Secretariat
of Education, the Foreign Ministry,
the National Red Cross, the Ma
tional Council of Veterans OF the
independence War, the Treasury
Building, and many others.
There are many and very beauti-
full private buildings in the Cub
an capital, including those of the
Centre Gallego, Centre A~sturiano,
the Commerce Building, many
banking institutions, both national
and foreign, including the branch
of the National City Bank of New
York; also worthy of mention n
the Railroad Terminal and the
Telephone Building.
There are many beautiful build
ings among the numerous and mod
ern hotels in Havana, most of
which, in particular those recently
built, are very luxurious. There
are also beautiful theatres, CAST
nos and night clubs with elegant
buildings, as, well as those of pri-
vate and exclusive clubs, such as
the Havana Yacht Club, Vedado
Tennis Club, Country Club, Sports
Casino of Havana, the Union Club,
etc.
Among the most modern build
ings in Havana, besides the newly
built hotels, are the Fine Arts Pa
lace, Radio Centre, where radio
and TV stations are located, the
American Artists Building, the Pa
lace of Communications, the Tri-
bunal de Cuentas Government Ac-
counts Building), the Retired Den
lists Building, and many others.
Spanish Version Page 3