Typology	Alternative Realities
Program	Exhibition
Location	DE Belin
Year	2025
Status	Built
Size in sqm	100
Selection Process	Research Grant Sponsored by the BI Research Senate
Client	Berlin International University of Applied Sciences
Team	Pierre Escobar, Giorgia Aquilar, Simonida Galovic, Illia Boyko, Daniel Valencia, Holger Janke, Georgs Litovienko, Ekaterina Bogacheva, Mauricio Chavez, Fernando Martirena, Anadis Gonzales, Cristina Lopez Litvinovich, Joe Abreu
Photo Credits	Philipp Jester

Constructive Contigencies

: Cuban Architecture Beyond the Constraints of Conformity

explores how architects in Cuba have developed resilient and adaptive practices under severe socio-political, economic, and legal constraints.

From the modernist boom of the 1950s, when Havana thrived on American capital and architectural ambition, to the post-revolutionary years focused on egalitarian, state-led projects, Cuban architecture has been shaped by shifting political realities. The Soviet era brought standardization and prefabrication, eroding diversity and sidelining the profession. The 1990s “Special Period” saw self-help construction and the emergence of independent practices operating in an “a-legal” space, unofficial yet impactful.

Today, a new generation of architects navigates material scarcity and legal ambiguity with ingenuity. They repurpose salvaged materials, work under alternative professional licenses, and engage deeply with local communities. Projects prioritize functionality, cultural relevance, and participation, breaking from the top-down approaches of the past.

Digital platforms now serve as critical tools for visibility and global connection, enabling Cuban architects to share their work and ideas internationally.

The exhibition highlights how constraint can be a catalyst for innovation, offering lessons in adaptability, resourcefulness, and inclusivity qualities increasingly vital for global architecture in the face of climate, social, and economic challenges.

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