The Houses of Old Cuba

by Llilian Llanes, Jean-Luc De Laguarigue (Photographer)

Overview

From the indigenous simple huts known as bohios to elegant neoclassical villas, from the grand palaces of the Spanish occupation to luxurious quintas or country mansions, all the secrets and enchantments of Cuban life, past and present, remain intact today in the city of Havana, in the towns of Trinidad, Camagüey, and Santiago de Cuba, and in the countryside. This superbly illustrated book reveals a Cuban architectural heritage that is often ignored or hidden from the view of visitors to the island. Drawing upon local archives, museum records, memoirs, diaries, and other native sources, Llilian Llanes describes Cuba's architectural history from the sixteenth century to the nineteenth. The evolution of Cuban architecture, influenced by climate and social conditions, parallels the cultural, political, and economic history of the island, and the houses and their decoration reflect periods of greater or lesser prosperity, as well as social inequalities. Courtyards, balconies, galleries, balustrades, grilles, and louvered doors: the evocative photographs, all in color, illustrate the subject magnificently with exterior and interior views plus close-ups of details. Extended captions explain the development of architectural features and the houses themselves over centuries and provide fascinating details of Cuban daily life, customs, and pastimes. 168 color photographs and a map.

Author Biography: Llilian Llanes is Chief Curator at the Museo Wifredo Lam in Havana. Jean-Luc de Laguarigue, a Caribbean-based photographer, has published an earlier book on the houses of Martinique.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780594094883
Publisher:	Thames & Hudson
Publication date:	09/17/2008
Pages:	201
Sales rank:	1,073,829
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 12.10(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Llilian Llanes is a former History of Art professor at the University of Havana. She is also the founding director of Cuba’s principal art museum, the Center Wilfredo Lam, and has written two books on Cuban history.

Jean-Luc de Laguarigue, a Caribbean-based photographer. Has published an earlier book on the houses of Martinique.

Table of Contents

Introduction: From Cabin To Mansion

The Island Of Cuba

Gateway to the West Indies

The Legacy of the Indians

A Haven for the Conquistadors and The First Settlers

The Island's Resources

The Supremacy of Havana

Havana: A Port First And Foremost

The House As A Place Of Safety In The

Sixteenth Century

An Architecture for the Tropics

An Insecure Way of Life

The Advantages of Life in Havana

The Function of Patios and Balconies

The Power of the Creoles in the Eighteenth Century

The Development of the Colony

The Creole House Opens On To the Street

Trade and The Growth of Havana

The Houses of the Merchants of Havana

Housing In the Provincial Areas

The Spanish Colony in the Nineteenth Century

Growth and Recession

A Multiracial Population

The New Economic Social Distinctions

The Cuban Lifestyle

The Provincial Colonial House

The Creation of Towns and Villages

The Plantations

Havana in the Nineteenth Century

Urban Developments

Houses As Status Symbols

Houses In the Old Town

Walking Through the Arcades

The Mansions Outside The City Walls

The Luxury Country Villas

Conclusion: An Architecture In The Spirit Of The Cuban People

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Editorial Reviews

The most impressive architecture in the Antilles...a book of great beauty.

Islands

An eclectic tropical architecture of remarkable character.

Choice

Celebrates Cuba's history through its distinctive architecture.

Miami Herald

[R]uns the gamut from the island's famous Baroque cathedral to simple dwellings found throughout the country.

Elle Decor

A book of great beauty, a picture of Cuba today seen only by Cubans.

Islands Magazine

Using examples that range from public buildings to former villas of the aristocracy, Llanes describes the evolution of island structural design. The result is a book of great beauty, a picture of Cuba today seen only by Cubans - and, one suspects, not many of them.
— Islands

Tony Gibbs

The Houses of Old Cuba documents the country's hybrid architectural character. Though concentrated on houses...the text covers the wider economic, cultural, and social history of Cuba, providing a context for the history of domestic building over the centuries. The photographs similarly capture the larger setting and include images of life in today's Havana and smaller cities strung the length of the island.
— Southern Accents

Philip Morris