Research Methods for Architecture

Name: Brandon Jon A. Delos Santos Instructor: Ar. Mariel May Gamalinda

Subject: Research Method in Architecture Schedule: Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

LITERATURE REVIEW and Reading Comprehension

Proposing a Second Life: (Adaptive Reuse) for Underutilized/Condemned

Masonry Buildings in Cuba

Adoptive reuse is currently one of the alternative and effective architectural design solutions being
applied for maximizing and utilizing already condemned and underutilized building materials and structures
for uses other than those for which they were originally built or designed. This kind of approach is being
used in Havana, Cuba, to revitalize the city's colonial buildings and neglected masonry system, which are
already in danger of collapsing, being demolished, and being underutilized. This paper will give a general
overview of the use of adaptive reuse, related studies, and related developments in Havana, Cuba, with a
focus on their collapsing and condemned masonry systems from the year 2000 to the present. It will also
examine and evaluate the researcher's goals and justifications for using the adaptive reuse strategy through
descriptive/narrative analysis and the archival research method, where qualitative research may also be
applicable. The effectiveness of the aforementioned architectural strategy will thus be assessed in this study
throughout the specified period of time. Only milestones, problems, challenges, and proposed solutions
from previous research will be discussed in this review.

Fernando Asamoa, (May 2022). In the past two decades, Havana, Cuba, has experienced a severe
and alarming rate of collapsing buildings, consequently resulting in a severe housing shortage. According
to the Cuban authorities, they have also estimated that there are a significant number of locals residing in
these structures that could collapse at any time, even though some occupants refuse to leave the buildings
that the government has deemed hazardous. However, Cuban officials do not publicize exact data on the
death toll of individuals who were killed or injured in structures collapsing in an effort to lessen the severity
of the crisis, even though some residents have detailed and observed deaths from the buildings collapsing.

Like many countries in Europe and Latin America that have gone through extensive revolutions,
the inner structure of Cuba is impoverished. Buildings are designed to last a certain lifespan, and while
some last for decades without any defects, some start to deteriorate within a few years following
construction and masonry. Beyond the forgotten industrial waterfront and colonial-style architecture, the
city is enriched with contemporary culture, which makes it a unique attraction (Fernando Asamoa, May
2022).

Architectural history. The Architecture timeline of Cuba can be thought of in its simplest form
no different to the rest of the world as it has adapted to its history and geography. Prior to Christopher
Columbus the island was home to its indigenous Indians who worked as hunter gathers. During its colonial
period the architecture developed from military architecture to Baroque then Neoclassicism. The 20th
century brought the Art Nouveau and Art Deco style with Civil Architecture following (Fernando Asamoa,
May 2022).

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Architecture neglect. Building projects were entirely halted as a result of the strict government
regulations that were enacted after the Cuban Revolution, which required extensive planning. The U.S.
embargo against Cuba, which went into effect in October 1960, made it apparent that projects frequently
had trouble acquiring resources and building supplies. The long-lasting colonial buildings in Cuba are also
a product of the country's economic dynamics, which have allowed it to deteriorate and be neglected. Cuba's
long-lasting colonial architecture, which can be seen all across Old Havana and Habana Vieja, are also a
result of the nation's economic dynamics, which have caused degradation and neglect. Additionally, the
United States embargo against Cuba, which was implemented in October 1960, showed that projects
frequently ran into difficulties locating resources and building supplies, particularly during the first decade
the embargo was in effect (Fernando Asamoa, May 2022).

Fernando Asamoa, (May 2022)

Masonry buildings are directly related to cultural history all around the world, so preserving them
is essential to maintaining culture, particularly in architecture. Thus, architecture and culture are reflections
of the rich history of one’s nation. The preservation of masonry structures benefits the neighborhood's visual
appeal and economic prosperity, yet they are in danger due to natural aging, climate change, and human
negligence.

According to reports, the average age of some of Cuba's most notable buildings is roughly 75 years
old, and every day, about three of them collapse. Urban inequality has extended across the island and
contributed to its housing issue, despite the fact that history has proved it to have been stunning and a center
of architectural creation. It all starts with repairs to existing structures and protecting what is already there,
even though many people question how new residences will be erected and how changes in urban design
will help influence the islands future.

In order to do this, it's crucial to understand the construction methods used for buildings,
particularly for masonry as concrete and brick make up more than half of all homes. The first masonry
techniques were introduced by Spanish and French colonists who arrived in the 1500s and 1700s and during
the Baroque era of architecture in the 1600s. The Baroque architectural style did not arrive in Havana until
over a century after it was developed elsewhere.

There is a visual distinction even though Cuba was naturally inspired by European architecture.
Cuban constructions lack the smoothness of their European counterparts because there was simply no
infrastructure for mining and processing the materials required to recreate the design. Early construction
techniques used in Cuba largely incorporated stone masonry.

Rubble and Ashlar were two distinct wall construction types, and a random or course design might
be used. When it came to building, it was a two-part method where one trained worker laid the stone on the
external face, which would be unplastered, and a less competent stone layer did the interior in a rough
manner because it would be plastered over. Tie stones were used to connect the outside and interior portions
of the walls after the internal cavity had been filled with a local earth-based mortar. Because of their
incapacity to withstand strain and environmental variables, these constructions and masonry in general have
been damaged.

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Fernando Asamoa, (May 2022) argues that “Masonry doesn’t support long span conditions or
open floor plates that’s conducive to collective engagement needed in Havana neighborhoods leading to
the underutilization of these structures and the further deterioration of the neighborhoods”, with this he
stated that “An adaptive reuse strategy is desperately needed for these collapsing and condemned
masonry systems. Upgrading their performance to make them safe for inhabitation and to give the
community a center for collective wellbeing.”

Cuba’s traditional masonry practices. Masonry buildings are directly related to cultural history all
around the world, so preserving them is essential to maintaining culture, particularly in architecture. The
first masonry techniques were introduced by Spanish and French colonists who arrived in the 1500s and
1700s and during the Baroque era of architecture in the 1600s. There is a visual distinction even though
Cuba was naturally inspired by European architecture. In order to do this, it's crucial to understand the
construction methods used for buildings, particularly for masonry as concrete and brick make up more
than half of all homes.

Fernando Asamoa, (May 2022). He claimed that the examples chosen were primarily old
masonry buildings that had been updated with modern building techniques. They were also chosen
because they used fresh design approaches that promoted involvement of the community, whether
through a novel program layout typology. Each case study is between 8,000 and 20,000 square feet in size
to compare the design limitations to the real location selected for this thesis. Each example should keep
the structure's and its surroundings' historical context in mind before being repurposed.

Robinson, Circles (November 3,2022). The Ministry of Construction says that there are over three
million residences in the country, 39% of which are in "average or poor condition"[1]. Around 849,753
individuals were impacted by 854 structures that were reported as being in critical condition in 2017, 81.5%
of which were in Havana. With a population of nearly two million, the nation's capital has experienced
numerous, recurrent collapses over the years. Because of this, Havana has the greatest housing shortfall in
the country (185,348), followed by Holguin (115,965) and Santiago de Cuba (101,202). In the city's
available housing, there were 46,158 "major renovations" and 83,878 "partial repairs" required in 2021.

Across the country, there are 929,695 vacant properties and 60,975 homes have completely
collapsed as a result of hurricanes like Sandy in 2012, Matthew in 2016, and Irma in 2017. “We go to bed
afraid we won’t wake up in the morning. I lost a child (to a terminal illness) and I wouldn’t want to lose my
little girl,” Elisa Bacyan, a single mother and tenant at the Edificio Cuba, in the historic district, told AFP.
92 households live in the six-story building that was constructed in 1940.

Due to June's heavy rainfall, a portion of the roof fell onto Luvia Diaz's bed. The top story of
Edificio Cuba is home to 50-year-old social worker Diaz, her spouse, three daughters, and a grandchild. “If
my daughter had been sleeping, it would have been a tragedy,” she told AFP.

Tropical Storm Alex caused at least 290 complete and partial collapses in June, according to
records. Havana was the province most severely affected, with reports of 148 collapses (2 total and 146
partial collapses); it was followed by Artemisa, where 57 structures were damaged, Pinar del Rio (53), and
Mayabeque (32).

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When Hurricane Ian slammed Cuba in late September, leaving behind 101,350 dwellings in Pinar
del Rio, of which 10,474 were completely destroyed and 11,027 were only partially so, the situation
worsened two months later. Meanwhile, figures suggest that 138 structures in Havana were partially
destroyed and about 38 completely collapsed.The devastation caused by hurricanes, tropical storms, and
other weather phenomena, as well as the rain and tidal waves they bring, have shown how vulnerable the
country's building structures are. Buildings that once required demolition or complete reconstruction,
particularly in the capital, are now in ruins.

Local alternatives aren’t enough. Since the middle of the 20th century, one of Cuba's biggest
issues has been its housing shortage. The population has faced several persistent issues over the years,
including the downward housing spiral in many provinces, sporadic shortages of building supplies, and the
heavy bureaucracy for processing and legalizing land and homes.

The housing shortfall in Artemisa and Cienfuegos would be resolved in seven years, in Matanzas
and Ciego de Avila in eight years, and in Camaguey, Villa Clara, Havana, and the five eastern provinces in
at least ten years, according to a December 2018 estimate from the Ministry of Construction.

Sophie Francesca Cantell (May 2005). During the 1960s and 1970s, as environmental concerns
grew, the term "adaptive reuse" entered the architectural lexicon. According to Adaptive Use: A Survey of
the Construction Prices, research by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, there was significant
environmental concern during this time, and fuel and material costs were very expensive. Because of the
exorbitant costs and related challenges obtaining building permits, adaptive reuse has emerged as a practical
substitute for new construction and the eviction of existing structures associated with urban renewal. The
early 1960s saw grassroots campaigns to rescue SoHo and Penn Station in New York City, which helped
the preservation movement acquire momentum and national attention. Jane Jacobs noted the following
about common historic structures in her 1961 book The Death and Life of Great American Cities: "Cities
require ancient buildings so desperately that it is probably impossible for vibrant streets and districts to
emerge without them."(8) Old buildings don't necessarily have to be in museum-quality condition or be in
a high-end, expensive state of restoration, but these do make fantastic ingredients. I'm talking about a lot of
plain, commonplace, low-value old structures, including some that are dilapidated. 9

[Note:7 Aber, n.p. 8 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Adaptive Use: A Survey of the
Construction Costs, Washington, D.C., vol. 4, no. 4, June 1976. Cited in Fitch, 169.]

In summary, the researcher finds out that an adoptive reuse strategy is desperately needed for these
collapsing and condemned masonry systems. Upgrading their performance to make them safe for
inhabitation and to give the community a center for collective wellbeing, as masonry doesn’t support long
span conditions or open floor plates that’s conducive to collective engagement needed in Havana
neighborhoods, leading to the underutilization of these structures and the further deterioration of the
neighborhoods, Fernando Asamoa (May 2022).This was further supported by information from Cuba's
Ministry of Construction and authorities, which showed that even if a modern and alternative strategy is
used, improper allocation of funds, disregard for a nation's architectural or cultural identity, and a failure to

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take into consideration natural disasters and changing environmental conditions will cause a condemned
colonial arvitecture masonry system to collapse quickly.

References Cited

Authenticity and Integrity: Adaptive Reuse of Industrial Heritage Sites in San Antonio - ProQuest,
www.proquest.com/openview/6eb85890ed147bcbc3d4f78812f9c677/1?pq-
origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y.

Asamoa, Fernando. “Proposing a Second Life - (Adaptive Reuse) for Underutilized Condemned Masonry
Buildings in Cuba.” DigitalCommons@Kennesaw State University, 9 May 2022,
digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/barch_etd/232.

Cantell, Sophie Francesca. “The Adaptive Reuse of Historic Industrial Buildings: Regulation Barriers, Best
Practices and Case Studies” Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, May 2005.

Finkelstein, Emily. “Extreme Adaptive Reuse: The Analytics of Deconstruction and the Upcycling of
Building Materials.”, 5 Aug. 2014, dalspace.library.dal.ca//handle/10222/53142.