Customer Reviews

Havana Deco

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While Miami Beach is the world capitol of Art Deco, it really doesn't compare to Havana. Here are 175 pages of everything from world class, French inspired Deco to modest streamlined structures.

But wait, there's more. In fact, there is so much Art Deco in neighborhoods like Vedado, that this is but a sample. And that's just Havana! Take the Autopista in either direction and you will find many Cuban cities have more Art Deco. (Also a smaller amount of beautiful Art Noveau).

Professional quality photos, too. Sharp and highly detailed, with the buildings standing up straight. They sure picked a bland building for the cover though. Why not Edifico Bicardi or the Baro-Lasa house?

The 1925 Paris "Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industrieles Modernes" was the launching point of the Art Deco Movement. By 1927, the first Art Deco home was being designed and built in Havana. This tells you something about the great speed at which new architectural ideas were moving in the newly "modern" world.

Like their nearby neighbors in Miami, the people of Havana eagerly adapted this new architectural language. Art Deco was the architecture of progress from the late 1920's until the early 1950's. One of the pleasures of reading "Havana Deco" is viewing the stark contrast between the numerous decaying Art Deco buildings of Havana and comparing them with their meticiously maintained cousins to the North. Although the building exteriors are in a general state of tropical decline, they nevertheless maintain their elegant Art Deco lines. Having finished this book, one knows that is just a question of time before wealthy Europeans and Cuban Americans purchase and restore these lovely old buildings.

The text in "Havana Deco" was written by two Cuban art historians and is servicable. The large format photos were taken by an Italian architectural photographer and are quite good. All and all, this is a quality book that can be purchased at a reasonable price. Recommended.

This book shows how beautiful and sophisticated old Havana was. It's sad to think that so many architectural gems have been lost because of the political situation in the island...