MEDIO SIGLO DE VIVIENDA SOCIAL EN CUBA

Abstract

2010 will he the 100th birthday of the first working-class neighbourhood planned and built in Cuba. Since 1959, Cuhan housing is known for its general and uniform standards influenced by early XXth century European mass social housing. In contrast to the rest of developing countries, housing is still a responsibility of the State. The present article offers an outlook of the evolution and trends of Cuhan social housing throughout the second part of the XXth century. lts beginning, in the 60s, was characterized by the search for appropriate technologies and new ways of expression for the mass social housing of a developing and Revolutionary country. Also, the government tried to eradicate the precarious housing condition and the differences between urban and rural areas. From the 70s, in order to meet massive demands, Cuban housing centred its efforts on the high-tech prefabricated system. In the 80s, conservation of traditional urban centres was promoted and the crisis of the 90s forced Cuba to definitely quit heavy industrialization and search for alternative solutions. The current debate on the topic closes the article.