The Pentagram Papers: A collection of photographs document-ing ways of recycling in Cuba.Due to the political context of Cuba and the resulting lack of ma-terials, the Cuban people became masters in reusing and recycling whatever was available.

1. Direct immersion water heater made from salvaged electrical components.2. Spoon fence & lamp3. Recycled kitchenware made by mixing plastics from various sources4. Handbag made from nylon threads found in medical packaging & Sunglasses made from transparent plastic sheets 5. Washing machine & washing line made from candy wraps6. Pencil razor7. TV made with components from computer monitor and TV sets8. Pedal propelled vehicle & taxi sign made from plastic bottle

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4 5 6

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Also on the building scale, people have to invent ways to repair, reuse and recycle materials.

Also on the building scale, people have to invent ways to repair, reuse and recycle materials.

A series of sections through a road within the Centro Habano show an array of the variety of the open spaces. In comparison with the Plaza de la Revolucion, everything is built towards a much more human scale or adjusted and changed by the people.

The Centro Habano District and its Open Spaces

N

Havana - A City Adjusted by its PeopleBecause of the country`s economic situation, people invent ways to get along. By reusing and adjusting objects, materials and spaces, the city has been refig-ured and shaped by its people.

Section AA, Plaza de la Revolucion

Fondation Jose Marti

The

Plaz

a de

la R

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ucti

on: A

Dea

d Sp

ace

in H

avan

a

Section BB, Plaza de la Revolucion

Ministry of Internal Affairs

Teatro Nacional

Monument Jose Marti

Building of the Communist Party

The

Plaz

a de

la R

evol

ucio

n m

arks

a v

oid

in

the

city

. In

co

,pqr

ison

to

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st

of

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ana,

the

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ly a

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sive

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ift in

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o it

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olle

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the

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. Wha

ts w

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ally

mea

nt to

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peo

ple,

has

bec

ome

a de

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pace

in th

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ty.

Org

anop

onic

os: U

rbqn

Far

min

g in

Hav

ana

Due

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onte

xt o

f Cub

a an

d th

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ng e

cono

mic

in

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ce, p

eopl

e ha

ve to

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duce

all

of th

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ood

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The

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os a

re s

mal

l far

ms

grow

ing

vege

tabl

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r the

com

mun

ity a

roun

d th

em.

Cuban women buying fresh vegetables. She lives right next to it.

Cuban man buying fresh veg-etables for his family. He lives around the corner. He also works in the organoponico.

View from the top of the monument José Marti. Eight different organoponicos are visible.

The Organoponicos: Urban farming next to the Plaza de la Revolucion

Organoponicos - Productive farms

Buildings

Water cleaning station

Urban Farming in Havana The project takes on the subject of urban farming in Havana. These farms �rst appeared in the so called "special period", in 1991 after the Russian economic crisis. The so called "organopo-nicos" are small lots of urban wasteland turned into productive landscapes. Each one of them is owned by one person or a small collective to grow vegetables and sell them to the community around them, establishing a collective on a slightly larger scale.

Advantages:- economic and therefore political independence of the country- direct food availability- healthy - making Havana a „Green City“- using dumpspaces- creating a feeling of community- creating roughly 130.000 jobs in Havana only

Main problems:- water availability is scarce (bec of leaks, 55 % lost)- urban soil is bad- lack of diversity of seeds and crops- energy

41.5 % of the whole Havana are Productive Landscapes/ urban farms that produce for a community around them.

The project takes on the subject of urban farming in Havana. These farms �rst appeared in the so called "special period", in 1991 after the Russian economic crisis. The so called "organoponicos" are small lots of urban wasteland turned into productive landscapes. Each one of them is owned by one person or a small collective to grow vegetables and sell them to the community around them, establishing a collective on a slightly larger scale.

Water storage and irrigation system

Tent structure providing shade

Compost

Soil

Electricity

Agricultural �elds for growing vegetables

Administration

Rum and wine production

Sale: Fresh produce is directly sold to the community

Each organoponico is obliged to sell the produce immediately to the community that lives around it. This ensures the availability and quality of food. Also it establishes responsibility and social exchange within the area.