CULTURE // CARIBBEAN UN-COVERED
CARIBBEAN UN-COVERED IN RECENT BOOKS, FOUR WRITERS—AN ARCHITECT, AN ARTIST, AN ACADEMIC, AND AN ACCLAIMED CHEF—EACH REFLECT ON THEIR CARIBBEAN ROOTS AND REALITIES. THESE DIVERSE AUTHORS SHARE DEEP PERSPECTIVES ON THE HUMAN AND HISTORICAL TAPESTRY OF THE REGION FOR BOTH VISITORS, AND THOSE RETURNING “HOME,” TO ENJOY. WRITER HAL PEAT PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED
Urban design and Cuban spirit: THE RESILIENT INTERIORS OF HAVANA LIVING TODAY
PHOTOGRAPHY KAYLEIGH JANKOWSKI
Of all the Caribbean nations, Cuba remains fascinating in a very individual way. On this island, you can find countless tales of human creativity in the face of adversity. For the traveler curious to explore the urban interiors of Havana, author and architect Hermes Mallea’s recent Havana Living Today provides an eye-opening journey into the enduring creative spirit within the city’s neighborhoods. The people’s resilience is expressed in the way every type of material or item is wellpreserved and well-repurposed. Havana Living Today allows the reader to observe a Cuban inventiveness that reflects both an unmistakable national identity and a strong awareness of cultures beyond the island. The author began his compilation of interior photos in 2011, researching an array of stylish Havana houses brimming with personality. These homes had been made beautiful despite the island’s economic hardships and isolation. Art collectors, expats, lawyers, painters, businessmen, fashion designers, musicians, and schoolteachers welcomed him into spaces that reflect a vivid personal dimension. The author’s exploration reveals locations like the high-style abode of the Norwegian Ambassador, mansions used as VIP rentals, and the home studios of Cuba’s artistic elite. Along the way, a kaleidoscope of architectural and interior design styles—from Beaux-Arts classicism and Art Deco to eclectic revivals and International Style modernism— unfold. Through their work, Mallea and Havana-based photographer Adrian Fernandez offer an intimate tour through stunning rooms and lush gardens.
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