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The infrastructure of the city, built 450 years ago, heavily deteriorated during the 1990s after the collapse of the Cuban-Soviet trade partnership. In 1996, restoration projects were started to improve housing and infrastructure in the Cayo Hueso community.
History. During the first four centuries following its foundation, from the 16th to the 19th centuries, Havana’s urban development increased significantly within the proposed walls (which had been planed since 1603). Parallel to its inner expansion, new urban structures were added in its surroundings as of the 18th Century, and continued to grow towards what were later to be known as the city outskirts. However, it was in the 20th century, especially during the first half, when most of the city was developed.
The turn of the century was marked by a change in power: from 1898 to 1902 the American interventionist government took over the country and in 1902 the Republic was established. Thus, ending the four centuries of Spanish colonial domination and opening the era of American control, which lasted half a century. The image of the city was modified by the accelerated construction development brought about by this change, the impressive population boom and the subsequent stages of economic prosperity to come, and our country was eager to show its new face. The new century meant the arrival of modernity, and the rupture with colonial tradition.
The foundations of the modern urban infrastructure were laid down after 1898, during the American intervention, and the first decades of the 20th Century. The city opened up itself completely to innovation. Streets were paved, electrical streetcars were inaugurated in 1901, in 1902 the first automobiles were introduced, from 1908 to 1913 the sewage system was created, the first radio were broadcasted in 1922, the first air flight took place in 1933, and the first television transmission was made in 1950 (Cuba was the third country in the world to introduce that technology).
This prosperity also had a clear impact in the urban and architectural scenarios, and turned Havana into a modern metropolis. The construction of significant structures begins, for instance construction works of the Malecón sea wall started in 1901, the University of Havana from 1906 to 1944, the Central Railroad Station in 1912 (railroads had been operating in Cuba since 1836)… The neighborhood of Las Murallas was also consolidated as a civil and public center (incredible buildings were located there, such as the Galician Society built in 1915, the Asturian Center from 1927, and the National Capitol built from 1910 to 1929). Several other neighborhoods were developed and populated like El Vedado, and Miramar, some of the guidelines of the Plan for Urban Enhancement and Expansion of Havana designed by Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier in 1925 were implemented, with excellent contributions aimed at increasing the environmental quality of the city…
During the first two decades of the prosperous 20th century, and as usual until a bit later than in the rest of the world, the eclectic architecture prevailed in Havana and the rest of the country. Eclecticism is abundant and very diverse in itself, it widespread all over the city characterizing its architectural image, as a sort of giant wallpaper upon which the rest of influences overlapped. Simultaneous to Eclecticism, Art Nouveau (which should be called Modernism) emerged in Havana’s architectural discourse.
Demographics. In 2004, the municipality of Centro Habana had a population of 158,151.[2] With a total area of 4 km² (1.5 sq mi),[1] it has a population density of 39,537.8/km² (102,402.4/sq mi).
The cultural project "Concha Mocoyu". In the Consejo Colon, Municipality of Havana Center, was prepared from investigations done over various years. This proposal has as basic objective the use of popular culture for the betterment of the community.
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