Photo of the K23 Hotel in Havana sparks harsh debate on the networks

A recent Facebook post about theHotel K23 in Havana sparked an intense debate among Cubans about the impact and meaning of this building that is close to completion.

The striking building stands onVedado, an area protected by its modern urban heritage. The project has violated regulations due to its height and generates conflicting opinions among citizens.

The userAlejandro Cruz shared an image of the hotel with a message that polarizes opinions: "In the epicenter of our beloved city, stands this colossus of glass and steel. Some debate it, but is there really something to debate? What about you? Will you join to the chorus of applause or the murmur of critics?" he said.

The reactions were swift. Hearchitect Carlos Manuel González Baute harshly criticized the project: "What great alienation! With the misery of the Cuban people celebrating such urban nonsense!"

Your comment reflects thefrustration of a part of the population which sees how the regime prioritizes large projects, while there are basic deficiencies in other areas of greater social impact.

On the other hand, defenders of the project such as the MSc. in Urban Territorial Planning,Gloria Valverde, argue about the need for such developments in the Cuban capital. "That part of the city required another volumetric milestone... without foreign investment we would not be able to manage that expensive and complex urban land," he said.

The division of opinions is also observed in comments such as that ofYusimi Cobas, who praises the structure for its size. "Authentic, emblematic, striking, which is the most important thing. No hotel tarnishes another, on the contrary, when it is there, and they did it that way, it is because it has a different meaning," he expressed.

By contrast,Ricardo Castillo gave one of the most detailed comments on the reasons for going against the project.

"Whether that building is tall or short, ugly or pretty is the least of it. The other things are other things; it is unnecessary and useless in these times; doing it against regulations, regulations and knowing that it will take a long time to pay its cost; insist on knowing that there are other hotels that have barely been full for years," he said.

He also questioned the State's project for "having spent so much on it when there are many other hotels, with more history and tradition that have major backlogged maintenance problems. That is what, in my opinion, would be important for it to be debated much more," he said.

This intense exchange of opinions on social networks highlights the complex relationship between urban development and heritage conservation in Havana.

While some see theHotel K23 as a symbol of progress, others criticize it for its negative impact on the urban and socioeconomic context of a city that is crumbling over time.