The Torre K-23 hotel in Havana, which is expected to complete construction soon, continues to draw criticism from architecture and engineering experts.
In the opinion of the Cuban architect.Maurys Alfonso RiscoThe building, located at the corner of 23rd and K streets, in front of the Copelia ice cream shop, is merely a large block whose design violates the urban regulations of El Vedado and creates issues for its neighbors.
"A dagger in the landscape of Havana; a building with outdated design, featuring highly technological but poorly executed facades, lacking charm," he defined.
Alfonso Risco recalled the annoyance caused by the intense glare from the tower's glass when it directly catches the sunlight, and how some drivers claim that at certain times, they can't see the traffic light signals.
He assured that all these problems were very easy to avoid with sun protection measures that have been used in Cuban architecture for decades, such as covered terraces, awnings, covered walkways, and shutters.
In an article published on the website of the José Antonio Echeverría Polytechnic Institute (CUJAE), the expert questions whether national architecture is being created or if architecture is being imported to "satisfy clients and other interests."
"There are ample arguments to prove the lack of commitment and the absence of professionals engaged with Cuban architecture in the conception of a building that was 'cooked up' abroad, featuring one of the most poorly designed facades," he emphasized.
Another issue with the building is that it is very intrusive in the city's skyline.
"It is taller than the obelisk to José Martí, something that should never have been allowed, just as it has not been permitted in Washington DC for over a hundred years to surpass the Capitol," the specialist remarked.
For him, if the tower had been built in the lower area of La Rampa, it would have been less traumatic for the urban landscape.
However, on Avenida 23, with a curtain wall reminiscent of any roadside motel in the United States, it is nothing more than the image of a city frozen in time, exuding a mid-century vibe, aimed at nostalgia tourism.
"More towers will come, that is undeniable; we pray to God that they will be better and that we learn from this one. (...) However, it seems that we will not learn, or we simply are not interested. Or they enjoy the exceptions, violations, and 'impositions from above' on the different institutions responsible for regulation," he lamented.
The management of the Torre K hotel will be under the Spanish company Iberostar. It stands 154 meters tall and has 42 floors, featuring 565 rooms that will hold a five-star rating.
Built from the ground up with entirely Cuban capital, it has survived the successive crises and economic fluctuations the country has faced since 2018, the year it began its development. Its completion was originally scheduled for 2022.
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