The Torre K-23 hotel in Havana, whose construction is expected to be completed soon, continues to attract criticism from experts in architecture and engineering.
In the opinion of Cuban architect Maurys Alfonso Risco, the building located at the corner of 23 and K streets, opposite the Copelia ice cream parlor, is merely a large block that fails to comply with 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"A dagger in the landscape of Havana; a building with outdated design, featuring very technological yet inadequate facades, lacking charm," he defined.
Alfonso Risco recalled the annoyance caused by the intense glare from the tower's windows when they directly reflect sunlight, and how some drivers claim that at certain times they cannot see the traffic lights.
He assured that all these problems were quite simple to avoid with sun protection measures that have been used in Cuban architecture for decades, such as covered terraces, eaves, covered galleries, or shutters.
In an article published in CubaxCuba, the expert questions whether national architecture is being created or if architecture is being imported to "satisfy clients and other interests."
"There are enough arguments to demonstrate 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 imposing on the city's skyline.
"It's taller than the obelisk to José Martí, something that should never have been allowed, just as it's been prohibited in Washington DC for over a hundred years to surpass the Capitol," commented the specialist.
For him, if the tower had been built in the lower area of La Rampa, it would have been less traumatic for the urban image.
However, on 23rd Avenue, with a curtain wall resembling any secondary road motel in the United States, it is nothing more than the image of a city frozen in time, exuding a midcentury vibe, aimed at nostalgia tourism.
"More towers will come, that is undeniable; we pray to God that they are better and that we learn from this one. (...) However, it seems that we will not learn, or that we are not interested. Or they enjoy the exceptions, violations, and impositions 'from above' on the various institutions responsible for regulation," he lamented.
The management of the Torre K hotel will be handled by 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 that the country has faced since 2018, the year its development began. Its completion was originally scheduled for 2022.
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