A Cuban residing in the United States, known on TikTok as @iris_laprospera, shared an update on the construction of her house in Cuba in a video posted last Friday that quickly went viral among the Cuban community on social media.
In the images, Iris Deysi showcases the construction process of a three-story house supposedly located in Pinar del Río, which she herself named "the fortress."
"Cubita is waiting for me; this is how the fortress is taking shape. I'll show you the farm later," the Cuban woman said in the video, where she also revealed that in addition to the house, she is developing a farm on the island.
The description that accompanied the post was brief but revealing: "There are still things to be done, but we're almost ready."
The construction began in August 2025, which means that the project has been standing for approximately nine months, and according to the creator herself, it is entering its final stage.
The case of Iris Deysi is part of a growing trend on TikTok in recent months: Cubans residing abroad who document the construction or renovation of homes on the island, funded by remittances or earnings from digital platforms.
This week, another Cuban identified as @sheyla.daily also went viral showing how she was building her house from scratch in Cuba, and last February a "modern" home in Mayarí, Holguín, generated debate on social media for the same reason.
The phenomenon generates both admiration and controversy, and it's not hard to understand why: in Cuba, the housing deficit exceeds 800,000 homes, and the scarcity of construction materials, inflation, and frequent power outages make building nearly an insurmountable challenge for most Cubans.
Without access to foreign currency, building a house on the island is practically impossible for the average citizen, making these videos a topic of debate about the inequality that remittances create within Cuban society.
Iris Deysi promised her followers a new installment when the work is finished, including a tour of the farm she is also developing on the island.
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