FROM REFINERY TO ENERGY PARK
WORKSHOP 2015 – S.O.S Ciudades Programme
Oficina del Historiador de la Habana (CU)
Site project: Habana (CU)
Supervisors Lolo Cassinelli, Julián Peña, Nicolás Pinto da Mota
with Maria Paloma Sanchez
The project site is located in Habana Bay (Cuba) and consists in the upgrading of the oil refinery and Triscornia Natural Park
Given the complexity of the area, the first step has been the analysis of the matrices that make up the territory and the economy, such as energy.
Considering the island’s geography and investments in the experimentation of renewable energies that position Cuba among the tops, we have decided to propose a step-by-step and large-scale project.
The refinery is being upgraded to transform it into a park of energy, exploiting vegetation as a remediation element, re-activating parts of the parcels and maintaining the structures as evidence of industrial archeology, alongside new energy technologies (solar, wind, sea)
A new eco-sustainable neighborhood is expected to cover the housing deficit and balance the density of the historic center. The neighborhood will crawl the park as a ring, building near the current urbanization. New construction projects include residential functions, for students and researchers, experimental laboratories open to the community and tourists.
“Collar de piedras”, literally necklace of stones, is metaphorically the malecon that runs the bay and with its pedestrian cycle path, joins together precious stones: the old town, archaeological sites, the ancient tobacconists and productive areas, the natural reserves.
Zooming, the necklace is, at the site project scale, the new urban development belt that surrounds the proposed park renewed from the former refinery, that preserved building of industrial heritage upgraded to knowledge centers.
Actual scenario of renewable energy
General schemes: the void of the refinery as a new attraction
General Plan
Assonometry and functions
Perspective section
Bird view of the project area