A Factory as it Might Be

\"A Factory as it Might Be\" is a proposal that acts as a tool for Havana rather than a mere symbol. The city has a unique historical, cultural, and architectural heritage that is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite this, the city is partially crumbling down and facing difficulties for future growth.

The proposal offers a place that will contribute to the reinvention of Havana where citizens will build a dual program retrofitting centre and interpretation centre using participatory processes and adapted building techniques. The proposal includes co-working and makerspace for self-employed, students, and others, and consists of a high flood resilience design with perforations forming a water channel for purifying highly polluted river water. The extension towards the river is made of seven interconnected floating islands that can follow water fluctuations. The proposal uses Cuban building techniques with limited resources, such as encaustic cement tiles, stained glass, wooden structures, and ironwork doors. The four fabrication islands are based on ceramics, cement, glasswork, and carpentry, with modern machinery such as 3D printers. The roof system is made of inverted vaulted shells that recall the ceramic roof tiles of the city, contributing to passive cooling and rainwater collection. The proposal emphasizes reducing, reusing, and recycling, serving as a model for rebuilding cities with limited resources.