Lenin Park is a cultural recreative complex which counts on an outstanding architecture bound to the landscape, which is part of a panoramic proposal for the south of Havana Province, with the aim of promoting sound recreation for the population and at the same time raise the poor index of green areas per capita, eir of previous epochs.
It was conceived in 1969, during a visit Fidel Castro made to the neighbor dam Ejercito Rebelde, by then, about to be finished.Before the triumph of the Revolution, in March 1952, when Fidel held a conversation with the farmers of the zone in the La Gallega’s house (Josefa Yanez). He assured that on those lands schools would be built, and other projects would be carried out.
Then, Celia Sanchez and a group of comrades got together to materialize those ideas. After an unsuccessful first attempt, they went deep into the brushwood on a second trip to start the project. Although the first constructions started functioning from 1971 on, the inauguration was not set until the following year. In this way Celia became the soul of the creation of this important work.
The constructive system was designed by architect Juan Tosca, with the participation of engineer Pimpo Hernandez, in the checking of the structural analysis. All the elements were built in an external plant, and later on moved to its definitive place.
Las Ruinas Restaurant, with a lead stained-glass window, designed by Rene Portocarrero, was erected over the rubbish of a building existing in the selected area. In its architecture, it stands out the pre-cast elements of orthogonal geometry which superimposes one another, thus forming diverse space frames
On the other hand, La Faralla Restaurant was designed by architects Juan Tosca and Selma Soto, with the employment of the same constructive system as that of Las Ruinas Restaurant. It was conceived as a self-service restaurant, which is reached through a wide flight of stairs of pre-cast slabs.
Likewise, the Jagüeyes Restaurant also of self-service was planned by Andres Garrudo and Thelma Ascanio. It is located on a foundation of local stones. The installation is open, without massif walls, which are permeable to the environment.
Lenin Park also counts on an aquarium, which was conceived for fishes of fresh water, and its original design in the form of a spiral permitted its location in a relatively small piece of land.
On this project, architect Thelma Ascanio did not employ the constructive system used in the rest of the other constructions in the park; notwithstanding, she created another range of pre-cast components to shape it like a snail. The fish ponds occupy a wall of the path, while the other remains tinged by stained-glass windows.
Perhaps one of the most attractive buildings of this installation might be the amphitheater with floating scenery upon the water reservoir in the center of the complex. A project of Hugo D`Acosta and Mercedes Alvarez. This work was a tropical tribute to Greek and Roman amphitheaters. The seats for the auditorium were built of limestone blocks, carved into the shape of chairs and armchairs. Around them grass grew in a controlled way as natural background. The floating scenery constituted at its time an innovation, as it was a metal raft, with theater technology, built for the first time in the country.
Among other spaces we find El Rodeo, a project of architect Rita Maria Grau. The remodelation of a residence for an infusion house, created by Mario Girona, and the remodelation, for different purposes of other houses existing in the zone, by architect Sara Blumenkranz.
The Pioneers’ Central Palace Ernesto Guevara designed by Néstor Garmendia with the collaboration of engineer Mario Duran. Likewise the Lenin Monument from 1984, of Soviet sculptor Lew Kerbel, with the participation of architect Antonio Quintana, among others.
Translator: Reinaldo Fernandez
