Workshop
The Caribbean Winter School is an international annual workshop founded in 2010 by Muenster University of Applied Sciences, Polytechnic University of Catalonia and Technological University of Habana José Antonio Echeverría in Havana, Cuba.
Cuba has a rich and stirring history which is still told by the omnipresent relics of the past such as the old crumbling colonial mansions, the colorful bars and shops with interior which evoke memories of yesterday and the legendary American cars from the mid-19th-century.
Currently Cuba is in the process of opening up to the world. This development can be seen as an economical and sociological change. This means not only a transformation of the metropolises such as Havana with its iconic buildings, the old town and the lively neighborhoods close by.
Recent occurrences revealed the ecological consequences of climate change, especially for Central America, and showed that the city has to find ways to protect itself against future tempests.
The Caribbean Winter School is focussed on development of innovative concepts for urban design strategies for Havana in context of future changes. The workshop addresses students graduated with bachelor degree from a school of architecture.
The 3-week workshop combined with a scientific preparation phase will be rewarded with an international certificate upon completion of the program. The course is allocated with 10 Credits in accordance with the European Credit Transfer System ECTS.
Objective
During your period of residence you will be faced with various cultural discussions about Havana as an expanding city of change. Thereby your subject-specific skills will be strengthened in context of contemporary issues as mentioned before.
The focus of the workshop is the development of an urban design concept in an authentic way of working with the help of conventional and even digital tools.
To focus on the international idea of the workshop groups should reflect a certain kind of diversity. Therefore each working group consists of participants from different schools and countries to create an unique environment.
Related to the old history of sugar trade in Cuba, the workshop will be located on a historic site of a former cane plantation. An old mansion offers great space to work on the objective together in a very special atmosphere.
Preparation Phase
The first task is focussed on a self-organized scientific analysis on common architecture literature, which leads to a first short presentation as a foundation for the subsequent workshop. Literature references will be announced soon after your successful application.
Workshop
The workshop concentrates on different areas of Havana every year. The Teams in the Caribbean WinterSchool 2023 are expected to develop architectural and urban strategies at a particular site while addressing issues of scarcity of materials and a general lack of urban mobility. Students will look at the given site in the larger urban context and find ways to transform the neighborhood through the design of an innovative school building.
The design process will be accompanied through inspiring lectures by international renowned professors.
Lecturers
Prof. Fernando Ramos ETSAB Barcelona
Prof. Jordi Sutrias UIC Barcelona
Prof. Ulrich Blum MSA Muenster
Prof. Dr. Rubén Bancrofft CUJAE Havana
Prof. Joiselen Cazanave CUJAE Havana
Prof. Dr. Jorge Peña CUJAE Havana
Prof. Jens Ludloff University of Stuttgart
Prof. Martin Weischer MSA Muenster
Prof. Gavriela Nussbaum Technion Haifa
Barbara Schudok Technical University Munich
Piotr Gajewski Technical University Cracow
Schedule
Caribbean Winter School 2025 will take part from:
February 17 - March 08
Application
Applicants are advised to contact the Winter School until December 13, 2024.
The workshop is focussed on students graduated with a bachelors degree from a school of architecture.
Students of cooperating schools can apply for the Caribbean WinterSchool directly online or by their local contact. If you are a student from another school of architecture and like to participate in the workshop, please get in touch with us!
The number of participants is limited. Applicants will be considered according to the order of application.
Registration also requires to send in a short CV along with the Entry Application Form. The form can be downloaded from the workshops website. Submission is preferred online.
Contact
Impressions
