Cafeterias del Malecón is an architectural project created by the (e)spacios Cuban design group and was shown for the first time at the Architecture Biennial of Havana in May 2004. It is composed of 5 ephemeral cafeterias, the design of each being inspired by the work of famous Cuban painters.
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The (e)spacios Group
The group was founded in 1998, and is composed of the architect Vilma Bartolomé Arencibia and of designers Raidán Valdés Hung and Maikel Sánchez. Their office is situated in Old Havana. The group’s aim is to erase the border between art, design and architecture.
The project
Vilma Bartolomé Arencibia is the one who first came up with the idea of the Malecón project. Seeing that every time a building was demolished a cafeteria replaced it, she thought the group could come up with a new style and aesthetics.
With the help of designer Sulumi Sánchez Herrera, the (e)spacios group offered to create five ephemeral cafeterias, made of canvases stretched over metal frameworks. The design of these cafeterias was inspired by the work of five Cuban artists : Roberto Fabelo, Ángel Ramírez, Arturo Montoto, Esterio Segura and Alfredo Sosabravo. Each cafeteria presents a specificity : the one based on the work of the artist Roberto Fabelo is specialized in seafood; another, inspired by Arturo Montoto’s work and whose theme is “fruity”, only sells vegetarian products etc.
The plans have been showcased at the Architecture Biennial of Havana in 2004 and received a warm welcoming from locals and art dealers.
The Cafeterias
Malecón y Aguila
Created by : (e)spacios group
Inspired by : Artist Roberto Fabelo
Theme : the sea
Type of food : seafood
Malecón y Lealtad
Created by : (e)spacios group
Inspired by : Artist Ángel Ramírez
Theme : medieval
Type of food : traditional Cuban
Malecón y Gervasio
Created by : (e)spacios group
Inspired by : Artist Arturo Montoto
Theme : fruity
Type of food : vegetarian
Malecón y Belascoaín'
Created by : (e)spacios group
Inspired by : Artist Esterio Segura
Theme : transports and migrations
Type of food : fast food
Malecón y Campanario by Alfredo Sosabravo
Created by : (e)spacios group
Inspired by : Artist Alfredo Sosabravo
Theme : candies
Type of food : ice-cream & pastries