Project Description: 
It was a unique and privileged experience to spend a short winter semester in Havana, the vibrant capital of Cuba, as part of my graduate degree study abroad program at UMD. The program’s main focus was to delve into Havana’s Urbanism, art, architecture, and economy, offering us a rare opportunity to understand and appreciate this rich cultural landscape.

From its inception, colonizers meticulously designed Havana’s urban spaces, each element serving a specific purpose in their interaction with the native people. This historical context provided a fascinating backdrop for my final project. I analyzed Havana’s urban spaces in light of the Smart Growth principles and their current struggle to thrive amidst the recent economic crisis due to the US embargo, covid pandemic, and inflation.