The Balconies in Cuba
May 5, 2012 by admin
Travelling along the streets of Cuba one can not help but notice the multitude of colorful and diverse balconies that line the sides of roads and streets. These balconies are a product of urbanization and over-crowdedness that have emerged from Cuba’s Special Period (1990’s). Balconies are also a product of complexes built by government as it aims to provide housing for its country’s growing population.
Balconies in Havana, Cuba
The word balcony is derived from the German word, Balcho, the Italian word, Balcone, and the Persian word, balkaneh. A Balcony is a projection from a building that is supported by columns and railings. Balconies are thought to have first emerged during the times of Ancient Greece, their primary function was to simply provide lighting to the inside of a building during the day and circulation of fresh air in hot climates. Since Cuba has a very hot climate, especially in the summer, it is not surprising that the country is filled with balconies. Additionally, according to Dr. Lazero from CENESEX, during the Special Period of the 1990’s, Cuba experienced 8 hours without lighting every day. This explains the need for natural lighting from the balconies to light the homes during the day.
According to our tour guide, Yoel, about 4 generations live under one roof. This implies that the inhabitants of the home rarely get any privacy. In order to gain some privacy from other family members, Cubans have found balconies as an escape. Couples can be found on balconies either sharing a special moment or a private talk. Older couples are seen enjoying a cup of coffee or just lounging on chairs. Friends can be seen calling out to their friends on the street and inviting them into their homes. For these reasons, balconies can be considered a center for socialization.
Couples and individuals enjoy the view from their balconies
The balconies of homes are not only used for lighting, circulating air, or even socializing, but have numerous other functions. The balconies can also serve as a fire safety escape. In addition, they are useful in drying clothing on wires after washing.
Drying clothing on balconies
Furthermore, since in urban areas there is a lack of vegetation and backyards, Cubans have turned their balconies into little gardens by adorning their balconies with potted flowers and other plants. These plants include
medicinal plants which have played an important role in revamping Cuba’s healthcare system in times of the economic crisis of the 1990’s and the US bloqueo.
A garden on a balcony and a complex with a multitude of less intricate balconies behind it.
A tree has found a place to grow above a balcony in Havana, Cuba
Cubans also grow other fruits and vegetables for their own consumption and to sell to their neighbors. Since water hoses are unaffordable, some Cubans have installed hand-made slow-drip irrigation systems made out of plastic bottles, like the one below, to deliver water to their balcony plants and gardens.
Slow-drip irrigation system–c/o thebeantree.org
Some Cubans even take advantage of balconies as a means to transport grocery and other miscellaneous items without having to carry them up the stairs. For example, in Havana I observed groceries being transported up the balcony via a book bag tied to a rope. Furthermore, I observed a man delivering a chair to the ground floor using a very long rope.
Additionally, numerous tourist attractions and hotels advertise balconies as a great feature of their hotel. They suggest that the balconies are great for people-watching, restaurants serving Cuban food, or bars serving drinks. In tourist attractions, balconies also serve as places to relax and to contemplate. Some hotel balconies consist of swimming pools, water fountains, and lush greenery. These balconies are also draped with beautiful fern and decorated with colorful paints and varying architectural designs.
Image:
Slow drip irrigation system: http://www.thebeantree.org/3/post/2011/10/the-skys-the-limit-rooftop-balcony-gardening-in-cuba.html
Sources:
http://www.balconette.co.uk/articles/History_of_Balconies.aspx
http://www.thebeantree.org/3/post/2011/10/the-skys-the-limit-rooftop-balcony-gardening-in-cuba.html
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