architect: Proyecto Espacios
location: Havana, Cuba
year: 2016
The Gran Teatro Alicia Alonso opened its doors at the beginning of 2016 after being closed for over three years for restoration. The whole project consisted in an exhaustive reconstruction of its historical facade and its mesmerizing interiors, with a purpose of returning the place its original design as the the oldest active theatrical institution in Latin America, inaugurated in 1838, under the name of Grand Theatre of Tacón.
The project also included a modern insertion of several projects done by Proyecto Espacios and Vilma Bartolomé. As an interest of the Oficina del Historiador and the Ministry of Culture the design sought to reflect a renewed image of the theatre with a contemporary vision.It is a work in which they had been working for several years, where they intervened in different scales of architecture and design.
The interior space they designed contains big translucent cubes that cast shadows of dancing bodies giving the theatre a modern touch inside its wide spaces covered in marble. Next to the main access of the building the group designed the Opera Cafe, a new and modern area with high ceilings and an exquisite wallpaper design. The Cava Bouquet, located in the basement area, is a new project for a future cellar.
project: restauro del Gran Teatro Alicia Alonso
year: 2013-2016
architect: Proyecto Espacios
Vilma Bartolomé Arencibia architect, Maikel Sánchez Cal industrial designer, Raidán Manuel Valdés Hung industrial designer
program: theatre, exhibition space, café, cellar
