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Plaza de la Revolución
The idea for the creation of the Plaza de la República (now Plaza
de la Revolución) emerged in 1929 but was only completed in 1959,
shortly before the fall of Batista. Around a gigantic place there
is a whole series of public administration and services buildings.
The Ministry of Interior was built by Aquiles Capablanca in 1953 and shows
the influence of Le Corbusier. Nowadays it is accompanied by the
well-known portrait of Ché Guevara. The splendid building
fights the Cuban heat with a concrete brise soleil. Works of art
decorate the different walls and the entrance.
The National Library José Martí (1955-1957) by the architects
Evelio Govantes and Félix Cabarrocas is a strong example of classical
modernism.
The halls and the rooms of the National Theatre of Cuba (1954-1960) define
the exterior looks and the ground plan of the building. Nicolás
Arroyo and Gabriela Menéndez signed for the plans.
Ché looks at the José Martí Memorial (450 foot)
at the other side of the Square of the Revolution. The modernist
obelisk (1938-1952) has a star-shaped ground plan. The monument
combines elements of 2 earlier competitions.
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