The Bacardi Building
The architecture in Havana comes in all shapes and sizes from Neoclassic, Baroque, Art Deco, Eclectic to Modernism. While parts of the city are in a state of deterioration one can see that restoration of historic buildings has and is taking place.
One of the best examples of Art Deco is the Bacardi Building. The building was built-in 1930 for the Bacardi Rum company which had its origins in Cuba.
In October 1960 Cuba’s revolutionary government seized control of all foreign owned and 400 Cuban owned companies and property including The Bacardi Rum Company. Before army officers were able to get to the Bacardi facilities the family destroyed the secret yeast strain they used to make their rum.
Anticipating that the tides were turning in Cuba, the Bacardi Family had already set up distilleries in Mexico and Puerto Rico and offices in the United States. With the Bacardi Company’s exile from Cuba, it forced the family to regroup and plan its future and it set up a new centre of operations in the Bahamas. Within 20 years of the loss of its assets in Cuba, Bacardi rum became the world’s leading premium spirit brand.
After the revolution the building continued to be used as offices. In 1990 a major renovation and restoration was undertaken by the City Historian’s office.
We also went up to the roof of the building to enjoy the view of Havana.
Thanks for the architectural tour.
LikeLike
January 12, 2015 at 9:24 am
My pleasure 🙂
LikeLike
January 12, 2015 at 11:45 am
Beautiful !
LikeLiked by 1 person
January 12, 2015 at 9:37 am
Fantastic. My favourtie style! This is an incredible building! 🙂
LikeLike
January 12, 2015 at 10:46 am
Thanks Adrian. It was quite something.
LikeLike
January 12, 2015 at 11:51 am
Thanks for sharing more beautiful details from your trip to Cuba. I’ve always liked Art Deco, and the Barcardi building is a great example!
LikeLike
January 12, 2015 at 11:42 am
Thank you Elisa.
LikeLike
January 12, 2015 at 11:54 am
Such a beautiful building with amazing architectural details…love it!
LikeLike
January 12, 2015 at 12:52 pm
Thank you so much Valerie.
LikeLike
January 12, 2015 at 6:54 pm
These are some cool images of Havana’s architecture Edith.
LikeLike
January 12, 2015 at 6:49 pm
What a great building and architecture Edith, I love the elevator doors
LikeLike
January 13, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Thanks Mike. It was also cool riding up in it.
LikeLike
January 13, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Classic Art Deco and that is not something I would have associated with Havana. A glorious building lovingly captured if I may say so, Edith. I’m guessing you rather like Art Deco?
LikeLike
January 13, 2015 at 1:34 pm
Thanks Andy. I do when I’m presented with a gem such as this 🙂
LikeLike
January 13, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Fantastic set of photos of architecture in Cuba, Edith. I love Art Deco. Thanks!
LikeLike
January 13, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Thanks Jane.
LikeLike
January 13, 2015 at 10:47 pm
Outstanding photos of this beautiful building. Love the architectural styling of it and the surrounding area looks great as well. Nicely done, Edith. Interesting back story. 😉
LikeLike
January 14, 2015 at 9:26 pm
Thanks so much Jimi.
LikeLike
January 14, 2015 at 10:23 pm
The founder, Facundo Bacardà Massó, was born in Sitges Spain and started Bacardi there.. Later he emigrated to Cuba. The origin of Bacardi lays in Spain.
LikeLike
January 15, 2015 at 4:55 pm
Thanks Han. That’s true Facundo was born in Spain and I believe he developed the yeast that gives Bacardi rum its flavour while in Spain but he emigrated to Cuba in 1830 and I believe that the first Bacardi distillery was in fact in Santiago de Cuba.
LikeLike
January 15, 2015 at 11:09 pm