Collapse at Havana's ISDI: A Dark Day for Cuban Design and Designers

On Friday, the Superior Institute of Design (ISDI), a prominent academic institution in Cuba, experienced a partial building collapse at its location on Belascoain and Carlos III, Central Havana. This event not only damaged the physical structure but also left the Cuban design community deeply shaken.

The collapse occurred in the afternoon when part of the building gave way due to long-criticized structural deficiencies highlighted by both students and faculty. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but a 78-year-old woman was injured, and four families lost access to their homes.

"Yesterday was a terribly sad day for Cuban design and designers. Witnessing the fall of our school, the ISDI, was heartbreaking," shared Carlos Zamora, an alumnus, on Facebook. In a heartfelt post, Zamora expressed his sorrow over the institution's demise, which is affiliated with the University of Havana.

"The collapse of ISDI is also the collapse of Cuba—our ideologies, families, dreams, future, and even our physical integrity as people. [...] May the fall of ISDI never be forgotten," he emphasized.

Reflections and Reactions from the Community

Meanwhile, César Pérez, another Facebook user, offered a sarcastic take on the country's resource management priorities: "While ISDI crumbled in slow motion without any means for repair, hotel construction was full steam ahead by GAESA. Perhaps both were part of a secret plan to delight our future designers. Considering there are no tourists willing to pay fortunes to tour dumps and ruins, I suggest temporarily relocating ISDI to the Torre K. That way, we kill two birds with one stone: housing designers in luxury and silencing critics who point out that their malevolent hulk has less occupancy than Cuca's Airbnb, who also sells illicit sweets on the side."

Liván Izquierdo, the first secretary of the Communist Party in Havana, reported that debris clearance had commenced in the affected area. "Crews from Gecal and the Raúl Roa Contingent are working on clearing debris and remnants from the partial collapse at the Industrial Design Institute," he stated. He added that securing the surrounding area is a priority, and the structural integrity of the rest of the building is under evaluation.

Additionally, Dr. C. Sergio Peña Martínez, Dean of ISDI, addressed the situation and left a message for the community: "ISDI is in the news, sadly, but necessarily. The collapse was not the anticipated end, though it was always a possibility. Efforts were made to intervene only in the affected area, but our beloved old building could not withstand the test of time and demolition. Part of ISDI fell, and in response, we will not cry because we need to see clearly the future we dream of. We will rise and fight for a new space, one that Cuban design deserves and needs. We will all strive to reunite. There will always be ISDI; this painful outcome might expedite the process and open new paths."

Historical Context and Future Prospects

Since its founding in 1984, ISDI has been a cornerstone in training design professionals in Cuba. However, the lack of maintenance, coupled with Havana's widespread infrastructure decay, highlighted the building's risks. In March 2022, ISDI's premises were closed due to a "complicated architectural failure" that endangered its occupants' safety. Classes were relocated to other University of Havana faculties. Despite these measures, in July 2024, a part of the interior facade, which had been shored up and closed off since 2022, suffered another collapse, underscoring the severity of the structural issues.