Disclaimer: So I have over 3,000 photos from my trip to Havana last year. Most of them aren't going to include too many interior photos since, well, communist Cuban police watched my every move as I happened to be there the same time president Obama was visiting. Some photos are from inside a bus so they're a bit crappy. But trust me, there will be some goodies and incredible locations.



Today's post involves some massive apartment complex built after the Revolution in the 1950s which were constructed along the beach and Rio Almendares, along the resort strip.

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The buildings are all made of concrete and rebar. Solid stuff. Originally they were painted light pastel colors, but over time this has all disappeared. These buildings, as with most other buildings in Havana, began to crumble as less money was devoted to public resorts for the average person.


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The area became a boom in the 1990s as a place for new resort hotels to be built, but that too lost its steam and many buildings sit vacant or halfway finished in the area. People were moved out of these apartments in anticipation of new development, and some of the neighboring buildings have already been torn down long ago.

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Incredibly, about 15 families still live in this hollowed out building. Exterior stairwells have been removed and hurricanes have been slowly picking the building apart.

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Between each complex were pools for the residents (seen here in ruins on the left side of the photo, where the two rows of concrete are.)

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Strong waves from hurricanes have over time overturned debris form the demolished apartment building. In this photo above, we see remnants of floors, tiled walls, and other trash. It's really incredible to see in person! This particular chunk is at least 40 feet wide and is almost flipped completely upside down!

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Bonus: This weird metal box slowly eroding in the waves. Anyone know what it is?


This was a great place to visit, I wish I had the chance to go inside. It was incredibly windy that day and the sound of the wind whistling/blowing through the complex is something I will never forget.

Thanks for looking!

That's an engine block. Looks to be a 4 cyl... possibly an old flathead.

You would not happen to remember a close by address? I am studying Soviet Concrete and might be going to Cuba in March. I would love to study this building!!!!!

So cool! I would love to more about the history of the place! Will definitely be looking it up.

Maybe this is urban legend, but I think a reason for the failure/abandonment of many concrete buildings built in 'primitive' nations along the coastline is they used the cheap & convenient source of water to mix with cement to form concrete -- salt water from the nearby ocean.

Man those are definitely hulking giants!