For the first time, psychologists and architects team up in an academic exercise that pursues the encouragement of ongoing research about the Vista Alegre Neighborhood, concerning the material and immaterial heritage of this important neighborhood of the city.
The collaboration among 2nd year students and professors of the Psychology Major of the Faculty of Social Sciences, along with researchers from the Department of Architecture of the Faculty of Constructions at the Universidad de Oriente allows us to explore how the inhabitants are related to the patrimonial values of the site; as well as the impact of existing cultural institutions on the community. The first results show great differences depending on the age and the just studied areas (northeast, central or southwest).
As part of the program, Dr. Milene Soto and MSc. Luis Bello delivered a lecture to the entire group of psychology students to familiarize them with concepts related to Cultural Heritage and its significance in eastern Cuba.
Afterwards, the survey was designed by the students Bárbara González, Cindy Carrión, Elizabeth Luperón, Isabel Amador, Lianne Bruqueta and Lianne Romero along with Professor Angela Caballero, in a joint effort.
The activities included a tour around the Vista Alegre Neighborhood, work sessions in the Department of Architecture, and an exchange with researchers on the topic of built heritage of the Faculty of Constructions, all coordinated by MSc. Idaliana Aleaga, and architect Leonardo Pérez.
According to Dr María Teresa Muñoz Castillo, "The architecture of this site is the expression of the widest formal repertoire of the Republican stage in all its stylistic variety, throughout the five first decades of the twentieth century. In addition, almost a hundred years of architectural work can be appreciated in its streets; the whole history of an era and a city summarized in its excellent buildings and its magnificent public spaces "
Therefore, this is one of the most important work scenarios of Subproject 2 "Conservation and Management of Patrimonial Sites of the Eastern Cuba" belonging to the P4 of the VLIR Program, based at the Universidad de Oriente in Santiago de Cuba. In a posterior stage of work, the results of this survey will be mapped, associated to the current studies on the evolution of the heritage built in the Vista Alegre Neighborhood.
Initial meeting with the group of 2nd year students of the Psychology Major.
Students and teachers during the tour around the Vista Alegre Neighborhood.
During data processing and analysis. Photos: Courtesy MSc. Luis Bello Caballero.