How did the National Schools of Art try to express Cuban cultural identity?

The National Schools of Art in Havana were designed as an idealistic effort to express Cubanidad, which represents the potent blend of African and Spanish cultural origins that define the essence of Cuba.1

To achieve this, architects Ricardo Porro, Roberto Gottardi, and Vittorio Garatti moved away from traditional European architectural styles. Instead, they utilized sinuous, organic forms that responded directly to the local topography and incorporated existing ceiba trees into the campus design. Each of the five schools—Plastic Arts, Drama, Modern Dance, Music, and Ballet—featured distinct, expressive structures, such as giant stupas, serpentine corridors, and soaring vaults, intended to create a uniquely Cuban cultural identity.1

This architectural vision eventually faced political opposition after Cuba aligned with Soviet ideology, which viewed such expressiveness as bourgeois, leading to the project's abandonment in the mid-1960s. Today, the schools are recognized as a significant cultural asset and a striking testament to the revolutionary period.1