Modern Architectures of North America

Colonial charm meets modern amenities

From the opulent interiors decorated in a traditional Cuban style to the American-style guestroom bathrooms, the Hotel Nacional invited U.S. visitors to experience the best of both worlds, or better yet, it suggested the new modern Cuba as grounded in Americanization while still retaining its unique character. the public interior spaces were decorated in a more decidedly Spanish colonial theme that was injected with references to the Cuban republic. For example, the small decorative cement tiles that were designed to create a type of basket pattern were Spanish colonial in overall aesthetic appearance, but the specific images contained in these tiles referenced Cuba in particular. One tile that was used had a five-pointed star in the center, iconography often used in depictions related to the Republic of Cuba as the star held a prominent position in the Cuban flag. Another image was a small fortress or castle, similar to the three castles depicted on the coat of arms of Havana, and references colonial fortresses that were considered iconic of the island. The interiors reflected general Cuban furnishing tendencies, which were still strongly reminiscent of colonial decorating approaches. These tendencies favored caned wood furniture and wicker furniture, because of their ventilation characteristics and associations with being sanitary; mahogany furniture, a hardwood associated with Cuba; and potted plants, incorporated in abundance, especially in patios and spaces open to the outdoors. In general, wicker was widely incorporated throughout the hotel, the majority of which was provided by the Cuban company Casa Mimbre.

Contents of this annotation: