About us
Our City, Our Space
Sponsored by the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund, and with the partnership of PlacemakingX and the UK Embassy in Havana, we invite you to join us to discuss and create resilient and inclusive paths towards the sustainable development of Cuban communities.
Who are we?
The International Forum “Our City, Our Space” is a discussion platform to promote placemaking strategies towards the sustainable development of Cuban communities. Sponsored by the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund, and with the partnership of PlacemakingX, the forum invites community leaders, architects, communicators, urban planners, sociologists, designers, artists, economists, students, environmental experts and specialists in sustainable development from Cuba and worldwide to develop a meaningful debate in order to promote and support sustainable living modes in the island. It also aims to share and raise awareness of the New Cuban Urban Agenda 2036, while addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 3, 11, 12 13 and 17 of the United Nations.
Our City, Our Space 2020
First edition of the International Forum Our city, Our space from the 16-19th November 2020.
Our City, Our Space 2021
Second edition of the International Forum Our city, Our space – “Towards sustainable living modes”, from the 16-19th November 2021.
Our journey
The milestones of our work so far.
I Edition of the Forum ‘Our City Our Space’.
The International Forum “Our City Our Space” is a platform for debate to promote placemaking strategies for the sustainable development of Cuban communities. The forum invites community leaders, architects, communicators, urban planners, sociologists, designers, artists, economists, students, environmental experts and sustainable development specialists from Cuba and around the world to develop a meaningful debate to promote and support sustainable lifestyles on the island. The first edition revealed the strength of networking, as well as the absence of meaningful discussion scenarios on the role of public spaces within community development. It was an exercise in collective reflection and creation, mutual learning and capacity building.
Creation of the Placemaking Cuba Network
Among the main achievements of the first edition was the launching of Placemaking Cuba, a network focused on promoting public spaces, community development and actions for the Sustainable Development Goals in the Caribbean island. -visibilize projects, initiatives and actions -establishing academic and professional alliances -Promote the transformation of public spaces. -create vital, inclusive and sustainable communities.
Consolidation campaign
Subsequently, a network consolidation strategy was designed to create strategic alliances with NGOs, community projects, academic institutions and governmental institutions. Participation in workshops, community festivals, as well as meetings with institutions and/or governments.
Joining the Placemaking X network
PlacemakingX is a network of leaders, public space activists, regional network leaders and practitioners from around the world who share a common purpose: “to turn the spaces we live in into places we love.” PlacemakingX currently consists of over 100 leaders and more than 1,500 advocates from over 85 countries around the world. -driving global collaboration – “making the places we live places we love”.
Joining the Placemaking LATAM Network
Placemaking Latin America is the result of the networking of the global Placemaking movement. Today the movement has a network of more than 3,000 professionals and activists who share a common purpose: to continue strengthening the connection between people and the public places they share. This network of connected leaders across the region are working together for a more inclusive and sustainable future for our continent. -inclusive urban actions -regional alliance center -centro de alianzas regionales
II Edition of the Forum ‘Our City Our Space’.
The relevance of the first edition of the International Forum “Our City Our Space” convinced us of the need to join efforts between organizations and social actors involved in the event. With this objective in mind, the second edition “Towards a Sustainable Future” was developed. The Forum echoed the principles of the New Cuban Urban Agenda 2036, while addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 3, 11, 12 13 and 17.
Digital platform
During the second edition, the official online platform of the International Forum ‘Our City Our Space’ (ourcityourspace.org) was launched, bringing together all the information from the two editions. The website hosts the Placemaking Cuba network, which aims to strengthen collaborations towards sustainable communities in Cuba by creating a user-friendly subscription platform to engage activists, experts, decision makers and academics in the placemaking movement. -strengthening of the network
‘Más Bosque’ Workshop
First face-to-face workshop in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture and the Metropolitan Park of Havana. The workshop brought together students, professors and interested authorities to talk about trees and their important role in our cities. The venue was a small urban park near the Almendares River, which needs to be reforested. -planting trees -use of placemaking strategies
‘Designing my Neighborhood’ workshop
Designing my neighborhood is developed in Los Pocitos in collaboration with the Akokán community project and the GAÏA environmental project. The program aims to accompany the children of this Havana locality in the design of the neighborhood of their dreams. -basic design tools -environmental education -work with community leaders
Festival de La Rueda
The Festival de la Rueda is organized by the community project Cuba 8 and takes place in June to celebrate World Bicycle Day. The festival aims to make a community of deaf cyclists visible in order to create a friendlier and more accessible city for them. The team was invited to conduct two workshops, one on women’s empowerment and cycling, and another to co-create a map to understand how disabled cyclists perceive the city. -cycling mobility criteria -promoting sustainable mobility -Gender focus -accessibility and inclusion criteria
Activating La Timba’ workshop
In collaboration with the NGO Espacio Lúdico (Chile) and the community project Semillas de Cambio, we will work on the local regeneration of the neighborhood of La Timba. We will intervene the public space with a placemaking action focused on children and teenagers, which aims to involve the community during the process. -creation of alliances -working with children -community approach
Meet our team
Meet the event organizers. We are a small group of Cuban architects and journalists and designers.
Gabriela García
Co-founder & Content Manager
Leysi Rubio
Co-founder & Communication Manager
Gabriela Lage
Content creator and logistics
Wendy Valladares
Graphic designer