Abby Gordon
Photo essay documents 560-mile trek across Cuba
Shepley Bulfinch, a national architecture firm known for design excellence and innovation with offices in Boston, Houston and Phoenix, announced today that BSA Space, in partnership with Shepley Bulfinch, will feature Road to Revolution: A 30 Day Journey Across Cuba, an exhibition of photos by Shepley Bulfinch architectural designer, Abby Gordon. Taken over the course of a month-long trip across Cuba, the exhibition provides insight into the conflicting forces that shape Cuba’s architecture and the way its diverse community lives and engages with the physical environment.
Abby travelled to Cuba as Shepley Bulfinch’s third Howe Travelling Fellow. Established in 2010 in memory of late Principal Sandy Howe, this internal award is given to a member of the design staff to foster travel and, with it, the opportunity to experience design and cultures in new ways. Previous recipients include Tad Jusczyk AIA, who travelled the Silk Road from Italy to Turkey, and Barak Yaryan, who travelled to Japan.
“Sandy will be remembered for his gentle spirit, good humor, and passion for the artistry of architectural design and we are honored to award this biennial grant to a member of our firm who exemplifies these characteristics,” said Carole Wedge FAIA, LEED AP, president of Shepley Bulfinch. “The photos selected for Abby’s exhibition reflect her deep admiration for the country she visited and I expect some of her future design work will be richly infused with the history and culture she experienced in Cuba.”
Abby’s 900 km (560 mile) journey traced the route of the Revolution from Santiago de Cuba to Havana. Along the way, she met government officials, architects, historians, and residents who aided her exploration and enabled her to uncover social truths, explore decaying buildings, and experience Cuba from urban, mountain, and rural settings. Her series of photographs capture the rich visual quality of the cities and sites she visited.
“While the architectural language of Cuba is rich with Taino, African, European, Asian, and American influences, the country’s physical identity has remained startlingly unchanged since Castro rose to power,” said Abby. “Time stands still in the faded beauty of Cuba’s cities and in half-built gestures of post-Revolutionary optimism, beckoning to be explored.”
Road to Revolution: A 30 Day Journey Across Cuba, designed by Anna Farrington graphic arts & design, will be on display from February 25, 2017 through July 23, 2017 at BSA Space located at 290 Congress Street in Boston. For more information about the exhibition, please click here.
About Shepley Bulfinch
Shepley Bulfinch is a national architecture firm known for design excellence and innovation. With offices in Boston, Houston, and Phoenix, the firm provides architecture, planning, and interior design solutions for leading institutions in academics and healthcare, as well as urban development and civic organizations. Shepley Bulfinch advances design by sparking a dialogue with clients who are leading change in the built environment. For more information, please visit www.shepleybulfinch.com
About BSA Space
BSA Space, Boston’s leading cultural institution for architecture and design, is home to the Boston Society of Architects/AIA (BSA) and the BSA Foundation. The BSA is one of the oldest chapters of the American Institute of Architects. The BSA Foundation, a charitable organization, supports activities that illuminate the ways that design improves the quality of our lives. All exhibitions at BSA Space are supported by the BSA Foundation. BSA Space is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am–6:00 pm, and on weekends and holidays from 10:00 am–5:00 pm. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information visit www.architects.org/bsaspace.
Photo Courtesy: Cuba photos, Abby Gordon; headshot, Shepley Bulfinch
A quiet moment early in the morning on Calle Heredia, a street situated within the typically bustling historic city center
A bartender takes a break from his patrons at a government-run bar in Habana Vieja
The weathered wood of this door betrays its age but does not diminish its beauty
Built in 1972 and modernized in 2005, this meteorological station is visible from the top of the 452 steps that lead to the Gran Piedra (Big Rock)
