Microbrigadas: Cuba's Collective Housing Legacy in Havana

In the 1970s, Cuba faced a severe national housing shortage due to population growth, rural-to-urban migration, and the deterioration of existing housing stock. The government responded with a system that pulled workers from their regular jobs to work on construction sites. This program, known as the Microbrigadas, transformed entire districts of Havana by combining collective self-construction with state-backed technical expertise, leaving a lasting mark on the capital's urban fabric. A Microbrigada was a residential apartment building constructed by factory and office personnel rather than professional construction workers. Workplaces sent a mix of specialist mechanics, administrative staff, and general laborers to the site. To ensure structural integrity, the state assigned a small team of architecture, structural engineering, and civil construction professionals to supervise each project, train the personnel, and ensure stability. The reassigned workers dedicated their time to building the apartment blocks, while their colleagues remaining in offices and factories took over their duties—a process known as 'collective effort.' This article, written by Moises Carrasco and published on ArchDaily on August 25, 2026, explores the legacy of this program, which still influences Havana's urban landscape today.