As Cuba grapples with a prolonged housing crisis and a shortage of building materials, residents in Pinar del Río are turning to an ancient alternative: constructing homes using earth, lime, and clay. Experts claim these materials can withstand hurricanes. A hands-on training session, led by Mexican specialists and supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), taught local technicians, builders, and students how to construct vaulted roofs using materials sourced from the region.
"We aim to revive traditional building methods that have proven to be both useful and durable," remarked Ramón Aguirre, a Mexican architect and director of the Institute of Mexican Vaults and Regional Technologies (IBOMEX), one of the trainers involved.
During the training week, participants built dome and barrel vault structures using handmade bricks and mortars crafted without cement, using a mix of lime, earth, and clay. Workers from the housing system, students from the Pedro Téllez Polytechnic Institute, and local producers took part. Additionally, a module focused on producing solid clay bricks was led by a master craftsman from the province of Guantánamo.
The initiative aims to diversify local production of building materials in response to the ongoing scarcity and reliance on imported supplies like cement and steel, whose absence in the Cuban market slows down the already precarious efforts to restore housing. This initiative is driven by the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in 2022, which caused severe damage to the housing stock in Pinar del Río, leaving visible scars on the province's landscape.
Nearly two years later, many families have yet to rebuild their homes. In this context, these techniques emerge as a potential, albeit limited, solution to a structural issue that the government has failed to address. "Today, it's crucial to generate this knowledge and apply it to the homes being rebuilt," stated Jesús Nilo Soca Muñiz, the coordinator of programs for the Provincial Government.
The project, implemented with support from Civil Defense, the Ministry of Construction, and European Union funds, is part of a broader strategy to enhance local disaster response capabilities. However, the institutional enthusiasm highlights the precarious situation that forces a reliance on past methods to find present solutions.
While techniques like these can offer practical, context-specific solutions for certain rural communities, they do not replace a comprehensive public housing policy nor address the resource shortages affecting thousands of Cuban families. Yet, is this the first time the regime has endorsed such practices? Surprisingly, the answer is no.
In 2022, amid the housing crisis that prevailed then and persists today, Trinidad in Sancti Spíritus province promoted building homes with mud. "Oneida Ortiz, a resident of San Pedro, sees her mud house come to life with the help of many Cuban and foreign friends attending the 20th Ibero-American Seminar on Architecture and Earth Construction in Trinidad, Cuba," reported a Radio Trinidad journalist on Facebook.
That same year in Pinar del Río, building homes with vaulted roofs was revisited as an "alternative" due to the acute shortage of construction materials in Cuba. More recently, in 2025, the regime began pushing projects that include buildings made from shipping containers, part of their strategies to address the housing deficit in Holguín province.
The background to all these "initiatives" is singular: Cuba's housing construction sector is in a deep and prolonged crisis. The sharp decline in housing construction is a glaring indicator of the country's economic and social collapse; in 2024, fewer houses were built than during the worst years of the Special Period, highlighting the state's sustained inability to meet one of the population's most basic needs.
Another revealing statistic is that Cuba's housing deficit exceeds 800,000 homes, yet the regime manages to construct only a minimal fraction. The lack of materials, the collapse of the local industry, and poor state management exacerbate a structural crisis that directly impacts the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Cubans.
Understanding Earth-Based Construction in Cuba
What materials are used in earth-based construction taught in Pinar del Río?
The construction techniques involve using earth, lime, and clay, which are sourced locally and are believed to withstand hurricanes.
Why is there a focus on traditional building methods in Cuba?
The focus on traditional methods is due to the severe scarcity of construction materials and the need to find sustainable, locally sourced alternatives amidst ongoing economic challenges.
How has the housing crisis affected Cuban families?
The housing crisis has left many families without adequate homes, with a significant deficit exceeding 800,000 homes, which the state struggles to address due to material shortages and poor management.