This book outlines the urban and architectural analysis and synthesis work undertaken by the lapa and thier students as a collaboration betweden the EPFL and the Technical Univeristy of Havana (CUJAE) and the Center for Urban Studies of Havana (CEU-H). The project was a one year study, with urban planning and cultural analysis in the first semester and architctural development and design in the second semester. The book is a collection of this work, along with essays and contributions from leading thinkers and accademics from Cuba and Switzerland.