[Axel Olson - Before the Bright Shadow - COVER IMG] Before the Bright Shadow - Section Model
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Before the Bright Shadow

University/SchoolUniversity of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
Lead ArchitectAxel Olson

In an era of Havana Syndrome paranoia, the US Embassy in Cuba is reimagined as a black box of communications that contests the opacity of government and civilian relations in the US and Cuba. Portions of the original building are redacted to create new pockets of on and offline connections. A plaque in the Anti-Imperialist Plaza across the street describes the presence of the US as a “bright shadow” - the project embodies this through an architecture in guarded retreat, opening itself to certain public activities while turning inwards to guard what might be left of its original program.