Born to a Cuban mother and American father, Monty Freeman fulfilled a long-held aspiration in 2019 when he acquired a home in Havana in partnership with his cousins who reside there. He then began to completely transform the 1500-square-foot midcentury modern space into a place where his family members at large can gather and as a base for his academic preservation research and teaching. The apartment building, designed in 1958 by noted modern architect Maria Elena Cabarrocas, who specialized in multiple dwellings, is located in the Vedado neighborhood. A desirable, leafy district, it is comprised of freestanding villas and sumptuous mansions dating from the first quarter of the 20th century (many of which are now embassies and government offices), and apartment buildings developed just before the 1959 revolution. 

The apartment comprises open-plan spaces, unusual for its time, including a large living-dining room, three primary bedrooms, two large bathrooms, a galley kitchen, and a maid’s room with a bath. The north-facing balcony has a view over trees and rooftops to the Straits of Florida. Original black and white terrazzo floors run throughout the main space. Renovations to the apartment were non-structural, as there was no need to improve its layout. Walls were replastered and painted white, wood windows and louvers were reconstructed, interior doors and hardware were replaced, and a new kitchen was installed. The original 1950s green bathroom tiles were retained, but fixtures were replaced. Monty furnished the residence with vintage mid-century modern vintage pieces mixed with those he designed himself and had fabricated in a local shop. Cuban art by known artists discerningly appears throughout the spaces, consistent with Monty’s own architectural aesthetic. The achieved effect is a minimalist environment enriched with carefully chosen objects in which light, air, and views take precedence.