Havana, July 8 (RHC) -– Cuban National Architecture Laureate, Mario Coyula, died from cancer Monday in Havana.

The outstanding architect was born June 16, 1935 in the Cuban capital. His responsibilities included: director of the Architecture Faculty at the Havana-based Higher Polytechnic Institute, director of Architecture and City Planning in Havana, and first president of the Havana Commission of Monuments, among others.

His major works included commemorative monuments, such as one built in honor of the Martyrs of the University, which is in a centrally located Havana park; the Mausoleum to the Heroes of March 13th heroic events at the Colon Cemetery, and other architectural works.

He was editor of several publications in the field of architecture and city planning and published over 200 articles and essays, presenting lectures and workshops in universities of about 20 countries.

In 2002, Mario Coyula became the first Cuban professor to attend the Spring Summer at Harvard’s Postgraduate Design School and in 2006 he was guest professor at Vienna’s Angewandte University.

During his long and prolific life, was awarded with many national and international distinctions.