What Is a Colonial House in Old Havana? A colonial house in Old Havana is a building type, not a decorating style. Cuba's Oficina del Historiador classifies each of the 3,370 buildings in the 214-hectare historic centre by architectural typology - zaguán, patio, crujía, entresuelo - and by a heritage protection grade that decides what an owner may legally change. About 500 rank as high heritage...