Abandoned Skyscraper in Venezuela is the World’s Tallest Shanty Town

In the middle of downtown Caracas in Venezuela is an abandoned 45 story tower that has been reclaimed by squatters who have turned it into a thriving vertical <a href="http://inhabitat.com/massive-pixilated-porocity-transforms-worlds-largest-slum/">shanty town</a>. Built during the booming nineties when the real estate market was putting up ever larger edifices to the banking industry, the project, which is one of the<a href="http://inhabitat.com/latin-americas-tallest-skyscraper-aiming-for-leed-platinum/"> tallest in Latin America</a>, became a financial white elephant. Named after developer David Brillembourg, an estimated<em> 2500 people</em> now call the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/world/americas/01venezuela.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3&sq=david%20tower&st=cse&scp=1">Tower of David </a> home. After his death the government took possession, but seems to not have the stomach to change the status quo. Two decades later, the tower has become a symbol of the decline of Venezuela for some, but can also be viewed as a triumph of the spirit its occupants.

Pressure for housing in the city was not being met by the private sector for fear of properties being seized by the government.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/hugo-chavez-sends-army-to-change-all-lights-in-venezuela-to-cfls/">government </a>has not kept up with the demand for housing and the abandoned building, and dozens of others in the city, have become a last-stand refuge for thousands.

Preferring to be called 'neighbors' rather than 'squatters' the residents have turned the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/parasitic-emergency-homes-can-be-implanted-onto-abandoned-buildings/">skeleton of the building</a> into a functional community with electricity and water.

Recreation and child care facilities has been created.

The facade is dotted with satellite TV dishes and cement block terraces. The residents keep the building relatively clean and have formed a security detail at the entrances.

Newer residents have little more than a tent to live in.

As the government is taking a hands off approach, the remarkable and hardy neighbors have made the best of a difficult situation.

Astonishingly, retail has flourished in the building with a small shops set one nearly every inhabited floor, with other services provided throughout the building.

Residents have taken up residence over 28 floors, but there are no elevators, lighting or even guard rails.

Sewage disposal is an issue, as is a lack of security at such heights.

The story of turning a high-rise into habitat for the poor and homeless has been proposed by architects like Tom Morgan with his <a href="http://www.evolo.us/architecture/slumdog-superstructure-in-nairobi/">Slumdog Superstructure</a>, but the Tower of David may be the greatest study of living in such dire conditions really means.