Gallery: Abandoned Skyscraper in Venez...
The story of turning a high-rise into habitat for the poor and homeless has been proposed by architects like Tom Morgan with his Slumdog Superstructure, but the Tower of David may be the greatest study of living in such dire conditions really means.
Ask Architect Alfredo Brillemburg (family member of projecting Architect) what is so good about this “invasion” fact for it to be representing Venezuela in the next Venice’s Architecture Biennale!!! tres chic!!!
It is very important to study the environment of a case before issuing an opinion. That building was not rejected by the rich, and less a chic example. The current owner is the government of Venezuela, who expropriated it to a private company and then abandoned. We are far away from a social struggle. That building is the best example of anarchy in a city that has suffered the neglect of the government. There are more buildings in the same state that have been expropriated by the government and then abandoned. By the way, in Caracas there are excellent examples of modern architecture
Smity, If it has been abandoned for that long and open to the environment, it might not be structurally sound enough now to complete. At least, by new construction standards.
God bless these people to have the courage to live in an open tower without the basic necessities like water, toilets etc. The Government should complete the building and let the people live there legally.
Dear Katescot:
In which city do you live? Maybe we can send the Torre de David over there so it can beautify your view!
sorry but it is a chic example to the world of how to reclaim housing for the poor that has been wasted on the rich.
Great article, indeed! …but too much in love with itself. What you picture as a “Thriving Vertical Shanty Town” is not an experiment, is not a probe: is a monumental failure, the proclamation of anarchy in a city that has to be recovered one day. But, Mr. Michler: the least thing the people from Caracas want is to read in this great site is our tragedy being sold as a chic example to the world.
@areyoukiddingme: I never said we are a developed country. I’m rebbutting the use of the term “decline”. We are far from our goals, and we could even be going back on some indexes, but in general the term “decline” is not appropriate.
A little research would have made for a very good article. That was all my point.
@electrobank: I live in Venezuela. Maracaibo, now. Caracas 2009 and 2010. Traveling all over since the 1980s. Thanks for asking.
You don’t trust the UN? Check CEPAL’s numbers, then. Oh, wait! They show the same trends.
@angel.ramirez.isea
yes decline! are you kidding me?? re-read this article and look at the pictures. developed countries don’t look like this. is this what your eternal power mad president calls help from the government? wake up!
@angel.Ramires.isea: Where do you live??? because i think those human developement indexes are not a reflection of our reality, it’s just an indication of how we progress and it’s ased on numbers provided by teh government that migth not be as accurate as you think…
@aprileileen I apologize and am in concurrence with your opinion that the word “infested” is inappropriate and changed it upon publication.
@darioalvarez Thank you for the correction, the nickname is “Torre de David” but you are correct about the official designation Confinanzas Building. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centro_Financiero_Confinanzas
I’d like to know specifics of issues like electricity production and use, sewage disposal, security and child care structures, etc. This is a fascinating event, both architecturally and sociologically. As one of the most potent symbols of 20th century civilization, the skyscraper’s role continues to evolve organically and charismatically.
“The decline of Venezuela”? Go check the trend of our Human Development Index (UNs web page) and then reword your “article”. Inhabitat, you just lost a daily reader.
The ultimate Second R (Re-Use).
That´s not the “David´s Tower”, it´s the Confinanzas Building; the David´s Tower is fully funtional and operative, you can see up in your photograph, at left, the black tower, officialy “Mercantil” now
“Infested?” They’re people, not cockroaches. How about “occupied.”