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- Tower of David (13)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.1
- Tower of David (2)Pressure for housing in the city was not being met by the private sector for fear of properties being seized by the government.2
- Tower of David (4)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.3
- Tower of David (11)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.4
- Tower of David (10)Recreation and child care facilities has been created.5
- Tower of David (1)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.6
- Tower of David (9)Newer residents have little more than a tent to live in.7
- Tower of David (12)As the government is taking a hands off approach, the remarkable and hardy neighbors have made the best of a difficult situation.8
- Tower of David (5)Astonishingly, retail has flourished in the building with a small shops set one nearly every inhabited floor, with other services provided throughout the building.9
- Tower of David (3)Residents have taken up residence over 28 floors, but there are no elevators, lighting or even guard rails.10
- Tower of David (8)Sewage disposal is an issue, as is a lack of security at such heights.11
- Tower of David (6)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.12