FINAL_PROJECT

WHAT MAKES VENEZUELA UNIQUE FROM AN ARCHITECTURAL PERSPECTIVE? There are many points of view to see Venezuela as a wonderful country, from its beautiful landscaping to the human kindness of Venezuelans. However, Venezuela’s architecture has a special touch taking into account different architectural aspects as color, light, texture, acoustics, rhythm, circulation and space and scale. That is why I’m going to explain what makes Venezuela unique from an architectural perspective, through different architectural works of the capital city: Caracas.

The use of colors in the Venezuela’s architecture is very extensive. For example, we can see how the Black Cube in Caracas uses dark colors, so even when the construction is sited in a warm location, thanks to the black glass, sunlight is absorbed and does not generate heat. Thus, the glass walls reflect surronding green trees and the blue sky with white clouds creating a refreshing effect.

Maybe the best example of good architecture in Venezuela is the Central University of Venezuela. This University designed by Carlos Raul Villanueva has many spaces of good architecture everywhere. That is why the UCV is a perfect example for the follow architectural aspects.



An example of perfect and carefully study of the behavior of natural light is the “Plaza Cubierta” creating a very rich and varied environment. However, one of the most touching spaces is the Aula Magna. And just not for the materials, distribution and colors, but for the game of lights that makes of this place a very comfortable room. First is an overall illumination and provides a comfortable level of brightness, second it is an accent lighting too because it emphasize the sculptural roof.

On the other hand, we can’t talk about the Aula Magna without mention the acoustics of the place, because it was considered in the eighties one of the most extraordinary places with the best acoustics in the world, combining acoustics and arts with the sculptural roof in the ceiling: the floating clouds designed by Alexander Calder.

About texture, can be seen in the building’s facade, commonly they are of different materials as glass, concrete, stone, brick, among other. In this way, an example of this use is the Central University of Venezuela, However, not just the facades have textures, in the UCV there are many sculptures with textures too, may be with visual textures or tactile texture, but both too. For example, the one in the picture has a slick surface that, at the same time, makes it seems smooth and silky. Besides, the use of stained glass windows and metal makes a glossy texture, and thanks to the reflection of the sky and the sunshine the building appears to be covered by a wet surface. And the concrete create a texture that is inviting and insinuates the feeling of being in a comfortable cozy home.

The use of rhythm in Venezuela in the University City of Caracas appears from the whole to the characteristics of each building, designed by Villanueva, presenting rhythmic aspects. Then, the use of repetition of dimensions which are associated to visual and light and wind conditions, therefore the windows are in their majority the same dimensions according to each building. Besides, the use of lines, for example, in the building of sanitary engineering rate achieved with the sun visors and the repetition of difference, as in the faculty of engineering, combined with the repetition of lines, manages to create an even more interesting rhythm through the tiles. =====Even the circulation was perfectly designed by Carlos Raul Villanueva in the UCV. So the long covered walkway allows a perfectly horizontal circulation and distribution in all the campus and created a wonderful, peaceful and enjoyable circulation. Besides, structures such as elevators and staircases are often referred as vertical circulation elements, so they are positioned and designed to optimize the flow of people through the building in each one of the faculties. =====

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Finally, one aspect that perhaps has not been resolved in the best way is the space and its relation to the scale. With the rapid growth of the city were not taken into account various aspects that has damaged it significantly. So we see in El Hatillo, a colonial town, there are great buildings that make a strong contrast with the morphology of the village. Similarly, not only in Caracas seen such problems because the nation's economic growth and the population has forced cities to grow faster in less time, thus creating conflict between the massive scale of buildings and their little relation to the space they inhabit. =====

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 In conclusion we can see how great it is the architecture of our country, Venezuela, as the architectural aspects which have in their structures and have been conceived and designed accordingly with the characteristics of the place, as the warm weather, population, culture, economy, among others. From there, it is vitally important to start to realize how wonderful it must be our job as architects to ensure continuing the legacy of our ancestors who have made Venezuela a unique country from an architectural perspective. =====

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