| Petare, Caracas (Venezuela) 2010 |
| This work is born from the concern to rescue urban life in the public spaces of the city of Caracas, a city where violence has taken away freedom. This project proposes a series of public spaces that encourage public life through training and youth recreation. Spaces where children called to participate in crime find an alternative for their free time. Based on architecture as a transformative agent of the city, these spaces are scattered in the historic center of Petare, in order to stimulate and promote places for activity and collective encounter in the heart of one of the largest slums in Latin America. The potential of the Historic Center is extraordinary thanks to its central character, its historical value and its attractive geography. This micro city has an active life fostered by 22 schools, medical services, abundant shops and major transport links make it a must for millions of people living in nearby destination informal sectors. Unfortunately, the full enjoyment of Petare by its inhabitants and neighbors is threatened by violence, lack of public spaces and chaos. The use of public open space has been reduced to the Plaza Sucre, the only place really used by people for activities as diverse as soccer, singing hip hop, congregate or just sit and watch the people go activities. This project aims to reconstruct the image of the City (Lynch, 1960) by adding small cultural buildings and sports areas in the historic center of Petare. Interventions are connected together through a pedestrian network that helps make the city more legible.    |