Final+Project

Marianne Scheer Carnet: 0910800

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**Final Project English III **

There are hundreds of elements that make Venezuela’s architecture particular. Throughout this course we have learned about seven of them, including acoustics, color, rhythm, texture, space and scale and vertical and horizontal circulation. The purpose of this project is to explain how these elements make Venezuelan architecture and urban planning unique.


 * Acoustics **

The Teresa Carreño Theater

The Cultural Complex has two main rooms where the geometry and acoustic design can vary and provide a **convertible **  stage which is also an efficient and comfortable space where you can enjoy the most outstanding shows. These acoustic elements allow adaptation depending on the type of show that is being presented and weather the room is full or not.

The way that the 24 parts of the room are arranged, helps the diffusion of sound in space. There are a series of sound boxes, an amplification system ( Closter), a series of " Clouds" or acoustic panels , which adapt <span class="hps" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> to the noise emission of each show. It also has absorbent devices ( <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">black <span class="hps" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">wool cloth <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">), that create <span class="hps" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">surfaces of absorbent material, the seats have a system of " <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">hives" (they are <span class="hps" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">tiny holes <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">) that <span class="hps" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">guarantee the quality of sound even when the room <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> is <span class="hps" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">empty. Finally <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> it <span class="hps" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">has a <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> system of doors <span class="hps" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">built with absorbent material that prevent <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">s <span class="hps" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">leaks from external noise <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">.

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<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As we already know, <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">the use of color and light are basic elements in modern architecture, but Venezuela doesn’t have “modern” architecture in numbers. Most of the buildings aren’t new. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Because of this, the majority of buildings in Caracas don’t include a range of colors. Instead of colors, cement and light paint, as well as bricks and stone, are commonly used in the facades of buildings, because it requires low maintenance.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Color **

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The "Plaza Cubierta UCV" or, covered plaza, is an architectural achievement because of the great use of light and shadow. The light penetrates the lattice wall and creates a pattern on the floor. The rest of the light flows in through gaps in between ceilings, and invites people to circulate throughout the area. The light is the element that guides the way throughout the plaza. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Light **

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In terms of rhythm, caracas displays various places where we can clearly see patterns. we have the Hospital Universitario de Caracas, where identical semi-circular towers create certain exterior spaces, hence the rhythm throughout its facade. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">There are various examples of how texture is used in architecture throughout Caracas. Some of them include the Poliedro, the ranchos, and parts of the Universidad Central de Venezuela.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rhythm **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Texture **

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We can see how texture can breathe life into buidlings as well as create a unique experience for occupant's senses. They express the true quality of materials, shape an interior space or simply articulate a pattern. One of the best examples for texture is the ranchos throughout Caracas that stand out mainly because of their material. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">With their texture they create a visual limit between two parts of the city, and also a feeling of a blanket that is choking other buildings in Caracas.

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<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> With 225 meters and 64 floors, the twin towers <span class="hps" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">of Central Park are the tallest skyscrapers in South America and the second highest in Latin America <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">.The parque central towers represent vertical circulation because of its dimensions. The height of the building gives a sence of a vertical space, but the circulation elements, such as stairs, reinforce the concept.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Vertical **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Centro Simon Bolivar **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Horizontal **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Expreso Mall Baruta **

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Expreso Baruta mall is a perfect example of a horizontal space. The design of horizontal circulation determines the basic shape and character of the entire building. This is reinforced with circulation elements, in this case ramps, that connect the different parts and levels of the building. **<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The basic shape and character of the entire structure is determined by this horizontal circulation.

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Space and scale

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The scale <span class="hps" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">refers to the way we perceive the size of a design element on the remaining forms <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The human-scale architecture is based on the dimensions and proportions of the human body. In three-dimensional spaces, the height <span class="hps" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">has a greater influence than the width and length, because the height of the walls give us the feeling of shelter and privacy.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Some factors that may affect the scale of a space are:

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">• The shape, color <span class="hps" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">and type of boundary walls <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">• The shape and placement of apertures or openings.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">• The nature and scale of the elements that are placed

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Any building contributes to the creation of two spaces: the internal spaces, completely defined by its architecture, and urban spaces, which limit the interior spaces.

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Finally, In the centro simon bolivar we can see how the human scale plays an important role in the feeling the person gets when entering, or admiring the building. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Centro Simon Bolivar **

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 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Poliedro de Caracas **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Torres del Silencio **

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Finally, after reviewing these different exaples, We can see how all of these elements come together in a city that is very diverse in its architecture, but we can also appreciate how much more room there is to grow.