Previous experience has shown that the residents of the barrios in Caracas are well-informed and knowledgeable, and possess a firm understanding of what their communities need most, even if untutored in the principles of planning and development. In this vein, the expertise of residents, community leaders, government officials, and international consultants was drawn upon in order to create a design that addressed many of the infrastructural and social problems from both top-down and bottom-up perspectives.

The cable car system, which is integrated with the Metro System of Caracas, is 2.1 km in length and employs gondolas capable of carrying 8 passengers each. Metro Cable’s capacity allows for the movement of 1,200 people per hour in each direction. Two stations will be to be in the valley and connect directly to the Caracas public transportation system. Three additional stations are located along the mountain ridge, on sites that meet the demands of community access, established pedestrian circulation patterns, and also spatial availability for construction, ensuring minimal demolition of existing housing. The separate stations include cultural, social and system administrative functions; replacement of homes demolished with more homes, as well as public spaces; a gym, a supermarket, and a daycare centre, as well a means of linking the cable car with the municipal bus system.

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Participants

Alfredo Brillembourg & Hubert Klumpner
José Antonio Nuñez
Carlos Bastidas
Patrick Edlinger
Elizabeth Florian
Cesar Gavidia
Dora Kelle
Rafael Machado
Claudia Ochoa
Regina Orvañanos
Juan Ponce
Matt Tarczynski

Client

C.A. Metro de Caracas

Location

San Agustín, Caracas, Venezuela

Research, Design and Exhibition

Michael Contento, Lindsey Sherman

Landscape Architect

Topotek 1 – Martin Rein-Cano, Christian Bohne

Graphic Design

Intégral Ruedi Baur & Associés – Ruedi Baur

Community Outreach

Felix Caraballo

Construction Company

Oderbrecht

Cable Car System

Doppelmayr

Year

2010

Status

Completed Project