flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

High-rise 'slum' in Venezuela to be shuttered

High-rise 'slum' in Venezuela to be shuttered

The tower, called Torre David, is 45 stories of incomplete concrete, glass and steel.


By BD+C Staff | July 24, 2014

For more than 4,400 squatters in Caracas, Venezuela, the time has come to move on. An unfinished skyscraper that has stood in the city for over a decade has become home to not only people, but shops, basketball courts and prayer meetings.

Authorities have decided to move the squatters out, allegedly to investigate the structural soundness of the tower, which is the country's third-tallest skyscraper, the Miami Herald reports. 

The tower, called Torre David, is 45 stories of incomplete concrete, glass and steel. Construction began on the building in 1990, but screeched to a halt when financial crisis struck Venezuela in 1994. The building was about 60 percent complete at the time, and construction never resumed. 

Over time, it became a vertical city for squatters. The community really kicked off in 2007, when an evangelical minister led the occupation of the building.

There are rumors that the tower is being cleared because Chinese developers bought the site, but the government says they are unfounded.

Related Stories

High-rise Construction | Feb 8, 2016

Bjarke Ingels unveils design for winding Manhattan high-rise

The Spiral will be a 65-story tower with a half-mile’s worth of green space wrapped around its exterior.

Game Changers | Feb 5, 2016

Asia’s modular miracle

A prefab construction company in China built a 57-story tower in 19 days. Here’s how they did it.  

High-rise Construction | Feb 2, 2016

This tall tower will lower your heart rate

Matthias Olt, Associate Vice President at CallisonRTKL, discusses new ways to improve individual health and well-being through tower design.

High-rise Construction | Jan 25, 2016

BIG unveils new renderings for NYC towers at 76 Eleventh Avenue

The twisty, asymmetrical condo complexes will have office space instead of a hotel.

Mixed-Use | Jan 25, 2016

SOM unveils renderings of dual-tower Manhattan West development

The five million-sf project includes two office towers, a residential tower, retail space, and a new public square.

High-rise Construction | Jan 13, 2016

With the completion of NY’s 432 Park Avenue, there are now 100 ‘supertall’ skyscrapers in the world

That makes it an even 100. With the completion of 432 Park Avenue in New York City, the number of so-called “supertall” buildings (buildings standing at least 300 meters tall) in the world has reached the century mark, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. 

High-rise Construction | Jan 12, 2016

Luxury high-rise is Zaha Hadid’s first foray into South America

The Casa Atlantica is planned for Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

High-rise Construction | Jan 12, 2016

Renzo Piano's curved glass tower planned for NY's Soho neighborhood

The 25-story tower is a residential building with 115 apartments and plenty of amenities.

High-rise Construction | Jan 11, 2016

World’s second-tallest building (for now) is completed in China

Shanghai Tower makes up a trio of supertall buildings in that city’s commercial district.

High-rise Construction | Jan 7, 2016

Zaha Hadid designs a tower of 'stacked vases' in Melbourne

The structure is supported by sets of curved columns that taper to four different base heights.  

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




Curtain Wall

7 steps to investigating curtain wall leaks

It is common for significant curtain wall leakage to involve multiple variables. Therefore, a comprehensive multi-faceted investigation is required to determine the origin of leakage, according to building enclosure consultants Richard Aeck and John A. Rudisill with Rimkus. 

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021