Torre de David - The Tower of David

This came onto my radar from last weeks episode of Homeland.  It was depicted in the show as being a residence for the belligerent and poor of Caracas, Venezuela to reside as a byproduct of a corrupt  government and social system.  But upon watching the Ted talk presented by Iwan Baan, I have seen it's benevolent manifestation of human condition to take control of their situation and make from it an existence that gives the people who reside there hope and dignity.  The persona shown in Homeland is to me a reflection of the beliefs of the politicians in Caracas who seek to eradicate this problem once the country has economic stability.  Advising that the Tower as it is, is not a place for squatters, they have to this day given them permission to live there or asked them to leave.

Photos by Angela Bonadies y Juan José Olavarría

Chris Arkenberg, 2013, www.concretedub.com

The slums encroaching on Caracas; A As Architecture

The reason the Tower of David known also as the worlds tallest slum, exists is due to the fact that the owner of the building, financier David Brillembourg, passed away in 1994 a year before the Venezuela economic banking crisis hit.  It's ownership was resumed by the government, this building, which is 60% completed, is a reminder to the government of not only their economic situation but the housing and social care for the country and city's most vulnerable.  It is estimated that 2 500 000 homes are required to reach the demand for housing within Caracas.  Caracas has rich oil deposits and other resources that instead of using it for their people, they use it for political gain.

Photo: U-TT/Daniel Schwartz

Within the Tower 2500 people across the 45 floors with the first 28 filled with families have made it home, as the rents are high and the residents some of whom work in the banks have had no other option than to seek to reside there.  The bad reputation of the Tower that of rapes, murders and drug activities, is generated by media and political influence to build a social bias towards the need to remove the occupants of the Tower.  Though as the slum that surrounds Caracas is consuming the hills in essence like a wave, the increase of residents within the tower is growing as the sense of community and the appeal of solid walls offers security.

The residents, not the government, have worked together to install services of electricity and running water within the tower, established businesses like barbers, corner stores and seamstresses have built an economy within the tower.  A motorbike taxi service exists to take people up to the tenth floor as there are no lifts.  They have built stairs to floors that previously were not accessible.  The residents initial claim to a space is made by hanging sheets and then over time permanent walls, kitchens and the necessary frame work to have a large enough apartment that will house their family is established.  These people have provided for themselves what their government has not.

Photo: U-TT/Daniel Schwartz  (a store within the tower.)

Photograph: Daniel Schwartz/Urban-Think Tank

Even though the Tower is a reminder of failure to the government, it is a symbol of hope to those who loose their homes due to heavy rainfall, other natural disasters and financial circumstances to be able to find a solid roof and embracing community.  The Tower of David is a symbol of human condition to be able to give hope and enable the residents the opportunity to turn something from repurposing that which has been abandoned.  Even though they have been rejected by their state, which sadly seems to be more common in countries that have forgotten to consider their nation as a whole when finding solutions, these people have shown that given the means to they can stand up again.