In the hills of Caracas, Venezuela Complex Carbonell looks like a spaceship. The center for sports and culture connects not only the people, but also the homes of the local community. Its metallic look blends into the looks of the favelas. The building is 500 square meters spread over three levels. On the ground floor a bakery and coffee place have opened; the second floor contains space for gatherings with a capability for over 200 people; the third floor is for sports with facilities for basketball, ping pong and more.
The architect of this project is Alejandro Haiek, director of LAB.PRO.FAB. He got involved in the project six years ago and came up with the design after talking with members of the local community. This bottom-up approach is unique for the city of Caracas.
‘The main challenge actually was that when it comes to shaping public space, the community is not used to this participatory approach,’ Haiek says. ‘They are used to rely on public initiatives and the top down approach.’
And Zair Navas, spokesman of the complex says: ‘As 97% of the workforce in the construction came from the same community, it’s not only about structure and infrastructure, it’s a socio-productive project.’ Also, the aim was to recycle resources and materials that are found and treated locally.
The Venezuelan LAB.PRO.FAB. is founded by Alejandro Haiek and Eleanna Cadalso in 1996. They describe their role as urban creative strategists. Using a socio-cultural approach to architecture, they aim to understand community needs so they can be reinterpreted into cultural infrastructures.