Upon first glance, the partially complete building looks like a typical urban fixture along a typical urban sky scape. Zoom in, however, and the structure turns out to be something else entirely, to the tune of actually a comparatively-homey-place-to-live-in-Caracas.
A closer glance inside any of the square key holes lining the 45 story facade proffers a different impression. Among the first 27 stories, tenants (albeit, unofficial, i.e., "squatters") abound. Amenities span a spectrum of impossible to scarce. Some families have finagled cable or electricity. Many have decorated using bright paint and piecemeal decoratives. Exterior spaces remain unwalled, so some abodes are protected from the elements via curtains and all dogs need to be tied off. Needless to say, no elevators service the building, so concentration is required on the unrailed stairways.
What was the dream of one man, David Brillembourg, to erect the third-tallest building in Venezuela, popularly became, instead, a "vertical slum" dubbed "David's Tower".
With the death of Brillembourg and his business, and pending second glance, so also died the progress of the skyscraper. Yet, for many inhabitants, "slum" is relative and claim that the shanties found in other parts of Caracas have no services themselves and, in fact, the Tower is conveniently located near necessary bus routes. Among the millions of lives being lived, David's Tower is a tour of possibilities, and while this blog or others may have the luxury of forgetting to pay the cable bill, what at first meets the eye is often another's priceless subsistence.
Life sometimes can be disguised.
Disguised: --verb
A closer glance inside any of the square key holes lining the 45 story facade proffers a different impression. Among the first 27 stories, tenants (albeit, unofficial, i.e., "squatters") abound. Amenities span a spectrum of impossible to scarce. Some families have finagled cable or electricity. Many have decorated using bright paint and piecemeal decoratives. Exterior spaces remain unwalled, so some abodes are protected from the elements via curtains and all dogs need to be tied off. Needless to say, no elevators service the building, so concentration is required on the unrailed stairways.
What was the dream of one man, David Brillembourg, to erect the third-tallest building in Venezuela, popularly became, instead, a "vertical slum" dubbed "David's Tower".
With the death of Brillembourg and his business, and pending second glance, so also died the progress of the skyscraper. Yet, for many inhabitants, "slum" is relative and claim that the shanties found in other parts of Caracas have no services themselves and, in fact, the Tower is conveniently located near necessary bus routes. Among the millions of lives being lived, David's Tower is a tour of possibilities, and while this blog or others may have the luxury of forgetting to pay the cable bill, what at first meets the eye is often another's priceless subsistence.
Life sometimes can be disguised.
Disguised: --verb
to conceal or cover up the truth or actual character of by a counterfeit form or appearance
