The architecture of fear: how Caracas has adapted to constant threat of violence

Crime has affected the city’s architecture. While once Venezuelan homes were designed homes based on comfort and Caribbean-style open spaces, today the focus is on security. But it’s not just about buildings. Nicolas Kasang, an urban development consultant, has argued that this type of urbanisation has had a negative impact on the city’s social dynamic. “[It] fragments public space, breaks down social cohesion, perpetuates widespread insecurity, and, ultimately, diminishes the overall quality of urban life,” writes Kasang. Caraqueños from all walks of life have become accustomed to fearing the “other.  More…