So many years passing by this street, and although I always appreciated its architecture and later design, I never had the opportunity to enter, until today, when I had the opportunity to attend a lecture on Afrodescendant Culture in Venezuela. In another meeting that was said to be in the Bolivian Museum, but it was not here, but two blocks up, then it was created for me a kind of myth inside me, which stated that this museum does not exist, but fate brought me here to prove me otherwise. Not only does it exist, it is also very beautiful and has spaces that are impossible to appreciate from the outside.
This museum is older than it seems, in 1936 it was established on the corner of Pajaritos and was designed by the architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva (1900-1975), with the participation of the Venezuelan plastic artist Francisco Narváez (1905-1982), who created the relief of the façade. Much of this work is hidden behind an extension that was made to the original building to add stairs and elevators, this extension is made of tempered glass, steel and concrete. So as not to completely hide the architectural work.
Tantos años pasando por esta calle, y aunque siempre aprecié su arquitectura y posterior diseño, nunca tuve la oportunidad de entrar, hasta el día de hoy, que me tocó asistir a un conversatorio sobre la Cultura Afrodescendiente en Venezuela. En otro encuentro que se dijo era en el Museo Boliviano, pero no era aquí, sino dos cuadras mas arriba, entonces se creó para mi una especie de mito dentro de mi, que afirmaba que este museo no existe, pero el destino me trajo hasta aquí para demostrarme lo contrario. No solo si existe, también es muy hermoso y tiene espacios imposibles de apreciar desde afuera.
Este museo es mas antiguo de lo que parece, en 1936 se establece en la esquina de Pajaritos y fue diseñado por el arquitecto Carlos Raúl Villanueva (1900-1975), con la participación del artista plástico venezolano Francisco Narváez (1905-1982), quien creó el relieve de la fachada. Gran parte de este trabajo está oculto detrás de una ampliación que se le hizo al edificio original para añadir escaleras y ascensores, esta ampliación está realizada en vidrio templado, acero y hormigón. Para no ocultar del todo el trabajo arquitectónico.
This museum was designed to house the collection of objects of the Liberator Simón Bolívar, but nowadays it has little of that and has been transformed into a meeting place for discussions and meetings, thanks to its halls and auditorium. The exhibition space has been reduced to the first floor of the building.
Este museo fue pensado para albergar la colección de objetos del Libertador Simón Bolívar, pero actualmente poco tiene de eso y se ha transformado en un lugar de encuentro, para conversatorios y reuniones, gracias a sus salones y su auditorio. Por lo que el espacio expositivo quedó reducido a la planta baja del edificio.
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Being inside, and seeing the street through the tempered glass gives a strange sensation of space, it's not as if we were seeing through a window, it's more like the street unfolds and we see reality from the perspective of Dr. Strange's mirror reality. And I find this truly fascinating. As I said before this annex of the building was made to house the stairs and elevators, to avoid holding it from the old building a suspension system made of steel was created, which can make you dizzy if you stare at it, but it produces a very flattering kinetic effect for the photos.
Estar adentro, y ver la calle a través del vidrio templado otorga una sensación extraña del espacio, no es como si viéramos a través de una ventana, es mas bien como si la calle se desdoblara y viéramos la realidad desde la perspectiva de la realidad espejo del Dr. Strange. Y encuentro esto verdaderamente fascinante. Como dije anteriormente este anexo del edificio se hizo para albergar a las escaleras y ascensores, para evitar sostenerlo del edificio antiguo se creó un sistema de suspensión hecho en acero, que puede marear si se le mira fijamente, pero que produce un efecto cinético muy favorecedor para las fotos.
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The internal space is tiny, which is not visible in the photos, the neoclassical design with its vaulted arches and the white color of most of the internal walls create a visual effect that gives more space.
El espacio interno es diminuto, lo que no se aprecia en las foto, el diseño neoclásico con sus arcos abovedados y el color blanco en la mayoría del las paredes internas crean un efecto visual que otorga mas espacio.
El espacio expositivoI was very pleased to be able to enter this building, being located on the corner of a busy avenue, and being located next to a building as emblematic as the Simon Bolivar Center (or the Towers of Silence for the connoisseurs) is common to go unnoticed. This building has on one side a series of fountains and sculptural objects that form a kind of square that separates it from the administrative building of the National Assembly, if we add that it has that name outside on the facade of the museum, it is understandable that many people, even living in this city, do not know the building or the work they do. Therefore, entering the museum for the first time is a little uncomfortable, because of the feeling of not entering the correct building.
Me agradó en gran manera poder entrar a este edificio, al estar ubicado en la esquina de una avenida bastante transitada, y estar situado al lado de un edificio tan emblemático como El Centro Simón Bolívar ( o las Torres del Silencio para los entendidos) es común que pase desapercibido. Este edificio tiene a un lado una serie de fuentes y objetos escultóricos que se conforman en una especie de plaza que le separa del edificio administrativo de la Asamblea Nacional, si sumamos que lleva ese nombre afuera en la fachada del museo, es entendible que muchas personas, aún viviendo en esta ciudad, no conozca al edificio ni la labor que realizan. Por lo que entrar al recinto por primera vez resulta un poco incómodo, por la sensación de no estar entrando al edificio correcto.
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It looks like a small church, especially because, right next to it is the residence of the Jesuit Fathers, and a little further up the Church of San Francisco, the difference is that here the figures that are worshiped are the paintings of the heroes of independence.
Parece una pequeña iglesia, sobre todo por que, justo al lado queda la residencia de los padres jesuitas, y un poco mas arriba la Iglesia de San Francisco, la diferencia es que acá las figuras que se adoran son los pinturas de los próceres de la independencia.
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If you are in Caracas do not hesitate to visit this refuge of history in the XXI century, it is very curious and you can always find a sample of art or crafts of benefit. A small building that knew how to manage its spaces and belongs to the golden age, when art was meticulous and responded more to the classic and much less to temporary fashions. When they knew how to cover the walls of history with charm.
Si estás por Caracas no dudes en visitar este refugio de la historia en pleno siglo XXI, es muy curioso y y siempre puedes encontrar una muestra de arte o artesanía de provecho. Un pequeño edificio que supo administrar sus espacios y que pertenece a la época de oro, cuando el arte era minucioso y respondía mas a lo clásico y mucho menos a modas temporales. Cuando sabían revestir de encanto los muros de la historia.
Tu lectura es un gran honor para mi
Your reading is a great honor for me
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Todas las imágenes, banners, separadores así como el texto son de mi autoría - All images, banners, dividers as well as text are my authorship.
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It is an interesting place! Many times I walked near the towers of silence and near this building but I never noticed it. It looks very well preserved I must say but it is a pity that the theme of the exhibition of objects of Simon Bolivar are scarce if that was the main purpose at one time. You detail very well its architecture, uses and offers us very good information 🙂
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It is definitely very interesting, once you discover it, because you are right: it goes unnoticed, because of the moles that surround it. When I took the tour there was an exhibition of notes written and hung by feminists, and although I don't deny their great work, I think the museum is meant for historical content, Thanks for your comment!!!!
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STOPThe interior view actually want to give a impression of it been a museum. A great work was done on it though. Looking like a Cathedral
You're right, even in the staircase area, when looking towards the street, it looks like you're inside the Louvre pyramid. It looks like a cathedral because perhaps they wanted to recreate the architectural environment, which at the time of construction, the most emblematic buildings were the church of San Francisco and the residence of the Jesuit priests.
Hey, the same thing happens to me, the times I go to Caracas, I almost always pass by this museum, but always in a hurry I never stop to appreciate this place, I'll see if for my next visit I finally know this place. Thanks for sharing your post. Greetings !
And if you have the opportunity, you can enter and appreciate the corners of the building.
That's what I will do, and I also have many places to visit in Caracas pending.
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Oh!!! I really appreciate the support
Thank you it's an honor for me!!!!
With utmost pleasure dear @caracasprin. Keep up the amazing content! 😀