Space&Scale

Los Palos Grandes Square **It is located between 3rd Avenue and 2nd Cross of Los Palos Grandes, Caracas-Venezuela. This square was inaugurated in 2010 by the Mayor Emilio Graterón, becoming in a new social meeting point of Municipio Chacao. It was designed by architect Edwin Otero. Different cultural and recreational activities have more opportunities for the enjoyment of the Caraqueño, such as reading, games, cinema, yoga, dance aerobics and drama. **


 * In the evolution of the construction of this square has been kept everything as it was in the main design (see image of the model), but with the development of the work, some things were altered: the material's floor is not grass, it is ceramic (except certain areas) and the size of the giant clock is smaller than what was initially thought. **[[image:http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad349/estrellita2009/plaza1.jpg width="300" height="325" align="right"]]


 * In the place, there are different spatial definers: a metallic structure in white color that serves as an screen for sunlight, ****and at night as a large urban lamp. A rectangular reflecting pool, ****which has jets of water in southern end that turn on sporadically. **
 * An area for library, community spaces, parking and an ambulatory located on an adjacent parcel. Some particular elements of the square are: An venezuelan flag, an emblem of Municipio Chacao and a giant clock embedded in a rectangular concrete structure. **
 * The space in general is quite large, people can be distributed easily. This brought to consequence a high pedestrian flow, and mostly, tourists. The place is appropriate for different types of uses: recreational, cultural, educational and sporting. **


 * Proportion and total dimension of interior space is good but could be better. That is, could be larger, with more ground and areas for running, jogging, exercising, etc. The justification is that both Caracas as Chacao are very limited in geographical area to urbanize. **
 * The limits of space (negative space) are: around the square (exterior space) are residential and office buildings, therefore, the acoustics of the place will not liking for residents and workers of the area. **


 * One of the biggest complaints is that visiting people of the square is that devoid of afield of trees and large green areas, since the ground is concrete and ceramics, which radiates a lot of heat from solar energy. **


 * The metal structure is to high in contrast to other elements of the site, this is considered an perceptual affector (in generic scale) and a proportional error (in physical scale) . However,to the people this was a good idea, since this give a long shading that cover a large portion of space. **


 * The size of the elements was also well posed. For example: **
 *  The height reached by the water jets from the source is of three meters approximatety, are capable of covering an entire person. **
 *  (human scale), the diameter of the watch is also very large, which allows people check the time, easily (effectual scale). **

**So we know that for an urban space to be fully effective by giving use, we must consider more features than previously thought likely. **

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