Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration

Save
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration

Information

  • Project Name: Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces
  • Student Name: Juan Andrés Pereira
  • Softwares/Plugins: Adobe Photoshop , AutoCAD , SketchUp , Adobe Indesign
More Info Less Info

Excerpt: ‘Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces’ is an architecture thesis by Juan Andrés Pereira from the ‘Departamento de Diseño, Arquitectura y Artes Plásticas – Universidad Simón Bolívar’ that seeks to reimagine mobility and public space in Caracas. Through urban regeneration, the aim is to create a more connected, accessible, and inclusive city. By integrating mobility with public space, the initiative fosters cultural exchange, community engagement, and multifunctional infrastructure.

Introduction: This project envisions a transformation of mobility and public space in Caracas through architectural and urban design, aiming to create a more connected and accessible city. By redefining mobility as an integrated network that links people, activities, and spaces across multiple levels, the proposal fosters a more inclusive and sustainable urban experience from various perspectives.

The initiative seeks to turn mobility into an extension of public space, reshaping it into a dynamic and interactive environment that encourages cultural exchange and community engagement. To achieve this, the plan integrates innovative architectural interventions that create multifunctional spaces with strategic infrastructure, strengthening communities and enhancing daily life.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the project responds to the urgent need for more livable cities where pedestrians take priority over cars and transit spaces serve as social hubs. This vision of urban transformation promotes a cohesive and resilient Caracas, where mobility is not just about movement but enriches the overall urban experience.

Save

Site Context

Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
The main street linking the transportation system and the park

The project is located in Parque Generalísimo Francisco de Miranda, a key transportation hub and one of Caracas’ busiest pedestrian areas. Despite its importance, the park remains fragmented and difficult for pedestrians to access, reinforcing a car-centric urban model.

Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Bus stops are set up informally along the road
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
View of improvised bus stops along the road

This intervention seeks to redefine the relationship between the park and the city, reversing these conditions by transforming the park into a hub for active mobility and urban integration. The proposal focuses on connectivity, accessibility, and the revitalization of underutilized spaces. By introducing new bike and pedestrian infrastructure, the plan encourages public transportation use and strengthens links with the surrounding urban fabric.

A physical barrier separating the park from the city | A physical barrier separating the park from the city

By creating a network of interconnected public spaces that prioritize people over cars, this approach not only enhances mobility in Caracas but also sets a precedent for future urban interventions, reshaping the city’s landscape.

Design Process

Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
A complete analysis of mobility and its nodes in Caracas

The design process began with an in-depth analysis of urban mobility in Caracas, examining pedestrian flows, transit routes, and spatial dynamics. This study identified key patterns and strategic nodes, establishing clear guidelines for transforming public space in relation to mobility.

Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
A macro-level analysis of the current situation of the park and its surroundings

Parque del Este’s crucial role in the city’s transportation network made it the ideal site for intervention. After defining the location, further studies on movement flows, connectivity, and accessibility helped shape the design and pinpoint priority areas for transformation. To seamlessly integrate mobility into both the park and the broader urban landscape, a series of architectural and urban strategies were proposed.

Throughout development, adjustments were made to align with the project’s scope and the specific needs of its users. Diagrams, models, and spatial analyses played a vital role in refining solutions, ultimately leading to a proposal that strikes a balance between sustainability, public space, and infrastructure.

Final Outcome

Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Analysis of the current situation of the park and its surroundings.
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Proposed situation of the park and its new integration with the urban environment.
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
New connection between the park and the metro via an underground street

Guided by the idea that “cities must be lived in, not just passed through” (Jan Gehl, 2014), the completed project envisions urban space as inclusive and dynamic. By prioritizing the pedestrian experience, the intervention fosters a stronger relationship between public space and mobility while reducing the dominance of cars in the city.

Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Current situation of the north edge of the park.
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Proposed situation for the north edge of the park: a new edge for urban and sports mobility.
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Zoom of the proposed situation on the urban mobility edge.
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
New water plaza aimed at redefining the connection between the stream and the park.

The proposed approach integrates urban planning with infrastructure improvements to address different scales of mobility. By enhancing accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, linking various transit networks, and revitalizing underused spaces, the project strengthens intermodal connectivity. Additionally, it introduces an organizational model that unifies mobility management within a strategic framework.

Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
New architectural proposal for an intermodal station with the restructuring of the existing market and an automated bicycle tower.
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Operational layout of the bus station.
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Section cut showing how the underground connections work.
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
New Araguaney forest intended to be part of the forgotten space that is currently a parking lot.

Architecturally, the design merges existing elements with new interventions, creating a cohesive urban fabric that reinforces social interaction and local identity. By demonstrating how architecture can improve both mobility and quality of life, this project sets a benchmark for future urban transformations in Caracas.

Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Vegetation Scheme created according to the signage and zones of the proposal.
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
New edge between the park and the sports areas with the integration of a new urban rail line.
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
New urban living experience within the park.

Conclusion: Ultimately, this project transforms mobility into public space, fostering a more connected, pedestrian-friendly Caracas. By prioritizing people over cars, it sets a model for future urban improvements, enhancing both movement and quality of life.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]

Site Context

Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration

Design Process

Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration

Final Outcome

Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration
Where Paths Cross: Architecture and Mobility in Public Spaces at Caracas | Architecture Thesis on Urban Regeneration

​​To submit your academic project for publication at ArchiDiaries, please visit the following link >> Submit

More Projects

Leave a Reply