the city of caracas is in a valley surrounded by hills and mountains. many people live in the hills and work in the valley. infrastructure is a major part of the problem in the barrios. a new and revolutionary approach to urban planning was developed by the founders of the urban-think tank in caracas. a metro cable system connects the barrios in the outskirts of the city with the center’s commercial area. the cable meant that a normal 2 1/2hour commute is now only 20 minutes.

metro cable in san agustin, caracas, 2007/08 – under construction image courtesy joaquin ferrer ramos

metro cable by alfredo brillembourg and hubert klumpner - 2

metro de caracas

work on the metro cable car system began in april 2007, and the first line from san augustin to parque central opened in late 2008. petare’s line will open in 2011. the cable car of san augustin will benefit more than 40,000 people a day. the petare line will serve over 100,000. the investment amounts to us $ 300 million.

metro cable by alfredo brillembourg and hubert klumpner - 3metro cable in san agustin, caracas, 2007/08 – under construction image courtesy joaquin ferrer ramosarchitects alfredo brillembourg and hubert klumpner planned the cable car system, which is integrated with the metro system of caracas. it is 2.1 km in length and employs gondolas holding 8 passengers each. metro cable’s capacity allows for the movement of 1,200 people an hour in each direction.

metro cable by alfredo brillembourg and hubert klumpner - 4metro cable in san agustin, caracas, 2007/08 – under construction image courtesy carlos velis

a standard structure based on a 64.5-foot-by-131-foot module, and built of concrete with a steel roof deck, allows the stations to be tucked into crowded neighborhoods without displacement of the population.

metro cable by alfredo brillembourg and hubert klumpner - 5metro cable in san agustin, caracas, 2007/08 – under construction image courtesy joaquin ferrer ramos

two are going to be in the valley and connect directly to the caracas public transportation system. three additional stations are located along the mountain ridge, on sites that meet the demands of community access, established pedestrian circulation patterns, and also suitability for construction, ensuring minimal demolition of existing housing.

metro cable by alfredo brillembourg and hubert klumpner - 6metro cable in san agustin, caracas, 2007/08 – under construction image courtesy carlos conciencia

the five have in common the design of a basic set of components; platform levels, ramps for access, circulation patterns, materials, and structural elements. however, each station differs in configuration and additional functions, and the separate stations include: – cultural, social and system administrative functions. – another replaces demolished homes demolished and thus contains public spaces. – a gym and a supermarket / daycare centre, and connects the cable car with municipal buses. – one provides an open space, for different social activities.

metro cable by alfredo brillembourg and hubert klumpner - 7metro cable in san agustin, caracas, 2007/08 – under construction image courtesy joaquin ferrer ramos

metro cable by alfredo brillembourg and hubert klumpner - 8metro cable in san agustin, caracas, 2007/08 – under construction image courtesy carlos conciencia

metro cable by alfredo brillembourg and hubert klumpner - 9metro cable in san agustin, caracas, 2007/08 – under construction image courtesy joaquin ferrer ramos

metro cable by alfredo brillembourg and hubert klumpner - 10metro cable in san agustin, caracas, 2007/08 – under construction image courtesy carlos conciencia

metro cable by alfredo brillembourg and hubert klumpner - 11 alfredo brillembourg and hubert klumpner presenting the project

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alfredo brillembourg received his bachelor of art and architecture in 1984, and in 1986 his master of science in architectural design from columbia university. in 1992 he received a second architecture degree from the central university of venezuela and began his independent practice in architecture. in 1993, he founded the urban think tank in caracas, venezuela. since 1994, he is a member of the venezuelan architects and engineers association and has been a guest professor at the university josé maria vargas, the university simon bolivar and at the central university in venezuela. since 2000, he has been a regular guest at studio juries in the graduate school of architecture and planning, columbia university and the cooper union school for the advancement of science and art. he has lectured on architecture at conferences in boston, berlin, caracas, miami and switzerland.

hubert klumpner graduated in 1993 from the university of applied arts in vienna. he received a masters of science in architecture and urban design degree from columbia university, new york. since 1997, he has been a member of the german chamber of architects. he has lectured at institutions in europe, north and south america and taught at the academy of applied arts in vienna, the international summer academy in salzburg, and has been a guest professor at the universidad central de venezuela (ucv). since 2001 he has been the urbanism consultant of the international program for social and cultural development in latin america (oea and unesco). in 1998, he joined alfredo brillembourg as principal of the urban- think tank in caracas. since 2007, klumpner has been professor of architecture and urbanism at columbia university, new york, graduate school of architecture planning and preservation where he has founded the s.l.u.m lab, sustainable living urban model, together with alfredo brillembourg.

related: ‘hoograven invites you’ is a new research project under the supervision of alfredo brillembourg and hubert klumpner. it will be presented at utrecht manifest – 3rd biennial for social design, which will be held from october 4th until october 11th 2009.