El Sistemais internationally recognized as a unique and distinguished program based on how musical training can both create great musicians and change the life trajectory of children in extremely impoverished circumstances. Founded in 1975 by economist and musician José Antonio Abreu, El Sistemaencourages the cultural development and raises hope of social and professional integration. The project consists of the further development of our winning entry for the architectural competition organized back in 2010 by the Simón Bolívar Musical Foundation (El Sistema) and the Development Bank of Latin America (CorporaciónAndina de Fomento). This symphonic complex will complement the existing units located in the Amador Bendayán Boulevard, along the northern boundary of Los Caobospark, in the cultural center of Caracas.
The Complex consists of two parts: the music conservatory and the concert halls. The music conservatory includes rehearsal rooms for orchestras, sections and rows. Concentrated on the base of the building, they are intimate spaces to study, joining the music and its creators. The three concert halls are treated differently to obtain multiple acoustics and respond to the specificity of different orchestras. The first concert hall has a maximum capacity of 1900 seats for the public and has a modular design to accommodate the biggest orchestras of El Sistema, composed of 400 musicians and 200 choirs. The second concert hall has a maximum capacity of 1300 seats for the public and can accommodate 200 musicians and 400 choirs. The third hall, more experimental, accommodates the alternative orchestras (salsa, symphonic rock and Venezuelan music) and has a capacity of 500 seats for the public. The remaining program includes administration, the musicians’ residences, a canteen for the students and cafeteria, a multimedia center and parking lots.
The idea of the project is to create an urban setting as a social link within a dense cultural program. This empty gap divides the building into two units through a horizontal crack opening the panorama towards the Los Caobospark and integrates the notion of landscape project. It is a meeting place for visitors and users. This place connects the music conservatory, a compact block anchored to the ground, and the concert halls, a light, suspended block.
