US ICOMOS 8th International Symposium

Heritage Interpretation
May - 2005

Case Study:
Parque del Este
Caracas, Venezuela
190 acres public park
Design by Roberto Burle Marx and Associates
1956 to 1964

Authors:
Diana Henriquez de Fernandez - Landscape Architect-SVAP-ASLA-IFLA
Maria Eugenia Bacci - Architect and Tourism Planner- ICOMOS Venezuela
 Content

• History, description and main heritage

values
• Management Plan for conservation
• Existing situation
• Proposed Protection/Interpretation
Strategies
 At the beginning of the 20th century,
Caracas still kept its colonial urban
pattern, which did not include green open
areas, other than a few squares.

The east side of its valley was still occupied

by coffee and sugarcane plantations,
which were progressively integrated into
the city.
FIRST MAP OF CARACAS, VENEZUELA - 1585

An
Ca

au
Ca

tu
ch

co
ro

e
at
a
CARACAS - VENEZUELA

PLAZA BOLÍVAR
 CARACAS - VENEZUELA

LESSMANN – SIGLO XIX

 CARACAS - VENEZUELA

1.924

SABANA GRANDE–LOS CAOBOS

1.924
Plano de Caracas y sus alrededores – Eduardo Rohl (1951)
 In 1950 the dictatorial government sees
into modernity as a political strategy and
started the project of Caracas International
Exposition. In this last project Burle Marx
was commissioned to develop the plan.

In 1958, the democratic government decided

to change this into a public park.
CARACAS INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION - 1960
PRE CONSTRUCTION CIRCA - 1958
POST CONSTRUCTION CIRCA - 1958
 Parque del Este
Sobreposición de la estructura del parque (1964)
Foto áerea del terreno en situación previa al desarrollo (1959)
 PARQUE DEL ESTE
1 2 ORIGINAL PLAN
5
2
5

3
LEGEND:
1.- ACCESO
2.- LAGOS–CUERPOS DE AGUA
6
3.-SELVA TROPICAL
4.- SABANA
4
5.- XEROFÍTICO
6
1 6.- BOSQUES DE GALERÍA

4 4
2
6

2
FIRST PLANTED TREE PLAN
END OF CONSTRUCTION
DRAWING
1963
 CARACAS PARKS 2000

Plaza Bolívar – 1578 Parque Los Caobos – 1924

Parque El Calvario -1875 Parque Del Este -1961
 Heritage values

9Unique setting connecting the park with

the Avila mountain.
 Heritage values

9A space for recreation and education

 Heritage values

9Sinuous ribbon walkways connecting the

different areas of the park
 Heritage values

9The treatment of topography gives

different experiences and scales, which
create enclosures and visual barriers.
 Heritage values

9The courtyards (Los Patios) as semi-

secluded spaces, each one with a different
design to produce an emotional response
in the visitor.
PLANTA DEL SECTOR DE LOS PATIOS DE AGUA
 Heritage values

9The use of bodies of water is a constant in

Burle Marx designs allowing the exhibit of
rich unknown aquatic vegetation, which
opens new opportunities for aesthetical
experiences.
 Heritage values

9 For the first time, the park incorporates

local and Latin American Flora
2- Management Plan for
conservation
PARQUE DEL ESTE
National Cultural Heritage
July 13th1998
82 Ha. (77 Ha. Developed)
 Parque del Este
Management Plan
 Heritage Values

• Inventory and Recording

of all structural values Building and Plants
related to GIS (Geographic Information System)
JARDÍN XEROFITICO - RENOVACION EN AGOSTO - 2002
 3- Existing situation
The park as part of the city of Caracas

Lack of an integral recreational strategy for

the city has left Parque del Este as the
only recreational well equipped open
space in metropolitan area of 7 millions
citizens,
CARACAS TODAY
Fuente: Secretaría de Planificación Urbana y Gestión Ambiental, Alcaldía del Dtto. Metropolitano de Caracas
 Parque del Este
Participación en el DMC

328,43

350,00
300,00
250,00
200,00
has

77,00
150,00
100,00
50,00
0,00
Total área equipada de Parque del Este
parque

Fuente: elaboración propia en base información de la Secretaría de Planificación Urbana y Gestión Ambiental de la Alcaldía del Dtto.
Metropolitano de Caracas.
The institutional framework where the
park is inscribed.

• The National Park Institute, INPARQUES, has to

deal at the same time with 43 National Parks
such as Canaima with 3 mm Ha, 21 Natural
Monuments, and 74 recreational parks
nationwide.
• The money collected by the entrance fee and
concessionaires goes to a general fund and has
to be divided among all the sites
The park’s management and operation,
both as a recreational and a heritage site.

The main challenges are related to maintenance,

budget, use by the public, institutional
coordination, security and the loss of heritage
values
MAINTENANCE
BUDGET RESTRICTIONS
OVERUSE
OVERUSE
LACK OF SECURITY AND CONTROL
NEED OF INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION
LOSS OF HERITAGE VALUES
LOSS OF HERITAGE VALUES
LOSS OF HERITAGE VALUES
PATIO ROJO - original design
PATIO ROJO - actual situation
 LOSS OF
HERITAGE VALUES
4- Proposed Preservation and
Interpretation Strategies
Development of public awareness
Environmental education
Interpretation of Heritage values
Encourage community participation
Involvement of stakeholders in the
maintenance and conservation of the
park
Fund recollection to specific projects
 Interpretation Strategies

The original design and the vision for

the whole park

• To make it available to the general public

and park personnel, and to encourage
new researchers to continue documenting
the park and its related subjects.
The operational concept or what the
manager thinks about the site
Work closely with the park personnel and conciliate the
operational problems of the site as a public recreational
area with its heritage values.

Talks to park personnel and concessionaires of the park

about its heritage values and the implications of being a
heritage site.

Consolidation of the Heritage Committee as a permanent

advisor in day-by-day operations.
The visitor’s concept, what they
demand and think about the park
• Encourage users to appreciate the park for its outstanding
landscape and aesthetic values.

• Develop visitor surveys and participation strategy in order

to identify their specific characteristics, needs and
expectations.

• Creation of a visitor’s center, a park guide, brochures and

media material that illustrate park values and the need for
its conservation.
 The international concept

• Consolidate the role of the park as one of the most important

modern designed parks in Latin America.

• Establish contact with other countries and institutions to share

experiences and collaborate in the conservation of Parque del Este.

• Complete the inscription of the park in the World Heritage Site

Tentative List and the ongoing preparation of the Dossier to be
presented to UNESCO as a strategy to gain local, regional and
international attention on the site and its importance.