La Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas como laboratorio de color: policromía en la obra de Carlos Raúl Villanueva

Carlos Raúl Villanueva's architectural masterpiece, the Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas, is revealed as a groundbreaking 'laboratory of color,' where polychromy transcends mere aesthetics to become a foundational element of social and cultural expression. The study demonstrates that color in Villanueva's work serves as a dynamic force, integrating multiple artistic disciplines into a cohesive spatial experience that enhances tectonic forms while fostering an intuitive understanding of the built environment. Through meticulous analysis of his designs—including the later Pabellón de la Exposición de Montreal 1967—the research uncovers how color functions as both a structural and symbolic component, creating a continuum that stimulates spatiotemporal perception in users. This approach challenges conventional architectural theory by positioning color not as an afterthought but as a critical driver of meaning, identity, and continuity in modern Latin American architecture.

Danés Grases, D., Pizarro Juanas, M. J., Ibáñez Montoya, J., & Marcano Requena, F. (2021). University City of Caracas as a colour laboratory: polychromie in the work of Carlos Raúl Villanueva. REIA - Revista Europea de Investigación En Arquitectura, (17). https://doi.org/10.64197/reia.17.322