La flecha de Villanueva en Caracas

A groundbreaking analysis reveals that the church designed by Carlos Raúl Villanueva for Caracas' urban development sector '23 de Enero' embodies a double synthesis: it symbolizes the union of God and man through an architectural 'arrow,' while also serving as a guiding metaphor for church design. This insight is derived from Villanueva's conceptual framework, documented in his 'Notas docentes.' The study examines the church's ascending form, characterized by converging walls and a skylight-crowned apex, which creates a sensory experience from the atrium to the presbytery. Despite renovations, the building retains its original expressionistic character, reflecting its historical significance within the UNESCO-listed Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas.

Chacón Ramírez, J. L. (2026). The Arrow of Villanueva in Caracas. Actas de Arquitectura Religiosa Contemporánea, 13, 58–71. https://doi.org/10.17979/aarc.2026.13.13413