Zonas de Caracas

DDN

The University Paraninfo or Main Hall is an assembly hall for protocolar academic events, perhaps the least attractive part of the complex because of the rigor and nature of its program. From the Covered Plaza, its main access is between the curved mural by Pascual Navarro (1923-1986) and the Pastor de Nubes by Jean Arp (1887-1966). The small volume, staggered in two heights, follows the same structural logic of the concert hall. Its shape is supported by four successive outer frames of different height, like transversally placed ribs, which allowed the architect to free the rear façade facing north. Villanueva used this circumstance to place an interesting background ceramic mural by Mateo Manaure (1926), consisting of rectangular planes and other geometric figures, which achieve a composition that produces motion and dimension effects just using perspective. Its wood paneled interior houses two stained glass windows in blue tones, also by Manaure, made with concrete and glass, which transform the light that enters the hall and give it the air of solemnity that this type of building requires. The first window, horizontally shaped, is located between the height differences of the roofs, while the second one is in the east façade of the volume. Both can be fully seen from the area for the authorities.