El Consul
Anhelo las historias que no son mias
que aun al escucharlas me llevan a revivirlas como un recuerdo.
El valor del pasado y la discrepancia de aceptar el presente,
El vacio de sonrisas al recordame de la realidad
Que por mas fantastico que se vean mis alrededores no comparten la verdad.
Capaz en el futuro se sacie lo que jamas tuvimos
por ahora existimos en la nostalgia de lo que nunca fue.
Abstract
Through an exploration of sovereignty and national identity in the Venezuelan Consulate in New York City I’m proposing a temporary culinary space that shares the architectural and interior styles found in Caracas. My aim is to ask how can a territorial and cultural presence through the use of interiors and food afford a sense of belonging to immigrants who have lost access to a sense of sovereign home due to political actions? This brings up the opportunity to use the Consulate, a building that offers a sense of home to Venezuelans as well as the legality of the property technically being Venezuelan soil, through the celebration of its stylistic and culinary culture in hopes to call out the present struggles that Venezuelan immigrants face by provoking the political and diplomatic state of the country. The proposed space will welcome everyone to dine in a historic building serving traditional Venezuelan dishes that are rarely found as an elevated dining experience. By proposing a restaurant on Venezuelan soil I will deride the fact that the current Venezuelan economy is somewhat stable thanks to the emergence of multiple restaurants throughout major cities, as well as the politicization of food rations as a political strategy back in Venezuela.
Approach
To begin this cultural exploration of sovereignty I will first provide context on the political standing of the Venezuelan government, its economic standing throughout the years of the building’s purchase and how it led to the Consulate being abandoned. I will do so by researching the real estate history of this area and its relation to Venezuelan tenants, the timing and its correlation to the Venezuelan “Oil Boom” and the governmental politics that occurred during the building’s operative era. I will also provide context on migratory trends to and from Venezuela through history and how said trends impacted Venezuelan culture in a very big way. First the arrival of many foreign entities into the country following WWII that helped build and enrich the culture, most noticeably through architecture and food. This project is heavily influenced by the book Mi Cocina by Armando Scannone, a 2nd generation Italian immigrant that arrived to Venezuela as a civil engineer but turned to the culinary arts and fomented the most popular recipe book that can be found in all Venezuelan households. The second migratory trend to note is following El Chavismo and how Chavez’s time in office left a lot of Venezuelans fleeing the country understanding that the years to come would devastate the country in any political, economic and cultural sense. Both these patterns are pivotal to my proposal and by expanding my research through interviews and studies I will be able to provide a scope of both sides of these migration trends.
Chapter 1: The abandoned Venezuelan Consulate
Architect Ogden Codman showcases his work all throughout Midtown Manhattan. Beautifully adorned townhouses from the mid 1910’s that are now protected by the state of New York to preserve Codman’s work. Along 51st st. and Madison Ave. We can find an array of different buildings by Codman each with their own history. 7 east 51st street is a four story townhouse that was built in 1905 for a stockbroker. The building would eventually be sold to the Venezuelan Government under the rule of president Carlos Andres Perez (1973) to become a Consulate for the country in the heart of Manhattan. Being surrounded by buildings filled with Venezuelan tenets and the Industrial Bank of Venezuela nearby in 3rd Avenue, this location made sense for a National base in New York City. When the building was bought the space undertook a redesign to fit consular needs. A Consulate operates as a governmental entity on foreign soil in order to provide services for citizens that find themselves outside of their native country. These governmental buildings function under International Law while still complying with the native country’s laws and host country’s laws. They are buildings with high levels of security and authority that offer protection to its native citizens. Consulates also function under what is known as foreign soil, meaning that the territory in which a consular building finds itself is technically considered soil from the native country, not its host. In order to transform a residential space into an operational government office building not only were offices and conference spaces added but the very particular mixed style of classic colonialism and international modernism that you often find in Caracas architecture to welcome those visiting with a familiar sight. Consulates are supposed to reflect a home away from home, culturally this building did, but practically it did so until 2019. To this day the authoritarian Chavez and Maduro regime has been in power since 1998. This has meant a gradual devastation on Venezuela’s economy, international ties and culture. A once powerful and booming country now deteriorated, giving a new bitter meaning to what it means to be Venezuelan. In 2019 following the events between Juan Guaido, Nicolás Maduro and Donald Trump the Venezuelan consulate was forced to close down indefinitely until political compromises were made. Given the unique nature that the building is owned by a country that is “no longer invited” by its host (who has the keys) the Midtown building hasn’t received visitors or even maintenance since 2019, leaving the beautiful structure to crumble stuck in time. The political state of the country since 1998 has left multiple venezuelans with no choice but to leave the country in hopes to find opportunity and stability somewhere new. Now Venezuelan immigrants in the United States have no protection for their citizenship unless they qualify under a refugee status. This building offers an opportunity to call out the stagnant political and cultural implications that have affected Venezuelans, citizens and immigrants.
Chapter 2: Political Context
In the 70’s the Venezuelan government under the rule of Carlos Andrés Perez was able to buy the Manhattan townhouse to become the country’s consulate after entry into the Global Oil market solidifying Venezuela as a stable mineral and oil producing country. The stability of the economy was reflected through Venezuelan culture, enjoying everything that was now available in a commercial landscape. Through the years this reality would change drastically as Chavismo came into power and the country began deteriorating in all internal facets. In 1998 Chavez came into office and thus began a great migration that by 2014 1.5 Million venezuelans would have left the country. Following years of a slowly crumbling economic structure and the biggest inflation rate in venezuela history in 2013 Chavez passed away and in came Nicolas Maduro taking the reins to maintain Chavez’s legacy. Maduro was less charismatic and less witty compared to Chavez which in popularity votes did not help the chavistas to maintain power. They still however always won elections by landslides. It’s in 2019 when unexpectedly Juan Guaido won the interim presidential elections that ignited protests and to try and escape Chavismo but it was short lived due to the promises made by Trump and Guaido that left Venezuelans thinking that everything would be okay with the US on our side. Trump promised Guaido the US’ support as long as he was able to keep Maduro in check this threatened Maduro to the extent of severing diplomatic ties with US diplomats and representatives which Trump awarded in return as well. This left Venezuela with sanctions on Oil productions and diplomatic relationships to the point where even as tourists you can’t find a direct flight from Venezuela to the States. Right now we are expecting the 2024 presidential elections in December, Maduro has no consolidated opposing candidates.
Chapter 3: Historic Migration Trends
Historically leaving a home country is driven by opportunity or a need to flee. During the beginning turmoils happening in Europe during the mid 1930’s a multitude of Europeans were fleeing their countries in fear of persecution. This migration reached all parts of the world, including Venezuela. Venezuela was one of the few countries that allowed unforced entry to those who fled Europe during the War. This surge of new and diverse citizens now living in Venezuela helped enrich the culture in all facets. Specifically in architecture you find multiple works that resemble the styles found in western Europe. Due to Venezuela’s proximity to various European island colonies it was easy to travel and visit the country and this led a lot of Europeans to consider living here since at the time Venezuela was an attractive country to live in, it had exotic foods and no harsh winters. Locally these new immigrants worked throughout all fields, from carpenters to cooks the everyday commercial landscape was elevated to an international standard. In 1998 Hugo Chávez was president of Venezuela and his drastic yet charismatic message alarmed a percentage of the population. By 2013, Chávez’s final year in office, 1.5 Million Venezuelans (6% of the population) had left the country. from Chavez. Following Chávez’s death Nicolás Maduro would take over as president, with a much more drastic yet dimwitted message than his predecessor he continued the Chavista agenda in a harsher, more brute way. With Maduro it became harder to leave the country since inflation was at an all time high and people couldn’t afford to live in the country, much less leave it. This incited the frantic and sometimes illegal border crossing to neighboring countries in order to start over in places like Colombia, Peru or Ecuador. Venezuelans fled to over 90 countries in search for a better life. The top destinations being Colombia, Peru, United States, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Argentina, Canada, France and Panama. Those who do leave suffer from what they could never have, a nostalgia of what was promised and never happened. Within this sad approach there is always hope (It’s hard to find a Venezuelan that doesn’t believe the country will change). And those who leave hope to go back and provide for their families, work for their country. We may have left but we will never give up.
Chapter 4: Pertinence of Food
Based on the books by Jose Rafael Lovera he shares that venezuelan food was not popular outside of the country. It was refined after the arrival of Europeans during the mid XIX century to the country and transformed the culinary culture. Traditional dishes such as Hallacas have been a part of the culture since 1806 others like the Arepa have a diplomatic history since it has long been debated if it’s originally from Colombia or Venezuela. Venezuelan dishes have the power to take you back home with that first bite. They also hold power in much bigger ways: In 2018 Venezuela was facing a food shortage. The ministry of food reported that 84% of basic food items were not available in supermarkets. This was due to the poor management of the agricultural sector from the Maduro organization. Maduro knew he had to lighten the situation, with the inflation at its peak he started the Maduro Diet which consisted of limited portions of food since he was “gordito”. Inflation kept rising and nutrition in lower classes was at an all time low, in order to maintain votes Maduro instated the Bolsa Clap project, consisting of a governmental sign up to receive basic food groups. The solution proposed was for the government to distribute subsidized food boxes called Bolsas CLAP to low income neighborhoods who couldn’t find food elsewhere. 16.3 Million venezuelans were receiving CLAP boxes even though the system wasn’t working consistently. The CLAP boxes would provide food for 8 days but the delivery would sometimes only come once a month. Also, the political ramifications of the CLAP program would track and limit the recipients who didn’t support the Maduro organization. Food and Nutrition was a political tool for the government and that still hasn’t changed today. The unofficial dollarization of the country has made it easier for the middle- upper class to experience the new establishments that have been growing in major cities of Venezuela. These establishments are by the 1% for the 1% and offer an alternate reality to the rest of the citizens with the biggest economic inequality in history. Since 2021 over 200 restaurants have opened in Caracas, offering an expansion on the culinary culture of venezuela. The concept for most of these restaurants are based on a Glocal inspiration meaning local ingredients with global influences. Today the gastronomic sector in Caracas is growing and evolving rapidly.
Proposal: El Consul
The Consular building in its aura stands to perform a service and signify its nationality, this project looks to maintain this integrity but shift its purpose. By analyzing the actions that occur in a consular space as well as in a culinary space I noticed there are multiple similarities that overlap. The actions of signing in, waiting for a service and receiving said service are the very basic forefront of what occurs in both spaces. This allowed me to reinterpret how the programming of the building would function for these actions while maintaining the stylistic integrity of the original building interior that consisted of a hispanic colonial traditional style and mixing the international modern style. El Consul offers a lounge with entertainment and drinks, people can enjoy a nice rum while being serenaded by music. The remainder of the floors consist of food as an exchange. The 2nd floor is a dine-in experience with an open concept to the kitchen. I found it important to not separate the preparation to the consumption as a way to relate the sensation of eating at home, helping or watching the food being made. The 3rd floor is a more casual approach to consumption with the same open kitchen concept, here you can find Fritanga such as empanadas, tequeños and other finger foods and snacks for quick bites as well as a dedicated market for ingredients and products that you can buy to cook with traditional ingredients at home. The 4th floor is the extension and focus of this market, functioning as storage and a mercadito where you can find fresh ingredients that grow on the Rooftop of the building in order to cook all the dishes. The Materiality of the interior consists of standing architectural influences, most noticeably El Palacio de Miraflores and Villa Planchart both in Caracas. I also wanted to incorporate the natural landscape into the space with the use of stones, mosaics and nature patterns.
Reflection
El Consul grew from the idea of home. Home is a place we all crave, it provides a sense of belonging and security that we cherish forever. To me home was my family, my pets, my friends but also the familiar sights that I grew up observing and eventually analyzing. Since leaving Venezuela, home were the things that are harder to connect to. I could always call my family and friends but I couldn’t satiate the desire to look out my window and recognize a familiar landscape. I could learn to cook arepas but they don’t taste the same as they do back home. For this project I was thinking what do all Venezuelan homes have in common?, and the bright red image of the Mi Cocina book popped into my head. Food after all is what brings any culture together and this recipe book can be found in any pantry in the country. I quickly made the connection that the author Armando Scannone was an Italian immigrant which led me to ask questions about how immigration has changed Venezuelan culture. I know how lucky I am to have left the country as a decision and not a necessity, the ramification of how the country is politically standing affects everyone. I chose the abandoned consulate to point out the unbelievable reality of what Chavismo has led us to and saw the building as an opportunity to call out the hurt it has caused to Venezuelans.
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Interviews:
Ricardo Cottin,
Venezuelan Lawyer
Interviewed by Emiliana Cottin
2/4/24
Juan Luis Landaeta,
Venezuelan Artist and Poet
Interviewed by Emiliana Cottin
2/6/24
Perla Morrison,
Widow to Venezuelan General Consul in New York City
Interviewed by Emiliana Cottin
2/8/24
