Between 1942 and 1965, Carlos Raul Villanueva designed and built almost seventy buildings at the City University of Caracas. The Plaza Cubierta stands at the heart of the university, articulating the relationship between three of its most central and symbolic structures, the Rectorate, the Library and the Aula Magna. An intricate arrangement of curved ramps, perforated walls and freestanding murals defines the space, while openings in the concrete roof allow sunlight to penetrate. The design of the plaza blends light and shade and erodes conventional notions of the boundary between inside and out in a way that not only functions as a climactic device but also reflects Villanueva's concern with the democratization of space. Enrique Larranaga is an architect and a Professor of Design at Simon Bolivar University, Caracas. He has lectured, published and exhibited around the world.