Villa Carmen was designed and built in 1926 by the architect Hermes Romero Villalobos, who was influenced by Palladian architecture in this and other works.

The house was built for the Pardi family, who lived there from 1926 until the mid-1940s. It was later sold to Rafael Urdaneta Atencio, who kept it until 2002.

During this period it was used as the headquarters of the Institute of Culture, and then became the property of the city council.
In 2005 it was declared as the office of the mayor of the time, until 2008, when it was ceded to an institution in charge of the integral attention of people with autism.

Until 2021, when the proposal arose to locate a more appropriate place for the institution and to give Villa Carmen another use, as it is currently a cultural centre for the city.

It can be seen that a characteristic of Palladianism is the large entrance frame, whose open walls allow the rest of the elements to be seen.

^Location

Quinta Villa Carmen is located between 75th and 76th streets, Bella Vista, Maracaibo, Zulia state.

The lighting that has been installed adds to the aesthetics of the façades, and it is worth noting that the luminaires are not at all invasive, as they are placed in very well concealed locations.

At the top of the front façade you can see the distinctive letters with its name.

The steel stairs are not an original part of the house.

The main entrance leads to a large central hall under a double height ceiling and on both sides other rooms which are connected by doors.

There is no doubt that walking through the house is very enjoyable and takes you back in time as you visit each area.

The design of its interior is conjugated by double height ceilings, with narrow corridors as well as its staircases, it is also curious to see the low height of the railings.

In 1926, where there were no high-rise buildings around, this roof probably offered a great view of the city.

Here you can see the design of columns with Doric. order capitals

Rear façade overlooking the long courtyard where the space provides an opportunity for relaxation and family meals in the open air.

Right side facade.

The main front gardens consist of small shrubs and lawns that maintain an uninterrupted view.

The floors are very well preserved, with mosaic-type balsamics, very common at the time.

Lower ground floor distribution.

Upper floor distribution.

Each room or area is fitted out depending on the cultural activity to be developed, for example, exhibitor's hall, concert hall, among others.

Vila Carmen was reopened on 20 August 2021 after the refurbishment of each of its spaces. Since then, the doors have been open to the public, as well as having a calendar of cultural activities that are so necessary for the enjoyment of the family.