The Cubo Negro was designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee during the first quarter of 1975. Located in Caracas, Venezuela, the mixed-use space incorporates commercial and art spaces. It is still occupied today.
Design
The architectural concept is based on a "parageometric" cube in which some sections have been removed, thus generating an open central space and floor levels with different surface areas. The design consists of 13 levels within a black glass cube.
The preliminary design was presented by Philip Johnson and John Burgee with a high level of definition. However local architects were brought on board to collaborate, which included architects Enrique Gomez, Carlos Eduardo Gomez, and Jorge Landi.
One of the key features of this building is the facade which incorporates a curtain wall. The facade is an emblematic element that even today gives architectural modernity to the building.
The planning and design of the curtain wall type facade for the "Glass Cube" began in August 1977 as a result of a teamwork approach between all the companies involved in the design and construction project, thus allowing designing an integral system that included a series of innovations.
Heritage
In 2005 the building was declared a cultural monument by the Venezuelan Cultural Heritage Census.