Construction and design
The Parque Cristal was able to be constructed as a result of the Venezuelan oil boom. With its pair, the Cubo Negro, it is a "huge geometrical glass structure"; Mark Dinneen says they exemplify what was "perhaps the maximum expression of the wealth and technology of the period". The "white cube" design of the Parque Cristal is complemented by the Cubo Negro building, which is nearby and was completed around the same time. Roberto Segre describes the reflective glass design to allow "those who control" to see the activities of "all the controlled, but not vice versa". The building is high and has 18 floors for work and recreational space. It was designed by Jimmy Alcock, who won the Premio Metropolitano de Arquitectura (Metropolitan Architecture Prize) for his design. It has a cube-shaped structure formed by steel and concrete with glass facade. The building is located on a steep hill with poor ground conditions; this resulted in the unusual lower-floor designs as a structural solution, conceived of by engineer Enrique Arnal. The floors areFacilities
The complex contains a gas station; it has three pumps and was selling petrol at no more than six US cents per gallon in 2015. Parque Cristal is considered an important part of Caracas' financial sector, and a marker for how the 'center' of the city has progressively moved further geographically east over time.In popular culture
The Parque Cristal is used as a location in '' Tom Clancy's Commander-in-Chief'', where a covert meeting is held on the top floor after characters enter by "looking up to marvel at the remarkable architecture".References
Further reading
* {{Caracas, state=expanded Buildings and structures completed in 1987 Buildings and structures in Caracas Skyscraper office buildings in Venezuela