Chrysler Building
Being the most recognizable building in New York City, this building was once the tallest building in the world. It is located in midtown Manhattan, New York City. The architect responsible for such a spectacular building was William Van Alen. This skyscraper was built around 1926 to 1930. William Van Alen was designing this building for Walter Chrysler. Walter Chrysler was a professional in mechanics and he was head of his own company. However, when he saw that he was growing he decided to make a headquarters of his own. This is where Walter and William decided to come together to design what would be known as the tallest building in the world; The Chrysler Building.
Being 1048 feet high, this building is no longer the tallest in the world. It has a total of 77 floors and near 5000 windows. This building is considered one of the most admired landmarks. This isn’t just a normal building. Its exterior qualities give it the purpose of being the heart of the city. Even though it is now no longer the tallest building it still attracts many tourist by its exterior qualities. The Chrysler building was one of the first large buildings to use metal extensively on the exterior. Keeping in mind that it was designed with characteristics of a car each level depicts different car ornaments. The peak also known as the crown of this building looks as if it is piercing the sky. However, when looking at it closely we realize that it is very delicate and has intricate details. First we have seven terraced arches that form a cruciform groin vault that are sliced into seven pieces and mounted on top of each other descending in size. Between these arches we see little triangular windows that go along with the peak of the crown. Many elements used on this building came from actual Chrysler products. These elements include hood ornaments and hubcaps, steel gargoyles. All these characteristics make this an inimitable building. It can be seen from many distances and at any time of day. During the day the sunlight gives its crown a gleam and at night the lighted triangular walls as well as colorful floodlights define the seven arches and makes the whole city seem illuminated which also made it look like a “diamond against the night”.The interior is just as magnificent as the exterior. When entering this building you cant help but notice the lobby ceiling that is covered with the mural “Energy and man’s application of it” by Edward Turnball. What is unique about this mural is that it also has a painting of the building itself on it. It also has many different types of stones, such as marble, wood marquetry, onyx and amber. These different types of marbles also gave this building a very dark entrance until it was renovated. Also the interior was made of steel and concrete walls that insulate that building but are not necessarily needed to support the building. The interior used metal and aluminum to mirror the exterior. The Chrysler building has so much to talk about since its interior was made with a purpose to be unforgettable. The interior isn’t just known for the designs on the walls but also for the different things that were put into them. For example, the elevators that were used with its marvelous design stand out with the abstract designs that have been put on the doors. Overall it has a very geometric interior.
The Chrysler building has many qualities that buildings from the past had. Beginning with pyramids where the ziggurat shapes where seen. The same way the crown of the building makes the terraced arches smaller than the one below, the terraced pyramids had each story smaller than the one below it. Then following down to the base we see how they kept the old square base and brick. As well as Greeks, Romans borrowed heavily from the early Hellenistic styles where their building were extremely ornamented. By this we see how the Chrysler building is highly ornamented and takes after similar characteristics.
This is by far the best example of Art Deco architecture. It is known for its distinct ornamentation and is still admired by everybody. Its elegance and glistening appearance makes these 80 years still be listed as people favorite buildings. Even though it is no longer the tallest building in the world it will forever be the most viewed.
5 comments:
certainly a highly legible and recognizable building, but be careful not to overstate the ability of others to say that this is the most recognizable. as was suggested during the pin up, you need to organize your work through analysis around the idea of the diamond in the night (by the way, is this a quote from someone else or you?). this building does stand out in the cityscape precisely because the top is different...but it maintains many characteristics similar if not the same as the buildings that are its neighbors. be sure to connect up AND distinguish. glad you are dealing with the interiors, but you need to be much more precise about the architectural and design evidence that van alen used to impress. materials, light, color, texture....how it all comes together. your writing and drawings should then support this assertions. if it's all about a diamond, what are the aspects of diamond-ness that you can use to say something meaningful about this building and its component parts?
I enjoyed reading your precedent analysis. Our buildings have many similarities being they were in competition when constructed. We also display the art deco style well. Both were modeled after the car companies built for speed piercing the sky. I like how you went into detail describing the textures and structure of the building. I think you should include more information on the purpose of the build and what the Chrysler is used for now.
I appreciate your elaboration on the details of this building. It is important to zoom in and focus on the small intricate details of designers; they have a purpose and meaning.
I think you need to elaborate more on the time period this building was built and the significance of the building... i.e. the great depression, automobiles, technology, etc. My analysis is on the wright brothers memorial on the coast of N.C. The memorial recognizes the first achievement of powered flight of man. My goal in my analysis is to attribute flight, speed, technology, and the time period to the memorial. I would love to see your analysis dive in to how the building expresses the new technology of the automobile; since it is the "Chrysler Building."
I think you capture the analysis of your building really well, whereas some are extremely detailed and descriptive. I'm thinking of comparing my building to yours, because it's roots involve the growing popularity of transportation after the invention of the automobile. I am wondering, though, if you plan on talking more about the car and how it inspired your building in your final. Do you think we could have some sort of conversation about this? I know mine matches yours in the automobile sense, but I'm unsure if its importance in your building is strong enough for a comparison.
I really enjoy your building Iliana because although there completely different in their design, material, structure practically everything. I think they have embedded within many of the same ideologies that the HSB Turning Torso in Sweden represents. The Chrysler Building was originally the tallest skyscraper before the construction of the Empire State Building 11 months later. The Turning Torso was to re-establish the Malmo district and create something innovative for the Swedish skyline and let it be different in every way possible. As well as the Turning Torso was when completed the tallest structure in Scandinavia but was soon surpassed just like your building. But I believe they are both distinguishable designs because they were meant to say something about the area in which they were founded.
Post a Comment