For Walter P. Chrysler, from the car manufacturer, building the tallest building in the world was a status symbol. The Chrysler Building was in a race with the Bank of Manhattan (now 40 Wall Street) for obtaining the title of tallest building in the world. It looked like the Bank of Manhattan would win the race, with an expected height of 282 meters (927ft) to around 230 meters for the Chrysler Building. But the spire of the Chrysler Building was constructed in secret inside the tower.
Just one week after the Bank of Manhattan had topped out, the spire of the Chrysler Building was put in place, making it 318 meters (1045ft) tall, thus beating the Bank of Manhattan as the tallest building in the world. It would not keep this title for long: one year later the Empire State Building was erected.
The Chrysler building is one of the last skyscrapers in the Art Deco style. The gargoyles depict Chrysler car ornaments and the spire is modeled on a radiator grille. Since it was restored in 1996 it glitters again like it must have in the 1930s.
And the building's Art Deco interior is even more magnificent than its exterior. The marble floors and many Art Deco patterns such as on the stylish elevator doors make the Chrysler Building one of New York's most beautiful office towers.
The artworks on the ceilings were originally painted on canvas by artist Edward Trumbull. The paintings are called, "Transport and Human Endeavor" and were cemented to the lobby ceiling. At the time of completion tis was the largest mural in the world and featured buildings, airplanes, and scenes from the Chrysler assembly line, as the Chrysler building itself.
My travel buddy Max liked the beautiful Christmas tree the best! Poor Yasemin was back in our apartment with a fever.
I can only imagine how fantastic it would be to go to work in this building everyday!
Thank-you for posting, I love this building too. Just ventured into the lobby and drank in the lift doors, recognized your photo instantly.
ReplyDeleteJudy Ward, teacher too, retired