Lego Architecture Нью-Йорк (21028) [8/116] Chrysler buildin

Chrysler Building

™

At 1,046 ft. (319 m) the Chrysler Building was the world’s

tallest building for 11 months before being surpassed by

the Empire State Building in 1931. It remains the tallest

steel-supported brick building in the world and is seen as

an outstanding example of classic Art Deco architecture.

It was designed by New York architect William Van Alen for

Walter P. Chrysler, chairman of the Chrysler Corporation,

and construction commenced in September 1928.

Almost 400,000 rivets were used in the creation of the

steel skeleton and over 3.8 million bricks were manually

laid as the building took shape.

As the building would be the headquarters for an

automobile company, many of the architectural details

including the gargoyles were modeled after Chrysler

automobile parts. The iconic stainless-steel crown is

composed of seven radiating arches ending in a 125 ft.

(38 m) long spire.

Declared a US National Historic Landmark in 1976, the

Chrysler Building is consistently rated one of the finest

buildings in New York by architects and scholars. Since

the observation deck on the 71st floor officially closed

in 1945, visitors today can still view the spectacular Art

Deco lobby.

[ “The Chrysler Building...

was one of the

most accomplished

essays in the style.” ]

John Julius Norwich