The art Deco style Chrysler
building was designed to be the corporate headquarters for
Walter P. Chrysler and his automobile empire. The building
was also in competition against the Manhattan Bank Building
for the title of tallest building in the world.
The building was designed to resemble a Chrysler automobile.
It is faced with Nirosta metal (a chromium - nickel steel),
which resembles platinum and is decorated with sculptures
copied from the hood ornament of a 1929 Chrysler Plymouth.
The 31st floor contains what looks like shiny metal hubcaps.
The Chrysler building held the title of the world's tallest
building for only a short time. That honor was lost to the
Empire State building which was completed only a few months
later.
Still, the Chrysler building remains the preeminent art-deco
style building in all of New York City, if not the world. |
