The Chrysler Building in New York City was built in 1930. For a few months, this Art Deco skyscraper was the tallest structure in the world. It was also one of the first buildings composed of stainless steel over a large exposed surface.
The Chrysler Building is renowned for its terraced crown, which is an extension of the main tower. Composed of seven radiating terraced arches, a radiating sunburst pattern with many triangular vaulted windows, eagle gargoyles echo the treatment of the 31st, to the spire.
Art Deco buildings have many of these features:
* Cubic forms
* Ziggurat shapes: Terraced pyramid with each story smaller than the one below it
* Complex groupings of rectangles or trapezoids
* Bands of color
* Zigzag designs
* Strong sense of line
* Illusion of pillars
The architect, William Van Alen, drew inspiration from machine technology for the ornamental details on the Chrysler Building: There are eagle hood ornaments, hubcaps and abstract images of cars.