Posts Tagged Architects

The Chrysler Building in a photo dated June 17, 1930.

From 1930-1931, the Chrysler Building in New York City was the tallest building in the world until the Empire State Building took over the title in 1931. Walter Chrysler commissioned the building and dedicated it to “world commerce and industry.”

Designed by William Van Alen, the Chrysler Building is one of the most famous examples of the Art Deco style. Some notable features associated with the Art Deco style that can be seen on the Chrysler Building include simple, streamlined, geometric forms with an emphasis on becoming curvilinear.

The skyscraper’s tapering, four-sided dome featuring a repeated sunburst design was modeled on the radiator cap of the 1929 Chrysler car.

With the  The National Historic Landmark program stated that the skyscraper “is an enduring symbol of New York in the Roaring Twenties.”

National Historic Landmark website.
Photo found online here.

I’m all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let’s start with typewriters.

- Frank Lloyd Wright (Architect)

Photo via the Library of Congress

Lincoln Logs

John Wright, the son of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, invented the Lincoln Logs in 1918. During a trip to Tokyo with his father, John got the idea of interlocking wooden beams from the design of the Imperial Hotel. By interlocking the beams it would allow the structure more stability and support.

The Imperial Hotel in Tokyo

- The original logs also came with instructions on how to build “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and President Lincoln’s log cabin.

- By the time the Lincoln Logs became popular, Wright had already sold the rights to the toy.

- The original logs were made from real wood, usually redwood.

- Unlike popular belief, President Lincoln was not the inspiration for the name. It was actually named after John’s father’s real middle name. Frank Lloyd Wright’s middle name was Lincoln but he changed it to Lloyd to honor his mother’s family when his father left the family.

[Photos - Lincoln Logs and The Imperial Hotel]