William Van Alen

History

• William Van Alen was born in New York Brooklyn on the 10th of August 1883

• Was taught Architecture by Emmanuel Louis Masqueray

• He First worked at the Pratt Institute while working for the architect Clarence True

• Died 24th of May 1954

5 Words to Describe His Style

• Fancy• Metallic• Impressive• Large • Kingly

Chrysler building designed by 1930 by William Van Alen.

Hotel Astor

What are the Principles and Elements of Design Used in His Work

• The reason I chose pattern is because pattern is constantly used in his buildings. if you look at the Chrysler Building and the Hotel Astor you can see he constantly repeats the design on every level.

• The reason I chose unity is because all of his works are harmonious and work together.

• The reason I chose balance is because his works are all symmetrical and you can split every one of his works in half.

• The reason I choose line is because there is Line in all of William Van Alen’s work. If you look at the Chrysler building and the Hotel Astor you can see Lines shooting up to the top of the building.

Hotel Astor built 1910 designed 1900 helped designed by William Van Alen .

How Does William Van Alen use shape and Dimension to make His buildings

aesthetically pleasingShape• He uses shape to design fancy

exterior decoration• He uses equilateral triangles,

and crescent’s (shapes) to make a decorative design on the top of the Chrysler Building.

Dimension• He uses Dimension to make

the exterior shapes come to live

• He uses Dimension to make his fancy design of the then Chrysler symbol.

How Mathematical Concepts are Incorporated Into His designs

• Symmetry (symmetrical) is incorporated through how that you can take any one of his building split them in half and both sides would look exactly alike.

• Lines are incorporated in his work by the lines he uses for the edges and the lines on the buildings that shoot up to the top

• Geometric shapes are incorporated in his designs one of them are the rectangular prism for the Chrysler Building it is built on layers of rectangular prism and further more on the top of the Chrysler Building he uses triangles and crescents.

• Patterns are incorporated through how that each floor is continuing the pattern from the floor below like in the Hotel Astor it is a pattern that I find quite Intriguing.

Cool Facts

• Was awarded the Paris Prize scholarship 1908• Designed the Chrysler Building• Designed many multistory buildings in New York

with H. Severance• Had to sue Walter Chrysler to get pay for the

Chrysler Building• Van Alen lent his name to the Van Alen Institute

Which was renamed in honor from its original name Society of Beaux Arts Architects.

Quiz

• 1.When was the Hotel Astor designed?• 2. When was the Hotel Astor built?• 3.Name 3 shapes that are used in the Chrysler

Building?• 4.if you any of is buildings they would look alike.• 5. name which year di William Van Alen get awarded

the Paris Prize scholarship?• 6.When was William Van Alen born?• 7.What did William Van Alen have to do to get pay for

the Chrysler Building