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
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Fancy
Metallic
Impressive
Large
Kingly
Hotel Astor
Chrysler building
designed by 1930
by William Van
What are the Principles and Elements
of Design Used in His Work
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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 pleasing
Shape
• 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