E 42nd St begins at Bryant Park, at the intersection of 5th Avenue. Looking towards Chrysler Bldg and Grand Hyatt.
E 42nd St begins at Bryant Park, at the intersection of 5th Avenue. The Swedish clothing store H&M now has several stores on Manhattan.
Chrysler Building
Chrysler Building, designed by William van Alen, was the world's tallest building for one year, 1930-31. It was surpassed by Empire State Building in 1931. Upon completion it beat the Eiffel Tower in height as the world's tallest structure. It is still the tallest brick building in the world. The top of the art deco building features a famous spire and a steel crown, that is inspired by the nave´s of Chrysler cars. The height to the top of the spire is 319m and it has 77 floors. Chrysler wanted the building to be the world's tallest, but they are no longer tenants in the building.
The Chrysler Building, standing 319m tall.
The building doesn't look sleak at all from below, in contrary to how it looks from the distance.
The entrance to Chrysler Bldg at Lexington Avenue.
Details of the art deco building.
The famous spire and steel crown at the top of Chrysler Bldg. The spire was secretly added in just 90 minutes after the building was completed, to prevent competitors from doing the same to create the world's tallest building.
The art deco lobby is clad in different marbles, onyx and amber.
Chrysler Bldg mirrored in Grand Hyatt.
Grand Central with Metlife and Chrysler Bldgs.
Grand Central Terminal
This is the world's largest railway station by number of platforms (it has 44). It is called terminal instead of station because all tracks end there. It features classic beaux-arts architecture, many decorations and is featured in many movies. It was designed by Warren & Wetmore. The terminal opened in 1913 replacing the old Grand Central Station. It was Grand Central, with most of its track underneath the ground, that lead to the construction of the north part of Park Avenue and its buildings. The station building is really huge and features many restaurants and stores. The 67 tracks are spread on 2 floors underneath the building. The skyscraper Metlife Bldg and The Grand Hyatt hotel are connected to Grand Central and Chrysler Bldg is very close.
There is a train platform, no 61, underneath the hotel Waldorf Astoria that was built to be secretly used by president Franklin D Roosevelt and is part of Grand Central Terminal! It features an elevator big enough for the president's limousine The reason for that was to prevent showing that the president got polio. The location of the platform is secret.
Grand Central Terminal and Grand Hyatt from E 42nd St.
The passage from E 42nd St leading to the Main Concourse.
Huge chandeliers and flags are decorating the terminal station. In 1998 a renovation revealed the original lustre of the Main Concourse's decorated astronomical ceiling. The original ceiling was probably replaced in the 1930s to correct falling plaster.
The huge Main Concourse is one of the most busy places in the world. It is hard to stand still there since everyone else is moving.
The Main Concourse at Grand Central with its famous clock.
The famous golden clock that is a popular meeting place in movies and reality.
Old-style elevators of Grand Central, something you don't see every day.
The famous Oyster bar at Grand Central. There is a special construction so you can speak in one side of the vault and listen in the other.
All tracks are underneath the building. The reason for that was to save space and to decrease the amount of air pollution from the steam trains used back then. That lead to the construction of Park Avenue and its buildings.
Many police cars outside Grand Central train terminal.
Metlife Building, formerly Pan Am Building from 1963.
A bridge goes above E 42nd St to the station.
Lexington Avenue.
Socony-Mobil Building from 1956 has 42 floors and has a special textured tin facade. Opposite Chysler Bldg. in Murray Hill.
The striking shapes of a glass building.
Lincoln Building from 1930 is 205m tall and has 55 floors. The style is renaissance revival. Quotes from Lincoln's speeches can be found inside the lobby. It is part of Murray Hill neighboorhood. Vanderbilt Avenue is a short avenue just east of Grand Central.
Note the security camera sign and all the flags.
Chanin Building from 1929. 198m tall and 56 floors. World's 3rd tallest building when completed. Both on Murray Hill.
Chanin Building's lower floors is a nice example of 1920s art deco.
Bowery Savings Bank Building from 1923 is to the right. Chanin Bldg is to the left of it.
The Grand Hyatt. We went inside to relax a bit. The hotel has a nice atrium with a waterfall, but it was under refurbishment. The hotel was built as Commodore in 1909 already, but in 1980 it was transformed into a glass building where the original brick facade was kept behind the glass.
This is Grand Hyatt's glass enclosed bar that hangs over the street.
Chrysler Bldg's neighboor on Lexington Ave.
Midtown Comics Grand Central Store. A large comics store.
Hotel Tudor, part of the Tudor City complex.
Murray Hill neighboorhood to the left.
Ford Foundation Building:
This modernist buildilng from 1967 is only 12 floors high, but is famous for its very green atrium that features trees and a pool. It was designed by Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo. It was originally office for Ford.
Exterior of Ford Foundation Bldg.
The building has won a prestigous architecture price. Some offices faces the atrium.
The water in the pool is gathered from rainfall and coins that people throw in the pool are donated to UNESCO.
The green and plush 12-storey atrium of Ford Foundation Building is a nice place o relax.
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The Daily News Building from 1930 is 145m tall. This classic 36-storey art deco building, a national landmark, was used as the Daily Planet Building in the Superman movies.
Tudor City.
Woodstock Tower is a 34-storey classic skyscraper from 1934, and is part of Tudor City.
View towards United Nations Building in the east end of 42nd Street.