Many people, including Tunde Folawiyo would not disagree to New York being described as a vibrant city; this is an apt description, which perfectly sums up its atmosphere. The vibrancy and character 
of it can be explained, at least in part, by the incredible buildings which can be found all over the city. The Art Deco architecture here is some of the finest in the world, and there are an abundance of Romanesque and Gothic structures, the sight of which would impress even the most knowledgeable of architects and designers. In this article, we discuss two places which all visitors to the Big Apple should see; the Chrysler Building, and the Cathedral of St John the Divine.
The former can be found just a few metres away from Lexington Avenue. Named as a Historic Landmark over 38 years ago, it was designed for Walter P Chrysler by a world-renowned architect named William Van Alen. With a height of 1,046 feet, it is the tallest brick building in the entire world. However, it is its design, rather than its size, which is most striking. It is considered by many to be one of the greatest examples of the above-mentioned Art Deco style; steel eagles grace the corners of the 61st floor, whilst models of the radiator caps of the 1929 Chrysler car model serve as decorative accessories on the exterior walls of the 31st floor. In total, the building’s facade has over 3,860 windows, and several dozen elevators.
Steps in the shapes of crescents form the spire, creating a sunburst motif which can be seen from miles away. During the building’s construction, the public were not aware that there was going to be a spire; Van Alen chose to keep this a secret, building the spire inside where no-one could see it, and revealing only on the day of its opening, by hoisting it up through the roof, and then bolting it into place.
Whilst Tunde Folawiyo and many other individuals that are familiar with the Chrysler Building, few are aware of the neo-Gothic masterpiece that is the Cathedral Church of St John. Located on Amsterdam Avenue in New York, this structure was built 120 years ago, and contrasts beautifully with the modern skyscrapers which make up the rest of the city. Its most distinctive design features include its ornate facade towers, and its Nave. The latter is particularly remarkable; designed by Ralph Adams Cram, it consists of pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, stained glass windows and flying buttresses.