An Ode to the Cloud Club
Perched atop the Chrysler Building sits the remains of a bygone era. The Cloud Club, originally designed as an opulent private dining club for men, has sat empty for forty years. No longer can martini glasses be seen clicking in celebratory cheer, only decades of art deco decay.
When opening in 1930 to elite business executives only, the club occupied the 66th, 67th, and 68th floors of the Chrysler Building giving it the title of highest lunch club in the world for a brief period. Designed by American Architect William van Alan, the club offered an eclectic mix of Futurism, Old English, and Art Deco. Each space within the held their respective interior moments providing guests with an eclectic assemblage of experiences and amenities to choose from. Patrons could visit the barbershop, find cigars in the humidor, and even store their liquor of choice in lockers.
During prohibition, the club even operated as a speakeasy with hidden compartments to disguise booze. E.F. Hutton and John D. Rockefeller were just a few notable regulars.
An elegant and exclusive endeavor of the time, the Cloud Club fell by the wayside as other posh clubs and restaurants began to open around the city ultimately leading to the club's demise and closure in 1979.
Since its closure, there have been numerous failed attempts to recreate the space including an attempt in the 80s to flip the space into a disco. Until recently, recreating the former glory of the club seemed like a pipe dream. With the recent sale of the Chrysler Building, new plans to reinvent the club have materialized. Planned to open in early 2021, prominent interior designer Ken Fulk has reimagined the Cloud Club. The new space, occupying the 61st and 62nd floors, will be open to the public for dining, cocktails, and private events.
Known for creating evocative spaces, Mr. Fulk drew inspiration from the originally occupied rooms of the Cloud Club as well as photographs of lustful skyscapes. In an interview with Architectural Digest, he proclaimed he hopes to“create what will hopefully be one of the most beautiful rooms in the world (AD, 2020).”
If like any other projects imagined by Ken Fulk, it will no doubt be just as if not more iconic than the original Cloud Club. The interior rendering below shown on the Chrysler Building's website depicts a sumptuous space just waiting to be christened with a toast. This is what New York is about after all, constant reinvention.
