New York City’s iconic architecture comes to life on this skyline chess board
A new chess set lets you checkmate with New York City’s skyline. Developed by Skyline Chess, a company founded by two London-based architects, the game pieces capture the city’s early 1900s construction boom and the expansion of skyscraper architecture, along with more contemporary and recognizable structures. As contemporist discovered, the pieces are silhouettes of buildings like One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Flatiron Building, Guggenheim Museum, and traditional brownstones.
The founders of the UK-based startup first got the concept from playing chess as roommates. They then made a set reflecting the London Skyline and decided to expand its design to New York, giving careful consideration to which buildings would represent which piece appropriately in architectural status and scale.
After they chose the buildings, Skyline Chess modeled and 3D printed their prototype to ensure the scale and proportions worked. Then, the company inserts a cavity inside each to place a metal weight core.
The company started a Kickstarter campaign to complete their first run of sets and packaging. The game will include a full 32-piece chess set, presentation box, folding board, and a set of instructions and information on the buildings. With 29 days left to raise money for their project, the company has raised $5,127 out of a goal of $12,747.
[Via contemporist]
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All images courtesy of Skyline Chess
