Like many architectural styles, Art Deco evolved from many
sources. And, like many architectural styles, while its influence went beyond
buildings it also inspired architecture in most American cities.
With some of the first designs coming from the Bauhaus School in Germany, Art
Deco drew from the patterns and icons taken from the Far East, ancient Greece
and Rome, Africa, India, and even the Mayan and Aztec cultures,according to About.com
. But it was at
least partially inspired and drew heavily from artifacts discovered in King Tut's tomb, per Frontdoor.com, and many art deco buildings thus feature the
repeating designs and vivid color common in Egyptian artwork.
Although it draws from ancient times, Art Deco is a blend of old and new. The
style combines swirling circular and rectangular motifs often arranged in
geometric patterns, and then broken up by ornamental elements, featuring
high-gloss finishes, mirrors, and glass. Art Deco is very practical with its
monolithic appearance, but finished off with decorated motifs, appendages and
fanciful touches to make it appear fashionable and trendy.
Art Deco was a short-lived movement that was all the rage during the 1920s
and 1930s before it faded in the 1940s. It still had a lasting impact, and
you have no doubt seen an Art Deco building. The style was more common in
commercial and apartment buildings than residential buildings. You will still
find many Art Deco buildings in major cities, such as Chicago, Los Angeles
and New York. The Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building are two
classic examples of Art Deco architecture. The style enjoyed resurgence in
Miami’s South Beach during the 1980s.
Here are some common elements:
· Flat roofs. It’s common that flat roofs are accentuated by
parapets, spires, and towers to accentuate rounded corners or entrances.
· Smooth walls. A distinguishing characteristic for Art Deco
residential buildings is smooth walls made of stucco with rounded corners.
· Exterior materials. Commercial buildings have emboldened
decorations and motifs, with materials for smooth surfaces in stucco,
concrete, smooth-faced stone and Terracota. Steel
and aluminum are also used for ornamental treatments.
· Interior materials. Art Deco designers commonly use glass,
mirrors, opaque glass block, neon and chrome.
