About Art Deco
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Art Deco, particularly in its final phase, was the transition between classical and modern architecture. Art Deco was popular primarily during from the 1920s to the 1940s and celebrated "modern" life in the machine age.
The 1920s were the time of modern transportation including trains, planes, dirigibles, and automobiles. This period also saw the rise of high style in clothing, jewelry, hairstyles, furniture and every day objects such as pocket watches. This high style also influenced architecture.
The Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes that took place in Paris during 1925 is considered to be the first widespread exposure to this new style. Architects and designers took what they saw at the exposition and incorporated it into their work.
Typical characteristics of Art Deco architecture include:
- Strong verticality: Skyscrapers were designed to emphasize their verticality. This was often achieved by using a darker material for the spandrels — the area between the top of one window and the sill of the one directly above it. The darkened spandrels stacked with the windows helped create vertical lines that draws the eyes upward. Also adding to the verticality, Art Deco skyscrapers generally did not have a cornice or any vertical conclusion.
- Setbacks: In response to the public's fear of dark city streets, zoning laws were passed leading up to this period that led to skyscrapers having setbacks. These laws often set a height limit for much of the building, but allowed a tower to rise above with unlimited height. This created what is often referred to as a "wedding cake" effect that is most often seen in Art Deco skyscrapers.
- Contrast between light and dark materials: Art Deco buildings often used light coloured building materials, such as limestone, which were then contrasted with a darker material such as black granite. They also often used brightly coloured terra cotta panels to add additional contrast.
- Metal alloys: To emphasize the theme of high style, metal alloys, such as nickel silver, were often used to decorate a building. These alloys could be used to frame the windows, serve as elevator doors, or as part of a decorative panel.
- Influence of ancient art: Art Deco was a new style with new ideas; it rejected classical architecture. However, the design and decorations of the buildings often took queues from the art of ancient cultures such as Egyptian and Mayan.
Although Art Deco was popular for a fairly short period of time, it is generally classified into three types:
- Zigzag Moderne: This is the earliest Art Deco and was primarily popular during the 1920s. Zigzag was usually highly decorative and the façade of zigzag buildings were usually adorned with geometric ornamentation from which it gets its name. In some cases, this ornamentation reflected the building's intended use.
- Classical Moderne (or PWA Moderne in the US): Although these buildings are similar to those of the streamline period, Classical Moderne buildings were generally completed during the Great Depression, often as part of various government's work projects. In the United States, it was referred to as the Public Works Administration. The government created jobs for architects, designers, and builders by putting them to work creating government and civic buildings. These included courthouses, post offices, train stations, bridges and dams. Classical Moderne architecture usually displays stripped classical styles with a distinct monumental feel to them.
- Streamline Moderne: This final phase of Art Deco was very popular in the 1930s, and is typified by a more simplified approach to ornamentation. Buildings during this phase generally do not have the ornamentation of the Zigzag period, but instead emphasize simple lines and a very clean look. The lines often are horizontal as opposed to the vertical that was popular during the Zigzag period. Streamline Moderne is most influenced by the shapes of modern transportation - automobiles, ocean liners, and airplanes. Glass blocks were commonly used during the streamline period, as well as round windows that resembled port holes from ships. Aspects of the Streamline period transitioned to the earliest examples of International Style architecture. Where Zigzag celebrated modern life, Streamline Moderne looked to the future and was often linked to early science fiction. Because it was generally popular during the Great Depression, white cement stucco was often used instead of the more expensive materials of the zigzag period.
Many local architects were practicing Art Deco throughout the United States. Some of these architects worth noting include:
- Holabird & Root
- Raymond M. Hood
- William Lamb
- William Van Alen
Art Deco fell out of favor after the end of World War II, as streamline transitioned to International Style and then to pure Modernism.