The 1920s brought opulence and flair to home design.
As such, the aesthetic was careful to balance opulence and practicality.
What Is Art Deco Architecture?
The Spruce / Sarah Crowley
This design show was held in Paris and featured the work of several promising young designers.
The movement was eventually named after this event.
After the event, the design aesthetic took off.
The Spruce / Sarah Crowley
Paris is home to many early examples of Art Deco architecture.
It wasnt until the early 1930s that famous architects built several other now-famous Art Deco buildings in American cities.
American skyscrapers, in particular, represented the most lavish and impressive examples of the style.
The Spruce / Sarah Crowley
The highly decorative design utilized vertical lines and height.
It was commonly used for large buildings such as hotels, movie theaters, and skyscrapers.
This time, rounded corners, horizontal lines, and chrome hardware were the focus.
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This era spanned two distinct periods.
Perhaps the most intriguing part of the Art Deco era is the period it embodied.
Builders adapted the style to more economical apartment buildings and the like.
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More moderate designers were able to build basic structures and use machine-made ornamentation relatively inexpensively.
Decorative styles were reserved for the most prominent and visible parts of a building, which also saved money.
The quality and extent of decoration vary widely in Art Deco architecture.
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Art Deco architecture is not a revival style.
Early Art Deco designers were clear about their intentions.
They wanted to create a style that no one had seen before.
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However, many design elements were inspired by preceding movements or cultures.
Art Deco motifs take a creative license from Indigenous, Egyptian, and Classical art forms.
Not many homes were built in the Art Deco style.
The Art Deco style was predominately used in public buildings and commercial spaces.
As such, there arent too many homes that were built in the Art Deco style.
However, some people wouldincorporate Art Deco elements into their pre-existing homes.
For instance, traditional, wood-trimmed entryways were replaced with simple arches during the 1930s.
Lighting fixtures and decor were replaced with more sleek, Art Deco options.
People chose Art Deco-inspired paint colors, and tile choices were selected to match this more modern trend.
Art Deco design focuses on symmetry and sharp angles.
UnlikeArt Nouveau architecture, the Art Deco movement was much less whimsical and way more practical.
The design aesthetic focused on new ways to present traditional shapes.
Youll see a lot of unusual takes on symmetry and geometric shapes in Art Deco architecture.
Art Deco buildings predate modern architecture.
In summary, Art Deco architecture represents a transitional period between traditional and modern approaches to building.
The period spans between 1925 and 1940 and is an easily recognized style in prominent American city buildings.
