Surname 1

Student's Name

Instructors Name

Course

Date

Art Deco is an architectural decoration and still that emerged after the art nouveau. This

was a period after the end pf the 19th century. This still became very popular in 1919 1939.

Essentially, the First World War is considered as the dividing age between the Art Deco and art

nouveau era. The name arose from the Exposition des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels that occurred

in Paris in 1925. This design emerged from other arts and architecture movements such as

Futurism, Bauhaus, Modernism, Cubism, and Constructivism (Bizley, 45). Even though the style

evolved in the 1920s, the term was coined in the 1960s, and it became popular around the world.

The Art Deco is often considered as a realistic style that characterized the 20th century.

This style supported the significance of craftsmanship, and it gained from the industrialized

world that was developing in the 20th century. This includes the mounting prominence of the

machine and mass production techniques. The style is often characterized as dramatic, elegant,

and luxurious. The style is also modern and decorative. It is also characterized by distinct aspects

such as overlapping or repeating images. It includes lightening bolts, zigzags, and chevrons that

have been organized in a geometric manner (Schumacher 81). It is also comprised of exotic

motifs, mold colors and streamlined forms. These are often considered as the principles of a

dynamic and new design. The Art Deco is often considered as an international style. Essentially,

it was possible to integrate it into made-made objects. It is accessible and functional to the

ordinary person with a knack for simplicity. The Art Deco style has undulating curves, sharp

angles, and simple massing in a geometric shape. It is also characterized with bold lettering and
 Surname 2

thick columns that are stylized. The style used acts as a representation of the current age where

there was an overthrow of the old beliefs, symbolic for the preference towards speed and the

strength and power of machinery.

History

Artisans, designers, and international artists began to exhibit a style that leans towards

decorations that later emerged as a streamlined style that has bene applied in the arts. It has now

become popular in the 60s. Fair Park, Texas, US, is considered as the home of Art Deco. In 1936,

about 50 structures were erected in the Art Deco style. Today, about 21 of these structures still

survive. The style emerged from the 1925 Paris exhibition. This event was dedicated to the

display of decorative arts. Thousands of designers exhibited their decorative art. Some countries

are also financed pavilions for highlighting the designs. These places acted as decorative

buildings that were constructed for displaying the aspects of national cultures (Bizley 69).

Essentially, the exhibition marked the popularization of the Art Deco culture.

Figure 1: Polish pavilion entry (Source: Schumacher 2012)

The host location had a critical role in the exhibition. The world war had a devastating effect on

Europe. Many constructions and buildings had been destroyed, and this led to need to develop
 Surname 3

new structures. This resulted in the emergence of the building era, and France sought to be a

leader during this period. The French have often been known traditionally as leaders in the arts

and fashion. They also intended to be leaders in style. The exhibition was an opportunity to

showcase their level of expertise in architectural style. It also detailed their excellence in luxury

goods and French taste. The exhibition was dominated by works from French artists and

architects.

The exhibition occurred in a large part of the city. Avenues and pavilions of boutiques

were constructed, and they spread on either side of the Seine River that flowed through the

center of the city. The entrance to the fair was defined by twelve monuments. These shops and

sights were quite appealing to visitors, and the exhibition was visited by over 15million persons.

At nightfall, the landscape was taken over with lights, and the city came alive as people went to

look at the exhibition (Lange and Lange 112).

Figure 2: Postcard showing the fair (Source: Bizley 2010)

Many countries that did not participate in the exhibition began to consider the Art Deco

style. It emerged as a revolutionary style in architecture. Essentially, it acted as a representation

 Surname 4

of the modern age. In an age of technological innovation and progress, individuals were excited

about anything that was linked with modernity. The style was then adopted into the American

culture that was characterized by the construction of skyscrapers in the 1920s (Schumacher 134).

Inspiration

Besides the philosophical and aesthetic inspiration, the style was influenced by practical

motivations. The zoning laws that were implemented in New York sought to preserve the

sunlight. This would directly affect the construction of skyscrapers. Essentially, the buildings

were designed to be thinner as they became taller, and the decreasing width made them appear

tall. The towering buildings are often a characteristic of modernity. The Art Deco ornamentation

with an influence of Saarinens conceptualization was a means to substitute the classical basis of

the exposition in Paris would emerge as the best style for New York (Lange and Lange 202).

Essentially, decorating structures applied to architects in New York as it allowed for a wider

array of expressions.

Figure 3: Chicago Tribune Building by Saarinen (Source: Bizley, 2010)

Main designers
 Surname 5

Many architects and designers participated in the developments. The golden gate bridge

is one of the best examples to detail the use of the style. Joseph B. Strauss first conceptualized

the bridge in 1922. He first supported the use of a suspension and hybrid cantilever structure

across the Golden Gate. This plan was not favorable to many. It was considered as ugly and

deviates from the beautiful, minimalistic lines that detail the bridge today. Leon Moisseiff, a

consulting engineer, supported the construction a bridge that relies on a long-span suspension

structure. This conceptualization has not been realized before. Essentially, Strauss and Moisseiff

began to conceptualize and refine a new style for the design. Strauss sought to use various

architects for the bridge. This entails a merge between form and fusion. In 1929, John Eberson

introduced the art deco design. He was a popular Chicago theater architect, and his suggestions

were considered as quite costly to be achievable. Maynard Dixon, an artist, recommended that

Strauss substitute Eberson with Irving Foster Morrow (Schumacher 58). Even though Irving

lacked national reputation like Eberson, he was more knowledgeable about the local art,

landscape, and politics. He had experience in constructing houses, and his services were called

upon in 1930 to come up with an architectural development of the bridge. Irving was also told to

ensure that the bridge was beautiful. It should deviate fem the traditional classical or European

style. Irvings initial designs were characterized with influences from the works of Maynard

Dixons vision and early drawings of the bridge (Bizley 32).

By the mid-1930s, Irving did away with the mechanical appearance of Strauss initial

designs. This was replaced with artfully designed cables and simple, sleek, lightweight and

modern towers. The entrance of the bridge is characterized with concrete pylons in angular form,

and this acted as the stage for looking at the towers. The improved design used in the towers was

linked to their height. While the four rectangular portals of the tower diminished in width, the
 Surname 6

stepped-back ladders emerged from the roadway and went into the sky. The towers resemble

ladders, and Irving added vertical, wide flutings that were joined into the steel-padded housing.

This covered the horizontal bracing rods that are between the tower legs. This led to an art deco

style that created changing and dramatic shadows once sunlight was caught on the structure.

Irving also introduced and designed small structures that angled the light stands, streamlined

pedestrian walkways, and simplified the bridge to ensure that pedestrians and motorists have a

good view of the ocean and the Bay (Schumacher 141). Essentially, he was responsible for the

architectural enhancements and iconic features that define the bridge. These have been

impressive and are admired worldwide. This also ensured that the bridge is viewed as a

sculpture.

Irving also made a new design for the lighting system that was used for the bridge. Two

important variables are considered when choosing the style and type of lighting to be sued. This

entails the dignity and scale of the project and the size of the bridge. Due to the enormous size,

Irving did not want a similar light effect on the entire bridge. This would make the effect seem

artificial. Instead, the towers would have a minimal light on the top, and this would make them

seem like they are soaring above the range of illumination. Additionally, use of flashy lighting

would be too distracting, and individuals would not be awed by the brilliance of the structure. In

this case, the lights would use sodium vapor lamps that are low pressure, and this would emit a

minimal amber glow. This lighting system would be used to light the roadway. The original

lamps were later replaced with powerful versions about 44years later. Moreover, the amber

plastic lens was added to encourage the original warm glow (Lange and Lange 189). However,

due to lack of finances, the tower lighting could not be installed as the bridge was being built.
 Surname 7

The 1920s were also characterized by the construction of numerous high-rise buildings in

the US. This began with contests towards the construction of these buildings leading to a rise in

public interest towards the style of architecture. This was the case with buildings such as the

Chrysler building in New York and Tribune Tower in Chicago. The US sought to construct these

buildings as it had wealth, and it had not suffered from the war in comparison to European

countries. Moreover, the US economy had also benefited from the proceeds of supplying

equipment and other resources required for the war. Many American architects, city planners and

designers began to use Art Deco (Lange and Lange 39). This acted as a show of their prosperity

and wealth, as well as their preference for French style.

The great depression

The great depression began in 1929. It was characterized by high levels of poverty,

homelessness, and unemployment. This meant that financial support for city beautification and

private buildings was minimal. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected in 1932, sought to

initiate the New deal that would improve the prospects of the American people. It entails a series

of policies to employ thousands of Americans and improve the economy. The Works Progress

Administration (WPA) was a relief agency that would enhance their prospects. It sought to

improve jobs instead of handouts. In this regard, it would allow for the construction of roads,

schools, airports, and buildings. After the Great Depression, the style emerged as an adaptive

style. In this context, architects did not use the florid aspects of the French-inspired decorative

style. Instead, this saw the emergence of the second stage of the Art Deco that is known as

streamlining. This led to the use of designs that were machine-like and angular (Bizley 79). This

meant that the new designs were appropriate to a time that economic hardships were the norm.

However, it emerged as modern. During this phase, the primary materials used in buildings
 Surname 8

comprised of aluminum, plastic and baked enamels. These materials are abundant and cheap due

to the factory-based economy that was the case in the US. Moreover, since Art Deco has an

ensemble characteristic, this was the best choice for the New Deal buildings.

During the period after the great depression, many changes were occurring in technology

and science. Art Deco acted as a celebration of progress and casual expression that detailed the

countrys excitement about the innovations. Essentially, Dallas was to host an exposition similar

to the Paris exposition. The setting would be in Fair Park, and over fifty new buildings would be

constructed drying the period. The entire project amounted to about $25million in 1936.

Essentially, the exposition would be comparable to a whole city, and it would be larger than the

Paris exposition. Architects such as George Dahl stated that the buildings from the exposition

would be built in a contemporary style. Additionally, each design would have to be gain his

approval. This meant that the constructions in Fair Park were adherent and unified to the Art

Deco traditions. However, this term was not quite popular until the 1960s (Bizley 98).

Figure 4: Fair Park

The US economy had the best conditions that would allow the style to flourish. In New

York, a building boom arose from 1925 to 1931. Essentially, the decorative styles common in

Europe influenced the style and design of the city. It was influenced to a minimal extent by ideas
 Surname 9

that arose from Chicago (Schumacher 133). Essentially, New York was a good city to thrust itself

into the future and embrace the Art Deco.

In conclusion, Art Deco is a new style in architecture that began in the mid-1920s even

though the term became popular in the 1960s. It is often associated with the machine age, and it

occurred at a time when many innovations occurred in technology and science. The Art Deco

constructions often evoke a liveliness and drama that characterizes the period even though they

act as the symbolism of the historical pressures. The style began in Paris, France during an

exposition. It was later adopted and popularized by American architects as it began to

characterize many constructions that emerged after the great depression especially in New York

and Texas. The style is regard as stylistic and details a creative burst of drama and excitement.

Essentially, it emerged due to the cultural renaissance of the twentieth century based on the

creativity of the Paris exposition.

 Surname 10

Works Cited

Bizley, Graham. Architecture in Detail II. 1st. New York: Routledge, 2010.

Lange, Alexandra and Jeremy M Lange. Writing about architecture: mastering the language of

buildings and cities. 1st. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2012.

Schumacher, Patrik. The autopoiesis of architecture. 1st. Chichester: J. Wiley, 2012.