Page plan · 16 pages

Written for: architecture fans, students and city walkers

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   Art Deco: a field guide in newsprint

   • Art Deco is a decorative style of the 1920s and 1930s found in towers, cinemas and stations.
   • This guide reads the style like a newspaper: headlines first, details after.
   • It is written for architecture fans, students and city walkers.
   • Look up, look closely, and learn to spot the signs on any street.
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   One building to start the walk

   • Begin with one landmark so the features are easy to see in context.
   • The Chrysler Building in New York is a famous example, with its stainless steel crown.
   • Note the bold geometry, the vertical lines and the stepped top.
   • Use this one building as a checklist for the rest of the walk.
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   How fast the style spread after Paris 1925

   • The style takes its moment from the 1925 Paris exhibition of decorative and industrial arts.
   • From Paris it traveled to New York, Miami, Mumbai, Shanghai and beyond.
   • Cinemas, hotels and offices carried the look into everyday cities.
   • Magazines, films and trade fairs helped the fashion move quickly.
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   A name given after the fact

   • Designers at the time did not use the name Art Deco.
   • The term comes from the 1925 Paris exhibition's French title, Arts Décoratifs.
   • It became a common label only decades later, during the revival.
   • Earlier names included Style Moderne and Jazz Age style.
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   The ethic of ornament

   • Deco embraces ornament as a pleasure, not a crime.
   • Common motifs are zigzags, chevrons, sunbursts and stylized flowers.
   • Decoration was often tied to the building's purpose and owner.
   • Ornament is concentrated at entrances, lobbies, spandrels and crowns.
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   Materials of the style: metal, stone, terracotta, glass

   • Metals such as stainless steel, aluminum and bronze give the style its shine.
   • Stone cladding gives dignity and a sense of permanence.
   • Glazed terracotta offers color and molded detail at modest cost.
   • Glass, including glass blocks and etched panels, brings light and a modern feel.
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   The machines inside the buildings

   • Elevators made tall buildings practical and shaped the lobby as a grand stage.
   • Elevator doors and indicators were often decorated as showpieces.
   • Mechanical systems such as heating and ventilation supported dense office towers.
   • Machine imagery, like gears and speed lines, also appears in the ornament.
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   Setbacks and the skyline: the race for height

   • Setback rules and the wish for light shaped stepped, tapering towers.
   • 40 Wall Street reached 927 feet and was tallest in 1929–1930.
   • The Chrysler Building reached 1,046 feet and was tallest in 1930–1931.
   • The Empire State Building reached 1,250 feet and held the title from 1931 to 1971.

   Column chart: New York's race for the tallest tower, 1929 to 1931. Source: List of tallest buildings in New York City: timeline of tallest buildings · checked 2026-10-10

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   The builders and craftsmen behind the facades

   • Architects set the vision, but craftsmen made the details real.
   • Sculptors, metalworkers, glaziers and plasterers produced the ornament.
   • Muralists and mosaic artists decorated lobbies and ceilings.
   • Look closely at the facade to see signs of hand finishing.
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    Cinemas and stations for the crowds

    • Cinemas used Deco to create glamour and escape for large audiences.
    • Look for glowing marquees, vertical signs and lavish foyers.
    • Stations and terminals used the style to look modern and efficient.
    • Grand halls and clear geometry helped crowds move through.
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    The Depression slows construction

    • The Great Depression cut private funding for new buildings.
    • Many projects were scaled back, delayed or cancelled.
    • Later Deco became simpler, with smooth surfaces and streamlined curves.
    • Public works often carried the style forward on tighter budgets.
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    The modernist backlash against ornament

    • Modernist architects argued that ornament was unnecessary.
    • They favored plain surfaces, function and honest structure.
    • After the Second World War, plain glass boxes became the dominant look.
    • Many Deco buildings were neglected, altered or demolished.
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    Score sheet: rate a building on your walk

    • Score a building from 0 to 3 on each feature (illustrative scale).
    • Check for geometry, vertical emphasis, rich materials and crafted ornament.
    • Add a point for a stepped top and another for a striking entrance.
    • Compare scores with friends to sharpen your eye.
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    The revival: rediscovery and preservation

    • Interest in Deco returned from the 1960s and 1970s.
    • Preservation campaigns saved theaters, hotels and offices.
    • Miami Beach's Deco district became a well-known example of area protection.
    • Restoration shows that the style is valued as heritage.
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    Where to start your own Art Deco walk

    • Start in your own downtown, around old cinemas, banks and civic buildings.
    • Look at entrances, upper floors and signs, where Deco details often survive.
    • Bring a notebook or phone to log what you see.
    • Check local heritage groups for maps and guided tours.
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    Where the photographs and figures come from

    • Credit every photograph and figure to its source.
    • The skyscraper heights come from the Wikipedia timeline, citing the CTBUH Skyscraper Center.
    • Check each source and date before you reuse any figure.
    • Local archives and heritage bodies are good places to learn more.