Art deco architecture is a style of art and design that emerged in France in the 1920’s, gained popularity in the 1930’s, and was widely embraced by architects and designers around the world until it was replaced by post-modernism in the 1960’s. Art Deco buildings can still be seen in many cities around the world, but are most prevalent in New York City, Miami Beach, Hollywood, San Francisco and other large cities with thriving tourist trade.

What is Art Deco?

The name art deco actually refers to a 1925 Paris exposition that promoted this new style of architecture. Although it was used by some people to describe the style as early as 1922, it was not generally applied to architecture until 1927. The term “art deco” is a shortened version of “art déco,” which means “art craft.” The entire movement is named after an exhibit called l’Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes.

Art Deco Buildings

The style was pioneered by a group of artists called Les Sapeurs (short for Société des artistes décorateurs), whose goal was to combine art and industry, just as art nouveau had done some decades earlier. The designs that

Art Deco is a fascinating architectural and design style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, influenced by the Art Nouveau movement of the previous decade. The term was coined by the French writer and designer, Jean Dubuffet in 1969.

Art Deco buildings were constructed from the early 1920s, throughout most of the 1920s and into the early 1930s, in America and Europe. This was in an attempt to rebuild after World War I destroyed many old European cities. Many wealthy patrons were eager to rebuild their homes in this new style. Art Deco was often used for private residences of the very wealthy–hotels, movie theatres, office buildings, estates and yacht clubs. But some affordable homes were also built with this style as well.

Art Deco is considered by many to be the most creative period of the 20th century. It featured bold colors, geometric designs, metallic elements, and stylized floral patterns as well as exotic images from African and Asian cultures such as cheetahs or elephants.*

It is a style that stands out, but it is one of the most important architectural movements of the first half of the 20th century. Art Deco was essentially a combination of two different styles: Beaux Arts and the Machine Age.

What these buildings have in common is that they are all made with very smooth lines and bold use of color and geometric shapes. The shapes are usually rounded and flowing, with almost no sharp edges.

Art Deco buildings were over-the-top when it came to ornamentation. They used many different materials such as glass, ceramics, polished metals, and sometimes even marble or onyx. Their exteriors were often designed to look like futuristic machines or even rockets, due to their use of streamlined shapes and long vertical lines.

Art Deco architecture was focused on new technology during a time when many people thought that the future would be even more advanced than today. They also seemed to reflect the optimism of the era with their bright colors, geometric shapes, and overall sense of fun!

Art Deco is a decorative design style that first appeared in France after the end of World War I. It was popular during the 1920s and early 1930s, with Art Deco buildings and other structures erected around the world in major cities.

Art deco architecture is considered to be a combination of three elements: geometry, sculpture and nature. Buildings designed in this style often feature geometric shapes such as zig zags, triangles, chevrons, diamonds and rhombuses. Zig zags were used most frequently by artists and architects of this period. Other common shapes include spirals and circles. Some buildings have ornamentation that uses abstract representations of plants, such as leaves and vines.

Tall buildings often feature vertical lines on their façades, while others use horizontal lines. The style also uses curves to create beautiful shapes; the Chrysler Building in New York City has been described as art deco’s highest achievement because it successfully combines straight lines with curves.

Art deco architecture is recognized worldwide as an important part of many cultural heritages, especially those of France and the United States.**

The style is named after the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, held in Paris in 1925. The Exposition’s style was visually opposed to the geometric constructivist and Bauhaus styles that dominated Europe at the time.

Toward the end of World War I, many sought to bring back the Decorative and Applied arts that were popular before the war. Art Deco did just this by using modern materials and techniques to create practical, beautiful objects for everyday life.

Art Deco is one of the first truly international architectural styles, with examples found all over the world, for example: New York City’s Chrysler Building, Moscow’s Hotel Moskva and the Empire State Building in New York City.

In the 1920s, art deco architecture became a dominant style in the European and American design world. The style was characterized by lavish use of geometric patterns, bold colors, and exotic shapes. This new style was a response to both the technological advances of the modern age as well as to the growing popularity of abstract art.

The Art Deco style was popularized at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels in Paris, France. The style is closely associated with the Jazz Age, and with glamour in general.

Art Deco architecture is a style of visual arts, architecture and design that was most popular during the 1920s and 1930s, beginning in France after World War I. It combined traditional craftsmanship and fine craftsmanship with avant-garde modernity. It was inspired by modern industrialization and war.

Art Deco served as a style both for decorative arts such as interior design, but also for progressive architectural engineering developments. A few examples of Art Deco architecture are Grand Central Terminal in New York City, Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the Chrysler Building in New York City, the RCA Building (now the GE Building) in New York City, the Empire State Building in New York City, and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Art Deco has influenced many diverse artists and designers from all walks of artistic life: furniture designers have been inspired by Art Deco design elements; a classic example is the well known furniture designer Marcel Breuer who used straight tubular steel or chrome-pl