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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

noveau era. The name arose form 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. Even 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 with distinct aspects such as

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

been organized in a geometric manner. 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.

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The Art deco style has undulating curves, sharp angles, and simple massing in a geometric shape.

It is also characterized with bold lettering, and 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 a

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

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

that were constructed for displaying the aspects of national cultures. Essentially, the exhibition

marked the popularization of the Art Deco culture.

Figure 1: Polish pavilion entry

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

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

new structures. This led to 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 form 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 sides 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.

Figure 2: Postcard showing the fair

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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 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 with the construction of skyscrapers in the 1920s.

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 characetestic 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. Essentially, decorating

structures was applicable to architects in New York as it allowed for a wider array of

expressions.
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Figure 3: Chicago Tribune Building by Saarinen

Main designers

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 is 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. 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.

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

This was replaced with artfully designed cables and simple, seek, 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
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to their height. While the four rectangular portals of the tower diminished in width, the 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. 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 huge 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 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 make 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 minima amber glow. This lighting system would be used to light the roadway. The

original lamps were later replaced with high-pressure versions about 44years later. Moreover,

plastic amber lens were added to encourage the original warm glow. However, due to lack of

finances, the tower lighting could not be installed as the bridge was being built.
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The 1920s were also characterized with the construction of numerous high-rise buildings in the

US. This began with contests towards the construction of these buildings leading to arise 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. 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 with 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 improve their prospects. It sought to rove

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 merged 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. 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 comprised of aluminum,
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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 on fair Park, and over fifty new buildings would be

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

Essentially, the exposition would be comparable to an entire city, and it would be larger than the

Paris exposition. Architects such as George Dahl stated that the buildings form 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 are adherent and unified to the Art deco

traditions. However, this term was not quite popular until the 1960s.

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 that
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arose from Chicago. 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 deco

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

act as symbolism of the historical pressures. The style first 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.