Social&Artistic Perspectivesofthe Movement
ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN
Furniture,Materials, &Principles
TIMES SQUARE BUILDING
CaseStudyin Rochester,NY CULTURE
THIS MAGAZINE IS INTENDED FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT ART DECO STYLE ARCHITECTURE, CULTURE, AND ICONIC BUILDINGS.
CHRISTINE MARTINEZ
Editor-in-Chief,Graphic Designer,Researcher
WARM REGARDS,
MTM TEAM
NATHAN TEMPLEMAN
ContentWriter,Researcher
MUZEN MAGZOUB
GraphicDesigner, Photographer, Researcher
ArtDecowasan aestheticstyleduring the1920s.Thiswasthe heightofglitzand glamour.
Thisstylewasheavily influencedbyEgyptian themes,andtheidea ofexoticism.
Readtofindouthowit madeitswayinto architecture,art, music,andmore!
ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN
Furniture,Materials, &Principles
ICONIC ART DECO
BUILDINGS IN THE US
Names,Facts,& Location
EMPIRE STATE
Case Studyin
Manhattan,NY
Social&Artistic Perspectivesofthe Movement
EVENTS
EventsThatLeftAn ImpactonArtDeco
TIMES SQUARE
BUILDING
Case Studyin
Rochester,NY CULTURE
ArtDecoarchitecture focusedonthe facadesofbuildings. Thegoalofarchitects weretosoftenthe lookofbuildingsand accomplishanew designthatwas quirkyandcreative.
Materialssuchas steel(lowerimage), terracotta(central image),andVitrolite (uppermostimage). Thesematerials createdamodern appearanceand offeredlines. There wereseveraltypesof steelusedin skyscraper constructionto accomplishclean, shinyappearances likenickelsilver, monelandnirosta.
Pigmentstructural
glasswasanother innovationthatmade creativityin architecturepossible duringArtDeco. Pigmentstructral glassoffereda cheaperoptionfor marble. Theprocess tocreatepigment structuralglassmade itstrongerthan marble. Thematerial ispopularwith storefrontfacades.
Principles
ThegoalsofArtDeco wastocomeupwith aoriginaldesignthat inspiredtimelessness Notunlikethe furniturefromthat period,thebuildings featuredcleanlines andshinysurfaces.
Wallpapers
Wallpapersbecame popularduringArt Decobecausethey providedaffordable wallcoveringoptions. Thewallpaperswere typicallygeometric andusedboldcolors. Thewallpaper patternswere timelessandmodern.
Geometry
rectangles. The geometricshapes wouldbeusedin patternstogetthat cleanappearance.
TheChryslerBuilding inNewYorkCityisa strongexample. In 1922,thediscoveryof KingTut’stombin Eygptgavewayto imagination King Tut’stombfeatureda lotofpatterns, inspiringArtDeco patterns.
Geometrywasan importantaspectof ArtDecoarchitecture. Designerswantedto find waytomakethe architectural movementtimeless andgeometrygave thedesignerawayto accomplishtheir goals. Typicalshapes werearcs,circles, triangles,squares
Lighting
ArtDecolightngalso reliedongeometric shapeslikezig-zag lines,jumbledforms andetc Inspiredby theinnovationsattht timewithskyscrapers andairplanes,the lightinghave industrialappeal, usingboldlines
WASHINGTONATHLETICCLUB
GOLDENGATEBRIDGE
GRIFFITHOBSERVATORY
Washington Athletic Club
Builtin1930inSeattle, Washington,itwas thethirdtallest buildinginthecity (topimage). The buildingwas originallymeantfor sportsandsocial activities. Itcontinues toserveitsoriginal purposetoday.
Golden Gate Bridge Tebridgeopenedin 1937toprovidea routelinkingSan Franciscoacrossthe BayAreatoNorth California(middle image). Thebridge usesArtDeco characteristics.
Coit Tower
Builtin1933,thetower ismadeoutof reinforcedconcrete (bottomimage) The architectsofthe towerwereArthur BrownJrandHenry Howard. BrownJr havedesignediconic buildingsaroundSan Franciscosuchasthe CityHall. Thetower resemblesafirehose, standingoutamong theskyline.
BuiltduringtheGreat Depression,thereare muralsthatadornthe interiortoremindthe visitorsofthedifficult timestheresidentsof SanFransicofaced duringtheeconomic hardship.
LosAngelesishometo quitealotofArtDeco buildingssuchas GriffithObservatory. TheseArtDeco buildingsareiconicand representLosAngeles. Someofthesebuildings evenappearedin movies!
Griffith Observatory
Theobservatoryis builtatopamountain inGriffithPark. The parkislocatedin middleofthecity,not farawayfromthe downtown. Asa result,theGriffith Observatoryhaveits ownstage,showing offitsflaircommonin ArtDecobuildings. Afterthreeyearsof construction,the observatoryfinally openedin1935.
Sunset Tower Hotel
Builtin1931,thehotel hadaunblockedview oftheLosAngeles skyline,makingit popular. Thehotel (middleimage)have classicalelements buttherearestrong ArtDecoelements suchasthecurved edges. Inspiredby carsofthattime,the curvedcorner windowsgaveita modernappearance.
Warner Grand Theater
Builtin1931,the theater(bottom image)gave moviegoersarespite fromtheGreat Depression. ArtDeco characteristics includeawoodcarvedceilingwith coppertouchesand
Duringtheroaring20s,the automotiveindustryboomed Mr Chrysler,theheadofChrysler automotives,wasthenableto foundtheChryslerbuilding.The influenceofArtDecocouldbe seeninitsornamentationatthe spire/crown,aswellasthe repetition,andlayering foundon thebuilding’sfacade.
obuildingisanexample rwasutilizedtoconvey ty.Thiscouldbeseen rals,buildinggeometry, indowflues.
ansportedinWWIIwhen dasatrainstation This sthalf-domeinthe andisornamentedwith aicsandceilingmurals.
entfromthe US.Withits yoftheArt vesunesign.An ilding In eatureslikeits ers the nthroughits thebuilding ttedinthe
Standingtallabovethebustling streetsofNewYorkCity,theEmpire StateBuildingisaniconiclandmark thatdominatestheskyline.Its impressiveheightandunique architecturalstylemakeitatrue symbolofthecity'shistoryandculture AstheepitomeofArtDeco skyscrapers,itnotonlyrepresentsthe grandeurofitserabutalsoremainsa timelessemblemofNewYork's enduringspiritandvitality
EmpireStateBuilding,locatedinNew YorkCity,isaninstantlyrecognizable buildingandanenduringiconfromArt Decoperiod. Theskyscraperis rectangularreflectingtypicalartdeco chracteristicsasshownintheabove image. TheEmpireStateBuildingis symmetric,reflctingtheaimofthe periodtobemodernandsimple. Art Decoaimedtobetimeless.
Inthebottomimage,thefloorplanof 6thto10thfloorsintheskyscraperuses symmetry. Symmetryisemphasized inArtDecoArchitecture,offeringa cleanlook. Uponcloserexamination, thefloorplanissimple. Thelarger roomswheresunlightpoursinare meantforofficespaces. Theelevators andrestroomsarelocatedinthe purplearea. Theroomsareshaped likeasquare,anotherArtDeco charcteristic. ArtDecofloorplansused geometry.
Everyyear,manyvisitorspassthrough ourFifthAvenuelobbyaftervisitingthe Observatory.Therenovatedatrium showcasesthemagicofartdecostyle withshimmeringstarburstsand metallictouchesthroughout.It'sa pieceofNewYorkhistoryandhas beendesignatedasalandmarkbythe LandmarkPreservationCommission.
InsidetheEmpireStateBuilding,you'll discoverabeautifulmixofclassicArt Decostyleandmodernfeatures The lobbyisgrandandelegant,with marblewallsandintricatemetalwork showcasingtheArtDecodesign.As youridethesleekelevators,you'llbe treatedtostunningmuralsandstylish fixtures.Atthetop,theobservation decksofferbreathtakingviewsofNew YorkCity.Throughoutthebuilding, you'llfindinteractiveexhibits, informativedisplays,and cozylounges,
GriffithObservatory,locatedinLos Angeles,isanothericonicArtDeco buildingthatcontinuestohavea meaning. Theobservatoryisatopa mountaininGriifthParkintheheartof LostAngeles. TheGriffithObservatory haveappearedinfamousmovies suchas‘LaLaLand’and‘RebelWithout ACause.’ Asthediagramontheright shows,thedomesaregeometric shapes,commoninArtDeco. The domesarecleanshapes.
Intheimagetotheleft,theGriffith Observatory’sfloorplanissimpleand usesgeometricshapes. Thefloorplan isalsosymmetric. Thedomesshow “futuristic(orsometimesmodernist) flair”(adglighting.com). ArtDeco strivedtolookcleanandfuturistic, showingitselfoffandGriffith Observatoryreflectsthatattitude especiallywithitsdramaticlocation. ThelegacyofArtDecoarchitecture endureswhenbuildingslikeGriffith Observatorypreservesitspersonality.
ArtDecofurnitureemphasized modernityinresponsetoArt Nouveau’sfocuson craftsmanship. Furniturewere typically mass-produced,boostingits popularitybecauseconsumers couldaffordtopurchasethem.
Thefurniturefromtheperiod hadadistinctlookduetobeing mass-produced. IconicArt Decofurnitureemphasized simplicity,symmetryand geometry,especially rectangularforms. Thefurniture tendedtouseacombinationof wood,upholsteryandsteel. Leatherisacommonmaterial usedforarmchairstooffera clean,simpledesign.
Designsattemptedtodisplay furniturepiecesthatappeared tobefromthefuture.
Craftsmanshipoffurnitureoften useexoticwoodlikezebrawood. Severalcoatsoflacquergave somefurnituretimelesslooks. Thesleekdesignoffurniture wereaimedatthewealthy.
Iconicfurnituredesignersfrom 1920sand1930sdefined standardfurnituresoftheArt Decoperiod.Furnituredesigners likeEileenGrayandPaul TheodoreFrankldesignedArt Decofurnitureoriginaland differentfromothertime periods.
Eillen Gray
Graywasaprominentfurniture designerwhobrokethroughin architctureasawoman. She offeredauniquetakeon furniture. GrayusedJapanes lacquertechniqueandinstalled EastAsianandEgyptianfloral patternsintoherchairs. Gray’s monochromaticandminimalist furnitureliketheDragon armchair(imagebelow) receivedacclaim.
Frankliscreditedforshapingthe AmericanArtDecofurniture, cominguwithdesignsinspired bygeometricforms. Famousfor designingfurniturepieces inspiredbyskyscrapers,Frankl wasfixatedwithsimplicityand linearformsasdemonstratedby twoimagesabove. Thetop imageshowsacabinetsetfrom the“Skyscrapers”collection. The bottomimageisapairofend tablesalsofromthe “Skyscrapers”set.
Paul Theodore Frankl
“MOST INFLUENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT GENRE IN THE NATION'S HISTORY”
TheJazzAgethrivedduringtheprohibition era.Duringthistime,althoughalcoholwas banned,manyAmericansfoundawayto consumeitinsecret.Thiswasthanksto speakeasies.
Fun Facts
Jazzbandsoftenplayedinthese speakeasies,providinganightof entertainmentanddancingforvisitorsto enjoy.
DuringtheJazzAge,musicevolvedtobecomefaster,andfilledwithmoreenergy,leadingto moreintensedancing.AccordingtotheArtDecoSocietyofNewYork,typesofdancingpopular inspeakeasieswere“theCharleston,theLindyHop,andtheJumpin’Jive”
ThisformofdanceisnativetotheUSand involvesthetappingoffeetwithmetaledgedshoes.Theseshoesallowedthe musicoffoot-tappingtoaccompanythe dance,creatingatrulyalluring performance
Fun Facts
BillRobinson(picturedtotheleft),helped tomakegreatadvancementsinsocial progressbybecomingoneofthefirst black,solo,tapperformers.Healso performedalongsidefamouschildactress, ShirleyTemple. TAP DANCE
EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION
FAST-PACED LIFESTYLE
Movie
Recommendation: Summary
Adaptedfromthe novelofScott Fitzgerald,this romance/drama featuresJayGatsby, anextremelywealthy manonLongIsland knownforthrowing veryextravagant parties.On hisquest forlove,tragedy occurs. Features
JazzAgeMusic& Fashion
OldMoneyvsNew Money
THEGREATGATSBY (1974)
Awards
Won2Oscarsatthe 1975USAAcademy Awards:
BestCostume Design
BestMusic, ScoringOriginal SongScore and/or Adaptation
Author’sNote
Thisislikelythemost well-knownmovieset inthetimeofArt Deco
Ithasbeenreadaptedintotwo moviessince (however,many peoplepreferthe
THE WIZARD OF OZ MOVIE WAS INSPIRED BY ART DECO!
InfluenceonArtDeco
In1922,thetombof KingTutwas discovered,gaining interestfromallover theworld.
Thisdiscoverymade alargeimpactonthe artworldasitoffered endlessinspiration, andwasstarkly differentfromtheart andarchitectureof theold-world.
Thedesignsand motifsfromancient Egyptwere popularizedinart decoasitwasseen asexotic
WhowasKingTut?
Bornin1341B.C.E,King Tutankhamen(AKA KingTutor“Boy King”),wasa EgyptianPharohwho afterhisfather’s death,assumed poweratonly9years old Hespentmuchofhis reignreversing decreeshisfather, Akhenaten,made. Oneofthemost significantdecisions hemadewas returningEgypt polytheism.
Hediedattheyoung ageof19,leavinghis deathamystery.
TheoriesDebunked
“Theboykingdied asaresultoffoul play”,“KingTut haddiedinan accident” After unearthingthe tomb,tests conducted pointto infectionor “malaria”for causeof death.
Contents
Sarcophagus& MummyofKing Tut Headress Thousandsof artifactsandwellpreserved mummies
Thisevent,heldinParis,greatlycontributedto thebirthofArtDeco.Itshowcasedthelatest andgreatestinthedesignworldatthetime.
Thethemewasmodernity Portrayalof historicalthemeswasprohibited.
Thisforcedartists,architects,anddesigners tothinkoutsideoftheboxandexperiment. Newideasinmaterials,furniture,art,and morebroughtafreshperspectivewhich peoplewerelookingforafterWWI.
15,000exhibitorsfromallovertheworldwere inattendance,bringinginover16million visitors.
Theseproductsdisruptedtheartscenedue toitsbreakintradition.Thus,gaininglotsof pressandpopularity.
TheTimesSquareBuildinginRochester, NY,isagreatexampleofArtDecostyle. Ithasauniquelookwithboldlinesand fancydecorations.Theyusedfancy materialslikestoneandmarble,making itfeelveryfancy.Ontheoutside,you'll noticecoolpatternsandshapesthat makeitlookelegant.It'sreallytalland emphasizesgoingup,showingthatit's modernandmovingforward.Whileit's notsupersleek,itstilllookssmoothand cool,whichisabigpartofArtDeco. Overall,it'saspecialbuildingin Rochesterthatshowsoffthecoolstyle ofArtDecoarchitectureThewingpart ontopoftheTimesSquareBuildingin Rochester,NY,addsaspecialtouchto itsdesign Thispart,oftencalleda"wing" or"flyingbuttress,"extendsoutward fromtheuppersectionofthebuilding.It notonlylookscoolbutalsohelps supportthestructure.Withitssleeklines andangularshape,itfitsperfectlywith thebuilding'sArtDecostyle,makingit evenmoreimpressivetolookat.Overall, it'sauniquefeaturethataddstothe building'scharmand architecturalappeal.
45 Exchange Blvd Ro
14614 Downtown Roc
Auniquedesign:steel supportstheverticalload, whileconcretemakesupthe floors.Itsfacadeispurely decorative,allowing architectstogetcreative. Limestonedominates,with stonecarvingsandglass panelsaddingflair.
Aluminum"Wingsof Progress"topitoff, symbolizingAmericanArt Deco.Inside,redmarble wallsfromSpainandItaly addtothegrandeur.
The Rochester Times Square Building, an Art Deco skyscraper crafted by Voorhees, Gmelin, and Walker, rose from the ground between 1929 and 1930 in Rochester, NY, at a cost of $1.50 million dollars.
Over the years, this architectural marvel has donned various names, reflecting both corporate branding and public affection:
Initially known as the Genesee Valley Trust Building from 1930 to 1955 Later renamed the Times Square Building, a title it has held since 1955
Once the Genesee Valley Trust Building, this architectural wonder underwent a change in 1955. It became known as Times Square. Designed by Ralph Walker, it exuded elegance with intricate stone carvings by Leo Friedlander and timeless lighting by Caldwell & Co.
Marvel at its abstract ceiling designs and opulent marble walls. In its basement, secrets were kept safe, including a time capsule from 1930.
TheRochesterTimesSquareBuildingrisesto259feet(79meters)with15floors, includingonebasement.Itstotalareais110,997squarefeet(10,312square meters),offering95,002squarefeet(8,826squaremeters)ofusablespace. Since1930,ithasbeenmainlyusedforcommercialpurposes.
TheinteriordesignoftheTimesSquare BuildinginRochester,NY,iselegantand sophisticated,reflectingtheArtDeco styleofthe1920sand1930s.Inside,you'll findluxuriousmarblewalls,ornate metalwork,andopulentlightingfixtures. Plushfurniturewithgeometricpatterns invitesrelaxation,whilelavishmaterials likevelvetandchromeaddtothe ambiance.ArtDecoartworkand accessoriescompletethelook,creating atimelessatmosphereofglamour andrefinement.
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