Art Decó is the elegant, historical and futuristic style that everyone loved in the 20. Surrounded by the rhythmic jazz and the environment of progress that was lived, this trend raised geometric design, strident colors and high but robust buildings. At some point in the twentieth century, everyone wanted to build staggered lines and be part of the movement that revolutionized the United States, mainly.
This architecture is one that transports decades ago, as iconic as it is harmonious, and that today remains a milestone in the industry. That nobody stays out of this geometric and color ride of the art architectural deco.
Art Decó marked a trend in American skyscrapers.Francesca Saraco / Unspash.
What is the art deco style in architecture?
Art Decó is a design style that covered architecture and interior designbut that also had life in graphic design, painting, sculpture, among other artistic branches. In general, it is a current that found a balance that neither the Art Nouveau nor modernism wanted, that is, embraced certain characteristics of architectural historicism and adapted them to the period of scientific, industrial and technological growth.
Unlike the modern movement, the Art Deco did not prioritize the function on the form, on the contrary, it is a merely decorative and formal style, both architecturally and of ornamentations. Historically, Art Decó meant the acceptance and glorification of the artistic and technical advance; Architecturally, it is the abstraction of geometry transferred to buildings.
Architectural historicism mixed with progress and elegance in Art Deco.Tungsten Rising / Unspash.
Characteristics of Art Decó in architecture
Art Decó possessed very specific characteristics and, for this reason, It was a very easy style to recognize and imitate in the 20th and 30s. To begin with, the current embraced the verticality, not only in the skyscrapers, also in low -rise buildings, but with elements that sought to reach the sky: antennas, vertical ornaments on the roofs, more elongated windows than wide. Actually, the lines were an essential element for the styling of Art Decó. Whether they were straight, fractions of circles, Zig Zag Or in Greezes, these should be inherent in architectural designs.
On the other hand, historicism resumed the symmetry, proportion and rhythm, qualities so careful the classic and neoclassical movements, so that Art Decó buildings were full of harmony. But his search for the past did not end there; The ancient cultures also influenced this modern aesthetic. Thus, Mayan, Aztec, Egyptian, Incas or Indian motifs were represented in architecture, but what highlighted was the pyramidal image in steps, which was present in envelopes, windows and the most evident, plasticity. This form was replicated, in its own way, in the skyscrapers, and to a large extent, it was what helped to achieve great heights. It also benefited the lighting, because the greater the staggering, greater opportunities of vain. Finally, the materials most used by Art Decó were concrete, stucco, stainless steel next to bronze, frosted glass and neon lights.