Art Deco had a very distinctive look. Unlike the organic nature of the
Art Nouveau, it was an orderly, mathematical style. The rule of three featured
prominently in many Art Deco style buildings. Geometric designs, often
abstractions of both natural and manmade objects, were used to symbolize the
uniformity of assembly line goods.
Art Deco borrowed from other
styles. The ziggurat (step pyramid) was incorporated from Ancient Egypt, where
it was used to symbolize reaching for the sky and for the gods. This motif
represented something similar when used in Art Deco: the act of reaching for
greatness and the idea that in the modern age, anything is possible. My personal belief is that, while regular pyramids represent an impossible climb to the heavens, a ziggurat represents that, with perseverence, these heights can be reached.
Icons were
also used frequently in Art Deco, often as part of a bas relief. These icons
were often traditional American symbols or elements of an ancient mythology.
Many times, these icons were chosen very deliberately in order to show the
function of the building, as well as to lend it a sense of grandeur.
Windows and other uses of glass are
also very important in Art Deco architecture. Eyebrows, or ledges above a
window, served the pragmatic function of keeping direct sunlight out of the
interior, while etched glass served a more decorative purpose. Porthole windows,
inspired by ships, one of the period’s prominent forms of transportation,
exemplified the genre’s theme of technology. Glass blocks (bricks made out of
treated glass) were often used to form a ziggurat.
Buildings done in this style were very colorful, especially in Miami. The bold, almost candy-shop hues were toned down when the Depression hit. In addition, vertical lines were a common motif in Art Deco buildings. Metal was also prominently featured in some Art Deco buildings; only in the Machine Age did alloys become inexpensive enough to be used widely as a building material. One of the most iconic Art Deco motifs was the rounded corner, also made possible by advanced technology and inspired by the new, aerodynamic vehicles.
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