ART DECO- A Timeless Style
Help Me Understand
Art Deco, is a style of architecture and design that first appeared in France just before World War I. Art Deco influenced the design of almost everything from buildings, furniture, jewelry and fashion to cars, movie theatres, trains, and even everyday objects like radios, clocks, lights and vacuum cleaners. It came to be associated with not just an architectural and design era but also a kind of lifestyle in itself. The period spanned from the indulgent and extravagant lifestyle of the twenties to the nonchalant notoriety of the sixties.
Glamourized by The Great Gatsby, in all its visual valor, the sensibility saw its first cross continental mass debut in all its outré glory in New York. It shattered the glass ceiling of traditional rules and norms regarding what was considered beautiful. With its streamlined interpretation of symbols and design elements, its patent geometric shapes, gleaming lacquered or veneered surfaces, strong colours and signature strokes of metallic; this new movement was the Enfant terrible of the design world.
The early era of Art Deco as seen around Paris & New York has heavy influences of the period that preceded it- the Art Nouveau period. As a result it juxtaposes traditional motifs with newer geometric lines and shapes as a little coming of age. The most prominent visual examples of the first part of this era found in Paris & New York are the Chrysler Building, New York, the Folies Berger, Paris and the Piscine Molitor, Paris.
The Deco era finds a playful, minimal and cheeky rendition in Miami. Countless examples of Deco’s influence are seen through the city in buildings, furniture, art and all forms of design. Here, perennial motifs of flora & fauna turn linear and geometric, splashed with soothing pastel shades that are offset with a hint of neon. Metallic accents in rose gold and chrome are carefully placed with terrazzo and mosaic and shun all pre-conceived ideas of design and structure. Miami sees the most rebellious version of Art Deco that embodies the spirit of the city, laid-back and celebratory with a hint of unhurried recklessness. The city still pays homage to the design movement, with its dedicated Historic Deco District. Breakwater Hotel, Miami Beach and Cavalier Hotel, Miami are two examples that embody this deco spirit fittingly.
At home, India saw its own Deco revolution with several Parsi builders and architects converting the cities otherwise linear architecture into Deco developments. It was between the 1930’s and 1950’s where the Deco movement in Mumbai flourished. The movement garnered its own signature style in Bombay with eyebrow windows, prominent curvilinear lines and tropical and indigenous motifs taking center stage. The Deco buildings of Mumbai (home to the second largest number of Deco buildings in the world, following Miami which holds the number one spot) although abundant remain somewhat forgotten and only a select few have been restored. It is now that the Deco architectural gem, that is Mumbai, has come under the radar of restorers and organizations are actively working towards restoring them to their former glory. Buildings like Oval Maidan Playing Field, Eros Cinema Mumbai Churchgate and Bai Pirojbai Dadabhoy Maneckji Vatcha Agiary showcase Mumbai’s Deco adaptation.
Art Deco is one of the most lasting and widespread design styles of the century; it has become so ingrained in our day-to-day lives that we often don’t notice it at all. Some of the grand architecture that has given the style its iconic status are mentioned above but smaller, more everyday things—from fonts to jewellery to furniture and show pieces—are what have made it reachable and prevalent.
Words by Akshita Sekhri
