Art Deco

For this week's blog, I thought it would be interesting to look at Art Deco in Chicago. Chicago went through a lot of development during the 1920's and 30's and as a result the city became home of a lot of Art Deco architecture and design. Art Deco buildings are often characterized by vertical lines, building setbacks, the use of terra cotta, bright colors, and abstract geometric ornamentation. 

Chicago Board of Trade Building

The Chicago Board of Trade commissioned Holabird & Root to design the current building in 1925. The use of a steel frame structural system allowed for completely vertical construction and the exterior is designed with many setbacks at various heights. The interior includes many polished surfaces with a very large and prominent lobby. When it opened, it houses the world's largest light fixture. 

The Merchandise Mart

The Merch Mart was completed in 1930. The steel framed structure is clad in limestone, terra cotta and bronze. Rows of chevrons and diagonal towers at each corner of the building and lots of ornamentation are a couple of many features that make the Merch Mart part of the Art Deco period. The recessed vertical windows help to draw the eye up and away from the buildings enormous horizontal mass. 

The Pittsfield Building 

The Pittsfield Building was completed in 1927 and was Chicago's tallest building at the time of its completion. Designed by the same firm that designed the Merch Mart, the building encompass art deco design with grand ornamentation, the use of metal, and exterior setbacks. The interior is covered in marble and expensive metals, as seen in the image on the left. 

Current Applications

 

Above are a few examples of modern design that incorporates art deco inspiration. In each picture you can see the use of patterns, metals, and luxurious materials. The geomettic patterns used in the wall surface on the left and middle picture and on the ceiling of the right picture is also distinctive of the art deco period. 

Super Great Videos That You Should Watch

Chicago Board of Trade Building | https://youtu.be/1nTSqX1mlvU
Chicago Art Deco Highlights | https://youtu.be/bzQLhclm-JQ

Peer Reviews

Savannah | I liked that Savannah focused on the use of materials in her blog this week. It was interesting to learn a little more about the different types of commonly used materials and why they are so distinctive of this design period. 

Becca | I enjoyed being able to learn more about Jean Michel Frank in Becca's blog. It was really cool to see his different designs and the variety of furniture that he created.