Often called Moderne or Modernistic,
Art Deco was very popular during the Great Depression
and employs modernistic motifs on neoclassical buildings.
It is the first popular style in the US that broke
with the traditions of Beaux-Arts.
Essentially a design style, Art Deco motifs were
applied to everything from clothing to cars, as
well as to houses.
Art Deco architects were impressed
that modernity could be achieved through geometric
elements and decoration, and used many materials
to achieve their desired effect, including concrete,
smooth faced stone, metal, glass, terra cotta, vertically
oriented designs in the form of parallel straight
lines, zigzags, chevrons, and floral motifs (many
of which were based upon Native American art). These
materials, in addition to the use of many colors,
known as polychromy, combined to create a futuristic
effect.
Perhaps the most interesting examples
of Art Deco design can be found in movie houses
of the 1920’s and 1930’s, which used
the style both inside and out, such as our own Mayan
Theatre. Many good examples of Deco and Moderne
houses can be found in Hilltop
and Bonnie Brae.
Don D Etter's book Denver going Modern details
the movement's arrival in Denver.
-Jennifer
Collins
