Art Deco, the swingingest style around

Ahhh, Art Deco, the hip cat with the sultry swing. Everyone's favourite era of art, music, culture, fancy dress for parties, Baz Lurhman films, and of course, architecture.

Except that hardly anyone knows their early Art Deco from their Streamline Moderne. What the hell is "waterfall design"? And, for that matter, why is a design movement that most people associate with the 1920s Jazz Age in fact most often exemplified in 1930s architecture? All these uncertainties are the bane of copywriters and real estate agents alike when trying to describe a property.

So, pop quiz. What period style does this building's architecture belong to?

To be a little bit scientific about it, lets look at the features of this otherwise fairly mundane looking building.
(As an aside, this building might look "full of charm and character", but it is worth mentioning that it is an apartment building and at the time, was no more special than that. Having said that, how much lovelier is vernacular architecture of then than today?)

First, look at that front fence and the angled 'turret tops' using bricks with triangular ends. Then look at the brickwork, and its geometric decorative features. Notice the parallel horizontal lines created by the long windows. Finally, if you can see it, the fanned out windows next to the entry door. All together, we can put this firmly in Art Deco's camp (this particular one lives in Mosman, NSW).

That was a tough one. How about this?

Ignoring the glorious automobile in front, I think it's easy to see this as what we all agree is "Art Deco". Long parallel horizontal lines, geometric forms in the decorative detail, a streamlined look. Exceptionally "modern" in an old fashioned way (I actually think this is good description of Art Deco).

Both of those above are classic 1930s Art Deco architecture. The second one, however, displays the characteristics of what is more accurately termed "Streamline Moderne" or even "Art Moderne", which is a subset of Art Deco that emerged in the mid 1930s in response to the advances of air travel, the promise of a new age, an obsession with futurism, and a generally more sleek design philosophy. Corners were rounded, art objects were given sweeping designs, everything suggested forward motion and and sense of aerodynamics. Things took on an almost nautical feel. Some will say that Streamline Moderne is its own era/style altogether, an opinion that has some grounding I think - it's a very distinctive architectural look. But it is still art deco, it's still jazz age, it still has "all that".

Even the furniture started to look like the buildings, or is it the other way around?

This streamlined style resulted in a particular architectural trend in houses, notably the "Waterfall Style" that actually tends to pop up in the 1940s, but is a direct descendant of Art Deco and the Streamline Moderne. You can see why in this fantastic example in Eaglemont, Melbourne (truly a stunning suburb with a plethora of architectural delights):

 

So, within Art Deco, we have two major styles - the decorative - with angles, geometric shapes, and above all, a lot of ornamentation. This decoration and ornamentation is what makes Art Deco quite different from the post war modernist styles that were very minimalistic. Art Deco has flourish and a sense of the artisan, with a heavy flavour of technology. And then there's the Streamline Moderne, a wonderful eruption of lines and sweeping curves and general nautical romance. 

Taken together, they place into buildings the very spirit of the between-wars era - a spirit of celebration, of spontaneity, of burgeoning wealth, of liberation through technology, of jazz music and a changing world. Sadly, it was to come to an end, as the imagination and souls of many had to take flight to the most horrible of wars. That would change architecture too, but that's a different story.