Amazing Art Deco Buildings

Art Deco architecture is among the most iconic design styles of the 20th century. It came out in the 1920s and 30s and symbolized hope and progress at a time of rapid industrial growth and social change. The materials used for these buildings included luxury materials such as chrome and marble to give each building an elegant and timeless look.

The Eastern Columbia Building stands in downtown Los Angeles, California, and was completed in 1930. Due to its magnificent Art Deco design, it is known as the “Jewel of Downtown.” The turquoise terracotta facade features gold-leaf accents and geometric patterns. Rising above the 150-foot height is a four-sided clock. The grand lobby highlights include decorative staircases, elevator doors, and intricate cornices. The building was designed by the American architect Claud Beelman and is located at 849 S. Broadway in the Broadway Theater District of Downtown Los Angeles. It is a well-known LA landmark and was converted to luxury apartments in 2004.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is one of the largest Art Deco churches in the world, located in Brussels, Belgium. It was completed in 1969, combining traditional religious architecture with Art Deco elements such as clean lines, stylized facades, and expansive stained-glass windows. The basilica is located at the head of Elizabeth Park atop of  Koekelberg Hill. Its reinforced concrete structure showcases functional modernism, while the dome and towers feature streamlined design, representing both spiritual grandeur and 20th-century innovation. It is a well-known landmark of the Brussels skyline.

The Chicago Board of Trade Building was the tallest skyscraper in Chicago from 1830 to 1965. The building is located in the Chicago Loop at the foot of the LaSalle Street canyon. It was designed by Holsbird & Root and has a limestone facade with intricate carvings and Babylonian-inspired bas-relief friezes. At the entrance are bronze figures of a farmer and a Native American, reflecting the trading of agricultural goods. At the top of the building is an aluminum statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture. Since 1977 it has been a National Historic Landmark.

The Chrysler Building in New York City was completed in 1930. It was designed by the American architect William Van Alen for the American automotive industry executive Walter P. Chrysler. The stainless steel crown atop of the building features sunburst patterns and automotive-inspired details such as winged radiator cap replicas. The facade of the Chrysler highlight geometric patterns, stylized florals, and machine motifs. The building stands at the intersection of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. The facade and interior of the building became NYC-designated landmarks in 1978, and the building is on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark.

The Empire State Building, also in New York City was completed in 1931 and held the title of the tallest building in the world for several decades. Hollywood made it famous with the film “King Kong” when the giant gorilla climbed up the building. The Empire has also been featured in over 250 TV series. It stands at 34th Street and 5th Avenue. It has a limestone facade and steel frame with great elegance, symbolizing the nickname of New York State, “The Empire State.” The building was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon. The observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors have made it a popular tourist attraction. In 2019 an indoor observatory opened on the 80th floor. Since 1986, the building has been a National Historic Landmark.

The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles is a fine example of Art Deco with a mix of Greco-Roman influences. It was designed by John C, Austen and Frederic Morse Ashley and opened in 1935 as a public astronomy education center. The Griffith Observatory is located on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, offering a view of the Los Angeles Basin including Downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. The building features a domed rotunda with a zodiac fresco illuminated naturally by day and lighted by night. The highlight here is the Zeiss Telescope, in a sleek Art Deco tower with geometric forms and decorative concrete and travertine accents.

The Hoover Building has Art Deco elegance with bold colors and streamlined design. It stands in Perivale in the London Borough of Ealing in London, England, and was completed in 1933, designed by Wallis, Gilbert, and Partners. It served for the Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Company as a flagship factory and showroom for vacuums. The facade of the building features blue, cream, and black hues accentuated by geometric patterns and stylized motifs. The iconic entrance to the Hoover Building has curved glass blocks and decorative metalwork. It is a landmark of British Art Deco architecture. The British singer and songwriter Elvis Costello recorded a song, “Hoover Factory,” including a brief description of the building and its position in Greater London. The Hoover Building has also been a filming location for two episodes of Agatha Christie’s “Poirot” series, “The Cream” and “The King of Clubs.” The building is now owned by IDM Properties and has been converted into apartments.

The Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Mediterranee is an amazing example of Art Deco elegance on the French Riviera. The building was designed by Masters Sathe and Bhuta. It has a whitewashed facade with dignified pediments and intricate bas-reliefs inspired by Greek mythology. Among the highlights are soaring ceilings and marble columns.