art deco travel

The 11 top art deco destinations around the world

Sep 7, 2020 • 10 min read

Historic Los Angeles City Hall © f11photo / Shutterstock

Well, 2020 was supposed to be full of nostalgic glam, harkening back to the Roaring '20s and optimistic Great Gatsby glitz. It hasn’t been a champagne coupe kind of year, but the now century-old art deco eye candy that’s scattered around the globe isn’t going anywhere.

This fresh, decorative style came out of France just before WWI and lasted well into the 1940s. Fresh, modern forms were augmented by imagery and colors inspired as never before by travel to such far-flung destinations as the South Pacific, Egypt, and China – places newly accessible to the colonial leisure class, who boarded new steam and rail lines to tour the world. And for those without the means to travel, influential artists like Matisse, Gauguin, and Cézanne brought their interpretation of global art forms back to European audiences.

Here are some of the destinations around the world with the most art deco swagger.

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Durban, South Africa

The prominence of art deco architecture in Durban , South Africa reveals more than meets the eye when you first scan its streamlined, stuccoed cityscapes. In the 1920s and '30s, colonialism was still in full swing, even as a rising sense of African nationalism swept the continent. During the art deco period, colonizers brought troves of African artifacts and religious objects back to European museums and galleries, and in turn white artists were deeply influenced by – and appropriated – indigenous African motifs. 

Eventually, those imperial powers brought a whitewashed version of those motifs back to Africa in the form of new, synthesized styles like art deco. This was just as cities like Durban (known by the Zulu as eThekweni) were expanding and eager to showcase their modern, European sensibilities – though the end of both art deco and colonialism were right around the corner following WWII, and South Africa was already laying the groundwork for apartheid. 

You can take in that complex history throughout the city at sites like the Surrey Mansions, the Cenotaph in Francis Farewell Square , the Colonial Mutual Building, Adam’s Booksellers, the Suncoast Casino, Lowry’s Corner, and the Surat Hindoo Association Building. Find self-guided walking tour maps and points of interest from the Durban Art Deco Society. Cap off your deep dive into the city’s architecture with a stay at the Albany Hotel , a centrally located 1938 beaut.

Casablanca, Morocco

It’s no surprise that Casablanca is resplendent with art deco examples, given that France established a colonial presence in Morocco in 1912, just as the style was taking off. What emerged during the French Protectorate era was Mauresque, a blend of traditional Moroccan designs and art deco, that you can still see at stops such as the Cinema Rialto , Palais de Justice , The Maret Building, the Villa des Arts , and the 1918 La Poste (the main post office). Don’t forget to stroll Rue Idriss Lhrizi for even more eye candy, before posting up at the famous Hotel Transatlantique, built in 1922, or the Hotel & Spa Le Doge , originally built in the 1930s as a private townhouse. 

Napier, New Zealand

New Zealand ’s deadliest natural disaster – the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake – leveled nearly the whole town of Napier , and ensuing fires burned the rest. But the bustling seaport rebuilt such a complete art deco Main Street that it has garnered comparisons to other seaside cityscapes as Miami Beach and Santa Barbara , and was nominated for Unseco World Heritage Site status in 2007. 

Don’t miss such sites as the Daily Telegraph headquarters, the National Tobacco Company Building , and the Tom Parker fountain –  though the whole downtown is a dream. For some real Gatsby charm, take a combined wine and architecture tour , or zip out into New Zealand’s oldest wine region in a vintage auto . 

At the end of your day, stay at the Art Deco Masonic Hotel . This streamlined beauty is on the site of the original hotel, built in the 1860s and lost to the earthquake. The version you see today was designed by Wellington architect W. J. Prowse, and stands as a testament to Napier’s resilience.

Los Angeles, California 

Angelinos and visitors alike know that Los Angeles contains multitudes, but for all the city’s sprawling evolutions (and home-grown architectural staples like the dingbat ) it’s never shaken its association with the glitz of Old Hollywood. Now that DTLA is having a renaissance, some of LA’s best-beloved 1920s haunts are newly fashionable again such as the Golden Gopher , which is surrounded by period beauties including the Garfield Building and the Freehand Los Angeles .   

As long as you’re in the DLTA neighborhood, don’t miss The CalEdison building (the lobby is open the public), The Oviatt Building, or the Los Angeles Central Public Library – and certainly not City Hall . Further afield, you can take a blast to the past by dining at El Cholo , a 1920s joint with a bright neon sign, or the Tam O’Shanter , where Walt Disney himself liked to tip back Scotch. In Hollywood, don’t miss the the friendly Frolic Room , which got its start as a speakeasy and became a regular old dive in the mid-1930s when the chic Deco Pantages Theater opened next door.

There’s no shortage of period hotels to immerse yourself in, but some of the best include The Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica, Hotel Normandie in Wilshire, and Sunset Tower in West Hollywood.

Kaunas, Lithuania

Between WWI and WWII, Kaunas was able to take a deep breath, and a turn as Lithuania 's capital. The result was a slew of construction by builders who hoped to convey the country's modernity with a little art deco charm. Like many other cities that had a yearning for deco last century, one of Kaunas' best examples is its Central Post Office, which along with banks, government headquarters, such as the Kaunas Municipality building, and other institutions were eager to set a tone for a new chapter of Lithuanian history and national character. Plenty of cultural attractions, theaters and cinemas got in on the fun, too, as well as the Christ's Resurrection Basilica , which broke ground in 1934. 

Shanghai, China

Thanks to an influx of Europeans who had been metabolizing Asian design since the art nouveau era and the return of Chinese students who brought art deco back with them, 1920s Shanghai became a canvas for a newly international generation of architects eager to explore new styles.

A hundred years later, the waterfront Bund district and the old French Concession still give travelers a glimpse into this colonial era, and the development of the Chinese Deco style that was synonymous with Shanghai. These neighborhoods are perfect for a stroll between period sites like the Bank of China Building, the Bank of Communications Building , the Cathay Theatre , and the Shanghai Arts and Crafts Museum .

You might opt to stay at the Peace Hotel, Okura Garden Hotel , the Peninsula Shanghai , the Metropolo Classiq , the Langham Yangtze Boutique Hotel or Les Suites Orient – all classics with beautiful deco architecture updated with the latest amenities.

Mumbai, India

In his 1999 novel The Ground Beneath Her Feet , Salman Rushdie’s protagonist Rai says of Mumbai, “...as for the glittering art deco sweep of Marine Dr , well, that was something not even Rome could boast. I actually grew up believing art deco to be the ‘Bombay style,’ a local invention, its name derived, in all probability, from the imperative of the verb ‘to see’. Art dekho.”

Art deco was brought to India by British colonizers. A 1930s building boom in Mumbai coincided with the style’s popularity, and gave a chance for Indian architects to make art deco all their own . The sheer concentration of art deco buildings earned the Oval Maiden a spot on the Unesco  World Heritage list, and continues to wow local pedestrians and visitors on Mumbai architectural tours alike. From movie theaters like the Liberty Cinema to the undulating Jehangir Art Gallery to the streamlined stacks of art deco apartment buildings, Mumbai is a feast for the senses, and a trip back in time.

Kick back at the end of the day at the modest, historical Sea Green South Hotel – a comfortable spot big on vintage charm that won’t break the bank.

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo was once one of the premier cities in the US, with a big boom from the turn of the century to the middle of the next. Head downtown to the the Court Street corridor to see some of the best examples of its art deco flavor, from the magnificently detailed Buffalo City Hall and Central Terminal (which is currently being redeveloped into an event space) to the Industrial Bank Building and Electric Tower Building.

Hotel Niagara is slated to reopen in 2021, bringing this 1924 beauty back into play for the first time since 2007. In the meantime, soak up the jazz era vibes in the lobby of the Hotel @ the Lafayette , a handsome property that blends a range of influences from the Edwardian to the deco to the contemporary.

St Petersburg, Florida

Miami gets the lion’s share of accolades for its art deco edifices , but it doesn’t have the monopoly on mid-war glitz. A little further north, St Petersburg , Florida has its own 1920s treasures, from the Salvador Dali Museum to the Euro-inspired neighborhoods and arcades developed by deco disciple Perry Snell. 

Much of the city blends the Mediterranean style with art deco influences into a Florida deco genre all its own, from the Municipal Utilities Building and St. Petersburg City Hall to Christ United Methodist Church to the Randolph Hotel, and even the odd Family Dollar store . On the opposite side of the peninsula from downtown St Pete, grab brunch at Stella ’s and stroll the charming neighborhood – at the end of Beach Boulevard is the Gulfport Casino Ballroom, a rounded pastel dream that dates back to the swinging ‘30s jazz age.

Perhaps the crown jewel of St. Pete's deco gems is the Don CeSar hotel , better known to locals as the Pink Palace. A true jazz age magnet, F. Scott Fitzgerald himself stayed here, as did Al Capone and President FDR. The Pink Palace even appeared in Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in America (1984). 

If you’d like to stay somewhere a little more low-key, however, it’s hard to beat the Avalon , a streamlined beauty close to Beach Drive and attractions like the Dali Museum. The outside is pure art deco, but inside belays St Pete’s hip, artsy side with modish, Instagram-ready style.

Montevideo, Uruguay 

Montevideo doesn't have the high profile of other South American capitals, but it's rich in art deco architecture thanks to an economic boom and urban expansion at the time. Check out the Rinaldi building near the  Plaza Independencia  and the Palacio Díaz skyscraper near City Hall . Stop by the Montevideo Center for Photography  and the Don Hotel , whilst looking out for dozens of period apartment buildings. It's interesting to see Uruguay's unique, often monochrome interpretation of art deco forms. Stay at the New Arapey Hotel , which carries the style inside and out.

Detroit, Michigan

Like Buffalo, Detroit was booming during the deco years as the automobile industry took off and immigrants flocked to the city’s factories for work. New buildings went up all the time in the latest style, including jazz clubs such as  Cliff Bell's , the iconic Fisher Building , the glittering Fox Theater, the Penobscot Building and skyscrapers such as the Guardian Building. There’s so much to see in Detroit it’s well worth embarking on a walking tour . You can put your feet up afterwards at The Siren Hotel, built in 1926 and originally known as the Wurlitzer Building. 

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60 Inspiring Designs in the Style of Art Deco Travel Posters

• Articles & Inspiration
• 10 December 2018

12 Comments

Originally used to promote cabaret and tourist resorts by train, steamship and airline companies, travel posters from the 1920s have become iconic designs. The artwork depicted luxurious travel with strong and powerful imagery, which was influenced by the geometric shapes and bold colours of the Art Deco movement at the time. The style still inspires graphic artists today, who use the visual traits made popular by the originals to create their own travel posters and tribute art. In today’s inspiration showcase I present a range of poster designs, both old and new, all based on the vintage 1920s Art Deco style.

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Modern Lettering 5 Fonts Collection

HMAS Parramatta by Mads Berg

Hess Park by Mads Berg

Bornholm 13 by Mads Berg

Grand Prix Monaco by Mads Berg

Ceylon Galle by Mads Berg

Sailing by Mads Berg

Chocolate Box Artworks by Mads Berg

Areitxpress Poster by Mads Berg

New York by Dave Thompson

The Flatiron Building by Dave Thompson

Brighton by Dave Thompson

The West Pier by Dave Thompson

London by Justin Pedler

Sydney by Justin Pedler

Brisbane by Justin Pedler

Transatlantic Line by Henry Rivers

Visit Rio by Henry Rivers

Visit Canada by Henry Rivers

Seville Poster by IdeaStorm

Coki Beach Poster by IdeaStorm

Modern London Poster by IdeaStorm

Route 66 by Martin Wickstrom

Cote d’Azur by Martin Wickstrom

Skiing Colorado by Martin Wickstrom

Explore Italy by Martin Wickstrom

Art Deco Glamour by Stephen Fuller

Mediterranee Poster by Stephen Fuller

Art Deco Weekend Posters by Stephen Fuller

Rome by Red Gate Arts

Fly Me To The Moon by Red Gate Arts

Dance by Red Gate Arts

Love Me, Love My Dog by Red Gate Arts

Life Is A Catwalk by Red Gate Arts

1958 Monaco Grand Prix by Charles Avalon

Nice Cote D’Azur by Charles Avalon

Chamonix Ski Train by Charles Avalon

Switzerland Pure Swiss Air by Charles Avalon

Cote D’Azur Pullman Express by Charles Avalon

Alfa Romeo Le Mans by Bill Philpot

Bugatti Monaco by Bill Philpot

Bentley Le Mans by Bill Philpot

Cooper 1961 Nurburgring by Bill Philpot

Goodwood Festival of Speed by Dave Thompson

Ski In Les Trois Vallees by Dave Thompson

London by Dave Thompson

Miami by Dave Thompson

Natural Hot Springs by Csaba Gyulai

Glory Days by Mara Drozdova

Miami Beach by Sergey Serebrennikov

Art Deco Wedding Poster by Stephanie Viau

Bonavista by Jessica Lambe

Metropol Kurier by Riccardo Guasco

Magazine Italiana by Riccardo Guasco

Maratona dles Dolomites by Riccardo Guasco

Longines Masters by Riccardo Guasco

Clos Du Bois by Steve Forney

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This work is so inspiring. Great research. Maybe you will consider a tutorial with recreation of one of artwork.

Great inspirational set here, but having Mads Berg near the top of the list blows away a lot of the others because he is in a league of his own. Thanks for keeping the standard so high here at Spoon Graphics!

Love Art Deco. Thanks for this well written and researched article. Good work.

Good ! Thank you, Chris !

Beautiful inspiration! Love these! Thank you for putting this together.

Chris…You never fail to post the most inspiring content.

It’s really inspiring art Thanks to sharing with us great collection

I didn’t use to think that much of Art Deco, but it has grown on me in recent years. It can make a nice style for logos and murals. Maybe I need a new logo haha

Chris, it`s my favourite collection of posters now! You are superior. Keep going!

this is one cool and amazing collections of designs i am getting design ideas from here this is real cool.

Superb! Thanks for sharing

Nice work from several artists here. Love this stuff!

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Meet The Artists Behind Your Favourite Vintage Travel Posters

In my late teens, I bought myself a calendar that was illustrated with vintage travel posters. I was particularly smitten with one for Cuba produced in 1949 by the Cuban Tourist Commission. From that moment I formed a slight obsession with the beautiful artwork created to sell travel in the early days of advertising.

Since becoming a graphic designer I’ve found myself asking “who are the artists behind these fabulous vintage travel poster designs? What was their process? Did they travel to all the places they illustrated?” So, I did a little research into these advertising industry pioneers and this is what I found.

Table of contents

A brief history of the travel poster, joseph binder, donald brun, fred ludekens, abram games, frank newbould, david klein, maurice laban, jan lewitt & george him, harry rogers, james northfield, bernard villemot, edmond maurus, albert solon, frank soltesz, vincent guerra, albert victor eugène brenet, joseph feher, vittorio grassi, otto nielsen, lucien boucher, robert falcucci, georges dorival, roger broders, harry stevens, daphne padden, percy padden, tom eckersley, reginald montague lander.

Modern posters were born in the mid-nineteenth century when a few planets aligned. The first was the development of printing technology, which allowed for mass production of colour images (“mass” being a relative term to today’s standards). The second was countries such as France lifting government censorship of public places. Lastly, mass-produced consumer goods were being advertised in populated urban environments.

By the late nineteenth century, posters had hit their stride in Europe with many fine artists such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec taking up poster commissions. As the new century dawned, posters grew in popularity and their design became an increasingly respected art form.

Early twentieth-century travel posters were often commissioned by rail lines, and later airlines, to advertise their mode of transport using images of exotic destinations. Poster artwork varied in style as fashions came and went: art nouveau, art deco and modernism were key styles of the travel poster era. Finally, poster art gave way to photography in the 1960s, as printing technology underwent another evolution.

The art of vintage posters has experienced a renaissance in the last two decades, as new generations rediscover the illustrations and paintings of the past. Original travel posters are now highly collectible items. In 2014, Christie’s sold Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s Moulin Rouge lithograph  for £314,500, its highest-grossing travel poster in history. I grew up with this image printed on a set of coasters that my mum purchased while travelling in France. For those who aren’t millionaires yet, prints of vintage posters can also be purchased at much more reasonable prices.

The artists behind the posters

Allow me to introduce to you the mysterious talents behind the vintage travel posters you love. This is by no means a definitive list and there are many artists unaccounted for – these are artists behind some of the most recognisable and collectible travel artworks. Sadly, there is very little information available about some of them.

Joseph Binder (1898–1972) trained in lithography and studied at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts before establishing his own graphic design studio, Vienna Graphics, specialising in advertising and poster design. After visiting the US as a guest lecturer at the Chicago Art Institute and Minneapolis School of Art, he immigrated to New York in 1936. He created modernist masterpieces for American Railroads, American Airlines, and United Airlines such as these.

Swiss illustrator Donald Brun (1909-1999) was a student of one of Switzerland’s first professional calligraphic artists. He apprenticed as a publicity illustrator and took art classes in Basel and Berlin before becoming a freelance artist. Brun created posters for Swissair among others. Though he never stuck to one particular style, my personal favourites are the “picture-in-picture” posters he designed, like those below.

Californian illustrator Stan Galli (1912-2009) may have created your favourite 1950’s poster for United Airlines. Galli studied at the California Art Institute (now the San Francisco Art Institute) before becoming an advertising artist. He worked in various areas from designing postage stamps to Navy instructional manuals over the course of his long career. His posters for United Airlines are among the most collected vintage travel posters today.

Fred Ludekens (1900-1982), was an American artist and illustrator. The Californian had no formal training and worked initially as a billboard painter. Ludekens produced work for magazines and other media. He worked alongside the aforementioned Stan Galli at one time, painting wildlife images for Weyerhauser Timber advertisements. Ludekens created a series of posters for American and United Airlines in the 1950s.

British born designer Abram Games was one of the last of the great poster designers, as the art was lost to offset printing and photography. His early work was often for London Transport and Shell.  After a stint in the British War Office during World War II, Games returned to posters for British Airways, Aer Lingus and EL AL.

British artist Frank Newbould (1887-1951) attended the Bradford College of Art and Camberwell School of Art. He designed many posters for railways and shipping companies, before WWII at which time he became assistant to Abram Games (above) at the war office. Frank Newbould along with the artists, Tom Purvis (below), Austin Cooper, Fred Taylor, Frank Mason were the “Big 5” that for a time were exclusively contracted to design travel posters for LNER (London and Northeastern Railway).

British artist Tom Purvis (1888-1959), attended the Camberwell School of Art. He worked in advertising agency Mather and Crowther before branching out on his own as a freelancer. Between 1923 and 1945 he created over 100 posters for London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), depicting the rail lines destinations in bold, flat colour with little detail. Though Purvis moved away from this style later, reintroducing some detail into his imagery, that vibrant, minimalist style is one of my absolute favourites.

David Klein (1918-2005) created boldly coloured modernist posters. The Texas native studied at the Art Center School (also known as the Art Center College of Design) in Los Angeles. He created illustrations for the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII, then went to live and work in New York City. He created most of his travel-related work between the mid-1950s and ’60s. Klein’s commercial art includes these memorable commissions for TWA.

British freelance illustrator Maurice Laban (1912-1970) created posters during the 1940s through to their dying moments in the 1960s. His vibrant posters for BOAC/Qantas were printed by silkscreen technique and made use of fluorescent opaque inks.

The graphic design duo of Jan Lewitt (1907-1991) and George Him (1900-192) came out of the early ’30s in Warsaw. They relocated to London and worked together through to 1955.

Harry Rogers (1929-2012) was an Australian designer who created several series of Qantas posters from the 1950s through 1970s, utilizing techniques such as paper cutting, collage and watercolour to define each campaign.

Another Australian, James Northfield (1887-1973), was educated in Melbourne. As a commercial artist, Northfield created posters for the Australian National Travel Association to promote Australian destinations to domestic and overseas audiences.

French graphic designer Bernard Villemot (1911-1989) is associated with his work for Air France, Bally, Perrier and Orangina. Villemot initially studied with master art deco poster artist Paul Colin.  His work has been in high demand since his death in 1989.

Edmond Maurus designed art deco posters for French airlines Air Union and Air France between 1925 and 1955. The French artist studied at the Germain Pilon School.

Albert Solon (1897-1973) was also known for his art deco posters. The self-taught artist who became a cartoonist, created posters for airlines during the 1920s and ’30s including Farman, SABENA, Air France, Luft Hansa, Imperial Airways, KLM and l’Aéropostale.

American artist Frank Soltesz (1912-1986) studied at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and went into newspapers and advertising. The president of TWA in 1945, Jack Frye, offered Soltesz a job creating magazine advertisements which were seen in publications such as Life, Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Fortune and Time.

French painter Vincent Guerra is largely a mystery, but his work for Air France and Aerovias Guest after WWII are notable contributions to poster design.

Albert Victor Eugène Brenet (1903-2005), who was born in France and studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He travelled for magazine LÍllustration and was appointed official artist for the three French military branches during WWII. Post-war he went into commercial illustration including advertising posters for airlines.

Joseph Feher (1908-1987), a Hungarian born and trained artist, studied at the Academy Bella Arte in Florence, Italy and Bauhaus, Germany. He also obtained a scholarship to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the late 1920s. From there, his work in commercial art and portraiture began. Feher taught in Chicago and at the Academy of Arts in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was also flown around the continental United States by United Airlines, to paint watercolours of cities for ads and calendars until about 1949.

Italian painter Vittorio Grassi (1878-1958) started out at the Bank of Italy, testing typographic techniques as a means of counterfeit prevention, while he practised his landscape painting. He later moved into commercial work, designing stamps and posters for the Italian Government Tourist Board and the Italian Railroad System among other public agencies.

Otto Nielsen is the Danish painter who designed travel posters for Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) between 1954 and 1976 in his unique oil painting style.

Parisian born artist Jean Even (1910-1986) studied at the Ecole Boulle and Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. Even favoured gouache for its matt colours, speedy drying and compatibility with light paper, all qualities excellent for travel.

Another Air France favourite is Lucien Boucher (1889-1971), whose design career began at the Ceramique de Sevres. He debuted a the Salon d’Automne in 1921 before becoming a member two years later. He exhibited at the Salon de L’Araignée in 1924 through 190. Boucher produced lithographs, wood engravings and watercolour drawings. In 1935 he began working for Air France and gained a reputation for his planispheres – a flat representation of the earth.

Robert Falcucci (1900-1989), was a French illustrator and painter who studied at the Ecole Normale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs, Paris. Falcucci spent time directing magazine advertisements for Renault; illustrated a cover of L-Illustration magazine; and worked with couturier Paul Poiret. Arguably, his best-known work his program artwork for the Monte Carlo Rally, and posters for rail line Paris-Lyon-Mediterranean (PLM).

Georges “Géo” Dorival (1879-1968) was a French poster artist who also specialised in glass plates and shadow puppet theatre. He studied at the National School of Decorative Arts in Paris. His best-known travel work includes posters for destinations such as Venice, Cote d’Azur, Mont Blanc, Heyeres and Brittany, as well as the railroads such as the Chemins de Fer de l’Etat.

Parisian born, Roger Broders, was best known for his travel posters of fashionable French resorts of the 1920s and ’30s. Broders created simplified imagery with bold, flat fields of colour and minimal lettering in contemporary typefaces of their time. The artist was commissioned by The Paris Lyon Mediteranée Company (PLM), who sponsored his travel so that he could visit the destinations he was to illustrate. He was said to have been a cigar aficionado, foodie and lover of cafe culture – aside from the cigars, he sounds like my kind of man!

Kurt Wirth (1917-1996) was a Swiss graphic designer and illustrator. He started his own studio in 1937 and was a co-founder of the Swiss Graphic Designers Association. Wirth is known for creating modernist posters for Swissair and Swiss Federal Railways. He also taught at the School of Art of Bern.

Born in Manchester, England in 1919, Harry Stevens started his design career with no formal art training. He designed posters for London Transport from 1960-1978 and various other high-profile clients. He won the Council of Industrial Design Poster Award in 1963 and became a fellow of the Society of Industrial Artists.

Another British artist who created popular mid-century travel posters was Daphne Padden (1927-2009). The daughter of Percy Padden, a travel poster artist of the 1920s and 30s, Daphne worked as a commercial designer before moving into fine art later in her career. She studied at Epsom & Ewell School of Art and earned a National Diploma in Design for painting. Daphne’s freelance clients included the British Transport Commission, P&O Orient Lines and British European Airways.

Now seems a good time to mention more of Daphne’s dad, Percy (1885-1965) . There doesn’t seem to be much information about Mr Padden. What we do know is that he studied at the Royal College of Art and mostly worked for the post office, producing posters advertising cruises on mail boats. 

Lancashire-born in 1914, Tom Eckersley, was commissioned by Transport for London, National Savings Bank, Guinness and Gillette among other big names. He studied at the Salford School of Art, where he met student Eric Lombers. Graduating in 1934, Eckersley began a freelance graphic design career in London, in partnership with Lombers. They soon won commissions by London Transport and within a few years were both lecturing at the Westminster School of Art.

Eckersley’s career was interrupted by WWII when he enlisted in the R.A.F. and worked as a cartographer. He also produced “war effort” posters during this time. After the war, he continued to teach and take commissions for poster designs. Eckersley became a fellow of the Society of Typographic Designers and Society of Artists and Designers, along with an honorary fellow of Manchester College of Art & Design and the Royal Colleg of Art.

Born in London in 1913, Lander received his art education at Hammersmith School of Art. He became the chief designer and studio manager at Ralph Mott Studio during the 1930s. Lander produced posters for GWR, LNER, British Railways and the Post Office. He worked in gouache and watercolour.

Image via Original Railway Posters

Image via invaluable.com

Where to buy posters and prints

Galerie 123 , Switzerland

Affiche Passion , France

The Ross Art Group , USA (New York)

The Vintage Poster , USA (California)

International Poster Gallery , USA (Boston)

Antikbar , UK

All Posters

Vintagraph, USA

Printism , Australia

What is your favourite vintage travel poster? Drop a comment below and let me know.

I hope you’ve enjoyed getting acquainted with the artists that inspired travellers of yesteryear and found a little duende of your own. If so, you might also enjoy this artful history of travel postcards .

Peace, love & inspiring travel,

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My favourite is my 1950 karnten Austria by an artist called Ludwig depicting a view of a beautiful lake from a hotel . It has such vibrant colours and gives you a sense that you are actually there. For a poster toned that takes great skill . But now I’m thinking about my other posters and it’s like having children do you have a favourite hahaha. Thanks for your time to write about the artists and posters. I still have a few I am trying to find out about.

Hi David, Your Karnten poster sounds wonderful. It can be challenging to find info about the poster artists. It’s a shame considering how talented they were! I am always updating my posts so if you have an artist you’d like me to look into, let me know. I can’t promise I’ll turn up anything you haven’t already, but I would be willing to have a go.

Thanks for stopping by Duende, Zoë (aka Madam ZoZo)

Hi there. Love the site. I wondered if you could help me? I love a poster for Continenral Airways advertising Los Angeles which has a glamorous couple on the beach- the lady has golden hair in the style of a Hollywood star and there is a plane flying overhead.. It looks late ’50s to me. Would you know who the artist would be? My email address is xxx. Thanks Paul Moody

That is a tricky one. I haven’t been able to get much info at all on that particular poster. I agree it looks like the late ’50s given the style and fashion depicted. Continental used that particular logo between 1937-1960 so it is unlikely to be later. I found an aircraft buff who proposed the plane pictured was a DC-7B which also fits with the 1950s timeframe. Many of the well-known artists of that period seem to have been tied up with other airlines at the time and probably had exclusivity agreements. I couldn’t confirm anything further. Should I happen across more details, I’ll let you know.

Zoe aka Madam ZoZo

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10 top art deco u.s. cities to visit in 2017.

Discover popular and lesser-known landmarks across the country paying homage to the iconic style.

(Getty Images) |

Get your deco fix in these vibrant cities across America.

New York City

Washington, District of Columbia

Asheville, North Carolina

Miami Beach, Florida

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Los Angeles

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The 10 Most Impressive Art Deco Buildings in the World

Make sure to add these icons of art deco style to your travel list.

It's no surprise that the art deco movement was born around the conclusion of World War I. It was a symbol of hope, a new beginning that parted ways with the past's opulent and overly ornate designs, and instead, put a stress on a more straightforward, functional, modern-day aesthetic. The trend emerged during the 1925 world's fair in Paris, where exhibitors from around the globe were asked to build their pavilions in a brand-new style that made no historical references to other movements. Gone were the lavish religious and floral motifs of the past centuries. They were replaced by stylized shapes and geometrical elements, as well as chevron, sunburst, and zigzag patterns that are now emblematic of the art deco style.

This new design aesthetic caught on primarily on this side of the Atlantic. As our country was going through an economic and real estate boom, this modern design trend was wholeheartedly adopted by architects, inspired by its understated sense of grandeur . Art deco buildings started popping up all over the nation — and the world — forever changing city skylines in every corner of the globe.

Here, we've rounded up the most outstanding art deco masterpieces to see in person at least once in your life.

Chrysler Building, New York City

An unmistakable symbol of art deco, this silhouette features seven terraced arches with vaulted windows, a spire, steel eagle heads, and geometric motifs. It was conceived in 1928 by Brooklyn-born architect William Van Alen, who built it in record time — contractors would erect on average four stories per week.

The Chrysler building was the tallest structure in the world upon completion, and today holds its own as the world's tallest brick building.

Majorelle Garden, Morocco

The famous 12-acre garden retreat in the heart of Marrakech is also home to one of the most stunning and eye-catching examples of art deco architecture. Painted in a striking cobalt blue hue, now known as "Majorelle blue," the art deco studio of ex-pat French artist Jacques Majorelle was built in 1931. It features extended arches, angular shapes, and a cantilevered roof over one of the terraces adding to the many geometric references in the two-story building conceived by architect Paul Sinoir.

Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles

While the Griffith Observatory is famous for its panoramic vistas over Los Angeles and live planetarium shows, this gorgeous public building is also known as one of the finest examples of art deco architecture.

Built in 1935 by the architect behind LA's City Hall, John C. Austin, and Frederick Ashley, the building has Greek, Roman, and Moorish influences and a beaux-arts layout. Its most notable art deco elements are the iron-grill windows, geometric shapes, and the elaborate metalwork on the front doors.

Palais de Chaillot, Paris

Facing the Eiffel Tower directly, the imposing Palais de Chaillot is one of the most visited landmarks in Paris. Its perfect location aside, this building—built for the 1937 International Exhibition of "Arts and Techniques Applied to Modern Life"—is not only a gorgeous example of art deco architecture in the City of Light , but it also houses the largest museum dedicated to architecture and building design: Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine.

The two curved neoclassical wings of the Palais de Chaillot flank the main art deco structure that features elongated metal-sash windows, bas-reliefs, and gilded accents.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Brussels

In general, art deco buildings are rarely religiously affiliated, but Brussels' the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is an outstanding example of the versatility of this design movement. It took several decades to complete (the first stone was laid in 1905, and the church opened its doors in 1971), but the result was well worth the wait.

Located on a hill in the western part of the Belgian capital, the basilica, the world's fifth-largest church, features a green copper dome flanked by two towers with tiered architecture, modern stained glass windows, a pediment, and arches. Inside, the church is entirely decorated in art deco style with plenty of marble and geometric motifs.

Empire State Building, New York City

The most prominent art deco structure in the world is Manhattan's Empire State Building, which took just over a year to complete. The 102-story skyscraper, conceived by architects Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon, has a steel frame covered in granite and limestone. Aluminum accents throughout add a gilded effect. The building's streamlined façade with recessed windows, setback shape, and, of course, its 200-foot crowning spire now make it the most photographed structure in the world.

Fair Park, Dallas

With an exceptional collection of art deco façades, Dallas' Fair Park is actually home to one of the nation's largest collection of art deco buildings. The park centers around The Esplanade, which features a 700-foot pool lined with art deco buildings, including the notable Hall of State. The Esplanade itself was designed by George Dahl and built specifically for the 1936 Texas centennial.

Eastern Columbia Building, Los Angeles

This jewel of art deco architecture is a true sight to behold. Designed by Claud Beelman in 1930, its picture-perfect façade is clad in striking teal terra cotta and gold leaf tiles — and topped with a clock tower. The windows arranged in sunken vertical patterns, along with the fluted piers, bronze spandrels, setback silhouette, and crown-like roofline are classic elements of art deco architecture.

Palais de la Mediterranée, Nice

The most emblematic building on the famous Promenade des Anglais, Nice's main boulevard overlooking the Mediterranean, is the awe-inspiring Palais de la Mediterranée. And while the French Riviera city has no shortage of art deco examples (about 600 of them, actually), the current Hyatt Regency hotel stands out with its grandeur. Modeled after Paris' Opéra Garnier, the white-washed façade of the building features a duo of stately pediments, wondrous bas-reliefs dedicated to the Greek god Poseidon, and imposing arcades and colonnades.

Paramount Theater, Oakland, CA

Timothy Pflueger, the prominent San Francisco Bay Area architect who designed The Cirque Room inside the Fairmont San Francisco, the first bar to open in the city following prohibition, also designed one of America's most beautiful theaters in 1931. The theater's sign bisects the structure's 100-foot mosaic façade. The mosaic depicts a man and a woman manipulating puppets, bordered by rows of chevron-shaped maroon tiles — a signature art deco element.

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15 Beautiful French Art-Deco Travel Posters by Roger Broders

Roger Broders was born in Paris in 1883. A brilliant illustrator he is best known for his travel posters, many of them commissioned by the French railway company Paris, Lyon, Mediteranée (PLM). From 1922 to 1932 he dedicated himself to poster art, although producing fewer than 100 posters in that time.

In 1925 he changed the style of his work and became to be heavily influenced by the Art Deco movement and many of his posters at this time were cre­ated under the influ­ence of the Art Deco style. Most of his really great work appeared after 1928 and the mag­nif­i­cent travel posters he created set him apart from other artists of the time.

Dunkerque, c.1930.

Marseille, Porte de L’Afrique du Nord, 1929.

Winter sports in the French Alps c.1930.

Golden Mountain Pullman Express, c.1930.

La Route des Alpes, travel poster for PLM, c.1920

Le Hohwald, Champ du Feu, Alsace c.1930.

The Lake at Annecy, 1930.

The beach at Calvi, Corsica, 1928.

Monte-Carlo, 1930.

Antibes, 1929.

Bandol resort, 1932.

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The Art Deco Society of New York offers a wide variety of events that highlight diverse aspects of interwar architecture and design as well as the vivacious culture of the Jazz Age. New events are added regularly and fill quickly. Check out ADSNY's in-person, online, and recorded events here.

Deco on Demand

ADSNY’s Deco on Demand Video Events are complete recordings of our past online events.Each Deco On Demand video gives you the opportunity to have the same experience as those who participated in the live event.

What is Art Deco?

Since the Art Deco Society of New York's founding, ADSNY has challenged architecture, design, and history experts to answer this challenging question without relying on images to help support their opinion. See how the professionals define Art Deco here.

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Discovering Mumbai’s Art Deco Treasures

The city has the world’s second-largest collection of the buildings, second only to Miami. But even as they gain attention, they are threatened.

By Vaishnavi Chandrashekhar

Every evening, crowds swarm Marine Drive, the iconic waterfront on the southern tip of Mumbai, India’s financial capital.

Few of the families and tourists who are out taking in the air stop to look back at the low-rise apartment blocks that line the avenue — a cityscape Salman Rushdie described in the novel “The Ground Beneath Her Feet” as “a glittering Art Deco sweep … not even Rome could boast.”

That disregard may be set to change.

The Art Deco buildings on Marine Drive, together with those on the blocks along the nearby park Oval Maidan, were recognized last year by Unesco as part of a World Heritage site, a distinction that is expected to help preserve and promote the neighborhood. The tag was the result of a 10-year campaign led by heritage activists and local resident groups, one that reflects a growing celebration of Mumbai’s Art Deco architecture — even as it is vanishing under the wrecking ball.

“Everyone always talked about CST,” said Atul Kumar, referring to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus , the city’s other Unesco site, a magnificent and much-Instagrammed Victorian Gothic railway station. “But we also had one of the richest collections of Deco in the world.”

Mr. Kumar, a resident of Marine Drive, set up the nonprofit Art Deco Mumbai in 2016 to raise awareness of these buildings on social media, as well as to document them in an online repository. His team has listed more than 375 buildings, including residences, palaces, hotels and cinemas, all built between 1930 and 1950. They estimate the final count — including not just wealthy south Mumbai but the bazaars of Mohammed Ali Road and middle-class neighborhoods like Shivaji Park, Matunga and Bandra — will be around 600 buildings.

That means Mumbai has the world’s second-largest collection of Art Deco structures, after Miami.

MOHAMMED ALI RD.

Chhatrapati Shivaji

Soona Mahal

Eros Cinema

Shiv Shanti Bhavan

University of Mumbai

OVAL MAIDAN

Regal Cinema

The term Art Deco, or art decoratifs, gained traction in the 1960s as a way to describe a visual style of architecture, design and fashion that emerged in 1920s France. The style’s streamlined forms and geometric motifs were inspired by new technologies — ocean liners, airplanes, automobiles, movies — and by everything from Cubism to Egyptian imagery.

Mumbai’s Art Deco structures are not as grand as Jazz Age behemoths like New York’s Chrysler Building. Instead, they resemble Miami’s laid-back “tropical deco.” As Unesco recognized, the value of Mumbai’s Deco does not lie in the drama of a single structure but in the spirit of the ensemble. This fabric represents the making of modern Bombay, as it was then known.

A confluence of cultural, economic and technological changes transformed the city in the 1930s and ’40s. An economic boom attracted thousands of Indians, creating a professional class. The authorities developed a reclamation plan to create new land to house them, including Marine Drive, and also created suburbs to the north of the city. Indian architects, many returning from London, along with European designers, built the first apartments on this land for merchants, industrialists and Indian princes traveling to Europe on the luxury liners of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company .

These architects broke with the British Raj’s ornate Victorian Gothic and Indo-Saracenic styles for the latest international trend — described by a leading British architect as “the nudist movement in our profession” — while adapting it to the local environment. The choice could be seen as a form of resistance, said Mustansir Dalvi, professor at the Sir J. J. School of Art and Architecture , and as a backdrop of the freedom movement.

Movie houses, many built by American movie companies like MGM, glamorized the new aesthetic. A new technology, reinforced cement concrete, made all this construction quick and cheap. The apartments were snapped up by a rising urban elite “who aspired to be modern and were willing to live next to those who were not like themselves,” said Mr. Dalvi. “They sat next to each other in offices, on commutes, in cinema halls.”

He adds: “For Bombay , what Art Deco represents is cosmopolitanism.”

In a city increasingly dominated by gated communities and hodgepodge skylines, the Deco neighborhoods recall an age of openness and urban coherence. Strict bylaws ensured public spaces and amenities. Buildings had low compound walls. “The wonderful thing about the Art Deco era is that it gave us neighborhoods, not just single pieces,” Mr. Dalvi said.

From Mumbai, Art Deco spread to other cities. The style’s afterlife in India lasted into the late 1940s and early ’50s, and paved the way for modernism after independence in 1947. For decades, however, the contribution of the Art Deco era was overlooked. Architects worshiped high modernists like Louis Kahn and Le Corbusier while conservationists focused on ancient and colonial monuments.

For years, residents like Nayana Kathpalia, a member of the Oval Trust that supported the heritage campaign, were unaware of the historical or aesthetic value of their buildings. “We just thought it was a good place to live in and look at,” Ms. Kathpalia said.

The recent interest comes just as this layer of the city is vanishing. The Unesco tag now protects Marine Drive and Oval Maidan, but everywhere else old buildings are falling daily — and with them many memories.

“What is special about Mumbai’s architecture, and about Art Deco in particular, is that unlike Delhi it is not all monuments or public buildings,” Mr. Kumar said. “It is homes and schools and cinemas, spaces we have lived in, grown up with and can relate to.”

If you want to see some of Mumbai’s best Art Deco buildings firsthand, here are four good places to start.

1. Regal and Eros Cinemas

Mumbai’s Art Deco cinemas were often funded or owned by American film companies. Regal is the city’s oldest, opening in 1933 with Laurel and Hardy’s “The Devil’s Brother.” In a neat illustration of the changing times, the theater was designed by the British architect Charles Stevens, whose father Frederic Stevens famously built the Gothic marvel of the Victoria Terminus (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus). The Regal was also the first building to have an underground garage, neon lighting and a soda fountain.

Nearby, the Eros cinema, built five years later, is more visually striking with its cream-striped red-sandstone facade, ziggurat roofline, and a lavish foyer decorated with classical and Indian friezes. (The building was designed by the Indian architect Sorabji Bhedwar, its interiors by a Czech émigré, Karl Schara .) The 1938 cinema once also hosted a ballroom and restaurant, advertised as “The Rendezvous of the East.” But the Eros is closed, so if you want to catch a film, you’d have to go to the Regal, which nowadays means you’re more likely to see something from Bollywood than Hollywood.

2. Shiv Shanti Bhuvan, Oval Maidan

Shiv Shanti Bhuvan is one in the line of 1930s Art Deco apartment blocks that front the green of the Oval Maidan, looking across it to the Victorian spires of the University and High Court. This face-off between two centuries and styles is what earned the area its heritage designation. The apartments here are among the city’s earliest and perhaps the most international. You might think they were thumbing their noses at the imperial grandees across the cricket pitch — except, as Mr. Dalvi notes, that many of these new apartment buildings have names like Empress Court and Windsor House . Shiv Shanti, located on a street corner, is one of the most impressive with its yellow-and-green color scheme and stack of “eyebrows,” or concrete weather shades, jutting over the windows, a local adaptation. Note the frozen fountain design over the entrance: a common motif popularized by the 1920s French designer René Lalique.

3. New India Assurance, Fort

The city’s Art Deco cinemas exude old Hollywood, and its apartments are functional and stylish. By contrast, the Art Deco office buildings are solid, almost classical, as befits their use by banks and insurance companies. In the city’s Fort neighborhood, the New India Assurance, built in 1936, has strong vertical lines, flanked by two classical-style figures. Heavy sculptural reliefs, designed by N. G. Pansare, idealize workers: farmers, potters, women spinning cotton and carrying pots of water. You’ll find Indian flourishes on nearby insurance buildings too, including sculptures of elephants and of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

4. Soona Mahal, Marine Drive

A short stroll from the Oval lies Marine Drive, nicknamed the “Queen’s Necklace” for the curve of lights at the waterfront at night. Building names here reflect their location — Oceana, Riviera, Chateau Marine — or their Indian ownership. Some were originally owned by maharajas and industrialists. Soona Mahal, built and still owned by the Sidhwa family, is named after the current owner’s grandmother. Typically Deco are the curved balconies and strong vertical lines. The round turret on the roof, echoing a ship’s bridge, is in keeping with the style’s nautical themes. Designed by G. B. Mhatre, an important Indian architect of the time, the building hosted a famous jazz club on the ground floor. Now a music club and pizzeria, it’s the perfect spot to grab a beer and watch the sun set on the Arabian Sea.

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Here’s What to Know About Art Deco Architecture

This iconic style still resonates today.

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Ask three historians to define the term Art Deco, and you’ll likely get three varying answers. That’s because Art Deco is many different things to many different people, and its evolution is as unique as its expression in architecture, interior design, decorative arts, and fashion.

Sometimes referred to as modernistic or Style Moderne, Art Deco encompasses a variety of design aesthetics that were prominent in the early 20th century, says Robins. The style was related to many other architectural traditions such as Art Nouveau , Cubism , and the Bauhaus , with an emphasis on the use of geometric forms, sleek lines, and manmade materials.

The style developed after the upheaval of World War I, when cities like New York were growing exponentially. “There was a movement among architects during the ’20s and ’30s to create something unique,” says Angela Starita, an architectural historian and senior writer at the Cooper Union . “There was tension between ‘we have to copy everything they’re doing in Europe’ versus ‘why can’t we create something new?’”

Many factors helped designers turn away from historical designs to invent a new look that embraced the future, says Starita. For starters, a 1916 zoning resolution in New York City required buildings to taper inward with calculated setbacks in order to ensure adequate light and air for the streets and surrounding buildings below.

This requirement necessitated a whole new level of creativity in design. In addition, new materials, such as a rustproof alloy called Nirosta , were now available for construction. “You couldn’t use cast iron for skyscrapers because it required maintenance or it would rust,” says Robins. “But this new metal was used to adorn the exterior of skyscrapers such as the Chrysler Building with a silvery glow.”

Read on to learn how the style evolved, as well as its key elements and where you can see shining examples of Art Deco architecture.

What Is Art Deco Architecture?

Art Deco evolved as a culmination of the cultural, industrial, and social influences of a unique time in world history. With America’s growth as a global economic power after WWI, increasing industrialization, and a growing middle class, New York became a brash, modern metropolis on the world stage, says Robins.

While Art Deco is found everywhere on every continent, in New York, the aesthetic first took shape as a skyscraper style, says Robins. A small number of architects, who all knew each other, designed the iconic New York City buildings of the time from about 1923 to 1932, with each adding his own interpretation of the style.

Sadly, the Great Depression put an end to the building of these exuberant skyscrapers, with the last one opening in 1932. But by then, Art Deco had made its mark. During the ’30s and ’40s, apartment buildings, hotels, department stores, movie palaces, banks, restaurants, and even filling stations and parking garages—many that remain and have been restored and repurposed today—were built in the distinctive Art Deco style, says Robins.

Why Is It Called Art Deco?

The style typically was referred to as the modernistic or vertical style during its heyday in the ’20s and ’30s. Interestingly, it wasn’t actually called Art Deco until much later. The term was coined in 1966, based on the name of an influential design exposition, the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts of 1925 , says Robins. That long expo title then became shortened to Art Deco, or sometimes Deco.

Most Common Features of Art Deco Architecture

Although Art Deco encompasses a range of seemingly disparate elements, there are obvious features that make a building an example of Art Deco. While not every building will include every feature, these are the hallmarks common to most Art Deco buildings, say Robins and Starita:

• 360-degree design: The building typically can be viewed “in the round,” from all sides, almost like a piece of abstract sculpture.
• Verticality: Uninterrupted bays of windows are stacked vertically, often recessed behind tall stripes of brick or other materials.
• Color: Varying shades of brick, terra-cotta, or gleaming metal add brilliant hues to exterior design.
• New materials: New alloys allowed the use of rust-proof metals on the exterior of buildings.
• Stylized ornamentation and geometric patterns: Zigzags, lightening bolts, sunrises, stylized florals, geometric curves, and designs inspired by Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Aztec, Mayan, and other cultures are key Art Deco motifs.
• Industrial imagery and symbology: Corporate imagery showcased the building’s purpose in a sort of giant advertisement for the clients.

What Are Some Examples of Art Deco Buildings?

Empire state building, new york city.

With construction beginning in 1930, the Empire State Building in New York was to be the world’s first building with more than 100 stories. The steel framework, considered a modern marvel, rose four and a half stories a week and was completed in a record one year and 45 days, opening in 1931.

The building, designed by the firm Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, exhibits Deco elements such as the verticality of the windows, setbacks, and a combination of industrial and traditional materials. The lobby, restored in 2009, is also a masterpiece of Art Deco with gilt embellishments and striking artistic odes to mechanical progress.

Eastern Columbia Building, Los Angeles

Opened in 1930 after nine months of construction, the Eastern Columbia Building is an Art Deco gem in downtown Los Angeles. It was the home of the Eastern Outfitting Company and the Columbia Outfitting Company, furniture and clothing stores.

The building was designed by architect Claud Beelman and its colorful facade is adorned with Art Deco motifs including geometric shapes, zigzags, chevrons, and stylized animal and plant forms. The turquoise, blue, and gold terrazzo gives it its gorgeous color.

Chrysler Building, New York City

Built under commission of automotive entrepreneur Walter P. Chrysler, the Chrysler Building in New York, designed by William Van Alen, was completed in 1930 and held the title as tallest building in the world until the following year. In the 1930s, a Chrysler dealership was on the first two floors.

The Art Deco elements are numerous and stunning: Triangular windows, gorgeous color and sheen derived from the use of metal, and building ornamentation to mimic a Chrysler automobile, including a 1929 hood ornament, hubcaps, and running board.

Rockefeller Center, New York City

Construction began in 1932 on this vision that John D. Rockefeller Jr . had to create a “city within a city” at Rockefeller Center in New York.

The verticality, use of elaborate ornamentation, and the setback design make this an excellent example of Art Deco architecture.

Bryant Park Hotel, New York City

Formerly the American Radiator Building, this stunning New York city building was converted to the Bryant Park Hotel in 2001.

Built in 1924 by architects Raymond Hood and John Mead Howells, the design—with its black brick and elaborate, gold-colored masonry top—was considered neo-Gothic but with ornamentation that made it lean more toward the Art Deco. Here, it’s shown with the Empire State Building in the background.

Fred F. French Building, New York City

With 38 stories, the Fred F. French Building was the tallest building on Fifth Avenue when completed in 1927 by architects H. Douglas Ives, John Sloan, and T. Markoe Robertson.

Home to a prominent real estate firm, this building is adorned with limestone, brick and terra cotta with setbacks and colorful bas-relief friezes with Babylonian imagery. The gorgeous interior features travertine floors, marble walls, and cast bronze.

Chicago Board of Trade Building

The Chicago Board of Trade Building was completed in 1930 by the celebrated Windy City firm Holabird & Root as the center of the city’s financial district. Gray limestone and dark recessed windows give this imposing building a strong vertical appearance that epitomizes the Art Deco style. Geometric and abstract exterior ornamentation and an aluminum stylized statue of Ceres atop the building adds to the overall Deco effect.

Cincinnati Union Terminal

Opened in 1933, Cincinnati Union Terminal was one of the last grand train stations opened in the country. It boasts the largest half-dome in the Western Hemisphere and could accommodate up to 217 trains per day.

Fifteen local businesses—including a piano maker and a leather producer— were represented in the industrial mosaics, a classic interpretation of Art Deco as advertising. The terminal is now a museum.

Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.

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Step Inside an All-New Art Deco Orient Express Train

By Tim Nelson

As far as trains go, few can boast the international and historical renown of the Orient Express. Offering a luxurious passageway from east to west at a time when rail travel was all the rage, its design helped define an era’s idea of luxury aesthetics. While trains of the 2020s are more functional and less fancy than they were a century ago, a newly reimagined take on the Orient Express will offer a chance to restore rail travel to its golden age once it rolls out of the station in the near future.

This week, the train formerly known as the Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express will debut a new look on the world stage with an immersive exhibition during Contemporary Art Week in Paris, updating one of the most iconic takes on transportation design for a new era of luxury.

The iconic exterior of the Orient Express, a train that's seeped its way into popular culture.

A lounging area inside the train features all the hallmarks of Art Deco decor. 

The project was commissioned by ACCOR. After a protracted negotiation process, Orient Express took possession of the train in July 2018, at which point French architect Maxime d’Angeac, known for restoring Maison Guerlain on the Champs-Élysées and collaborations with fashion houses like Hermès, got to work on a forward-looking restoration.

For d’Angeac, the goal was not simply to revive the famed train’s look and feel, but to foster a dialogue between its signature aesthetics and the 100 years of design that have happened since. “From [the project’s] framework, a decor emerged—one without a defined era, instead inspired by Art Deco , Empire, and contemporary styles,” d’Angeac said in a press release detailing the renovation efforts. “The train’s history has been rewritten, this time transcending trends. Nothing is superfluous—each detail has meaning.”

A look inside a bedroom suite.

The bathroom includes bold splashes of color and the warmth of dark wood.

True to his word, d’Angeac has come up with a design that is stuffed with spectacular details, from the bar and dining cars to the suites and corridor. Earning special reverence is the rail motif pioneered by Suzanne Lalique in the 1930s, which d’Angeac sees as particularly connected to today’s aesthetics. Lalique’s inspiration is incorporated throughout d’Angeac’s design, from the wood and leather partitions to dining car design elements that refer to her tapestries.

Perhaps even more remarkably, the new Orient Express makes room for a number of Art Deco details that one would have found along their journey to Istanbul. Those include original Lalique lamps and panels, as well as Morrison and Nelson marquetry. Despite its age, d’Angeac sees the latter design element as especially ripe for a comeback in the present.

“The warmth and strength of the wood itself are timeless, and are a critical design element of the trains from the 1920s that can still bring a modern and refined touch in the present day,” the architect tells AD . “The treatment of the wooden details allow us to marry the past to the present, presenting a refined, warm, and truly luxurious atmosphere for future Orient Express train travelers.”

A look inside the warm glow of the train’s dining area.

A bar inside of the train is outfitted with stylish, Art Deco design.

In terms of the impression he hopes to leave, d’Angeac’s design aims to recreate “the great transformation” of the space from day to night, accomplished through subtle, smart ways to create shifts in the decor. Additionally, he cites a desire to invoke the legacy of the French Union of Modern Artists and their creative milieu, which he describes as “a period that brought an entire generation of new theoretical and practical ideas for architects and designers of the time.”

Admirers of that epoch can soak up the aura of the Orient Express not just at Domus Maubourg during Paris’s contemporary art week, but at Design Miami. And lest you think this is a purely stationary design project, the newly rechristened Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express will take to the rails and transport passengers beginning in 2024, just in time for the Summer Olympics in Paris. Can an updated Orient Express revive luxury rail travel in the present? Only time will tell. One thing is for sure, however: This is truly a case where the journey is just as captivating as the destination.

By Katherine McLaughlin

By Marta Sader

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PULLMAN EDITIONS designs, commissions and publishes striking original posters which capture the enduring appeal of Art Deco. Featuring glamorous destinations from around the world as well as historic automobiles, our exclusive editions combine originality with the quintessential heritage and dramatic imagery of vintage posters. Executed by leading poster artists, each with their own unique 'signature style', our editions are available in strictly limited editions of 280. They are printed using traditional techniques on the finest quality 100% cotton fine art paper. They are signed, hand-numbered and bear our embossed stamp of authenticity.

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15 Ways to Master Art Deco Style Like Joanna Gaines

Embrace the past with a fresh twist.

Technically, the Art Deco period ran from 1919, or just after World War I, until the onset of the Great Depression in 1939. It was popularized in the U.S. and Europe, but it drew on architectural styles from around the world, including Frank Lloyd Wright Jr.'s take on Mayan Revival . The Chrysler building is another famous example with its crown-like tiered spire, but the style reimagined small home goods like radios and vacuum cleaners too.

Art Deco style may seem like an amalgamation of grand things that don't go together: zigzags, chevrons, fluting, jewel-tone colors , and rich neutrals. That may be partly true, depending on your taste, but there's a method to the madness that makes it work. You don't have to cover everything in gold to nail an Art Deco style living room or bedroom. In fact, the aesthetic is all about straight, clean lines and streamlined forms—albeit sometimes in showy colors and finishes.

Once you understand Art Deco design characteristics, furniture, colors, and patterns, it's less intimidating and quite fun to start putting together your space. Read on to learn how to art-deco-rate (sorry, we had to) a room that's roaring with style.

When in Doubt, Add Built-Ins

Built-in bookshelves, like the ones seen here at Chip and Joanna Gaines's Art Deco–style Hotel 1928 in Waco, Texas, are a timeless addition that you can easily style with decor pieces to get the speakeasy aesthetic. Here, the dark paint sets off the luxurious colors of the books, leather chairs, and vintage rug and the gilded picture lights. All of the features add up to a space that feels rich in history but modern.

Bring on the Brass

Finishes are a big component of the Art Deco style since they bring in the sheen and feel of luxurious materials. Brass was typical of the Art Deco period, so feel free to include it in the form of hardware, lighting, or details such as flatware. Though brass isn't as showy as gold, it has enough shimmer to make your space feel refined and elevated in a 1920s way.

Play With Tile

Tiling rooms like the bathroom or kitchen is a great way to execute Art Deco style ideas in a modern way. Tiles in geometric shapes and throwback colors lean into the features of Art Deco while still looking modern and being highly functional.

Refine With Velvet

One luxurious fabric all Art Deco homes need is velvet. This sumptuous material originally was made of pure silk that gave it a plush texture; today, you can get the same effect with a real-life-friendly poly-blend velvet. Most velvet furniture pieces come in deep shades like royal blue or hunter green that make stunning focal points when used for a sofa or headboard. To really tie in the Art Deco theme, place gold accents on any nearby end tables or nightstands to make the area extra stylish.

Since the Art Deco style focuses on shapes and geometry and is rooted in architecture, adding arches is an easy way to play up the aesthetic. Look for wall mirrors or paintings with curves and a brass or gold finish. In other areas of your home, use rounded accent chairs or vintage-style sofas with a curved back.

Lean Into Geometric Shapes

As you might have gleaned already, the Art Deco style is reliant on simple architectural forms. Look for home accents like vases, light fixtures, bookends, and tabletop sculptures that highlight shapes like trapezoids, triangles, circles, squares, and more.

Go Rich With Colors

Though Art Deco style exudes wealth and glamor, the color palette isn't limited to black and gold. If you want to include softer colors in your home, choose moody tones of your favorite blue, purple, or green. They have a richness that pairs well with metallic accents.

Dress Up the Bar

There's nothing more glamorous than a wet bar stocked with gleaming glassware. Pay tribute to the Prohibition Era's ritzy aesthetic with dark walls, rich stained cabinets, and gold-toned hardware. You'll elevate the Art Deco style and create the perfect at-home entertaining spot for your guests to enjoy.

Choose One Note

The Art Deco style lends itself to lively spaces, but if you want a quiet luxury effect, you can stick to a monochromatic palette. Opt for deeper hues of greens or blues paired with statement lighting, mirrors, and abstract wall art. These additions provide relief from the single shade and add warmth and visual interest to the room.

Thicken the Crown Molding

Modern crown molding, especially around doors, are rather thin. If you're renovating, you can choose thicker and more artful crown molding inspired by Art Deco style. You'd be surprised how this simple DIY project can change the look and feel of a room.

Go for More

The Art Deco style ditches the saying, "Less is more." In fact, it's typically the opposite. If you love the opulence and grandeur of the era, it's never a bad thing to embrace sculptural lighting, gold or gilded finishes, geometric shapes, and rich colors. More is more!

Opt for Statement Lighting

Statement lighting is a fun and functional way to channel the drama and opulence of the Art Deco style at home. Art Deco statement lighting typically features spheres, brass or gold finishes, and straight, clean lines, and arches. For a modern approach, look for fixtures with multiple strong lines and spherical bulbs.

Play With Patterns

One of our favorite things about the Art Deco style is how pattern friendly it can be. This aesthetic welcomes prints full of whimsy and lavish details that, when paired with other elements of the aesthetic, create a luxurious room. Since this aesthetic celebrates the refinement in architecture, patterns that feature long curves, sharp lines, and geometric shapes like circles work best.

Incorporate Ribbed or Fluted Textures

Texture isn't a problem in the Art Deco style since it so often calls for ribbed or fluted materials. These accents—whether in the form of decorative objects like vases or lighting or built-in elements such as cabinets—add a vintage touch to your home that showcases the clean lines of this aesthetic. Fluted or ribbed accents add character and visual interest to your space.

Find 1920s Inspiration

We can't all afford to fill out walls with original art from the 1920s, but we can find prints and modern interpretations. Look for wall murals or artwork from the 1920s that are full of lines, arches, and cubist-inspired geometric shapes. The wallpaper and sculptural lamp are the finishing touches in this Art Deco style entryway.

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A new walking map of Moscow highlights the city’s early Soviet architecture.

• ALL OVER THE MAP

Tour the Decaying Beauty of Soviet Moscow With This New Map

A new walking map highlights the endangered structures built for a socialist utopia in the 1920s.

Some remarkable buildings were built in the early years of the Soviet Union, guided by dreams of a socialist utopia. These structures were inspired by cubism and other modern art movements, and they featured steel, glass, and other modern materials.

This construction began in the early 20th century, when the nation was emerging from centuries of tsarist rule.“If you can attempt to imagine this era, Russia had no money whatsoever, but it’s full of hope and aspiration and talented people who weren’t able to achieve anything before,” says Derek Lamberton, the founder of Blue Crow Media , an independent publisher based in London that has just released a map of Moscow’s architectural highlights from this period.

The new map highlights more than 50 examples of so-called constructivist architecture , which thrived in Russia during the 1920s and early 1930s. A short description in English and Russian accompanies a photo of each building.

The NKPS building, built in 1934, housed the Ministry of Railroads.

Many of the buildings served socialist purposes, hosting workers clubs or communal kitchens, for example. But in contrast to the dreary brutalist concrete-block buildings of the later Soviet era, the constructivist buildings were bold and futuristic. “They were pretty outrageous,” Lamberton says. (Lamberton worked at National Geographic for two years in the mid-2000s).

The constructivist map of Moscow is the third architecture map from Blue Crow. The first two highlighted the concrete-dominated brutalist architecture and graceful art deco buildings of London, respectively. When those maps found a niche audience, Lamberton says he knew he wanted to do Moscow next. He studied Russian in college and has a masters degree in Russian art and literature. “This was finally the opportunity to do something with my degree,” he says.

To make the maps, Lamberton he teamed up with two muscovites working to preserve the city’s architectural heritage: Natalia Melikova of The Constructivist Project and Nikolai Vassiliev of Docomomo Russia . Melikova also took the photos for the map.

Photos and descriptions of more than 50 constructivist buildings appear on the back of the map.

Hundreds of constructivist buildings remain in Moscow today, but many of them are in danger of demolition or deterioration through neglect. “The city is not interested in the preservation of these buildings,” Lamberton says. “It doesn’t fit in with how Moscow sees itself right now.” Lamberton and his collaborators hope the new map will help draw attention to the issue, but it will have to pass review with the state cartographic agency before it can be distributed in Russia.

Meanwhile, Blue Crow has more architecture maps in the works, including a brutalist map of Washington, D.C., due out in October, and a map of 20th-century architecture in Berlin, due in November.

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In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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21 Things to Know Before You Go to Moscow

Featured city guides.

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• March 26, 2024

There’s An Art Deco Hotel In Florida With Chic Poolside And Retro Room Vibes

Florida’s sun-kissed skies and warm breezes are the perfect backdrop for a little adventure that doesn’t require a passport or a language guide.

Tucked away in a slice of Miami’s vibrant landscape, there’s a hotel that’s more than just a place to lay your head after a day of sightseeing .

It’s a destination in its own right, with a charm that harks back to an era of glamour and elegance.

Now, let’s dive into the world of The Vagabond Hotel, where the past and present blend seamlessly to offer travelers a unique getaway experience!

Step into a time capsule the moment you approach The Vagabond Hotel.

With its iconic Art Deco façade, this hotel stands as a testament to Miami ‘s rich architectural heritage.

Picture gleaming pastel-hued walls and geometric shapes that beckon you to explore the treasures within.

It’s like being handed a golden ticket to the ritzy 1950s, and you’re the star of the show.

Checking in, you’re greeted with a smile that’s as warm as the Florida sunshine.

The lobby whispers tales of a bygone glamour, with its vintage furnishings and tropical flair.

It’s not just a check-in process but an introduction to a world where every detail is designed to delight and inspire.

You’ll half-expect to see the Rat Pack lounging in the corner or a Hollywood starlet descending the staircase.

Step right into a time capsule that zips you back to an era where charm and color were the kings of cool.

The rooms are less like rooms and more like vibrant, living tributes to the golden age of design.

Think of it as sleeping over at your hippest friend’s place—if your friend had an impeccable eye for mid-century flair and a penchant for pizzazz.

Each corner you turn, you half expect to find Don Draper or Mary Tyler Moore lounging with a cocktail in hand.

The walls are adorned with art that’s so spot-on period, you’ll swear it’s a museum exhibit that just happens to have a comfy bed in the middle.

And speaking of beds, these aren’t just any beds.

They’re the kind that hugs you back, dressed in the finest linens that must have been weaved by fabric fairies.

Waking up here is a treat in itself.

It’s like you’ve been handed a role in a technicolor dream, and you’re the star, baby!

You’ll throw back the curtains, and even the sun seems to be in on the vibe, giving you a Golden Age glow.

It’s not just a stay but an experience that says, ‘Hey, welcome to the cool club.’

And let me tell you, you’ll feel like a million bucks, without actually having to spend it.

Beyond the comfort of your room, the hotel’s pool area is a scene straight out of a glossy travel magazine.

It’s like Mother Nature and a team of the world’s top designers had a brainstorming session.

You’re lounging here, mojito in hand—which, by the way, is the liquid equivalent of a cool breeze on a hot day—and you’re thinking, “Is this what it feels like to be in one of those fancy magazines?”

The palm trees are doing that elegant dance they do, just swaying enough to prove they’re not cardboard cutouts.

It’s all very convincing.

And the sun loungers?

They’re not just seats—they’re your personal thrones, from which you reign over the kingdom of Leisure and Relaxation.

The striped umbrellas stand at attention, offering just the right amount of shade like they know how precious your complexion is.

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The pool itself is like a mirror for the sky, except you can jump into it and not fall through.

You’ve got life’s big question to answer: another swim or another drink?

But let’s face it, that’s the best kind of dilemma.

It’s the sort where, no matter what you choose, you’ve already won.

Indulgence continues at the hotel’s restaurant , where the flavors of Florida come to life on your plate.

Fresh, local ingredients are transformed into culinary masterpieces that tantalize your taste buds.

Whether you’re a foodie or just someone who loves a good meal, the dining experience here is like a symphony where each course is a movement that builds to a delicious crescendo.

The Vagabond Hotel isn’t just about looking back but about embracing the vibrant culture that surrounds it.

Step outside and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Miami’s modern-day scene.

Art galleries, boutiques, and buzzing cafes are just a stroll away, offering a taste of the city’s dynamic spirit.

It’s the perfect blend of past and present, where every adventure is just around the corner.

As the sun sets, the hotel’s neon sign flickers to life, casting a glow that’s both nostalgic and inviting.

It’s a beacon for those seeking a nightcap under the stars, or perhaps a quiet moment to reflect on the day’s discoveries.

The Vagabond Hotel is more than a place to stay—it’s a place that stays with you, long after you’ve checked out.

Should you wish to explore more about The Vagabond Hotel, visit its website or Facebook page for the latest updates and happenings.

To plan your visit and find the easiest route, use this handy map .

Where: 7301 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138

So, have you ever experienced the allure of a hotel that transports you to another time while keeping you firmly rooted in the excitement of the present?

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America’s Most Beautiful Art Deco Hotels

Posted: July 4, 2023 | Last updated: November 23, 2023

Modern masterpieces

Arts Decoratifs (or Art Deco, as it was later known) is an arts and architecture movement from the 1920s and 1930s. Distinctive for its geometric features and lines of symmetry, the style became popular for the many hotels built during a golden age of hospitality in the US. Here we look at some of the most stunning hotels around America that ooze Art Deco features – all mirrors, rich hues, painted glass and bold shapes. Some are iconic institutions with storied histories, others are modern hotels housed in heritage buildings where retro touches take on a contemporary twist.

Sunset Tower Hotel, West Hollywood, California

An Art Deco beauty inside and out, the Sunset Tower has been a West Hollywood landmark since 1929 when architect Leland A Bryant’s strikingly modern skyscraper shot up on Sunset Boulevard. The luxury apartment hotel was frequented by a who’s who of Hollywood, including John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. It also starred in various films including The Italian Job and Get Shorty . Now owned by hotelier Jeff Klein, the Sunset Tower Hotel  underwent a major renovation that ensured the Art Deco skyscraper’s period character was retained and its reputation as one of the city’s A-list hotspots lives on. 

Graduate Seattle, Washington

Another iconic 1930s tower block home to a handsome boutique hotel can be found in Seattle’s University District. Designed by architect Robert Reamer in 1930, it first opened as the Edmond Meany Hotel with one its USPs being that every room boasted a corner view. Good news for the Graduate Seattle’s guests, who can gaze across the city to the Olympic Mountains as they recline on their beds, complete with scalloped headboards. For more views, the rooftop bar is a welcome modern addition. Elsewhere, the hotel charms with Art Deco flourishes including vividly patterned carpets, bold colors, elegant period lighting and original Terrazzo flooring in its marble-clad lobby.

The Siren Hotel, Detroit, Michigan

The sultry Siren Hotel  occupies Detroit’s Wurlitzer building, a then deeply modern skyscraper designed in 1926 by local Robert Finn. Abandoned for a time, the historic structure has a new lease of life as the Siren, which opened in 2018 after extensive restoration of its exterior and original features including the travertine floors, terracotta signs and plaster detailing (as pictured here in the Penthouse suite). Add to that vintage and replica furniture pieces and it’s quite the glam gem. Don’t ignore the siren call of the Candy Bar, a fabulously pink lounge with a huge dripping chandelier and plush pastel banquettes calling out for good times.

The Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, Arizona

After it opened in Phoenix in 1929, the Arizona Biltmore soon became an exclusive desert playground for Hollywood royalty with everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Frank Sinatra gracing its guest book. Built by the McArthur brothers, early pioneers of Arizona tourism, the building has a strong Frank Lloyd Wright influence (an architect who had a great impact on the USA’s Art Deco movement). One of its most lavish features is the ballroom’s gold-leaf ceiling, the largest in the world after the Taj Mahal. Look out for the exquisite stained-glass display in its entrance too – it was designed by Wright and installed in the 1970s.

The Chatwal, New York City, New York

The Chatwal's  elegant interiors hark back to the city’s hedonistic Jazz Age. Rooms and suites channel a 1930s ocean liner-aesthetic – think leather-wrapped wardrobes that resemble vintage trunks, backgammon sets and tinted-mirror clad bathrooms. Period glamor abounds in the Lambs Club restaurant too – there are red leather banquettes, dark wood panels and black-and-white photography paying homage to its theatrical origins. The building, designed by prominent architect Stanford White, was home to Lambs, America’s first professional theatrical club. It was restored and transformed into the luxurious boutique hotel in 2010.

Raleigh Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida

A landmark oceanfront hotel constructed in the 1940s in what’s now known as the Art Deco District, the Raleigh was the work of local architect Lawrence Murray Dixon. It sadly closed in 2017 after it was damaged by Hurricane Irma. However, the historic property is set to bloom once again when it reopens as  Rosewood The Raleigh in 2025 after an epic restoration. Overseen by US architect Peter Marino, the revitalized Raleigh will incorporate the neighboring Richmond and South Seas hotels, whose stunning Art Deco façades will also be restored. Among the historic features being preserved are the Raleigh’s curvaceous swimming pool, said to have been Miami’s most iconic.

Rand Tower Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota

A landmark on Minneapolis’s skyline since 1929, the Rand Tower Hotel  was the tallest building in the city when it first opened. The brainchild of Rufus R Rand, a World War I aviator and influential business leader, the 26-storey limestone and glass tower exhibited the clean lines and bas-relief decorative features that were typical of Art Deco design. In 2020, the office building was converted into a luxurious hotel after an £89 million ($110m) renovation. This involved the meticulous restoration of its exterior and interior period features including elevator finishes, Terrazzo floors, detailed enameling and an original marble spiral staircase. 

Shelborne South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida

Another of Miami’s historic beachside playgrounds, Shelborne South Beach was the work of architect Igor Polevitsky. It has all the hallmarks of the era: an all-white facade, Terrazzo flooring, a centerpiece pool and a ballroom for lavish parties. It was used as a venue for the Miss USA Pageant in the 1940s. After a recent multi-million dollar remodel, the oceanfront landmark is back to its glory days with a fresh retro-chic feel. There's a new beach club, destination restaurants and an elegant pool area complete with the original diving dock.

The Evelyn, New York City, New York

Boasting a beautiful Beaux Arts exterior, The Evelyn is the very vision of Art Deco-inspired decor within. Striking geometric stained-glass windows grace the lobby, which has a marble-clad welcome desk and elegant horseshoe-shaped cocktail bar. Its deep green leather banquettes are the perfect spot for sipping a Prohibition-era inspired cocktail or two. Originally debuting as Hotel Broztell in 1905, the Evelyn opened in 2017 and is in NoMad (North of Madison Square Park). Known as Tin Pan Alley back in the day, the eclectic neighborhood was intertwined with New York’s thriving music scene.

The Plaza Hotel, New York City, New York

Steeped in century-old NYC glamor, The Plaza was built before the Art Deco movement in 1907. But the hotel’s history is intertwined with the Roaring Twenties, as it featured in F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby . Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda were regular guests at the Plaza, whose ornate Grand Ballroom, which opened in the 1920s, was a venue for lavish galas attended by New York’s high society. The Fitzgerald Suite King (pictured) opened in 2013, designed by Catherine Martin, production and costume designer for Baz Luhrmann’s movie  Gatsby . Photos of the literary power couple adorn the walls and replica period pieces pepper the elegant rooms.

The Don CeSar, St Pete Beach, Florida

Pink, palatial and with a prime position by the sugar-white sand of St Pete Beach, the Don CeSar opened in 1928. It also played host to man of the moment F. Scott Fitzgerald along with other socialites of the age. Built by architect Henry H Dupont, its flamboyant exterior exhibited Spanish and British colonial influences while extravagant Art Deco features adorned its lobby and ballroom. After being used by the army in World War II, it became office space through to the Sixties when it fell into disrepair. It reopened as a hotel in 1973 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop, Illinois

Built in 1926 on the site of a 19th-century hotel, the remodeled New Bismarck Hotel included the construction of a 2,500-seat theater, a venue for vaudeville acts and well-known bands. At the hub of Chicago’s entertainment area, the 600-room hotel featured a striking marble staircase with hand-wrought balustrade and lavish ballroom, the Walnut Room. Its latest incarnation as the Allegro Royal Sonesta has seen its period charm reinvigorated from the geometric patterned wallpaper, vintage desks and light fittings in its bedrooms to its elegant lobby adorned with flapper girl-inspired artwork, tasseled chandelier and large mural of the 1930s ocean liner SS Normandie.

Murray Hotel, Silver City, New Mexico

A rare vintage gem in Silver City’s historic downtown, the Murray Hotel is a stunning example of Streamline Moderne, a subset of Art Deco characterized by its simplicity. Built after the Great Depression, the building dates from 1938 and was the city’s tallest building at the time. After a much-needed refresh decades later, the hotel reopened in 2012 and continues to charm guests with its period character that extends from the exterior's symmetrical lines and white curved frontage to its geometric patterned carpets and color palette. 

Pendry Hotel, Chicago, Illinois

Another vintage beauty in Chicago's Loop neighborhood, the Pendry packs in the retro charm. The large and luxurious hotel opened in 2021, bringing new life to a 1929 skyscraper. The striking 37-storey structure was built as the regional HQ of the Union Carbide & Carbon company. Now a historic landmark, the tower’s facade is clad in dark green terracotta with gold leaf accents. At street level it has polished black granite and marble with an elegant bronze trim.

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The Sinclair, Fort Worth, Texas

A sleek 17-storey skyscraper, the Sinclair building was built in Fort Worth in 1929 at the behest of oil pioneer Richard O Dulaney. It was to be the HQ of Sinclair Oil Company, during the state’s early oil boom. The elaborate geometric ornamentation of its facade is typical of the period’s Zig-Zag Moderne design style. Converted to a hotel in 2019 and part of the Marriott Autograph collection, The Sinclair is peppered with exquisite features of the period, from its marble-clad lobby to its lifts with their original Art Deco facades beautifully restored.

Ace Hotel New Orleans, Louisiana

Ace Hotel New Orleans occupies an Art Deco building in the city's Central Business District that dates from 1928. First built to house Barnett's Furniture, it was the work of Weiss, Dreyfous and Seiferth, the architects that designed Louisiana's State Capitol in Baton Rouge. The Ace Hotel opened in 2019 and pays tribute to the design aesthetic of the period and the city’s French heritage with its vintage-style furniture, rich color palette and dark wood paneling. The high ceilinged and light-filled restaurant Josephine Estelle is the picture of period elegance with its green velvet banquettes, table lamps and huge glass windows.

Galleria Park Hotel, San Francisco, California

Set in San Francisco’s Financial District, Galleria Park Hotel has brought a new lease of life to a 1911 building. Originally the Hotel Sutter, the building displays Art Nouveau and Art Deco features, many of which were restored in its stylish overhaul. It still has its original lift banks while its sleek lobby has retained its white marble staircase and decorative balustrades. Modern design flourishes such as geometric patterned wallpaper, statement chandeliers and heavy drapery are also a nod to the building's heritage. The dark and moody Parisian-style Gaspar Brasserie brims with period charm from the vintage posters and inviting leather banquettes to the dainty coupe glasses used for Champagne.

Lyle, Washington DC

A delicious new boutique hotel with old bones, the Lyle  has breathed new life into a stunning 1940s building in Washington DC's Dupont Circle neighborhood. It’s a sensitive reimagining of the space that brings an understated Art Deco glamor to the former apartment block. Its original entrance canopy has been restored, while inside its intimate bar has striking geometric stained glass, leather seating and period pendant lamps. In a nod to its residential past, 56 of its 196 bedrooms have kitchenettes. Vintage burlwood headboards and rattan seating recall the building’s roots. 

Hotel Phillips, Kansas City, Missouri

The high-rise Hotel Phillips was the tallest building in Kansas City when it appeared on the skyline in 1931. Still operating as a hotel, it’s now part of Hilton’s Curio Collection. While the bedrooms are contemporary in style, its public areas exude old-world elegance. The lobby retains much of its original splendor with its walnut paneling, chandeliers and striking staircase sculpture, the Goddess of Dawn. It’s easy to picture yourself sashaying back into the Jazz Age as you enter this historic hotel. Keep the feeling going by seeking out its basement speakeasy. 

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The Georgian Hotel, Santa Monica, California

The Georgian has cut a striking figure on Santa Monica’s oceanside since 1933, when the neighborhood was a sleepy seaside community. Known as Santa Monica’s “First Lady”, the hotel was the vision of Rosamond Borde, a hotelier who commissioned architect M Eugene Durfee to design a grand hotel to attract an affluent crowd. His bold design drew on both the Romanesque Revival and fashionable Art Deco movements. The Georgian was later an exclusive and illicit hangout as one of Los Angeles's first speakeasies. Its star appeal faded in the subsequent decades, but a recent restoration has seen the pastel-hued beauty restored to its former chichi self.

Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Ohio

Designed in 1931, Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza is a treasure of a hotel with its exquisite French Art Deco design. A designated National Historic Landmark, it was constructed as part of Cincinnati’s Carew Tower, a multipurpose high-rise with shops, restaurants and office space. First known as St Netherland Plaza, the 800-room hotel had all the mod cons from baths in its bedrooms and fast lifts to multiple restaurants. The lavish tiered ballroom, the Caprice Pavilion was a hotspot of the age. In fact, local star Doris Day made her professional debut there in 1937. Now part of Hilton Hotels & Resorts, the hotel's historic integrity remains beautifully intact from its polished wood and mosaic marble finishings to its splendid Palm Court. 

Faena Hotel Miami Beach, Florida

Signature white-and-red striped parasols, plush beach cabanas, a gold ceilinged lobby, cabaret theater and lounges dripping with chandeliers. Everything about the Faena Hotel Miami Beach screams golden age glamor. Originally opening as the Saxony Hotel in 1948, it was one of the area’s first luxury resorts and designed by architect Roy F France. Architects Norman Foster and Rem Koolhaus were commissioned by Argentine hotelier Alan Faena to work on the hotel's meticulous restoration and redesign. The revived 1940s hotel reopened in 2020 with its distinct Art Deco-imbued interiors designed in collaboration with Baz Luhrmann and wife Catherine Martin. 

Holston House, Nashville, Tennessee

A magnificent Art Deco tower turned contemporary boutique hotel in downtown Nashville, Holston House is bound to be a hit. The building, which is a fabulous showcase for the architecture and decor of the 1920s, was completed in 1929 by esteemed local architects Marr and Holman. It originally housed the James Robertson Hotel until it was used as war accommodation in the 1940s and then became apartments. In 2017 Holston House opened as part of the Hyatt group, retaining many period features from the geometric patterns on its limestone facade to its octagon windows and high-ceilinged lobby. Delightful modern additions include a rooftop bar and pool.

Hotel Edison, New York City, New York

An Art Deco diamond on Times Square, Hotel Edison opened its doors in 1931 with its inventor namesake switching on the marquee lights himself. It was one of the first Art Deco hotels in the Theater District and its Edison Ballroom swiftly became a hub for socializing. The handsome heritage building has since had star turns in films including The Godfather and Birdman . The Edison's connections to the Jazz Age are still palpable, especially in its The Rum House, a dark and moody joint where live jazz keeps the tradition going.

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10 architectural styles you can find in Moscow (PHOTOS)

1) Medieval Russian architecture

Moscow’s oldest surviving buildings are the famous St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Kremlin cathedrals, and the cathedral of the 15th century Andronikov Monastery that still has original fragments of frescoes by renowned icon painter Andrei Rublev. Pre-Petrine Russia also left us several stone chamber buildings (including the chambers of the boyars Romanov of the 16th-17th centuries and the Old English Yard of the 15th-17th centuries).

The Kremlin cathedrals (15th century)

The chambers of the Romanov boyars (end of the 16th century – early 17th century)

The Savior Cathedral of Andronikov Monastery (15th century)

2) Baroque style

With the ascension of Peter the Great to the Russian throne, a strong Western influence found its way into Russia, including in architecture. The European Baroque style merged with the Russian Uzorochye style, giving birth to the unique style of the Moscow Baroque, which today can be seen in many churches in Moscow and its outskirts, where noble families built churches for themselves.

The Church of the Intercession at Fili (1690-1694)

The architectural ensemble of Novodevichy Convent (late 18th century)

The Church of the Trinity at Troitse-Lykovo (1698-1703)

3) Gothic architecture

After exhaustion set in with the Baroque style, since it’s marked by excessive decorative elements, architects in Russia began experimenting with the Gothic style. Lancet arches and skyward spires were initially foreign to the Russian eye, but in the end they came into fashion and found their way even into Orthodox church architecture.

Tsaritsyno (18th century)

Elektrozavod (1928)

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary (1901-1911)

The mansion of Zinaida Morozova (1893-1898)

4) The (Neo)-Russian style

After many decades of Russia’s love for all things European, finally under Emperor Alexander III at the end of the 19th century it became fashionable to look to the country’s native roots for inspiration. One of the most vivid examples of the Neo-Russian style is the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg, which is reminiscent of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. The emperor personally approved the architectural design of this cathedral. In Moscow, many houses were built that looked more like terems . On Red Square, a new, stylized building to exhibit the precious national treasures of the State Historical Museum was erected to join the ensemble of medieval buildings. Read more about the Russian style here .

The State Historical Museum (1875-1883)

The house of the merchant Igumnov (1888-1895)

The Shchukin mansion, now the K. A. Timiryazev’s Biological Museum (1892-1915)

5) Art Nouveau

Asymmetric compositions, floral ornaments, mosaic panels, and an appeal to Russia’s past – all of this was characteristic of the development of the Russian Art Nouveau, one of the most unusual architectural styles that was popular at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Wealthy merchants and art connoisseurs were inspired to build mansions for themselves in the Art Nouveau style; one of the main architects of the Art Nouveau in Moscow was Fyodor Schechtel, who built the famous Ryabushinsky Mansion and the Yaroslavsky railway station.

Ryabushinsky Mansion (1900-1903)

Yaroslavsky railway station (1902-1904)

Hotel Metropol (1899-1905)

6) Avant-garde

In the early 1920s, following the destruction of the civil war, the Soviet authorities gave priority to the architecture of the Avant-garde when it came to rebuilding Moscow. The Soviet capital was adorned with experimental buildings that had minimal decoration; however, they had a well thought-out, practical construction with large windows. Constructivism became the leading trend of the Soviet Avant-garde in architecture; the leaders of this movement were architects Konstantin Melnikov, Alexey Shchusev, and the Vesnin brothers.

The headquarters of the Izvestiya newspaper (1925-1927)

The main office of the People's Commissariat for Agriculture (1928-1933)

Bread Factory № 5 (1931)

Melnikov’s House (1927-1929)

7) Soviet Art Deco (Post-Constructivism)

After the Constructivist experiments with shapes and spaces had run its course, Soviet architects found inspiration in the tenets of Classicism, which was more to Stalin’s tastes. This post-Constructivism became the basis for the Soviet interpretation of the Art Deco style in which, for example, the New York City skyscrapers were built in the 1920s. It’s marked by monumentalism, columns, decorations in the form of coats of arms, bas-reliefs and sculptures, as well as a strictness of form and combination of concrete and metal.

The Russian State Library (1928-1958)

The Ministry of Defense on Kolymazhny Lane (1934-1938)

The State Duma (1932-1935)

8) Stalinist Empire style

As the 1930s progressed, Soviet architecture transformed into a style that art historians call the Stalinist Empire style. It was especially noticeable in the post World War 2 era. This was no longer Classicism but, rather, the pompous and triumphant style of a victorious empire. This architectural style is characterized by its columns, porticos, perfect symmetry, curls, stucco, sculptures, oriel windows and decorative cornices, as well as five-pointed stars and the Soviet coats of arms. Both residential and grand public buildings, such as the Moscow river terminal, were built in such a manner. Stalin’s high rises, with their spires reaching skyward, became the apotheosis of this style. Read more about the Stalinist Empire style here .

Moscow State University (1949-1953) 

Central pavilion of VDNKh (1951-1954)

The North River Terminal (1933-1937)

9) Brutalist style

After Stalin, an ideological struggle began against architectural excess, and for almost two decades standardized residential khrushchyovka buildings became commonplace in the country. In the 1970s, however, when the country had grown richer and had more opportunities, the authorities wanted once again to display the might of the Soviet nation. As such, monolithic buildings composed of massive concrete forms without decoration appeared; they impressed with their colossal size and unconventional shapes. For example, there was the ‘Lying Skyscraper’, and a ‘ship house’, which was built for nuclear industry workers (the main idea was that it was supposed to resemble a nuclear reactor). Also, there was the ominous building of the Moscow oncology center. Even the Ostankino TV tower, looking like a space rocket, stands on a massive concrete foundation and adheres to this style.

N.N. Blokhin’s Oncology Center (1972-1976) 

Aviators’ House (1973-1978)

Ship House (1972-1986)

The Ostankino TV tower (1960-1967) 

10) Luzhkov style (Postmodernism)

The 1990s were challenging times for the country – they’re called ‘wild’ because when the USSR collapsed a new era of market economy sprung up. This was the era of the ‘ New Russians ’ and organized crime. With that, however, there was also a lot more freedom. Former Soviet people now discovered everything Western, and they embarked on a journey to find their own sense of style and taste. This was a period of often disastrous architectural experiments. Under Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who ran Moscow with an iron fist, there appeared many buildings that are today included in lists of the Most Tasteless. The architectural experiments of the 1990s were attempt to create a new style using glass, metal constructions, and hi-tech. Nevertheless, they drew inspiration from the architectural styles of the past  – Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and other eclectic styles.

Nautilus Mall (1999)

Egg House (2002)

The House of Music (2002)

Et cetera Theater (2005)

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