Art Deco Architecture

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From Dancing in the Dark: A Cultural History of the Great Depression by Morris Dickstein: Yet the minimalism of the later International Style was anticipated by developments in Deco after 1932. As the Depression deepened, the building boom of the late 1920s ended and the luxury of Deco design became an embarrassment, out of tune with the urgent stresses of the moment. In the streamlined Moderne style that soon dominated American design, Deco was transformed into something more clean-lined and horizontal, oriented less to pleasure than to speed and kinetic energy, an orientation toward the future at a time when many people were deeply fearful about what the future held in store. Photo: A fine example of streamline, the Normandie Hotel, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The building was inspired by SS Normandie, the ship, and includes the ship’s original sign.

From Dancing in the Dark: A Cultural History of the Great Depression by Morris Dickstein:

Yet the minimalism of the later International Style was anticipated by developments in Deco after 1932. As the Depression deepened, the building boom of the late 1920s ended and the luxury of Deco design became an embarrassment, out of tune with the urgent stresses of the moment. In the streamlined Moderne style that soon dominated American design, Deco was transformed into something more clean-lined and horizontal, oriented less to pleasure than to speed and kinetic energy, an orientation toward the future at a time when many people were deeply fearful about what the future held in store.

Photo: A fine example of streamline, the Normandie Hotel, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The building was inspired by SS Normandie, the ship, and includes the ship’s original sign.

Filed under dancing in the dark great depression morris dickstein 1930s 1940s art history art deco art moderne streamline streamline moderne architecture normandie hotel hotel normandie ss normandie san juan puerto rico

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Department of Interior Building (Demolished), San Juan, Puerto Ricoby davsot Gate at the same since-demolished government building in San Juan where these stairs were. Designed by Pedro Méndez Mercado, dating to 1950 and demolished in 2002. From the photographer: Its value may have been shunned because of the year it was built (1950). Nonetheless, it is probably one of Pedro Mendez’s most ornate buildings. More photos can be found at my website: http://artdecopr.org/PRADS/Interior.html

Department of Interior Building (Demolished), San Juan, Puerto Rico
by davsot

Gate at the same since-demolished government building in San Juan where these stairs were. Designed by Pedro Méndez Mercado, dating to 1950 and demolished in 2002.

From the photographer:

Its value may have been shunned because of the year it was built (1950). Nonetheless, it is probably one of Pedro Mendez’s most ornate buildings.

More photos can be found at my website: http://artdecopr.org/PRADS/Interior.html

Filed under art deco san juan 1950 1950s puerto rico demolished building pedro mendez black and white

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Hotel Normandie, San Juan, Puerto Ricoby vxla Amazing streamlined hotel in San Juan that, yes, is based on the design of an ocean liner. From the photographer: Hotel Normandie is a hotel located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, originally opened on October 10, 1942. The design was inspired by the ocean liner S.S. Normandie and features similar art deco designs. The hotel is an example of Streamline Moderne architecture and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Interior Department’s Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service on 29 August 1980. The 173-room hotel was refurbished in 2005; currently (2010) it is closed again.

Hotel Normandie, San Juan, Puerto Rico
by vxla

Amazing streamlined hotel in San Juan that, yes, is based on the design of an ocean liner.

From the photographer:

Hotel Normandie is a hotel located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, originally opened on October 10, 1942. The design was inspired by the ocean liner S.S. Normandie and features similar art deco designs. The hotel is an example of Streamline Moderne architecture and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Interior Department’s Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service on 29 August 1980. The 173-room hotel was refurbished in 2005; currently (2010) it is closed again.

Filed under san juan puerto rico art deco hotel normadie 1940s streamline moderne streamline s.s. normadie hotel

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Deco Stairs from a Demolished Building

Stairs of the Department of Interior Building

Demolished - Department of Interior Building, Puerto Rico
Submission

This staircase belonged to the Department of Interior Building in Puerto Rico, demolished in 2002. 

Its value may have been shunned because of the year it was built (1950). Nonetheless, it is probably one of Pedro Mendez’s most ornate buildings.

More photos can be found at my website: http://artdecopr.org/PRADS/Interior.html

Filed under 1950s architecture art deco photo 1950 staircase puerto rico submission

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Spanish Revival Art Deco

 Hotel Fox Delicias, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Submission by davsot

Fox Delicias façade

Art Deco + Spanish Revival = Awesome!

This old cinema was inaugurated in 1931 by Pedro Juan Serrallés. It was designed by Ponce’s very own Francisco Porrata Doria. Its eclectic façade design combined Art Deco and Spanish Revival decorative elements. In the 1990s it was acquired by the Ruberté family and remodeled for use as a shopping center. Years later, it was once again remodeled to its current state to serve as Hotel Fox Delicias. The name “Fox Delicias” comes from the cinema’s contract with Twentieth Century Fox and its location in front of Plaza Las Delicias. 

See: http://artdecopr.org/PRADS/Fox_Delicias.html

Filed under 1930s architecture art deco exterior photo ponce puerto rico spanish revival francisco porrata doria hotel fox delicias plaza las delicias movie theater submission