Art Deco—
sybaritic trend

xavier

architectural and design trends

The Art Deco movement can be regarded as having two main currents that showed particularly in architecture: the sybaritic trend with its all-enveloping, opulent decoration, and the much more austere, revolutionary trend - but both with a common theme of total design.

• Robert Mallet-Stevens (1886-1945) helped promote Art Deco architecture in Europe, while Raymond Hood designed many Art Deco buildings in the USA.
• Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, known for the dictum “Less is More”, designed simply styled buildings in the austere, revolutionary Art Deco style.
• More sybaritic buildings include the Chrysler Building and the Rockefeller Center in New York City.

the sybaritic trend

in New York City:

• The Rockerfeller Center, built on 22 acres from 1930 to 1939, with head architect being Raymond Hood.

The Rockefeller Center comprises fourteen Art Deco buildings, as well as five modern ones. One of the original Art Deco buildings still standing is the Radio City Music Hall:

• Chrysler Building, architect: William Van Alen, 1,046 feet tall and for four years the tallest building in the world

The Chrysler Building, 1929

The other main architectural trend of Art Deco is examined further in Art deco - revolutionary trend. Art deco in France looks at the effect of this coherent style in France, particularly in the South West.

end notes

1. A Sybarite was a native of Sybaris, in ancient Greece, whose inhabitants were notorious for their love of luxury and luxurious living.

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