ART NOUVEAU
Art Nouveau (also called Jugendstil in Germany, Secessionism in Austria, Modernisme in Spain…) is an international style of architecture that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th century (1880-1914). It used opulent, stylized designs that are characterized by curvelinear lines and the use of plant inspired motifs. Wikipedia described the style’s characteristics as “dynamic, undulating and flowing…” and noted that the buildings’ moldings seemed “to spring to life and ‘grow’ into plant-derived forms.”
Different names for Art Nouveau around the world
- Jugendstil : Germanic language speaking countries
- Secession : Austria and eastern European countries
- Modernismo, Modernisme, Modernista : Spain
- Liberty : Italy
The highly stylized nature of Art Nouveau design was expensive to produce, and so by the start of the First World War the style became less favored. It was replaced by the more streamlined, rectilinear architecture of the Art Deco movement which was less expensive to build and had closer ties to the new materials and construction methods that the industrial revolution created.
The wikipedia page has a good list of Nouveau architects, and places where the style was centered, which should get you started. Two great examples of Art Nouveau are the interior decorations of the Grand Palais and the Porte Dauphine station Metro entrance in Paris.
ART DECO
Art Deco developed between 1920 and 1939 in response to Art Nouveau and many other modern styles that developed at the beginning of the 20th century. The style incorporated the looks of new technology, such as the streamlining of airplanes. Other popular themes were trapezoids, zigzagging, geometric shapes, and jumbled shapes. Commonly used materials included aluminium, stainless steel, with lacquer, inlaid wood, and exotic animal skins used in the interior design. It was considered elegant and ultra-modern in its time and as a result it became very popular, particularly in the United States.
ART MODERNE AND STREAMLINE MODERNE
Art Moderne, also known as Streamline Moderne is an international style of Art Deco architecture and design that emerged in the 1930s. It was inspired by aerodynamic design. Streamline architecture emphasized curving forms, long horizontal lines, and sometimes nautical elements. As the Great Depression of the 1930s progressed, Americans saw a new aspect of Art Deco, i.e., streamlining, a concept first conceived by industrial designers who stripped Art Deco design of its ornament in favor of the aerodynamic pure-line concept of motion and speed developed from scientific thinking.
Some of the most common characteristics of the Art Moderne style include:
Low, horizontal and asymmetrical, Flat roofs with no eaves, Rounded corners, Smooth, white walls, Wraparound, porthole and glass block windows.Steel balustrades.
PWA MODERNE
PWA Moderne (or "P.W.A. Moderne", PWA/WPA Moderne, Federal Moderne, Depression Moderne, Classical Moderne, Stripped Classicism) is an architectural style of many buildings in the United States completed between 1933 and 1944, during and shortly after the Great Depression as part of relief projects sponsored by the Public Works Administration (PWA) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
The style draws from traditional motifs such as Beaux-Arts classicism and Art Deco and is similar to Streamline Moderne, often with zigzag ornamentation added.
THE AMSTERDAM SCHOOL
Amsterdam School structures are characterised by the use of brick for structure and design, a rounded appearance, decorative masonry, wrought iron accents, spires and 'ladder' windows. The style has roots in Expressionist architecture, borrowing elements from the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) and Art Deco design aesthetic.
Some famous examples of Deco are the auditorium of Radio City Music Hall and the Empire State Building in New York.
CUBIST ARCHITECTURE
Major characteristic of the Cubist style of art is how the background planes intersect with those of the object, overlapping each other in such a way that they form shallow undefined spaces. The influence of this cubist characteristic became a hallmark of the development of a new type of architecture in several European countries in the first quarter of the 20th century. The genuine Cubist architecture is very rare, but you can find some really amazing cubist buildings in France, Germany and especially in the Czech Republic, where Cubism flourished....
Fine example of Cubist architecture is House of the Black Madonna in Prague.
Your mission is to find either an Art Nouveau, Art Deco or Cubist building or structure to post in this category. Please title your waymark similar to the following example: Empire State Building – New York City, New York
These styles of architecture are famous for their types of ornamentation so any extra photos of building details would greatly enhance the quality of your waymark. Waymarks posted without a description in the “long description” section will be denied and asked to be resubmitted when the description is added.
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