I’m sure you’re minorly exhausted from me bringing up New York City so much. The truth is, I’m moving there in 5 weeks. Five. Weeks.
A lot of my brain power right now is being taken up by that city, my soon-to-be 4-month-long home. Most of the posts I have done have been about both brands and products, well, mostly products. Although, admittedly, I enjoy the prospect of being able to talk about design on a greater scale and what I can learn to genuinely appreciate.
That is officially now including architecture.
The 70 Pine Building is an iconic skyscraper located in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Built in 1932, it was one of the tallest buildings in the world at the time of its completion, standing at 952 feet and 66 stories. Today, it remains one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city and is known for its distinctive art deco architecture.
The Art Deco era, also known as the “Roaring Twenties”, was a period of design and a cultural movement that emerged in the 1920s and continued into the 1930s. If you’ve watched it, the Great Gatsby was set in the “Art Deco era”. The era was characterized by a modern and glamorous aesthetic that drew inspiration from many different art forms; Cubism, Fauvism, and Futurism.
Cubism is characterized by its use of geometric shapes, such as cubes, spheres, and cones, to represent the subject matter of a painting or sculpture. It is a straightforward abbreviation of an artist’s concept (no dillydally-ing).
Fauvism is characterized by its use of bright and intense colours, often applied in thick brushstrokes, to depict a subject.
Futurism was heavily influenced by the ideas of the Industrial Revolution and the rapid technological advancements of the early 20th century. It emphasized the dynamism, speed, and energy of modern life, and sought to capture these qualities in art.
Art Deco design featured bold geometric shapes, symmetrical patterns, and a vivid colour palette. The style was particularly popular in urban centres such as New York City and Paris, where it was used to create the distinctive look of skyscrapers, theatres, and other public buildings.
The Art Deco era was also marked by a sense of optimism and exuberance, as people celebrated the end of World War I and the beginning of a new era of prosperity. This energy was reflected in the designs of the time, which were often flashy, glamorous, and decadent.
One of the most impressive features of the 70 Pine Building is its stunning lobby, which was designed by Ralph Walker, one of the most prominent architects of the art deco era. The lobby features intricate marble flooring, soaring columns, and ornate bronze accents, all of which combine to create a grand and imposing entranceway.
I find the art deco era to be absolutely stunning. I greatly enjoy the use of both colour and geometry and find this building to be a statement piece that will be enjoyed no matter the generation.