Napier – Art Deco Capital of the World

Literally rising from ashes, the city of Napier rebuilt itself in three years. On February 3, 1931, a 7.8 earthquake crumbled the brick and stone downtown and severed gas and water lines. Uncontrolled fire completed the devastation. The community decided to rebuild rather than move the city. From 1931-1934, more construction happened in Napier than in all of New Zealand combined. All new buildings were of reinforced concrete, mostly 1-2 stories, no higher than three. All utilities were buried. The architectural style of the day: Art Deco.

Art Deco is a style of design that flourished in the inter-war years, capturing the spirit of modernism and optimism that followed the First World War. I, Monica, signed up for a city walking tour our second day in Napier and received an art history course as well as a ramble through town. Features of Art Deco are geometric motifs, rich ornamentation and bright colors. Design themes were drawn from European art, new technologies, and new archeological findings such as the then recent opening of Tutankhamen’s tomb.

The Daily Telegraph building is a great example of very geometric features: a flat front, strong vertical lines, repetitive ornamentation. The zigzag around the door is a common pattern, as are the fountain shapes, representing renewal, at the tops of the “columns”. Ziggurat is the squared stacking that outlines the door and is echoed above in the center of the roof line. In Manhattan, the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings are classic examples of the ziggurat.

Recessed doors were also popular.

Horizontal “streamlining” recalls the motion of the new diesel locomotives and commercial airplanes. Sunburst designs symbolized optimism.

With electricity now a common commodity, the use of lighting, both natural and artificial, became an element of design.

Napier celebrates its Art Deco heritage with a festival every February. Folks converge on the city from all over the world to dress in Roaring Twenties clothes and tool around in vintage cars. We’ll miss the gala this year . . .

Meanwhile, back at the beach, Mike had a day to work on his tan.

And we’re on to New Zealand’s capital, windy Wellington, where Art Deco has also left its mark.