Art Deco in Napier, New Zealand

Tue, Jun 10th 2008, 00:00

Tragedy struck Napier in New Zealand on 3rd February 1931 when an earthquake levelled most of the inner city and killed 258 people.

Napier is the second largest city in the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand, started in the 1850s when the colonial government purchased a block of land from the Maori. Napier flourished as a commercial centre and port servicing the Hawkes Bay area. After the earthquake, the town had to be extensively rebuilt and this presented a perfect opportunity to inject new style and vigour into Napier’s landscape.

Present day Napier one of the capitals for Art Deco architecture in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Art Deco in New Zealand is unique ... it draws on the rich heritage of Maori designs to integrate with traditional Art Deco motifs and the work of Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Art Deco architectural style derives its name from the 1925 Industrial Art expo held in Paris, the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs Industriels et Modernes. This gathering celebrated industrial design and the modern world. The spirit of the era drew from art movements of the time, Cubism, Bauhaus and Expressionism. This was a celebration of the modern world, clean facades devoid of superfluous decoration, utilising symmetrical lines and modern materials.

Art Deco uses symbolism to represent the dawning of a new modern age. Geometric shapes symbolise machines and technology. Look for embellishments like stepped rooflines, round porthole windows, curved edges, and neon lighting. Traditional bricks were replaced with reinforced concrete.

By the end of the 1930s, Napier was one of the most modern cities on earth. While the architecture was neglected for the next few decades, a renewed interest in the 1990s has seen the buildings restored and protected. Art Deco is celebrated during the Art Deco Weekend held in Napier each February.

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