Art_Nouveau_and_Deco

From the flowing romance of Art Nouveau to the bold glamour of Art Deco, design at the turn of the century reshaped the modern world. The city often called the “Art Deco Capital” is Napier, New Zealand. After a massive earthquake in 1931, much of Napier had to be rebuilt. The reconstruction happened right in the middle of the Art Deco era, so the new buildings featured the bold geometric shapes, sunbursts, and streamlined forms of the style. Today, Napier is internationally famous for its concentration of Art Deco architecture, and it even hosts an annual Art Deco Festival that draws visitors from all over the world. Hastings where I live, shares the same history and Art Deco character because the 1931 earthquake devastated both cities, and much of Hastings was also rebuilt in that style. It’s true though — Napier became the “headline act” partly because: The quake’s epicenter was closer to Napier, so the story sticks there. The port and airport funneled in cruise ships and international visitors, making Napier the “gateway” for tourism. Napier leaned very heavily into branding itself as the “Art Deco Capital,” while Hastings has tended to be a little quieter about it. But anyone who knows Hawke’s Bay history understands that Hastings is just as much a showcase of Art Deco architecture as Napier, with some really stunning examples. In fact, some architecture buffs even prefer Hastings because it’s less crowded and they can actually enjoy the buildings without the festival hustle and bustle.