Art Deco World

Art Deco is one of architecture’s most beloved styles. Famously celebrated for its rich colour, distinct geometry, texture and sumptuous use of materials, it has captivated the public’s imagination with its modern glamour for a century. Its most acclaimed architectural icons are renowned as beacons of European and North American decadence. But how did this movement manifest beyond Western shores?

The influence of this movement on international design is evident, but so far largely underexplored. From India to Japan, New Zealand to Eritrea, Art Deco has been moulded and edited to create countless instances of spectacular architecture that remains largely unknown. Art Deco World follows the ripple effect of this design phenomenon, travelling the globe in search of unheralded examples and offshoot styles, including Pueblo Deco, Egyptomania and Streamline Moderne, to reveal the true scale of its influence. In doing so, it seeks to explain and understand why we continue to adore Art Deco to this day.

Featuring lavish imagery and lively prose from author Max Chavez, Art Deco World offers a fresh perspective on a much-lauded movement. It provides an inspirational guide to one of the most culturally influential and adaptable movements of our time.

Max Chavez is a Chicago-based architectural historian currently on staff at cultural resources management firm 106 Group as Senior Architectural Historian. In his previous role as Director of Research and Special Projects at Preservation Chicago, he oversaw a number of preservation advocacy efforts including leading a successful international campaign to secure protective landmark status for The Warehouse, the birthplace of house music. He is a graduate of New York University in London’s Historical & Sustainable Architecture program and was also previously honored as a Mildred Colodny Diversity Scholar by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He currently serves on the board of directors for Docomomo Chicago.