10 Most Amazing Art Deco Buildings in The World

If Jay Gatsby were a building, he would be pure Art Deco. Over-the-top, flashy and dripping with style. The movement exploded in the 1920s and 30s, bringing enough sharp angles, bold curves and glittering gold touches to shake up the architectural scene.

Art Deco took elegance to a new level — so much so that its most beautiful buildings still turn heads today. I think we can all agree it is one of the most expressive styles of the 20th century.

With all their zigzags, sunbursts and chrome, here are ten of the most beautiful Art Deco examples that turned buildings into artworks.

10. Cincinnati Union Terminal

Completed in 1933, Cincinnati Union Terminal was one of the last great train stations to open in the US. Back in its heyday, it would see over 200 trains zipping in and out each day.

Since then, it has welcomed soldiers home from the Second World War and hosted three museums. Today, it’s less about trains and more about museums, theaters and a library. Although it still serves the Amtrak Cardinal Line.

The first thing you’ll notice is its half-dome shape – the largest dome building in the Western Hemisphere. Topping it off is a cascading fountain, which frames the building as the masterpiece it is.

9. Chicago Board of Trade Building

Chicago is full of iconic architecture, and the Board of Trade Building was once the center of its financial district. Opened in 1930, this skyscraper is all about sleek, intricate stonework. It was once the tallest building in the city and has always epitomized the era’s architectural style.

To top things off, a 31-foot statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, rises from its 44th floor. It’s impossible to miss this when wandering the Chicago Loop. While it isn’t too easy to enter the building without permission, the exterior alone is worth a trip.

8. Daily Telegraph Building, Napier

New Zealand’s city of Napier was rebuilt in full Art Deco glory, after being damaged by a catastrophic earthquake in 1931. It’s often dubbed the Art Deco Capital of the World, and The Daily Telegraph building is a real stand out.

Part of the reason architects opted to rebuild the city in Art Deco was the sturdiness of the reinforced concrete and low-profile design typical of the style. Finished in 1932, the building has a sunburst-inspired facade that stands out in an ocean of impressive Art Deco buildings.

Walking tours are the best way to admire the city’s Art Deco vibe, but this building is one you’ll want to linger around.

7. Eastern Columbia Building, Los Angeles

With turquoise terracotta tiles and golden accents, the Eastern Colombia Building is one of my favorite Art Deco buildings. Claud Beelman built it in 1930, and it is one of Los Angeles’s most glamorous retro buildings.

If you look up, you’ll see it is topped off with an abstract clock tower underneath the building’s stylized name and a crown-like topper. Because what’s Art Deco without a bit of drama? Originally a department store, a few lucky people now get to call this magnificent building of high-end lofts home!

6. Colony Hotel, Miami Beach

Miami Beach has always been considered one of the most Art Deco cities in the country. You can’t speak about the style without mentioning this city, and the Colony Hotel is a quintessential example of Miami’s colourful take on Art Deco.

It has a pastel blue facade that shimmers with neon lights once the sun goes down. Aside from its color and lighting, it’s one of the simpler examples on this list, but that doesn’t take away from how stylish it is. It reminds me a bit of the Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica and is an undisputed icon of the South Beach Art Deco District.

5. Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City

Mexico City’s Palace of Fine Arts is one of those buildings that makes it easy to muddle up your architectural styles. It’s grand and impressive, somehow blending Art Neavaeou with Neoclassical and Art Deco styles. Its mix of styles may have to do with the fact that it was designed in 1904 yet only completed in the 1930s.

But once you step inside, the building is pure Deco. The interiors feature vibrant colors and geometric patterns designed using typical Art Deco materials like Carrara marble. The main event is the lobby which is decorated with famous Art Deco murals and stained-glass windows.

4. Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles

Perched in the hills of Los Angeles, Griffith Observatory is about as much a spectacle as the views from its terraces. While most visit to glance at the glittering city skyline (and imagine the countless Hollywood movies filmed here), you can’t ignore the building’s Art Deco features.

By this, I mean the Egyptian-inspired Hugo Ballin murals and a streamlined exterior, made more impressive by its modern lighting.

The Observatory is a public Astronomy center that houses the Zeiss Telescope. The main rotunda is a round room with a domed ceiling and a stunning fresco showing the different zodiac signs. Whether to stargaze or sightsee, there’s a reason this is on most LA tour routes.

3. Palais de la Mediterranee, Nice

While not the first Art Deco building to grace the shores of the French Riviera, The Palais de la Mediterranee is undoubtedly one of the most impressive. Once a luxury seaside casino, the building now houses a hotel along the famous Promenade des Anglais. Of course, it still has an on-site casino. This is the South of France, after all.

The building has a sleek facade with plenty of horizontal lines and delicate reliefs. It epitomises the 1930s casino glamor with a theater, restaurant and classy cocktail bar.

2. Empire State Building, New York City

Just about everyone who visits New York has the Empire State Building on their bucket list. It’s a quintessential image of the world’s most loved metropolis and might just be the most famous skyscraper on the planet.

Its Art Deco design is a big part of its appeal. Completed in 1931, The Empire State Building was constructed as a symbol of ambition and architectural elegance in New York. The observation deck offers some of the best city views day and night, but its gilded lobby with aluminium accents is almost as impressive.

Can you believe this 102-story building took just over a year to complete?

1. Chrysler Building, New York City

One look at the entrance hall of the Chrysler Building, and you’ll be picking your jaw up off the ground. You’ll find many of the world’s best examples of Art Deco in New York, but the Chrysler Building is a sure favorite.

Why is it called the Chrysler Building, you ask? Well, the bottom two stories housed a Chrysler dealership for the first few years of its existence.

As far as Art Deco elements go, it has the full package: triangle windows, a silvery metal color reflecting the sun, and ornaments like hubcaps, and a hood inspired by Chrysler’s original cars. But it’s most recognized for its seven terraced arches with vaulted windows that tower above Manhattan like a crown.