Building Styles

Thunder Bay

The Royal Edward Hotel in Thunder Bay, now apartments, was one of the first "skyscrapers" in the area, preceding the steel and glass office buildings of the International Style some 30 years later. The building, designed by Dorr and Dorr in 1928, is constructed of reinforced concrete.

Like many of the earlier multi-storey buildings, the windows are relatively small considering the full surface of the wall, and the ornament, in this case Art Deco, is found accentuating the vertical areas between the windows and on the parapet. The windows are simple and unadorned. Instead there is a repeated geometric pattern on the first set of windows above the band.

Thunder Bay

Art Deco is largely concerned with craftsmanship as can be seen in this detail of the Royal Edward Hotel (above). The parapet is an ornate, stylized adaptation of vertical "finial-like" forms.

The upper windows are discrete four over four sash with subtle sills and a contrasting frame colour. The lower street level windows have a flat arched surround. The exterior finish has discrete horizontal banding on a smooth surface. There is no attempt to imitate any Classical detailing or motifs on this facade.

Brantford

This glazed terra-cotta building in Brantford shows the integration of Art Deco stylization with Classical motifs. The top is an overhanging entablature with a simple band and two plain roundels, much in the style of the American architect Raymond Hood. Holding this up are three sensual, bare-breasted caryatids supporting capitals with the roundel motif. The second floor windows have, obviously, been replaced by large, flat windows, but the spandrel above them is filled with five glazed terra-cottavoussoirs .

The caryatids ornament three pilasters that separate the two bays of the building. Along the bases are carved ornaments with stylized volutes. The building shows the point where Beaux-Arts style ends and Art Deco begins.

Kitchener

Art deco is nothing if not theatrical. This stylized poured concrete door surround gives the impression of a stage set. The outside is squared at the front and then later rounded as the illusion of a long passageway recedes using perspective to give the impression of distance. Symmetrical receding abstract planes and aerodynamic streamlining are typical of later Art Deco and Art Moderne details.

The interior arch or intrados of the surround is much more ornate and almost oriental in its character. The door itself is unadorned.

Hamilton

This detail from the Hamilton Post Office, 1929, shows an earlier and more ornate form of Art Deco. The band across the top of the window is a stylized guilloche; the interweaving ribbons become a squared geometric pattern. The central spandrel, like the mullions, is wrought iron with an intricate stylized acanthus in a vase with a flowery background. The mullions are simply geometric patterns.

The reveals on the window, like the lintel band, are poured concrete with alternating floral reliefs.

Like many Art Deco buildings, the plan and outline of the building are unremarkable, a cubic shape on the corner of a city block. The beauty of these buildings is in the window and door detailing.

Hamilton

Like the above example, these two reliefs in Hamilton reflect the Art Deco spirit. The above are largely floral. These, found on the old train station, now the Liuna Reception Hall, reflect the style's obsession with travel and speed. On the left is a stylized steam engine and on the right is an automobile. This building was featured in "Long Kiss Goodnight" among other films.

Toronto

Art Deco often uses stylized adaptations of previous periods or styles. This apartment block is a version of Romanesque. The door surround has a streamlined receding arch motif found in many Italian 12th to 14th century churches. The columns flanking the door are simple; the capitals are replaced by lanterns. On either side of the door is dichromatic brickwork also found in the Romanesque and Venetian Gothic periods.

Above the door the architrave displays the building's street number. The top of the entrance is a ziggurat shape with horizontal bands emphasizing the receding planes. The window sills have been incorporated into the horizontal banding.

Toronto

Within a quiet, conservative neighbourhood of Period Revivals and Georgian homes, this stylish Art Deco mansion provides a daring contrast. It was built for the Group of Seven painter Lawren Harris in 1930 after a trip to Germany where he was introduced to modern house design. The architect, Alexandra Biriukova, was a Russian émigré, who had a small but brilliant career.

Art Deco was reknowned for decorative floral motifs. On the two storey central window, the metal grille is stylized pine needles, reflecting Harris's love for the Canadian north.

Toronto

The stylized griffins atop fluted pilasters are the first suggestion that this is an Art Deco building. A close look at the swirling floriated metal decoration confirms it. The top ornament may be new, or replaced after years of being in storage. It was not part of the façade in 1970.

The patterned metal is indicative of the early period of Art Deco, often called Art Nouveau. The windows above this patterning are plain metal muntins set within very ornate metal mullions. This addition is more late Deco/early Moderne. Like most urban Deco buildings, this has a flat roof with no cornice or overhang.

Toronto

Art Deco was largely concerned with excellent craftsmanship. Designers used a variety of traditional motifs and images and stylized them for "modern" use. In the Canada Permanent building in Toronto, a mixture of floral and water motifs is used to provide interest in spandrels, architraves, and other traditional venues.

The doorway is a barrel vault. The door itself is highly ornate gold finished metal. The pilasters flanking the door are fluted, but there is no capital, only a large cornice. Dentil blocks run along the base of the cornice. The agraffe has fish scales similar to those on the upper spandrel. The top ornaments are cockle shells, a Rococo flourish, with ornate volutes around a stylized acanthus.

Simcoe

This large Art Deco factory in Simcoe has the same general appearance as the very famous Hoover building in London England. The Hoover building was in a state of disrepair when it was bought by the Tesco Food group and renovated for use as a retail outlet. This building was once slated for condominiums by very bright, forward thinking developers. Unfortunately the project is on hold for the moment, but the idea is certainly a good one.

The building is a stark white with green metal windows and window panes. Engaged pilasters with pointed finials form the basis for the design; corner piers are similarly styled.

Ottawa

In contrast to the Royal Edward, above, this is a stylized Art Deco version of a Classical Greek entrance. The door is flanked by two pairs of engaged pilasters. The capitals are adorned with three overlaid circles. The cincture and abacus are reproduced as horizontal bands.

Above the columns is an abstracted Greek entablature in alternating plain and fluted bands. The architrave is in five centered blocks. The pediment form is squared; a light takes the place of decoration in the tympanum.

On large buildings, Art Deco stylization is often found in the door moldings. Often a traditional treatment is studied and then refashioned into Art Deco.