Vivid color, strong lines and undulating, repeating patterns are a trademark of Art Deco design, especially in the Moderne Deco buildings of the 1930s. Some buildings are embellished with flowing waterfall effects. Others present colors in bold, geometric blocks.
But, Art Deco design is about more than color and ornamental patterns. The very shape of these buildings expresses a fascination for orderly forms and primitive architecture. The early Art Deco skyscrapers suggest Egyptian or Assyrian pyramids with terraced steps rising to the top.
Built in 1931, the Empire State Building in New York City is an example of tiered, or stepped, design.
