Art Deco originated at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris in 1925. The exposition promoted a modern aesthetic appropriate to the machine age and prohibited "reproductions, imitations and counterfeits of ancient styles." This manifesto seems to be a direct response to the dominance of revival styles in architecture: Greek, Neoclassical, Romanesque, Spanish Colonial, American Colonial, Georgian, Federal.

The Art Deco style is linear, hard-edged, angular, sleek. The façades of Art Deco buildings are typically arranged in a series of set backs with low-relief, geometrical ornamentation in metal, glazed bricks or mosaic tiles. The ornamentation consisted parallel lines, zig-zags, chevrons, stylized floral and fountain motifs, stylized human reliefs.

Art Deco extended to household objects and graphic design. Buildings looked like radios which looked like table lamps which looked like refrigerators. Classic travel posters of cruise ships and the Côte d'Azur were Art Deco. Glamorous night clubs and penthouses in black and white Hollywood movies were Art Deco. Art Deco, along with Spanish Colonial Revival, was the preferred style for the homes of the newly rich and famous.

Art Deco was contemporaneous with Art Moderne. Both styles represented modernity but not in the same way. Art Deco was luxe and embellished; movie palaces, corporate headquarters, important public buildings. Art Moderne was efficient and stripped down: bus stations, gas stations, dime stores.

Distinctive Art Deco features are:

• stepped façades and frontispieces
• stylized sculpture
• octagonal lamps and clocks
• sunrise and floral patterns
• zig-zag bands and trim
• iron grill work
• chevrons and lozenges