A new book looking at the history of iconic Art Deco building in Aberdeen and across Scotland has been published.
Written by Bruce Peter, professor of design history in the Glasgow School of Art’s School of Design, Art Deco Scotland: Design and Architecture in the Jazz Age explores Art Deco’s legacy in Scotland. It features over 150 photographs and illustrations from Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) collection.
Art Deco is a design style that aimed to create sleek and anti-traditional elegance that symbolised wealth and sophistication. Emerging from the smart metropolises of Paris and New York in the 1920s, its impact quickly spread.
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Art Deco Scotland’ explores the architecture and design across the country, including iconic structures such as Aberdeen’s Rosemount Square Flats, the King’s Pavilion, the Capitol Cinema and the Northern Hotel.
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In the inter-war era, Art Deco spread widely across Scotland as architects and designers incorporated its style into fashionable villas and luxury ocean liners, everyday objects, and spaces such as shops, lidos, cafes and cinemas.
Bruce Peter, Professor of Design History in the Glasgow School of Art’s School of Design and author of ‘Art Deco Scotland’, said: “Scotland had – and still has – a remarkable variety of Art Deco buildings.
“They add character to city streets and local communities from Peterhead to Stranraer, Inverness to Kelso. Scotland also excelled in the making of Art Deco furniture and textiles, while Clyde-built passenger liners included the world’s biggest, fastest and most glamorous examples.”
Neil Gregory, Head of Outreach at HES, said: “It’s been a fantastic journey working with Bruce Peter on this book and I’m thrilled to see it hitting bookstore shelves.
“‘Art Deco Scotland’ brings together history, design and a great collection of archive imagery, all whilst shining a spotlight on a fascinating part of Scotland’s 20th century heritage.”
‘Art Deco Scotland: Design and Architecture in the Jazz Age’ is available to purchase on Stor.scot and in all good bookshops.
