ART DECO IN DETROIT
By Rebecca Binno Savage & Greg Kowalski
From Mt. Clemens to Melvindale, the landscape of the metro Detroit area is rich with often overlooked treasures of Art Deco architecture. Although the Detroit area is known primarily as an industrial region, it boasts some of the finest examples of Art Deco in the country.Now, the full panorama of Detroit's Art Deco architectural treasures is being featured in the new book "Art Deco in Detroit" by Rebecca Binno Savage and Greg Kowalski. "Art Deco in Detroit" features more than 200 photos of Art Deco buildings ranging from the glorious Guardian Building in downtown Detroit to abandoned factory buildings along the side of the road.
Mainly unappreciated, the Art Deco buildings of the metro Detroit area include some of the finest to be found anywhere. This includes the National Shrine of the Little Flower church in Royal Oak, one of the few Art Deco churches in the nation; the Livingstone lighthouse on Belle Isle, an extremely rare example of an Art Deco lighthouse; fine homes in Birmingham and Huntington Woods; and stores, restaurants, medical buildings, houses of worship, municipal buildings, theaters, apartments and even a drive-in movie theater.
Structures in a wide array of communities are represented, including Hamtramck, Dearborn, Troy, Rochester Hills, Berkley, Bloomfield Hills and more. Many of the buildings are nearly forgotten. Some are abandoned and most stand unnoticed by people who don't recognize what rich architectural treasures they are. But "Art Deco in Detroit" brings them in focus through revealing photos and engaging text that relates their history and architectural significance.
Never before has one book brought together Detroit's fabulous art deco architectural treasures. Art Deco, which is characterized by sharp, angular forms combined with jazz-age motifs, reached the peak of its popularity in the late 1920s, as shown in such majestic buildings a the Guardian Building, the Penobscot Building and the Vanity Ballroom. But it has remained enduringly popular and has a loyal following of enthusiasts who prize the style.
Rebecca Binno Savage is a historian and president of the Detroit Area Art Deco Society. She has an intimate knowledge of the style and provides the fascinating background on the buildings and how they came to be.
Greg Kowalski is a journalist and chairman of the Hamtramck Historical Commission. "Art Deco in Detroit" is produced by Arcadia Publishing. It retails for $19.99 and is available in all major book stores, including Barnes & Noble, Borders, Pure Detroit and Antiques on Main. It is also available at www.arcadiapublishing.com.
