DAILY EXPRESS, London, 1932

ELLIS + CLARKE, owen williams, robert atkinson

Melanie Olivera ind5138

DESIGN: EXTERIORThe Art Deco movement was a modern, fashion-oriented style that deviated from historical sources. The exterior of this Art Deco building, Daily Express, was designed by Ellis + Clarke, along with Owen Williams. The building is Grade II* listed because of the architectural features as well as the massive reinforced concrete stacked portal frame structure. It’s exterior was originally Portland stone clad before being replaced with Vitrolite. The exterior is made of wrap-around glass walls, with black vitrolite panels (pigmented glass), clear glass, and chromium strips at the joints. This reflects the types of materials used throughout this time.

The exterior could also be considered streamlined because of its elements of long horizontal lines and curved elements, like the walls. The chrome railings also adds to that streamlined effect. The ground floor level featured a wide entrance with chromed canopy above designed by Robert Atkinson, with a large glass window above and tall, chamfered corner windows. According to the lecture, another aspect that was popular during the Art Deco style was the stepped formation, which can be seen in the furniture as well as the building itself (seen here on this photo of the exterior/ rooftop).

According to the lecture, the Art Deco style had very little impact on spatial relationships but more impact on decor by using rich and exotic materials. This style is more of an art of applied decoration, which gives a very light and joyful character to the interiors. The pictures here depicts the two massive gold and chrome colored plaster reliefs ‘Britain’ and ‘Empire’ designed by the sculptor Eric Aumonier, which are located in the lobby entrance. This use of color and texture contrasts the extensive use of black lacquor, chrome metals, and other highly polished materials seen throughout the lobby. The blue and black flooring resembles a waves/ripple pattern, representing the sea, which relates to the two artworks facing each other. Blue could also represent electricity in Art Deco. The stair bannisters are modeled like snakes and also have the metallic appearance to it. This also ties in to the more whimsical aspect of the Art Deco style.

COLOR + Textures

DESIGN: interior

The interior of the Daily Express building in London was designed by Robert Atkinson and later remodeled in 2000 by John Robertson architects. The Art Deco style was considered very elegant and simplistic. The oval staircase emphasized the sleek streamlined nature, sinous curves, and use of exotic, highly polished materials, of the Art Deco movement. The chrome colored recessed ceiling is one of the main focal features with its use of aluminum leaf and its use of indirect lighting (popular during Art Deco). The ceiling’s zigzag pattern (important characteristic that defined this style) was inspired by the electricity symbol as mentioned in the lecture. There is also a cubical arrangement seen throughout the interiors on the ceilings and other surfaces, which was Cubist inspired. This building is the perfect example for Art Deco as most of these interior decorative elements defines the style.

FOCAL FEATURES

SOCIETY + CULTURE + human behavior The Art Deco movement was a fashion oriented style named after the French exhibition "Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes” (specifically Arts Décoratifs). It is considered a style of visual arts, fashion, architecture, and design that inspired many different things, such as oceanliners, fashion, furniture, cars, textiles, art. It combined the modernist style along with the social and technological progress. This style had a bold yet elegant ‘20th century’ look. The fashion as well as the materials used in architecture all represented modernism, wealth, and elegance. It focused mostly on aesthetics rather than functionalism and intellectual challenges. The Daily Express Building located on 120 Fleet Street in London was home of the Daily Express Newspaper HQ, one of the biggest newspaper companies at the time, representing the idea of needing to have whats new right away. It had what was considered one of the most impressive and ornate Art Deco interior schemes in Britain, only accessible to employees and invited guests.

The furniture used in the Daily Express used similar materials that were seen throughout the interiors. The furniture inside the building was, for the most part, designed by Betty Joel. They used leather, woods, metals, and black lacquor, which complemented the aesthetics in the space. The furniture also reflected elements like the stepping formation or skyscraper look that was becoming popular during this time. Other furniture that characterized the Art Deco style was the Bibendum chair by Eileen Gray, which has that modular, cushioned make up to it as well as the use of metal and leather. However, since this style did not focus on privacy and function in spaces, it is meant purely for aesthetics and temporary comfort.

FURNITURE

According to the lecture, the designers of the Art Deco style were not concerned with modernists interest in functionalism and intellectual pursuits in political agendas. They were more oriented with fashion and aesthetics. The designers also deviated from historical forms unintentionally, so because of this, buildings have little to no reminants of the past but not as an act of conscious rejection or attack of historical sources. The Art Deco style had a more futuristic, modern, 20th century look as they focused more on decorative elements. This style also has ties with expensive veneers, materials, items, etc. making it an elitist style in the beginning. It was originally available only to the very rich, but then eventually becoming available to the populus as it became more trendy and manufacturing became faster and cheaper.

The Daily Express Building incorporated technological advances through its architecture and decor. The designer used the idea of a “glass box” to inspire look for the exterior of the building, one of the first curtain-walled buildings in the country. The interior used the famous zigzag motifs, which were inspired by new technology, representing the electricity symbol (Lecture). Geometric patterns re-energize the dynamic energy in the spaces. There was also a fondness for indirect lighting which is seen throughout the lobby area. The use of blacks and metals also hints to this new technology.

technological / political

ECOLOGYThe Daily Express does not interact with its surroundings but rather stands out from them. This building was also home to the only newspaper company on this street, causing it to stand out even more. As mentioned before, the exterior was created with the idea of a “glass box”. In this picture, you can see how the building does not respond to its neighboring buildings with classical English styles. In terms of the environment, the idea of luxury and fashion enhanced the spatial experience inside and outside due to the use of highly polished materials.

REFERENCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Deco

http://www.the-silk-route.co.uk/engartdecolondon.htm#express

http://colinspics.org/uk/uklondon/dailyexpressbuilding.htm

http://www.jra.co.uk/projects/historic-buildings/daily-express-building-london-ec4.html

http://www.modernistbritain.co.uk/post/building/Daily+Express+Building/

http://ericbwongderivatives.blogspot.com/2013/07/art-deco-london-daily-express-building.html

https://baldwinhamey.wordpress.com/2012/10/29/daily-express/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streamline_Moderne

https://www.architecture.com/image-library/RIBApix/image-information/poster/daily-express-building-120129-fleet-street-city-of-london-the-bottom-of-the-main-staircase/posterid/RIBA8526.html

http://www.senatehouseevents.co.uk/features/exploring-art-deco-architecture-london

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Express_Building,_London

https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/knowledge-landing-page/photograph-of-the-daily-express-building-london-1932

https://www.flickr.com/photos/47071837@N02/6156497102/in/photostream/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/galleries/london-best-buildings/daily-express-building/