From hotels, restaurants and tube stations to apartment blocks, offices, picture houses and lidos, the British public fell in love with Art Deco architecture of the 1920s and 1930s and embraced it whole-heartedly. 

After decades of closure, 2022 marks the unveiling of the restored and instantly recognisable Battersea Power Station which commenced its construction in 1929. 

This lecture considers a selection of iconic Art Deco buildings both in our capital city and around Britain, exploring our continued love affair with one of the most fascinating of architectural styles. Although numerous modern-day pastiches exist today, this country is still rich with original examples of this ‘architecture of luxury’. We will review the architectural features and impact of such buildings as Du Cane Court, Claridges, Embassy Court in Brighton, Eltham Palace, Glasgow’s restaurant Rogano, the Midland Hotel in Morecombe and the former Daily Express Building in Fleet Street.  We will explore the development of this architectural style within the context of its social and economic environment and how, during a challenging interwar period, Art Deco architecture promoted such great civic pride as well as such luxury for its personal clients. And of course, we will continue our love affair with Battersea Power Station following its recent restoration.