Why is Napier the Art Deco capital?

Napier’s world-renowned collection of Art Deco buildings owes its existence to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated the Hawke’s Bay region in February 1931, killing 256 and injuring thousands more. The main reason why Art Deco was chosen was because it was fashionable and Napier wanted to be modern.

Is Napier the Art Deco capital of the world?

Napier is known as the Art Deco Capital of the world. Following a massive earthquake (7.9 on the Richter scale) on the morning of Tuesday 3 February 1931, fires destroyed most of the commercial heart of Napier.

What happened in the Napier earthquake?

The 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake, also known as the Napier earthquake, occurred in New Zealand at 10:47 am on 3 February, killing 256, injuring thousands and devastating the Hawke’s Bay region. Centred 15 km north of Napier, it lasted for two and a half minutes and had a magnitude of 7.8 Ms (7.7 Mw).

Which city has the most Art Deco buildings in the world?

Estimated by some to have the world’s largest number of Art Deco buildings after Miami, Mumbai boasts entire city blocks of Deco office buildings and rows of residences with uniquely Indian flourishes that came to be known as Deco Saracenic.

Is Napier a city or town?

Napier (/ˈneɪpiər/ NAY-pee-ər; Māori: Ahuriri) is a New Zealand beachside city with a seaport, located in Hawke’s Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island.

How did Art Deco start?

Characteristics of the Art Deco style originated in France in the mid-to-late 1910s, came to maturation during the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris in 1925, and developed into a major style in western Europe and the United States during the 1930s.

How did Art Deco get its name?

Named after the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts held in Paris in 1925, art deco can be seen as successor to and a reaction against art nouveau. Seen in furniture, pottery, textiles, jewellery, glass etc. it was also a notable style of cinema and hotel architecture.

How many deaths were there in the Napier earthquake?

256
1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake/Number of deaths

The official toll for the Hawke’s Bay earthquake was 256 dead (including 162 in Napier), 2 unaccounted for, and 400 hospitalised (McGregor, 1998).

Is Napier a fault line?

The geological map of Hawke’s Bay is centred around the Napier-Hastings area, and included improved information about the Awanui Fault. “Under Napier, the 1931 fault movement did not reach the surface, making it what we call a blind or concealed fault, not visible at the surface,” GNS geologist Julie Lee said.

Where did the Art Deco style originate?

Where are some places you still see Art Deco today?

Traveller Newsletter

• 6 SHANGHAI, CHINA. Shanghai’s sky-scraping contemporary skyline overshadows its notable art deco heritage, which recalls the city’s European-influenced, 1930s exuberance.
• 7 MUMBAI, INDIA.
• 8 NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND.
• 9 KAUNAS, LITHUANIA.
• 10 MIAMI BEACH, US.

What is the nickname for Napier?

Art Deco capital of the world
Napier has even earned the nickname, ‘Art Deco capital of the world’!

What happened to Napier’s Art Deco?

The Art Deco story in Napier begins with a disaster. A massive earthquake on the morning of 3 February 1931 was followed by a series of fires, destroying the cathedral and most of the shops in the town centre.

What is the Art Deco Capital of the world?

Napier is known as the Art Deco Capital of the world. Following a massive earthquake (7.9 on the Richter scale) on the morning of Tuesday 3 February 1931, fires destroyed most of the commercial heart of Napier.

What happened to Napier in 1931?

Following a massive earthquake (7.9 on the Richter scale) on the morning of Tuesday 3 February 1931, fires destroyed most of the commercial heart of Napier. The city was rebuilt in the style of that era and by the end of the decade Napier was the newest city on the globe.

What to do in Napier in February 2016?

(Flickr Kara Brugman – Flickr/Creative Commons) Napier is home to the annual Tremains Art Deco Festival, which will be held February 17-21, 2016. (Huang Xingwei/Xinhua Press/Corbis ) Visitors can experience the city’s rich Art Deco architecture by joining a walking tour led by a docent with the Art Deco Trust.