Art Deco

Copyright: PHOTOS BY KIRSTEN SIMCOX

If it wasn’t for COVID, Hawke’s Bay would be transforming into Art Deco splendour this month. In a ‘normal’ year without pandemic, thousands would be flocking to the region in February to celebrate all things fashionable and fun of this 1920s and 30s era. Sadly, the Art Deco Festival has been interrupted for two years running, and many of the feature events have been postponed or cancelled.

We didn’t want to let this festive month go unnoticed, so we decided to dedicate February’s blog to celebrating Art Deco in Hawke’s Bay.

A few months ago, we had the opportunity to experience an Art Deco vintage car tour in Napier . We came away from the tour with so much more knowledge of Art Deco and its relationship with our region.

Napier’s world-renowned collection of Art Deco buildings owes its existence to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated the Hawke’s Bay city in February 1931, killing 256 people and injuring thousands more.

We couldn’t believe how many changes the city and the community needed to accept due to the natural disaster. During restoration of the city, many buildings needed to be heavily reinforced and rebuilt. The city adopted a grey façade for some time until Art Deco was chosen to be the style of the city.

Art Deco seemed a perfect fit as it was during the 1930s that Napier city needed rebuilding.
At that time, all across the world, and especially America, Art Deco was the fashion. Napier wanted to replicate this stylish era and so embraced a mix of Spanish, classical and modern styles with Art Deco being the dominant design.   

Napier has been able to retain its sleek geometric and stylised forms thanks to the Art Deco Trust that began in 1985. The Trust wanted to protect the 1930s buildings that for 50 years had been unrecognised, undervalued and were under threat of demolition.

The Trust continues to protect, preserve, promote and celebrate Art Deco era and offers locals and visitors guided walks and tours, as well as the annual Art Deco Festival. We hope to see the festival in full swing next year, and the limited events going ahead this year will be thoroughly enjoyed.

You can still embrace Art Deco on your visit to Hawke’s Bay by heading into the city, browsing the Art Deco shop and experiencing a tour. We want to support the Trust and have launched a special offer for guests staying three nights with us. Guests will get a 50% discount on a one-hour vintage car tour through Napier for up to four people. See our special here.

So, get out your gloves, your hats, a parasol and your Deco attire and come celebrate Art Deco in Hawke’s Bay!

Find more about Art Deco Tours here