Siting, layout and form

Art deco houses have a distinctive appearance and form, with curved or rounded corners and parapet walls concealing the roof.

Siting and sections

By present day standards, 1930s sections were large. Car ownership had become widespread, and houses were often situated to allow vehicle access to a garage at the rear of the section. It was not uncommon for larger houses to have a canopy or porte-cochère that permitted access to the garage beyond, where the main entry to the house was at the side. On sloping sites particularly, garages were sometimes included within the house structure, usually as a basment and usually without internal access.

Front gardens were simple and formal in layout, in keeping with the austere style of the art deco house. It is likely that, in the wake of the Depression, the rear of the site would have featured a vegetable garden.

Back to top

Layout

Art deco houses were typically arranged around a hallway, with living areas facing the street or side of the house. Read more.

Back to top

Building form

Art deco buildings had a distinctive form, characterised by a flat roof, parapet walls, and curved walls or rounded corners. Read more.