As we explained in the article Refinement and Elegance, Art Deco took off after the Great War (1914-1918). To give people hope, an illusion of happiness and prosperity had to be created. It had to be seen everywhere, even on skyscrapers with their heads in the clouds.
Art Deco buildings give the illusion that they are higher than they actually are. It’s because the windows are high and the guidelines of the façade are vertical. Keep in mind that this is the late 20s and early 30s. The Great War crushed the human spirit. Verticality symbolizes momentum towards a new life and prosperity. Human beings were picking themselves up.[……]