Art Deco Façade Adorns the City's Only Skyscraper
Jan 26, 2015 14:35:37 #
Nothing symbolizes a citys progress and prosperity better than a skyscraper.
Business leaders in Burlington, NC recognized this during the post-World War I boom years and made plans to erect several giant buildings all over downtown to broadcast the citys growth and success to the world.
Unfortunately, a local financial crisis in 1928 (which brought the Great Depression to Burlington a whole year prior to the stock market crash of October 1929) quashed these optimistic plans. Only one skyscraper, the nine-story Atlantic Bank & Trust Co. building at 358 South Main St., was ever completed. That structure holds the record as the tallest building ever constructed in Burlington and still dominates the downtown skyline.
The elegant Art Deco design of the building was executed in a profusion of low relief ornamentation.
Business leaders in Burlington, NC recognized this during the post-World War I boom years and made plans to erect several giant buildings all over downtown to broadcast the citys growth and success to the world.
Unfortunately, a local financial crisis in 1928 (which brought the Great Depression to Burlington a whole year prior to the stock market crash of October 1929) quashed these optimistic plans. Only one skyscraper, the nine-story Atlantic Bank & Trust Co. building at 358 South Main St., was ever completed. That structure holds the record as the tallest building ever constructed in Burlington and still dominates the downtown skyline.
The elegant Art Deco design of the building was executed in a profusion of low relief ornamentation.
Jan 26, 2015 14:56:14 #
I like the photo Bob. Well done with good lighting and shadows contributing to the overall excellence. I see the Indian Head as on the nickel as well as Mercury as displayed on the dime. What a change from banks back then going out of their way to help customers with interest rates compared to today when they generally Nickel and Dime us to death. Whoever did the artwork back then had a good future of looking ahead.
Dennis
Dennis
Jan 26, 2015 15:00:31 #
Bob Yankle wrote:
Nothing symbolizes a citys progress and prosperit... (show quote)
That is a well done illustration of that city's desire for growth and progress.
Jan 26, 2015 15:01:50 #
Jan 26, 2015 15:03:06 #
dennis2146 wrote:
Thanks Dennis. I used every trick that I knew to make this façade look as 3 dimensional as I possibly could.I like the photo Bob. Well done with good lighting and shadows contributing to the overall excellence. I see the Indian Head as on the nickel as well as Mercury as displayed on the dime. What a change from banks back then going out of their way to help customers with interest rates compared to today when they generally Nickel and Dime us to death. Whoever did the artwork back then had a good future of looking ahead.
Dennis
Dennis
Jan 26, 2015 15:04:26 #
photophile wrote:
Thank you Karin. To this day it is still the tallest building in my home town. All the others top out at about 4 stories (this one was 9).That is a well done illustration of that city's desire for growth and progress.
Jan 26, 2015 15:05:48 #
ArtzDarkroom wrote:
Thanks Art. Back in those days a nickel went a whole lot further than it does now.I see the nickel and dime faces.
Jan 27, 2015 10:04:42 #
Even a dime isn't worth a nickel these days, but you did a great job with these design elements. Good work, Bob!
Jan 27, 2015 10:36:04 #
Treepusher wrote:
Thanks Randy. I'm just starting to realize how much art work is rendered in granite. It's pretty durable stuff. These almost look to be interlocking tiles, assembled almost as a jigsaw puzzle.Even a dime isn't worth a nickel these days, but you did a great job with these design elements. Good work, Bob!
Jan 27, 2015 10:48:57 #
Bob Yankle wrote:
Nothing symbolizes a citys progress and prosperit... (show quote)
Bob, this is a very nicely done illustration. This along with the explanation was very revealing.
Unfortunately, this type of work is now abandoned in lieu of flat steel and glass. The less expensive route sure doesn't have the appeal of those old buildings.
--Bob
Jan 27, 2015 12:24:49 #
rmalarz wrote:
Thanks Bob. I can't help but think of these bas reliefs as "public art", free for anyone to see from outside the bank (perhaps enticing them inside for their banking services?). Glass and steel are attractive in their own setting, but nowhere near as artistic.Bob, this is a very nicely done illustration. This along with the explanation was very revealing.
Unfortunately, this type of work is now abandoned in lieu of flat steel and glass. The less expensive route sure doesn't have the appeal of those old buildings.
--Bob
Unfortunately, this type of work is now abandoned in lieu of flat steel and glass. The less expensive route sure doesn't have the appeal of those old buildings.
--Bob
Jan 27, 2015 23:11:53 #
That sounds kinda like my town Bob. The tallest building in town is an 8 story former hotel built around 1926? or so. Good job of capturing the detail.
Walt
Walt
Jan 27, 2015 23:20:36 #
Whuff wrote:
Thanks Walt. I keep thinking I live in a small city but when I try to merge into traffic from a side road and find that it takes forever, I conclude it must not be so small after all. As for the artwork, I tried to impart as much of 3 dimensional effect as I could.That sounds kinda like my town Bob. The tallest building in town is an 8 story former hotel built around 1926? or so. Good job of capturing the detail.
Walt
Walt
Jan 28, 2015 00:27:22 #
Jan 28, 2015 00:50:19 #
sailorsmom wrote:
Thank you Sue. I just realized this is the kind of art my Mom grew up with. That it has lasted so long is a testament to good architecture.Well done, Bob!
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