In the aftermath of a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake which ripped through the region in 1931, it was decided to rebuild the town of Napier, north island, New Zealand in the style of the time, Art Deco!
Visitors to the self proclaimed “art deco capital of the world” can take a leisurely stroll through the town or hire one of the many vintage cars with a deco-dressed driver. For us, it was a rainy, cold day, and so we opted for a coach tour and a soggy walk to take some photographs.
The home of The Daily Telegraph is considered to be one of Napier’s classic Art Deco buildings. In 1931, Art Deco was fashionable, suited the needs for safe construction as many of the Art Deco structures were built of reinforced concrete. Plus, the geometric designs in low relief reduced the potential risk of masonry falling off buildings during an earthquake and they were economic to construct.The Masonic is a boutique hotel in Napier, just a hop, skip and jump away from the Pacific Ocean.Many residents choose to live in houses on the hills surrounding Napier. One assumes that the higher the house the better the view of the ocean!
The Blogging Brit 