Not everything in Napier is Art Deco, however there are some businesses that are really trying to get in on that scene when they probably shouldn’t be. This post celebrates their attempts. The McDeco Award is named after the above puzzling scene we saw on our way out of Napier. Though I guess the golden arches does indeed have the symmetrical geometry and bold colours that so often appear in Deco.
However the sign inside the McDonald’s is where it takes a further misstep.
Bikes and skates – totally era appropriate. Skateboards – technically possible. Rollerblades – no deal.
Our next nominee is this particular accommodation.
Nothing says luxury and glamour to me like a backpackers – take my money!
I have mixed feelings about this next one – it has some credibility due to still being a music shop, which was the original business in the building.
However, the guitar playing guy on the end though doesn’t quite have the clean lines of the figures on every promotional item in the Napier souvenir shop.
This is a late entrant I only saw this morning.
Now sure, Deco was a celebration of technological progress, but emails and websites are probably stretching it for the 1930s vibe. As a side note, there are a lot of beautiful buildings in Napier currently sitting empty, so if you’re thinking it’s time for a seachange I’ll fully support such a move (providing all signage is appropriately done).
There can of course only be one winner, and so the 2015 McDeco Award for the greatest disservice to the Art Deco style is…