Mayan/Mesoamerican Revival architecture - Who likes it?

[jetsetter]

***UNCREDITED PHOTOS***

Merely citing wikipedia is not sufficient, a link to the page itself and a credit to who the actual photographer is, is required.

[jetsetter]

Balboa Park Federal Building, San Diego, California, 1935
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/9851/441556749247bf55b18orl0.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/8421/1683030474dbcb7e8faovg1.jpg
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3567/143831050a36047582aonw1.jpg

[KevinFromTexas]

There's a 762 foot skyscraper in Houston that the top resembles Mayan architecture. It's said that the architect admired that style of architecture and was inspired by it for the building's design. It also sort of resembles an American bald eagle.

Heritage Plaza.
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=heritageplaza-houston-tx-usa

[hauntedheadnc]

Count me in. It's art deco taken to the next level and who couldn't love that?

[MayDay]

Ugh, I knew someone one would mention that god-awful Heritage Plaza - I like the other examples posted but that tower is PoMo at its worst.

I suppose elements of the Arizona Biltmore (designed by one of FLW's apprentices) could fall into this category.

http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/trip0506/trip117.jpg

http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/trip0506/trip123.jpg

http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/trip0506/trip118.jpg

More info at http://www.arizonabiltmore.com/about/history.asp

[Stephenapolis]

Definately a branch of art-deco. But since I love art-deco, you can only guess that I love these as well. :D

[Lecom]

Definitely an interesting and, if done right, beautiful architectural gimmick, though still a gimmick that doesn't reflect historical parallels. We should thank the Mayans for giving us a style that served as one of the major cornerstones for Art Deco.

[denveraztec]

From these posted pictures above, the modern Maya inspired architecture seems to have taken on many different forms. It is present in the tile and brick work, the motifs, and the statuary. The Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Biltmore hotel in Phoenix incorporated unique tiles in the main hotel and the surrounding units. Though nothing screams pyramid, the nuances are evident. Inside the hotel, you will find rooms with such names as Aztec and murals of American Indians in deco poses and body shapes. I shot some photos of the hotel, pool fountain and his last home, Taliesin West in Scottsdale.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0107Phoenix10009.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0107Phoenix10005.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0107Phoenix10010.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0107Phoenix10002.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0107Phoenix10026.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0107Phoenix10027.jpg

Taliesin West in Scottsdale

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/Phoenix_2006014.jpg

The other photos I shot are here in Denver and they include the Mayan theater, which is more spectacular on the inside. Blessed with prayers from an actual Mayan priest right before its grand opening in the 1930s, everything from the murals to the statuary lighting are Mayan in design, yet in a deco or decorative arts fashion.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0530Denver_Baker0027.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0530Denver_Baker0029.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0530Denver_Baker0031.jpg

A few other buildings here in Denver that were completed in the 20s and 30s, also use some very unique brick layout styles and colors. They are more ‘deco’ in structure but do incorporate natural earth colors, pyramid shapes while demonstrating an incredible uniqueness to their design. The Mayans definitely had an influence on the deco style, as did many other cultures, and it could be the reason it was so wildly popular and well used around the world. It offered people a chance then and now to escape to something different, new and unique.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0630Trail_Ridge0214.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0630Trail_Ridge0213.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0714Historic_D0050.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0322Spring20006.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0530Denver_Baker0033-1.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0622Historic_C0001.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0617Historic_A_0116.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0721Boulder0009.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0820Historic0080.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd187/denveraztec/2007_0615Medical_Center0014.jpg

[CarlosV]

it is art deco (mayan / egyptian influenced)

i love it

[WonderlandPark]

Last photo looks more influenced by Balinese or Angkor Wat architecture.

[denveraztec]

Deco incorporated so many different cultures and styles, which made some of the stuctures familiar to the eye. However, used in a different fashion from which the were inspired. Pussy Willow uses Egyptian in his interpretation and WonderlandPark uses Balinese or Angkor, which I completely agree with both. Historical cultures that used earth colors, pyramids and original designs, yet here they are narrowed to draw the eye up in traditional deco styling. Frank Lloyd Wright was so popular in the Asian would because they probably identified with some of the cultural influences he used in his work. The way he topped off so many of his buildings are reminicent of Japanese buildings. That last building I shot really rocks in the dawn sunlight, it seems alive and beating like a heart. Hard to capture with the huge hospital across the street.

[WonderlandPark]

Pussy Willow uses Egyptian in her interpretation
Heh, the "she" is a "he" but that's ok. :P

L.A. had a downtown club in the late 80's or early 90's in the Mayan Theatre, the place was amazingly done up in Maya-rama. Don't know what they do with it these days.

[denveraztec]

Heh, the "she" is a "he" but that's ok. :P

L.A. had a downtown club in the late 80's or early 90's in the Mayan Theatre, the place was amazingly done up in Maya-rama. Don't know what they do with it these days.

Oops, sorry Pussy Willow, I changed it to he. It must have been the Helmsly avatar? ;)

I think I saw the inside of that theater in L.A. on that Rock Star INXS show a few years ago? The show was a joke but the venue looked great.

[tackledspoon]

I can't stand this stuff. I can see why there have been so many Art Deco comparisons in this thread, but art deco is understated and combines some Mayan/Mesoamerican elements with strong, modernist architecture. These buildings all look like gaudy throwbacks to me.

[Zerton]

I can't stand this stuff...These buildings all look like gaudy throwbacks to me.

They aren't throw backs to art deco... they are real examples of it. Now if you meant gaudy throw backs to the Mayan and Egyptian times that makes sense. I however, find the style very beautiful.

[tackledspoon]

They aren't throw backs to art deco... they are real examples of it. Now if you meant gaudy throw backs to the Mayan and Egyptian times that makes sense. I however, find the style very beautiful.

I meant the latter. It just doesn't do it for me.

[slacido23]

Hi guys
im Mexican
and i think that mayan pyramids are the best
and the most beautiful thing on the world
here is a very beautiful prehispanic construction on zacatecas mexico
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1945009

[denveraztec]

They aren't throw backs to art deco... they are real examples of it. Now if you meant gaudy throw backs to the Mayan and Egyptian times that makes sense. I however, find the style very beautiful.

Nothing can compare to the original Mayan/Aztec and Egyptian sturctures, ever. However, architecture should be constantly changing and incorporating the past will only help with apprecitation and understanding. I am with you Zerton, I think the style is very beautiful! :tup:

[oak-sea]

One of my favorite buildings, the De Young museum in San Francisco:
http://homepage.mac.com/ragsdalejames/pics/deyoung.jpg
Photo by Me

[Mystic Geometry]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ennis_House

[Mystic Geometry]

http://you-are-here.com/architect/hollyhock.html

[Mystic Geometry]

http://you-are-here.com/architect/storer.html

[Goody]

ugh some are these are just bad... its sort of tacky, no?

[Major AWACS]

The Texaco building in Houston, that Kevin mentioned.
http://arrrr.com/photos/heritage-plaza-luft.jpg
http://www.photohouston.com/houston_landmarks_2/heritage-plaza-B19-12.jpg

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Have you had sex in a Ford lately