What It's Like Inside An Art Deco Skyscraper

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  • Опубліковано 25 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 166

  • @ron101346
    @ron101346 Рік тому +237

    Art Deco was the last period when architecture followed great art traditions. Please preserve these treasures; they won't appear again if they are defaced or demolished.

    • @Strideo1
      @Strideo1 11 місяців тому +33

      I wish we could return to building places people can be proud of and care about. Even the smaller two story buildings on the average main street in a small town often had more charm and artistic flair than the wasteland of strip malls and cheap aluminum and steel clad commercial buildings that litter the landscape of today.

    • @yseson_
      @yseson_ 11 місяців тому +10

      ​@Strideo1 in the last five years several buildings in NY and Chicago have returned to Art Deco style.

    • @briansinger5258
      @briansinger5258 11 місяців тому

      It’s a bit more existential actually.

    • @sinnerseekingsalvation779
      @sinnerseekingsalvation779 10 місяців тому +4

      @@Strideo1 Well-said, and a long-overdue insight. I cannot bring myself to believe that people actually are content to live amidst all of the architectural ugliness that we have cultivated for the past eighty years or so--they must just generally not believe that any alternative is possible. I've gone about my own State photographing many of those small-town main streets which you make mention of, as I find it terribly sad to think that many such beautiful buildings as you describe will crumble to dust or fall to the wrecker having been largely overlooked and unappreciated for the last decades of their existence.
      People used to pour their souls into their art. As we have eclipsed our own souls with blind materialism and hubris, our "art" has unfortunately reflected that shift.

    • @Strideo1
      @Strideo1 10 місяців тому +2

      @@sinnerseekingsalvation779 Thanks so much for the reply! It's good to hear from others that feel the same way.

  • @pandora881
    @pandora881 10 місяців тому +7

    Been in the Guardian building and it is *amazing*. Note: There are a few other buildings with details of similar quality also in downtown Detroit. Detroit’s art museum is likewise world-class. People forget that as the center of the auto industry for a very long time, Detroit had cash to spare to pay high-skilled labor to create such gorgeous buildings with these handcrafted details. Absolutely stunning.

  • @Tirpitz7
    @Tirpitz7 11 місяців тому +36

    The Aztec influence is quite noticable in the interior design.

    • @Mybpeterson
      @Mybpeterson 10 місяців тому

      It was really surprising to me. It's unlike the many art deco buildings I've been in in NYC.

  • @yogalady398
    @yogalady398 Рік тому +106

    I grew up in Detroit in the 1960's, when downtown Detroit was continuing its 'downward slide.' I had summer jobs at Hudson's and in other downtown buildings. But I never saw the inside of the Guardian Building until 50 years later when I returned on a tour of Detroit in 2016. We visited this building and I was floored at the beauty of the architecture of this and many other buildings downtown. As a kid growing up, I didn't appreciate that because of the auto industry, Detroit had once been a world-class city with fine art and architecture anywhere you looked.. What I knew in the 60s, was that the city felt unsafe and that people were leaving it. I'm glad Detroit has and is experiencing a renaissance in recent years.

  • @seattlebeard
    @seattlebeard 10 місяців тому +6

    Fabulous! For ten years I lived in a gorgeous Art Deco apartment building. I never took it for granted. I felt so lucky to live there.

  • @adicahya
    @adicahya Рік тому +49

    I'm from Indonesia. I visited the building in 2018 because I stayed in a hotel nearby, without knowing about the history.
    Very impressive. I remember entering the lobby and saw the whole decorations I've never seen before.
    Thank you for sharing this information...

    • @DenUitvreter
      @DenUitvreter 11 місяців тому +2

      Actually, in the Netherlands art deco had a lot of Indonesian influences. There is the Tuschinski cinema and Scheepvaarthuis that are more American style exuberant, but there is also what is often called art deco in brick, of the "Amsterdamse school", used a lot for social housing.
      ua-cam.com/video/PmM1RyQ2crE/v-deo.html

    • @adicahya
      @adicahya 11 місяців тому +1

      @@DenUitvreter wow.. Never heard about this influence before.

    • @DenUitvreter
      @DenUitvreter 11 місяців тому +1

      @@adicahya I think it's typical for the optimistic but rather condascending mindset of that era, the Dutch working class had to be elevated by beautiful and good housing, most of Amsterdam were slums in the late 1800's. And the Dutch thought of themselves of elevating the whole Indonesian people in a similar way, while holding a romanticized 'tempo doeloe' view of the Indonesians and admiring lots their culture, it was during the days of investing in Indonesia and building schools and stuff, rather than just the exploitation of 70 years before. It might have been one-sided, but their was a genuine love for Indonesia.

  • @danielmiron8219
    @danielmiron8219 Рік тому +24

    I loved this video as I was an architect for 29 years and have had a near lifelong fascination and love for the Guardian Building. It truly is one of Detroit's architectural treasures.

    • @kevinmcmillin870
      @kevinmcmillin870 10 місяців тому

      Hi Daniel what do you think of modern architecture like modernism and brutalism?

  • @geegeelast7597
    @geegeelast7597 11 місяців тому +7

    Craftsman really took pride in their work. And this artistry was appreciated by the public at large.

  • @oscodains
    @oscodains 2 роки тому +65

    One thing I’ve always wanted to do was to take internal tours of Detroit’s art deco buildings.
    Like not just the big flashy decor, the forgotten nooks & crannies that still have original features, like original water fountains or toilets, tiling in closets. The really mundane stuff that tells the story of everyday life working in these incredible buildings in Detroit’s prime.
    So thanks for this great look inside!

    • @JHPhotography
      @JHPhotography  2 роки тому +10

      It’s interesting how much purpose even the flashy designs have. Even if they’re not always functional, they’re still symbolic. Still glad that there are original features in these buildings

    • @ericcriteser4001
      @ericcriteser4001 Рік тому

      Most are pretty much fully accessible to the public because often there are shops and restaurants on multiple levels. Places you can't go are secured by tenant security cards, but a lot of spaces are open. Preservation Detroit also offers guided tours of the Financial District as well as a theater tour a couple times a year. Look it up and come for a visit. It's a great town.

  • @stephenstephen1505
    @stephenstephen1505 Рік тому +25

    A world class gem. I hope you cover other parts of this magnificent building. The interiors could not be decorated to the same standards these days

  • @tedtimmis8135
    @tedtimmis8135 11 місяців тому +9

    Great video. To people who’ve only heard bad things about our city, Downtown Detroit is really a different place than it was 30 years ago. It’s really quite nice.

    • @pandora881
      @pandora881 10 місяців тому +1

      We visited Detroit a few years ago and loved it! Looking forward to visiting again soon.

  • @johnm7249
    @johnm7249 2 роки тому +8

    I worked and banked in that building in the mid 1970s. The lobby is really impressive in person. Go out of your way to see it.

  • @rumplestiltskin951
    @rumplestiltskin951 2 роки тому +24

    This video deserves way more attention.

  • @johnmc67
    @johnmc67 7 місяців тому +3

    Well done! Outsiders just don’t understand, even though much has been lost, how truly special our town is.

  • @cameronarnold9844
    @cameronarnold9844 Рік тому +24

    I absolutely love Detroit’s art deco architecture!! Thank you so much for your videos!

  • @kevinfitzgerald1010
    @kevinfitzgerald1010 11 місяців тому +1

    My father worked for Michigan Bank, later Michigan National Bank, for which the Guardian Building was the HQ and main branch for decades. He worked there for about 20 years before his department moved to a drab suburban location in the 70's. I worked a couple of summers for the Bank's Buildings and Properties department. We fixed and moved things at various branches and operations in Metro Detroit. When the Bank relocated its HQ to Oakland County, I was part of the team that removed the massive vault from the Guardian Building. We did it late at night on a Friday in 1982. I have no idea exactly how much it weighed, but it was several tons for certain. We rolled it out of the building using logs, believe it or not. Just as you see in old timey films, we moved a log forward once the vault had cleared it. The vault was winched out to the street, and craned on to a flatbed truck. It took until dawn. Absolutely one of the craziest work experiences I've ever had. I knew it was the Guardian Building just by your thumbnail. It's that unforgettable. One topic you didn't cover is a piece of Detroit lore, likely apocryphal: the unequal height of the two towers represents a traditional Great Lakes freighter, with a taller forward house and a shorter aft house.

  • @quransunsolicitedopinion5708
    @quransunsolicitedopinion5708 2 роки тому +17

    It’d be nice if one day you could get exclusive looks at buildings after they finish them up. I love the tours of Detroit!

    • @JHPhotography
      @JHPhotography  2 роки тому +3

      That would be pretty cool! I’m definitely hoping to cover some of the newer projects going on right now as well

  • @JRaymondT
    @JRaymondT Рік тому +3

    What an enjoyable video. I began my architecture career working ins a small firm in the Buehl Building across the street from the Guardian. I enjoyed sneeking across the street to enjoy the lobby, bvut I hadn't seen the sixth and top floors until this video.
    One important thing that I think you missed in the interior tour were the elevator cabs ( I think they remain intact). I recall the lobby elevator doors and the cab interiors being exquisitely detailed in the style of the building. The elevators of the Chrysler building in Manhattan are justly revered, but I feel the Guardian elevators are at least as impressive. I hope you didn't miss them or that they didn't get cut from the video for time/length.
    Nice job.
    Jack R. Taipala, AIA

  • @melissawilson8818
    @melissawilson8818 Рік тому +20

    Im in training to be a City Tour Detroit guide (Store & tours are in the Lobby of the Guardian!)…your History video & this one are so appreciated and were very helpful in giving me the ability to talk authentically and intelligently about the buildings history, its role in Detroit and affect of the closing of the Union Trust Bank on National Banking rules / holidays as well as its colorful architecture and beautiful design. Thank you for taking the time to do the research and create these educational and interesting videos! 😊

  • @katharineharrison9091
    @katharineharrison9091 Рік тому +5

    Ive been inside and it’s stunning. Love it outside and inside. A site to see

  • @LordTelperion
    @LordTelperion 11 місяців тому +3

    Backseat Detroit Tours is great for a in-person experience of Downtown.

  • @michaelreid6937
    @michaelreid6937 11 місяців тому +3

    Spectacular! It's worth a trip to Detroit. Thanks so much for posting this.

  • @cillamoke
    @cillamoke Рік тому +4

    This was fricken awesome!!

  • @Simonjose7258
    @Simonjose7258 Рік тому +3

    So beautiful. Thanks 😊

  • @Gorilla_Jones
    @Gorilla_Jones 11 місяців тому +1

    Art Deco needs to make a comeback.

  • @jeffreyhare5695
    @jeffreyhare5695 7 місяців тому

    So glad Detroit saved this and many other fabulous buildings. We went there twice and have yet to catch a tour. I know NOT to go on weekends as many wedding venues take place there. Maybe third time will be a charm. Also a wonderful tour is the Fisher Building!

  • @AlexanderWaylon
    @AlexanderWaylon 9 місяців тому

    I love glossy colored tiles, and it was a definitely prevelant art and design feature for buildings in Detroit, as this can be found throughout even Detroits most basic housing. Detroit is one of the most beautiful places in the world if you know where to look.

  • @joewamsermusic
    @joewamsermusic 2 роки тому +12

    This is so great! Keep up the excellent work! Really great to see our beautiful architecture explored like this!

  • @serdnae
    @serdnae 11 місяців тому +1

    A lot of Maya influence, especially the corbel arches and color palette. Very cool!

  • @fordsrestorations970
    @fordsrestorations970 10 місяців тому +1

    Today's world is busy with information overload , people automatically look Beyond these buildings without thinking . But once a person stands still any amount of time they begin to say" wow" !... Rookwood Pottery still in Cincinnati and the 1932 Art Deco District especially the Deco train station is awesome !!!!

  • @Celeste-in-Oz
    @Celeste-in-Oz 7 місяців тому

    How stunning, and the historical stories make it all the better!

  • @edmondmiesch9104
    @edmondmiesch9104 7 місяців тому +1

    Beautiful building the Gaurdian building vary classic in design.

  • @morenofranco9235
    @morenofranco9235 11 місяців тому +1

    Beautiful interiors.

  • @chdreturns
    @chdreturns 11 місяців тому

    Gorgeous building. The colors, the motifs, the craftsmanship. Wow.

  • @mariellouise1
    @mariellouise1 11 місяців тому +1

    A Deco delight. Check out the Kimo Theater in Albuquerque New Mexico!

  • @seanmesaehable
    @seanmesaehable Рік тому +2

    my dad worked in the Guardian in the early 2000's. he worked for the Smith group or S H and G. you talked about S H and G in your store about the Penobscot building. i spent a lot of Saturday in side the Guardian building, the wild colors of the stone dont show up in pictures. i remember i snuck in to the close off bridge that connects the Guardian building to the wayne country building.

  • @hermanl.mcmichaeliii3847
    @hermanl.mcmichaeliii3847 11 місяців тому +1

    Very enjoyable. Thank you. The COLOR! Just wow!

  • @alexxstarr27
    @alexxstarr27 10 місяців тому

    I love it , I have never seen inside, thank you, thank you , thank you. I love art deco , there has never been a more complete styled look again .......as you showed from the vents to the shape of every thing. Thanks again.

  • @sergpie
    @sergpie 2 роки тому +6

    Your attention to detail is phenomenal. Great video. This buildings interior reminds me, vaguely, of the Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires, and it’s twin across the river, the Palacio Salvo, in Montevideo. The former is inspired by purgatory in that you cannot ascend directly from the basement to the viewing room on the last floor, without first transferring elevators in three distinct mezzanines. It also preserved the creek that it was built over, by building a channel of painted tiles to direct it through the basement floor. This kind of artistry in architecture is dead 😭

  • @corilia9529
    @corilia9529 11 місяців тому +2

    I love art deco!!

  • @donaldlampert331
    @donaldlampert331 Рік тому

    Thank you so much for sharing this architectural wonder…… I grew up going to Radio City Music Hall in NYC, at least for a movie, and the spectacular Christmas show….. I fell in love with Art Deco & Art Moderne….. still my favorite styles and eras!
    Thanks for this eye popping tour!

  • @jaybee9110
    @jaybee9110 11 місяців тому +1

    Well done. That is an amazing looking building. Ty for sharing

    • @jaybee9110
      @jaybee9110 11 місяців тому +1

      And I actually felt the background music was appropriate and enjoyable not annoying

  • @a.l.a.7847
    @a.l.a.7847 10 місяців тому

    Thank you for showcasing this gorgeous example of Art Deco. I really appreciate what you have done and am now subscribed to your channel to see more! Thanks again.

  • @ashleygordon3467
    @ashleygordon3467 7 місяців тому

    Wonderful building and let’s hope it is preserved forever. Nothing is built to this level of detail anymore. Bare concrete seems to dominate now.

  • @stevenfromer3816
    @stevenfromer3816 10 місяців тому

    Absolutely gorgeous

  • @TillyOrifice
    @TillyOrifice Рік тому

    Thanks for this. I've seen plenty of exteriors but this interior just blew me away.

  • @larrybuzbee7344
    @larrybuzbee7344 11 місяців тому

    Fantastic, in both senses. Thank you.

  • @calvinspiff4348
    @calvinspiff4348 6 місяців тому

    I've always dreamed of buying and renovating one of those gorgeous abandoned buildings in Detroit, living in the penthouse, and choosing businesses that the residents and I would use. I'd basically be living in my business

  • @johnpublic168
    @johnpublic168 Рік тому

    Really enjoyed the history. Love art deco. Thank you

  • @Infernal_Elf
    @Infernal_Elf Рік тому +1

    Lovely video

  • @DragonsAndDragons777
    @DragonsAndDragons777 Рік тому +1

    Now THIS is what we need!

  • @Warmoesstraat
    @Warmoesstraat 2 роки тому +8

    Great video, love to see more tours of Detroit landmarks! Was it difficult to get access like that?

    • @JHPhotography
      @JHPhotography  2 роки тому +5

      Actually wasn’t too difficult because they saw my previous work. A lot of people are eager to have people show off Detroit so they’re fairly welcoming. Thanks for the interest!

  • @ggreg2258
    @ggreg2258 11 місяців тому +1

    Beautiful and amazing!

  • @razorwireclouds5708
    @razorwireclouds5708 10 місяців тому

    Thank you for making this video 💛

  • @dinkledankle
    @dinkledankle 10 місяців тому +1

    I really hope that someday, somehow, there is a revival of everything old. Artforms like Art Deco architecture should not be lost simply because they became 'outdated'.

  • @Shamaru486
    @Shamaru486 2 роки тому +3

    Your videos are amazing! :)

  • @SafetyBriefer
    @SafetyBriefer Рік тому +1

    Great stuff. Thank you.

  • @lemapp
    @lemapp 10 місяців тому

    In Wilkes-Barre PA, there on the Main Square is the PNC Bank Building. In the banking lobby, sculpted into the columns, are figures of men as if they are holding up the heavy weight . Among them are coal miners and woodsman. Coal and Lumber made Wilkes-Barre rich at one point in time.

  • @brucebeamon5460
    @brucebeamon5460 2 роки тому

    Fascinating ~ thanks for the tour and history !

  • @LJones-n8c
    @LJones-n8c 11 місяців тому

    WOW! How amazing.❤

  • @12TribesUnite
    @12TribesUnite 10 місяців тому

    This is an incredible building!!

  • @balsarmy
    @balsarmy 11 місяців тому

    Wow this is very beautiful

  • @davidmayhew8083
    @davidmayhew8083 Рік тому +1

    Its amazing!!! And should be restored. Hopefully on preservation list?

  • @jean-claudemuller3199
    @jean-claudemuller3199 Рік тому +3

    Amazing how this American "Art Deco" is unique and very different from European.
    The native American motives that are organic in shapes and colors are really near a more modern European "Art Nouveau".
    Imo American "Streamline" style (Chrysler Building NYC) is more near european "Art Deco").

  • @rhyfeddu
    @rhyfeddu Рік тому +2

    Are you saying it's no longer a bank in the lobby? You mentioned "retail space". .. i was there in 2008 (i believe) and the banking employees then were very tolerate of me gawking at the first floor. lol
    As enamored of art deco as i was, i hadn't been aware of either this or Penobscot, so it was a great surprise and treat to see them in person.
    Thanks for giving me a peak at the upper floors too!

  • @jmuench420
    @jmuench420 2 роки тому +3

    Thanks for this. I agree with the others that this deserves more views, perhaps tweaking thumbnail/title/description to massage the algorithm?

    • @JHPhotography
      @JHPhotography  2 роки тому +3

      There’s definitely some work that could be done! I’m trying to find the right way to go about all of this both for past and future projects. Just happy to find people who find all of this interesting

  • @WaKincaid
    @WaKincaid 10 місяців тому

    Thank you kind Sir

  • @AnthonyTucker-sl4zj
    @AnthonyTucker-sl4zj 8 місяців тому

    At completion this was known as"The Cathedral of Commerce",and so MANY red bricks were ordered and shipped-in for its construction,that there was now a color dubbed:"Guardian Red"!!

  • @yupper4030
    @yupper4030 10 місяців тому

    Awesome

  • @dotdotdotdotdotdotdottod
    @dotdotdotdotdotdotdottod Рік тому +2

    i fell like art deco and south weat native american art have a lot in common. so much so that if there was ever the idea to make a fantsy desert sky scrapper we have a style that could easily be pulled from

  • @korakcolour
    @korakcolour 11 місяців тому

    Thanks, I really enjoyed this video, but just to say, I could do without the music in the background. Spectacular building!

  • @alexwelts2553
    @alexwelts2553 11 місяців тому +1

    I wish I could live in there, with only those who are aligned with the same goals and frequency.

  • @ericcriteser4001
    @ericcriteser4001 Рік тому +1

    Great video. Have you done the Book Tower now that its complete and open? Its beautiful.

  • @Orthodoge
    @Orthodoge 11 місяців тому +1

    Wow, I love the Mayan/aztec influence

  • @Susieq26754
    @Susieq26754 11 місяців тому

    Aztec design. It gives me a "Shining" vibe. Creepy.

  • @charleskesner1302
    @charleskesner1302 Рік тому

    Thanks

  • @alphonsobutlakiv789
    @alphonsobutlakiv789 Рік тому +1

    The paintings are very similar to the paintings in Buffalo city hall, lot of similarities between them.

  • @marythompson9952
    @marythompson9952 11 місяців тому +1

    Have you done the Museum Center in Cincinnati? (Union Terminal) It's spectacular. The original "Hall of Justice" from the Justice League.

  • @kassduffy3087
    @kassduffy3087 Рік тому

    No place like it in the world. Jaw dropping.

  • @maryjones5710
    @maryjones5710 10 місяців тому

    It's very much using South American Temple architectural themes, notice also the very many skull motifs. That is a very weird building, not sure if I like it. It is quite stunning though.

  • @dan5660
    @dan5660 10 місяців тому

    The early forms of Art Deco(Art "Moderne") were influenced by some ancient cultures- specifically Ancient Egypt(King Tut's tomb had recently been discovered in the 1920's) and Aztec/Mayan civilization. This building's interiors seem clearly influenced by the latter, with strong geometric angles & glazed tile work.

  • @fieldsofgold775
    @fieldsofgold775 11 місяців тому

    Wow

  • @michaelhurley3171
    @michaelhurley3171 Рік тому +3

    Thank you Tartarians for building this, because we can't build this today, let alone 100 years ago!

  • @frankgordon8829
    @frankgordon8829 8 місяців тому +1

    Society has neither the time nor money to fool around with beauty. Back then, every building was unique. It was like every architect was in an art contest. That era is long gone & long dead. Buildings today look like our cars. SAME profile. Building are all glass & mirrors. Gutless, soulless & built so that you don't even take the time to turn your head towards them.

  • @vdubing01
    @vdubing01 6 місяців тому

    Look into tulsa Oklahoma. A ton of art deco buildings not during their pool rush.

  • @pacchi9382
    @pacchi9382 10 місяців тому

    Chicago hosts an annual "Open House Chicago" where building owners open these treasures for the public.

  • @ronaldfranks8917
    @ronaldfranks8917 11 місяців тому

    Should be classified as one of the wonders of the world

  • @timzzz9963
    @timzzz9963 Рік тому +1

    is it safe to visit this area of detroit?

  • @pm6613
    @pm6613 11 місяців тому +1

    This looks like the Marine Building in Vancouver.

  • @hughkremer4026
    @hughkremer4026 11 місяців тому +1

    I thought I knew what art deco looked like. I guess not, this looks southwestern to me

  • @murrayswanson4715
    @murrayswanson4715 11 місяців тому

    The background music is a distraction. Either remove it or turn the volume way down. Otherwise, an excellent video.

  • @bethmcgill5944
    @bethmcgill5944 Рік тому +1

    Live art deci era

  • @aldretaldret4310
    @aldretaldret4310 11 місяців тому +1

    I am not used and discover...we learn at any age.

  • @tsnovak20
    @tsnovak20 Рік тому +5

    I hate the fact that many beautiful buildings got demolished.

  • @daveweiss5647
    @daveweiss5647 Рік тому

    Are the elecators original? It would be cool to see the vintage art deco elevators.

  • @jakecavendish3470
    @jakecavendish3470 10 місяців тому

    It's very Aztec-Expressionist

  • @jr9486
    @jr9486 5 місяців тому

    Wow!
    The top of the building is in the shape of the Jewish Star of David!!!
    Awesome 🎉🎉🎉

    • @PancakeBoi
      @PancakeBoi 4 місяці тому

      wrong star, star of David has 6 points ✡ the building top in in 8 points, an Octagram

  • @dailydoseofsunshine2319
    @dailydoseofsunshine2319 Рік тому +2

    It'd be nice if those ugly blue tiles were removed and that window was restored. I mean what the hell were they thinking

  • @TWOCOWS1
    @TWOCOWS1 Рік тому +2

    Ab Fab! They tried to appeal to human need for beauty and nature that brought that beauty, while including modern facts like industry. Today, the architects only cater to each other, giving prizes to each other for their Logo toy designs, not to the public and human need for beauty, nature and spiritual lift to work long and happily

  • @fischX
    @fischX 11 місяців тому

    A building like a DMT trip