Stephen Travels

Tag Archives: Guardian Building


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Brief but Beautiful: Art Deco Buildings Changed the World

Chrysler Building, New York, New York

Lasting only from around the 1910s through the 1930s, the Art Deco style ignited the world with strong lines, bold colors, and an unmistakable flair. From little diners to towering skyscrapers, Art Deco changed the built environment (as well as everything from jewelry to radios) for the better. This unmistakable short-lived style was interrupted by the Great Depression and mostly truncated by the outbreak of World War II, but it left behind a legacy of gorgeous buildings, the likes of which we will never see again. Read about the top five Art Deco buildings >


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Detroit’s Gem of an Office Building

Guardian Building, Detroit, MichiganRich in architecture, teeming with milestones in industry and music, but vexed by crime, corrupt politicians, and a collapsed population and tax base, Detroit, Michigan, is a perplexing place. On the one hand, prospective visitors are put off by its remarkably bad reputation. On the other hand, it’s one of the most intriguing cities in the United States that I’ve ever been to — and without a problem. From my base at the fantastic Inn on Ferry Street, I explored everything this city has to offer — delicious ethnic foods that range from Arabic to Polish, the outstanding Detroit Institute of Arts, the ruins of Brush Park and the decimated automotive industry, and its famed architecture, including one of my favorite skyscrapers in the world, the Guardian Building. Read more about it >


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Auckland’s Architectural Gems

Old Arts Building, Auckland, New ZealandI was returning to Auckland via ferry from breakfast and a low-key morning in Devonport. Ahead of me, the skyline of New Zealand’s largest city marched along the harborfront, dominated by modern office and residential towers. With the exception of the Sky Tower and the cheerful Ferry Terminal, this fairly generic skyline could be interchanged most anywhere — Vancouver, for example, or Miami or Honolulu. Once I looked beyond that, however, I found that the city has an impressive list of heritage buildings, more than 200 structures with significant and valued historical and cultural heritage. Read more about the top five buildings in Auckland >