Are there examples of Googie architecture outside the U.S.?
Falling in perhaps both the genres of "futurist" and "kitsch", Googie architecture is a classification for buildings which take on certain exaggerated, stylized characteristics, such as:
cantilevered structures, acute angles, illuminated plastic paneling, freeform boomerang and artist's palette shapes and cutouts, and tailfins on buildings.
(source for quote and photo: Wikipedia).
Wikipedia also does a great job of elaborating on where in the U.S. these features are common (Las Vegas, Miami, Southern California); however, no examples of where else in the world this kind of architecture could be found.
Is it exclusive to the U.S.? If not, where else should I travel to see more of it? Perhaps Russia has some places due to the style's connection to the Space Race?
Best Answer
You might want to take a look at Oscar Niemeyer's buildings in BrasÃlia, Brazil, such as:
The National Cathedral:
The Palacio do Planalto:
The National Congress:
I don't know if the exact term "Googie" was ever applied to Niemeyer's work, but it's definitely of the same vintage and has a space-age feel to it.
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What style is Googie?
Googie is a modern (ultramodern, even) architectural style that helps us understand post-WWII American futurism \u2014 an era thought of as a \u201cgolden age\u201d of futurist design for many here in the year 2012.What happened to Googie architecture?
Googies was located at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Crescent Heights in Los Angeles but was demolished in 1989.Who invented Googie architecture?
The origins of Googie design have been traced back to coffee shops designed by John Lautner. He designed three Coffee Dan's shops in the early 1940s in southern California. Using his innovative style, he created the futuristic, space age look he has become so famous for.Why is it called Googie architecture?
As the story goes, Googie got its name when the architecture critic Douglas Haskell was driving around Los Angeles researching a story about all the new splashy coffee shops he spied in the city. He saw Googies, a West Hollywood coffee shop with a bold red roof, and decided to name the style after it.Googie Architecture: From Diners to Donuts
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Images: Charles Parker, Marta Wave, Olga Lioncat, Charles Parker