International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts

The International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts of nineteen twenty-five sprawled across the Esplanade des Invalides and the banks of the Seine. Its signature structures featured sharp, geometric angles and luxurious materials, marking the formal debut of the Art Deco style to a global audience. The event organizers strictly forbade imitations of historical styles, demanding that every pavilion represent the spirit of the new age. Inside the Soviet pavilion, Konstantin Melnikov built a bold, diagonal glass staircase that defied conventional architectural expectations.