Probably based on building materials available at the time and the art deco period it's self influencing the architect. The art deco period seems to be ahead of it's time since where it's no longer the fashion of today, it's still very much striking and enjoyed by many in all shapes of size's. Weather be it buildings or other, you can't help but stop and admire.
Apart from agreeing with you i'm not much help other than that.

The movement was a mixture of many different styles and movements of the early 20th century, including Neoclassical, Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism, Art Nouveau, and Futurism. Although many design movements have political or philosophical roots or intentions, Art Deco was purely decorative. It experienced a resurgence with the popularization of graphic design in the 1980s. Art Deco had a profound influence on many later artistic movements, such as Memphis and Pop art.

The structure of Art Deco is based on mathematical geometric shapes. It was widely considered to be an eclectic form of elegant and stylish modernism. Art Deco also drew on Machine Age and streamline technologies. Art Deco was an opulent style, and its lavishness is attributed to reaction to the forced austerity imposed by World War I.
The bold use of stepped forms and sweeping curves (unlike the sinuous, natural curves of the Art Nouveau), chevron patterns, and the sunburst motif are typical of Art Deco. Some of these motifs were ubiquitous — for example, sunburst motifs were used in such varied contexts as ladies' shoes, radiator grilles, the auditorium of the Radio City Music Hall, and the spire of the Chrysler Building.