“No one in their right mind just walks around and looks at old buildings”- Murray Gold, Executive Director, Miami Beach Resort Hotel Association, 1981
Well, no offense to the great Mr Gold, who capably steered one of the largest tourism associations, but in fact it is precisely the thousands of visitors and locals alike that have soaked in the famous South Beach Art Deco architecture as much as they have soaked in the Miami sun that makes the district famous today. The architecture weaves a fabric that defines the special and unique character of the city. Just like it’s people, these glamorous structures of South Beach are colorful, appealing and whimsical.
Although it is often called the “Art Deco District”, actually about a third of it is composed of buildings from an earlier era, when the Mediterranean Revival Style was the rage in South Florida. The hotels, restaurants, storefronts and more that you see today lining the South Beach streets, are actually blends of Art Deco, Mediterranean and Moderne design, all executed with a tropical, resort-like flair.
On May 14, 1979, one square mile of Miami Beach became the first national historic district to encompass twentieth century architecture. Visiting the buildings today can be a dizzying array of motifs, neon colors, and cool aluminum and steel accents that forms a silhouette of pastel castles when viewed from the shoreline. Just so that one building doesn’t appear just like the next, let’s look at all the architectural styles that make up this most alluring area.
But first things first. All the buildings, no matter when they were constructed, have some commonalities. Because South Beach is small and people can walk everywhere, the buildings are intimately scaled. Most of the buildings are built of common, locally available materials. And the use of columns, either attached to the facade or standing away from the building, is widespread.
Beginning in 1910 and with its popularity at its height in the 1920’s, Mediterranean Revival was really the first architectural style to grace South Beach. Its intent was not to emulate any particular period, but that the buildings needed to convey the image of an exotic and weathered locale. The Moorish era of Spain was a popular theme in California and Florida. Its impact on Miami Beach was palpable, with its design elements appearing on every kind of building.
Mediterranean Revival is easily identified by several distinct characteristics and one of its most distinguishing feature is the roof. They are low pitched and covered with terracotta barrel tile. The structure is often boxy, but sometimes have added tower-like sections. The walls are made of textured stucco. The parapets- the walls that extend above a roof edge, are curved and scrolled. A sill, which is decorative molding, runs continuously around the building. Usually the building is adorned with something called quions, which are decorative stones at the corners. You will notice arched windows and doors and there will be balconies.
By the 1930’s the Mediterranean Revival style began to fall out of favor to make way for Art Deco, although there was a brief period of an architectural hybrid style called Med Deco. This style only lasted about 10 years from 1925-1935. You will see today buildings with delightful Mediterranean fronts but Art Deco entryways topped by a sloped barrel tile roof. The building may be adorned with racing stripes or other geometric patterns as is the character of Art Deco.
The heyday of Art Deco creation in South Beach was from 1930-1945. But Art Deco isn’t simply just Art Deco. No, to complicate matters, ( and why not, architects are always adding intricate details to their works) the main style of Art Deco is actually dubbed Miami Beach Tropical Art Deco. It is the further broken down into Art Deco and Moderne. And then Moderne can be further divided as Streamline Moderne. Though there are buildings that exemplify one group, many designs combine elements, so quite a few of the structures in the district are an amalgamation of styles.
But for ease of explanation, Miami Beach Tropical Art Deco, whether it’s actually Art Deco or Moderne styling, all the buildings share common elements:
• Concrete construction with a stucco finish
• Flat roofs
• Eyebrows- ledges that appear over windows. Originally designed to cool the inner room before widespread air conditioning
• Keystone facade- beautiful stone work usually of fossilized coral
• Geometric patterns on the facade
• Terrazzo floors, both inside and out- this is smooth mosaic flooring made of marble chips. The patterns can be quite beautiful
• Neon or bold signage on the facade
• Use of aluminum or metal on the facade such as aluminum towers
• Glass blocks inside and/ or out
• Colored glass
If we were to be purists, you would identify Art Deco itself by:
• Symmetry- the building is symmetrical with something called the Holy Three. In classic Art Deco style elements are grouped into threes such as viewing three eyebrows stretching across the facade either horizontally or vertically. There may be three steps up to reach the front door of the property
• Angular- The building has sharp edges and appears angular
• Decorative molding and friezes
• Vertical lines- true Art Deco appears vertical
• Stylized decorations such mythological motifs
• Towers and spires
If you were looking at a Moderne Styled Art Deco building, it would differ from classic Art Deco in the following ways:
• A horizontal appearance to the building rather than vertical
• Single flat roof with no towers
• Windows may be arranged in long horizontal bands
And lastly, the Streamlined Moderne style appearing towards the beginning of the 1940’s, was influenced by aerodynamics and a nod to the “fast life” as automobiles came into fashion. This style creates a more fluid, rather then angular feel to the building:
• Asymmetrical facade
• Curved corners
• Eyebrows and windows sweep around corners
And what about the use of color? Originally the building were painted shades of white, off- white and beige, although a few had some color. While the building itself may have had some beautiful style elements, frankly I think the buildings looked rather dull and washed out. But someone came to the rescue!
By the early 1980’s, a visionary interior designer and one of the founders of the Miami Design Preservation League, Leonard Horowitz, created a pastel color scheme that lives on to this day. In every form of media, South Beach is recognized by its candy-colored hotels, restaurants, shops and late night venues. It was Horowitz’s goal to draw attention to the design elements of Art Deco and by painting them bright colors, he achieved the goal of resurrecting the public’s interest in the buildings.
Preserving the beauty and joy of Miami Beach architecture has been built on the sweat, struggles, and triumphs of many beloved architects, local government and citizen visionaries. Miami Beach is a complete gorgeous visual treat so, yes, looking at old buildings should be on your itinerary just as much as gazing at our crystal waters and sugary sandy beaches.
• Use of aluminum or metal on the facade such as aluminum towers
• Glass blocks inside and/ or out
• Colored glass
If we were to be purists, you would identify Art Deco itself by:
• Symmetry- the building is symmetrical with something called the Holy Three. In classic Art Deco style elements are grouped into threes such as viewing three eyebrows stretching across the facade either horizontally or vertically. There may be three steps up to reach the front door of the property
• Angular- The building has sharp edges and appears angular
• Decorative molding and friezes
• Vertical lines- true Art Deco appears vertical
• Stylized decorations such mythological motifs
• Towers and spires
If you were looking at a Moderne Styled Art Deco building, it would differ from classic Art Deco in the following ways:
• A horizontal appearance to the building rather than vertical
• Single flat roof with no towers
• Windows may be arranged in long horizontal bands
And lastly, the Streamlined Moderne style appearing towards the beginning of the 1940’s, was influenced by aerodynamics and a nod to the “fast life” as automobiles came into fashion. This style creates a more fluid, rather then angular feel to the building:
• Asymmetrical facade
• Curved corners
• Eyebrows and windows sweep around corners
And what about the use of color? Originally the building were painted shades of white, off- white and beige, although a few had some color. While the building itself may have had some beautiful style elements, frankly I think the buildings looked rather dull and washed out. But someone came to the rescue!
By the early 1980’s, a visionary interior designer and one of the founders of the Miami Design Preservation League, Leonard Horowitz, created a pastel color scheme that lives on to this day. In every form of media, South Beach is recognized by its candy- colored hotels, restaurants, shops and late night venues. It was Horowitz’s goal to draw attention to the design elements of Art Deco and by painting them bright colors, he achieved the goal of resurrecting the public’s interest in the buildings.
Preserving the beauty and joy of Miami Beach architecture has been built on the sweat, struggles and triumphs of many beloved architects, local government and citizen visionaries. Miami Beach is a complete gorgeous visual treat so, yes, looking at old buildings should be on your itinerary just as much as gazing at our crystal waters and sugary sandy beaches.
By Robyn Webb
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