Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Creating a Miami Look
Whereas Northeast deco buildings had industrial, socialist overtones, the clean lines of
Miami Beach architecture still made room for joyful, playful, hopeful characteristics. For-
ward thinking and dreaming about the future took hold. Space travel was explored through
design: buildings began to loosely resemble rockets, and rooflines embodied fantasies
about traveling the universe. Geometric and abstract zigzag (or ziggurat) patterns not only
reflected Aztec and Egyptian cultures, they also symbolized lightning bolts of electricity.
Sun rays, more imagery borrowed from an ancient culture, were employed as life-affirm-
ing elements to counter the dark days of the Depression.
Since all hotels were built on the same size lots, South Beach architects began distin-
guishing themselves from their next-door neighbors through decorative finials and para-
pets. Neon signage also helped individualize buildings. Miami Beach deco relied on
'stepped-back' facades that disrupted the harsh, flat light and contributed to the rhythmic
feel. Cantilevered 'eyebrows' jutted out above windows to protect interiors from unrelent-
ing sun. Canopy porches gave hotel patrons a cool place to sit. To reflect the heat, build-
ings were originally painted white, with animated accent colors highlighting smaller ele-
ments. It was only later, during the 1980s, that interior designer Leonard Horowitz decreed
the pastel palette that became the standard.
With the effects of the Depression lingering, ornamentation was limited to the facades;
interiors were stripped down. Labor was cheap and readily available.
Miami Beach needed a large number of rooms, most of which ended up being built
small. With no expectation that they remain standing this long, most hotels were built with
inexpensive concrete and mortar that had too much sand in it. Stucco exteriors prevailed,
but locally quarried native keystone (an indigenous limestone) was also used. Except for
the keystone, none of this would withstand the test of time with grace, which is one reason
the district fell into such a state of disrepair and neglect. It's also why the district remains
under a constant state of renovation.
Although art deco was inspired by stripped-down modernist aesthetics, it partly rebelled
against utilitarianism with fantastically embellished bas-relief and frieze work, noticeable
on the exterior of many South Beach hotels.
