PRESERVATION
FORM AND COLOR
IN ART DECO MIAMI BEACH
This article was written by Miami Design Preservation League ’ s Co-Founder Leonard Horowitz . Horowitz created the pastel color palette found on the Art Deco buildings in Miami Beach .
By Leonard Horowitz , Vice President Miami Design Preservation League
M iami Beach is famous around the world for its sunny beaches , but the area ’ s attractions are hardly limited to the sun and surf crowd . A walk through today ’ s ’ Miami Beach is much like a tour through a 1930 ’ s exhibit of neo-cubism sculpture . One is surrounded by the planes and curves that characterized the geometric white forms of Theo Van Doesburg , Vantongerloo , and Picasso .
Most of Miami Beach ’ s Deco style buildings are simple cubes with an emphasis on ornamentative facades . Variations to this theme are the New Yorker , Plymouth , and Berkeley hotels . In all of these there is a central core from which diverse wings and curves emanate in rigid yet flowing design . Block after block this simplistic sculptural style is reiterated , giving one almost a textbook-like exposure of the founders of modern ar ¬ chitecture . To the knowledgeable , the influences of such masters as Cor ¬ busier , Mies Van der Rohe , and Oud are as evident as if their names were signed on each foundation . Although the Deco era had affects on virtually all industrialized parts of the world , the examples found in Miami Beach are especially representative of the genre . The forms are repetitive , and almost always symmetrical . There are ex ¬ ceptions to all things , of course ; in this case the towers of the New Yorker and the facade of the St . Moritz both belie the accepted concept of symmetry .
Leonard Horowitz ’ s color palette .
More universal are the seemingly random curves and repetitious wave forms . There appears to have been a popular fixation with the number three , as most rhythmatic progressions appear in triads . Familiar examples are three steps , three platforms ( often with flagpoles ), three ziggurats on rooftops , etc . A unique tropical affectation is the “ eyebrows ”, or ledges that afford shade in the fierce Florida sun while permitting cool breezes to enter the edifice . These touches should not be viewed as or emanate in rigid yet flowing design . Block after block this simplistic sculptural style is reiterated , giving one almost a textbook-like exposure of the founders of modern ar ¬ chitecture . To the knowledgeable , the influences of such masters as Cor ¬ busier , Mies Van der Rohe , and Oud are as evident as if their names were signed on each foundation .
10 ART DECO WEEKEND