miami’s first modern architecture arose in the prewar era as the art deco style seen in cities like new york and chicago was translated to the culture and environment of south florida. the roots of modernism in miami thus stem from the influence of global architecture movements, local artisans, and the large waves of people migrating to miami in the early 1900’s.
these global movements sowed the seeds of miami beach’s unique flavor; yet unlike its contemporaries, art deco was an evolving network of tendencies and motifs rather than a coherent movement with a leader, a manifesto, and an ideological program. through our investigations we have found the various connections of miami modern to its forbearer art deco.
the term “art deco” is a post-factum name given in the 1960’s and 70’s when various historians and institutions began curating exhibitions and writing on the style of architecture developed in miami. many of its contemporaries would have called the aerodynamic, ocean liner style “streamline moderne,” which clearly blends the early international style and art deco. this flavor of miami art deco is so recognizable that it became intertwined with the sense of place in the region.
with the introduction of the postwar international style, its permutations readily adopted the existing “miami aesthetic” developed in art deco. though the scale of building increased dramatically from the art deco in south beach to mimo in mid beach, the details and motifs remained and were further transformed.
by studying architectural details through a broader cultural lens, we see a more complete picture and understand the changes in miami due to multiple waves of immigration.
