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The decorative facades of the early art deco period were inspired by the ancient art of Egypt, Assyria, and Persia, in part because of the exciting discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922. Buildings of this period were also characterized by smooth stucco, clean lines, terrazzo floors, neon lights, and nautical motifs. In addition, with the advancement in travel — highlighted by cross-Atlantic ocean liners and the exploration of flight — speed became a metaphor for modern times. The architecture of the era reflected this.

Modern Appreciation of Art Deco

The present good health of buildings in South Beach is due in large part to the influential Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL). The nonprofit organization was founded by Barbara Baer Capitman in 1976. Her vision was: "preserve the architecture and design of the art deco district, and the cultural, social, and economic growth and welfare of the area will follow." As a measure of the MDPL's success, 795 of the 800 buildings initially registered as having architectural value and in need of renovation have been restored.

Herb Sosa, the current executive director of MDPL, explains why he believes restoration in South Beach Miami has been so successful. "A lot had to do with the work of Barbara Baer Capitman who in the 70s realized the immense potential that these buildings had."

Sosa adds: "It was also the awareness of the private sector of the economic value of restoration. It was difficult at first, but investors soon realized that preservation and restoration was in the interest of everyone, and not just for the benefit of a few fanatical architects."

Frequently architectural restoration and preservation projects are at odds with the economic forces of the private sector. In Miami, restoration of the buildings was what rescued the district from the brink of dereliction. The architectural preservation was the nucleus of South Beach's economic boom.

Art Deco Today

The guidelines for restoration in South Beach are stringent. The historic preservation board requires that any 1930s building that was later altered be restored to its original state when it is up for major renovation. These buildings represent two distinct art deco periods.

The first period (1926-1938), inspired by ancient architecture, is characterized by sharp, angular geometric forms and stylized natural designs. The second period came during the Great Depression, in the late 30s to early 40s. Known as the "streamline period," it was characterized by buildings with more modest ornamentation, curved corners, and a simple mechanical appearance.

The Crescent Hotel and the Hotel Webster are strong examples of the first period. The Breakwater Hotel, with its bold vertical tower, and the Essex Hotel with its nautical rounded corners, are from the second.

The historic district of South Beach has more than just these art deco styles, however. On Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th Streets, the art deco motif is occasionally punctuated by a structure of the Mediterranean-revival style. This style is characterized by rough stucco finishes, arched windows, and terra cotta roofs.

Interior designers involved in the restoration of Miami's art deco hotels support one of two different approaches. Some follow historic patterns; others express a more contemporary style. In the latter case, the exteriors are historic but the interiors are chic, even sterile in comparison.

Clearly targeting the younger generation, the hotels that have merged the old with the new appear to have done so successfully. The newly renovated Hotel Chesterfield is an example of a "boutique hotel" that combines the art deco exterior with a sleek and trendy interior that doesn't overshadow the historic style, effectively merging designs of the past with the latest fashions.

In Support of Tourism

The fact that nearly all of the 800 buildings targeted for renovation have been restored might seem to indicate that the MDPL is no longer needed. However, Sosa says the work of the society is never-ending: "The society's work is to create awareness and help maintain the structures. We need to promote and build upon what we have achieved."

The Art Deco Welcome Center, guided tours, and exhibitions are all part of the continuous marketing campaign that MDPL promotes. In addition, the society organizes the annual Art Deco Weekend Festival. The festival was established in 1976 to raise awareness and appreciation, not just of art deco architecture, but of all the arts and culture of the era. Today it attracts hundreds of vendors and thousands of visitors.

The architectural heritage of South Beach, with its simple geometrical and streamlined themes, highly decorative ornamentation, bright pastel colors, and smooth texture, combine with the intense blue skies and harsh Florida sun to create a feeling of a cartoon-like world.

This atmosphere, which the buildings themselves provoke, is appropriate to the "feel-good" tourist environment that Miami thrives on. This is not a "home away from home." Instead, South Beach is a dreamlike fantasy world where real historic buildings play a leading role.

Steven Allan is a freelance photographer and writer born in London, currently living in Tel-Aviv.

A cluster of art deco hotels on Miami's famous Ocean Drive, a street that runs the length South Beach. Photo: Steven Allan The Avalon Majestic Hotel on Ocean Drive, restored in 1997. Photo: Steven Allan The geometrical facade of the Breakwater hotel on Ocean Drive. Photo: Steven Allan The building on the left is from the "decorative" early period of art deco; on the right is an example from the later, unadorned streamline period. Photo: Steven Allan At night, the Carlton Hotel, like many other art deco hotels in Miami, emphasizes its sharp, angular geometric forms with colorful neon lights. Photo: Steven Allan The Shelley Hotel, built in 1936, has a highly ornamented facade, particularly around the rooflines. Photo: Steven Allan The Ocean Five Hotel was built in 1935 and renovated in 2001. The angular floral ornamentation is a classic example of the first art deco period. Photo: Steven Allan The lobby of the Chesterfield, a "boutique hotel" that combines an art deco exterior with contemporary interior design. Photo: Steven Allan   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.