Miami is a young city. Founded in 1896, with a tropical climate, it is one of the most densely populated urban centers in the United States, along with New York, San Francisco and Chicago. This is due to the massive presence of water, which makes up about a third of the city.
One of the city’s fortunes was that the authorities legalized gambling in the 1920s and never enforced prohibition too strictly. This led to a great building boom that ended with the Great Depression of 1928; an architectural legacy now largely destroyed by hurricanes, but reflected in the Art Deco district on Ocean Drive of Miami Beach (now a city unto itself) that emerged a few years later.
In the late 1950s, the city became one of the landing points for exiles from Cuba, adding the Hispanic voice to its already vibrant cultural mix. Then, in the 1980s, it became a major hub in the global cocaine trade: the historic moment that inspired the hugely successful television series Miami Vice, which brought it back to prominence. With the opening of galleries and museums, and the birth of Art Basel Miami, the most important modern and contemporary art fair in the Americas, Miami became a hub of culture, experimentation, and trends.
Among Art Deco hotels, The Raleigh stands out for its elaborate, almost rococo swimming pool: Esther Willams filmed several scenes from her movies here. A bit of legend for cinephiles. The hotel is currently being renovated by architect Peter Marino.
Miami is a city where everyone drives. Not surprisingly, garages have often become a notable form of architecture, or even art. Two of note: 1111 Lincoln Road (Herzog & de Meuron), a mixed-use building with boutiques and galleries; the Museum Garage at NE 1st Avenue and NE 41stStreet (WORKac, J.Mayer.H.).
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts (César Pelli & Associates) is one of the largest performing arts centers in the United States. The site formerly housed a Sears department store. The entrance tower, which was incorporated into the modern structure, remains from the original building.
Just north of downtown Miami is the Wynwood neighborhood. Once the industrial core of the city, it is now an area known for its murals and trendy shops. And during the days of Art Basel Miami, it becomes a series of openings.
Fashion, design and urban planning come together in a virtuous circle to give life to a district that is easy to see. It is home to the Garage Museum, the stores of the great international houses and the big names in design, which often organize special events. In the photo, the artist Agostino Iacurci’s intervention on the Natuzzi Italia flagship store, on display until 12/31.
The Pérez Art Museum is entirely dedicated to the art of the 20th and 21st centuries. A sensational container of culture, designed to be an open structure even architecturally, the project was signed by Herzog & de Meuron and was completed in 2013.
