Between the 1920s and the 1940s, resort Art Deco flourished and evolved. Nowhere is this more evident than in South Beach,
where the use of pastel colors, nautical ideas, and beach themes led to a unique, tropical interpretation of the style. The
convergence of Art Deco with already-present Mediterranean influences, the later emergence of Miami Modern (MiMo), and the
mingling of these styles (often in the same building), all make this a fascinating destination for architecture enthusiasts.
The National Register of Historic Places recognizes 800 buildings in South Beach for their historical significance. All
this within one square mile!
The human scale of the buildings and the accessibility of the Art Deco District
make South Beach an ideal place to explore on foot. Discovering South Beach Deco is a convenient, pocket-sized walking
guide to help you make the most of your explorations, whether you have several days or just a few hours to spend in South
Beach.
Eight walking tours, from ½ mile to 1¾ miles long, take you through the Art Deco District, at your own pace.
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Each walk comes with a map, detailed directions, and optional stops
for food, drink, and other pleasant diversions. Building descriptions are numbered and easily referenced on the map.
Historical and anecdotal highlights about the area are presented in the introduction and in sidebars to augment the building
descriptions.
In all, over 300 buildings are covered in Discovering South Beach Deco.
Building descriptions include date of design and construction, architect(s), restorations and renovations, architectural style,
and close examination of details. Current photographs on almost every page help to orient the walker and to illustrate the
descriptions.
In addition to the walks, the reader will find abundant information on the
history of South Beach, its architecture and architects, and guidelines for identifying and differentiating architectural
styles and periods.
Of course, these buildings can be appreciated for their aesthetic value alone.
Bring some suntan lotion, your camera, and — as the designers surely meant you to do — have
fun!
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