The Art Deco buildings in South Beach were nearly lost. They almost became a distant memory and they would have had it not been for one very determined lady. Her name was Barbara Baer Capitman. In 1976, when the Art Deco buildings were in a sad and declining state of repair and there was talk of tearing them down and simply starting over, Ms. Capitman formed the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL).
She stated her purpose in clear terms. She said that the non-profit organization would, “preserve the architecture and design of the art deco district, and the cultural, social, and economic growth and welfare of the area will follow." It turns out that she was right but it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
The private sector knew that restoration was far more expensive than simply tearing down and rebuilding and there were a lot of very strong objections to the restoration project. But the private sector did finally come around to the notion that restoration was actually good business. Many of the original Art Deco buildings had already been torn down and some of those that were still standing in the blighted district had been remodeled. The undertaking of restoration was not a small task by anyone’s standards.
Originally there were 800 buildings that were identified and slated for restoration. Today 755 of those buildings have been completely restored.
Herb Sosa is currently the executive director of the Miami Design Preservation League. Mr. Sosa explains the success. He says, "A lot had to do with the work of Barbara Baer Capitman who in the 70s realized the immense potential that these buildings had. 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.”
Very often architectural restoration and preservation projects are on the opposite side of the fence from the economic forces of the private sector. In South Beach, the restoration of the buildings was what rescued the district from the brink of economic disaster. The architectural preservation was the driving force of South Beach's economic boom.
There are two very distinct periods of the Art Deco buildings in South Beach. The first period covers buildings constructed between 1926 and1938 and the second period covers those buildings that were constructed after 1938 and through the 1940’s. The earlier period building feature sharp, angular geometric forms and stylized natural designs while the later period buildings had more modest ornamentation, curved corners, and a simple mechanical appearance.
The Crescent Hotel and the Hotel Webster are good examples of the first period. The Breakwater Hotel has a bold vertical tower, and the Essex Hotel has nautical rounded corners and both are examples of the second period.
Interior designers of these restored art deco building take different approaches to the interior designs. Some will stick with historic patterns while others will go for a more contemporary style.
