Miami Beach Art Deco History

Time Frame

Backdrop to the 1925 Paris Exposition, the Eiffel Tower bridged Art Nouveau and Art Deco, combining swirls and straight lineseiffel tower image by Silvia Devina from Fotolia.com

A style overlapping the Roaring Twenties and the years of the Great Depression, Art Deco debuted in 1925 at the Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes.

Art Deco was a return to geometric shapesZelliges image by nomad from Fotolia.com

Art Nouveau--a popular style from 1895 to 1905--was fanciful and known for its sinuous lines and leitmotifs of draping vines; flowers such as lilies, irises and poppies; figures of dancers in diaphanous gowns and birds such as swans and peacocks. Art Deco was an iconoclast in the face of Art Nouveau. It was the thematic polar opposite. It utilized geometry and symmetry and put emphasis on sharp angles, exact forms and clean architectural styles. Additional distinctions of this period included application of stucco and terrazzo floors--concrete floors imbedded with marble or granite chips that were then buffed and polished. In lieu of birds and flowers, Art Deco's hallmark embellishments were sun rays and pyramid-shaped designs.

The popularity of African fabrics inspired Art Decoindian fabrics image by Melissa Schalke from Fotolia.com

The 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamen's tomb in the Valley of Kings was a juggernaut in Art Deco history, catalyzing a renewed interest in all things Egyptian, as is evident by the use of sharp triangles and pyramid-like shapes decorating lunettes, niches and miscellaneous nooks and crannies. Other influences were the ancient Mayan and Greek civilizations. The art movement of Cubism was an inspiration for Art Deco. Additional credit goes to the popularity of the burlesque darling Josephine Baker. Embraced by Parisian society, she catalyzed interest in African design and fabrics, which had the zigzag lines and triangular sun rays that molded Art Deco sensibilities.

South Beach, Miami, was the posh playground for the rich and famoussouth saphire beach 11. image by mdb from Fotolia.com

The 1920s saw a return of lavish lifestyles, palatial homes and swanky vacations. The rich flocked to South Beach, Miami. With their money, they jumped on the Art Deco bandwagon and began building Art Deco style hotels and vacation homes. Between 1920 and 1929 Miami went through a land boom, with businessmen and entrepreneurs such as James Penney, founder of the J.C. Penney chain, Harvey Firestone, head honcho of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, and numerous other tycoons building Art Deco mansions on Collins Row, thus giving this popular three-mile stretch the sobriquet "Millionaire's Row."

Art Deco buildings in Miami were, and still are, characterized by the use of color. Inspired by the tropical tenor of the city, buildings were painted in pastel shades of yellow, peach, oceanic blue, seashell pink, coral and sea green.