LOCATION: MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA

COMPETITION: MIAMI BEACH LIFE DESIGN

COMPETITION: 1st PLACE

SIZE: 150 sf

STATUS: DESIGN

FEATURED: NEW YORK TIMES

A periscope – an optical instrument that provides a view of an otherwise obstructed field

A competition was held to design new lifeguard towers. The current towers designed by local architect Bill Lane have become icons for South Beach and begin to define the playful nature of the local lifestyle and jetsonlike art deco built environment.

This lifeguard Tower works as a machine for seeing and being seen. This design addresses the climate and extreme temperatures that currently exist in the built life towers. Lightweight louvered construction allows for the tower to breath while controlling light direct sun and wind. All hardware for the tower would be stainless steel and the entire structure would be built on skids enabling it to be removed prior to a Hurricane.

Terms that begin to describe the project: optical instruments; lens, telescope, binocular, radius, gaze, stare, leer, periscope, scan, panoramic, keeper, measurable, perceptible, noticeable, detectable, radar (distance) sonar (depth in water) float, buoyant, submerge, drown, slope, bevel, tilt, tourist, terra firma, parasol, shutter, sniffing valve, mobility.

Photo Credit: Jacob Brillhart

Site Plan

Model

View

View