ART DECO WELCOME CENTER MUSEUM

 

LOCATION: MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA

CLIENT: MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE

SIZE: 2500 sf

STATUS: FUNDRAISING

This interior intervention houses permanent and temporary exhibits highlighting: the history and culture of Miami Beach; the 3 architectural styles that define the City; and contemporary projects.

History-based museums are, in their traditional setting, more or less rigid concepts because the concept of history is static or petrified. For this museum, we aspired to a new definition for what a historical museum could be. We felt it should be a dynamic environment with architectural and curatorial concepts that reflected the ever-changing character of a city in constant adjustment.

We proposed a flexible space capable of accommodating different configurations – as requested by the needs and evolution of the permanent collection as well as temporary exhibits necessary to make the Museum a new space on the cultural scene. This approach helped signify that all parts of the project were a reflection of a city in transformation.

 
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

  • Create interior intervention or scaffolding to house a permanent exhibit highlighting: the history and culture of Miami Beach; the 3 architectural styles that define the City; and efforts of a local historic preservation organization.
  • Allow for temporary exhibits
  • Create opportunities for electronic, physical & interactive displays
  • Create space for architects, students, and others to do scholarly, detailed research
  • Produce a flexible design that accommodates the need for rental space
  • Design for incremental growth

    •  
    PROPOSED INTERVENTIONS:

  • Postcard room with mirrored ceiling to negate a low ceiling condition and create a spatial experience between lobby and galleries
  • Large display table that could be raised to accommodate changing space needs
  • Flexible, hanging display panel system to be hung from the display table when raised movable, inhabitable video “boxes”
  • Renovation of the smaller gallery, with a new ceiling to hide mechanical/ sprinkler systems; a movable “living room”; storage/display cabinets, wall displays and interactive video wall
  • Tall cabinets / poche wall to mask unwanted openings, create storage space, and provide a display surface
  • Adjustable scrim to filter unwanted light

    • (among other concepts)

    LED backlit postcard room (of Art Deco postcards) w/ reflective ceiling

    Main gallery: showing 30’ long display table (raised w/ mechanical lift)

    Small Gallery

    Proposed Interventions