Spine3D, the firm that comes out with those pretty renderings that we all love, has started a contest. They are seeking submitions from anybody for ideas for an iconic structure that best represents the city. This seems to be right up the alley of us forumers. Any ideas?

Here is the website:
http://www.miamimonument.com/program.php

What they are looking for:
Spine3D, a Miami based animation, and visual effects studio invites participants from around the world to suggest creative and compelling design ideas for a structure that celebrates the City of Miami. The competition calls for a visionary marker that will distinguish the Miami skyline from that of other great cities.

This structure can be a singular, freestanding building or it can be comprised of multiple components within the competition site. The program is not strictly defined; however, it has to encourage civic involvement and it should strengthen the urban fabric of Miami. Proposals should consider the human scale at the street level as well as the greater scale, at the urban level.

The central focus of all proposals should be an iconic structure, a monument to the pioneering and evolving nature of Miami.

There is no height, budget, or size restrictions for the proposed designs so entrants are encouraged to think on a visionary scale.

Winning entries will be selected based on the strength of the design concept and the quality/character of the rendered presentation image.

Their rules:
The competition site is bordered by Miami Beach to the east, the Miami River to the south, I-95 to the west and the 395 bridge to the north. It is comprised of the downtown (city core), waterfront parks, Port of Miami and the Government Cut (a canal and basin connecting the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay). Although you can select your own site within the given area, you can not remove any existing buildings or infrastructure. You can, however, select any undeveloped parcels, park space, or even the waterways as the location for your intervention. The competition rules also allow overlapping and building above, or below any existing buildings if necessary.

Oh by the way....the winner gets $1500

How about they get a stoned statue of a Sun and then have a picture of Miami Beach and Miami slanted on it.Should be the color of the sand there too,so it can look like a sandcastle.My idea

do they have a deadline...........


anyways i don't think a building will do it i really believe a bridge or an observation tower could be the missing element to miami's greatness i really want to participate

Entries are due by November 25th at 5PM. You have to 'register' before November 15th. You can do this on the site below.

You have to submit a rendering as well.

does it have to be a professional rendering;like on autocad


or can it just be photoshopped

does it have to be a professional rendering;like on autocad


or can it just be photoshopped

Read the last sentence of the first post in the thread:

Winning entries will be selected based on the strength of the design concept and the quality/character of the rendered presentation image.

We may not be experts in image making but I bet we could come up with good design concepts.

OOPS I didn't read it and just posted,sorry.Um,Here it goes

Name-Miami Sky Tower
Height-630 feet(Also if someone has a wonderful idea and is like 1200,would the FAA step in,although it said height doesn't matter?).
-Condos?hotel
-Also featuring Shops,Bowling Alley,2 restaurants,2 story parking lot and a spa and fitness center.
-Hi-tech system in all rooms.
-Statues surrounding the whole structure containing pictures of the city baeuty.
-Also one question.How old id their museum in Miami?Do they have one?Or is it newly renovated?

I can't draw the picture that I have in my mind,cuz I don't have the technology on my comp. to do so. :(

well that easy......all you have to do is download sketchup5 its a great program for beginners unlike other visualization/rendering programs its reall easy to use...as easy as ms paint but things look real....www.sketchup.com

Cool thanks.Almost thought I had to pay for it.

i think if you're trying to create a monument for miami,you have to try and place it in a focal point and it has to have a symbolic meaning.....i thinking something like the gateway arch in st.louis or a lighthouse which shows how miami is a shinning beacon towards the world...etc or a condo tower which shows how many is the condo capital of the world similar to the wtc showed that nyc was the financial capital of the world,or even a bridge.

so cool looking structures that could serve as good monuments in miami
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y162/cityz/Guangzhou/SuggestionFour1.jpg[/QUOTE]
http://tinypic.com/es9jra.jpg
http://www.transsib.ru/Photo/Dvost/8931c.jpghttp://www.czbrats.com/Photos/bridge-3.jpg

How do I get started building on there
?

didn't you try the tutorial,where it shows you how to build a house.....

if not well here goes a quick tutorial

as soon as you get in to the program click on the pencil to drw a str8 line if you don't want to do a line but a shape pick the square,cone,or triangle etc....

pick the points on which to draw it,this will give you a one dimesional figure,then you use your mouse to scroll along the x,y, and z axis. next what you do is pick the box with the arrow on top,this will stretch you're box, cone etc .

to add materials like glass,brick etc go to the paint bucket and choose whatever you want

Well it said I didn't download,so doing again

anyways i don't think a building will do it i really believe a bridge or an observation tower could be the missing element to miami's greatness i really want to participateHatter, That is an excellent idea!!!
There is an opportunity to fill a need and to create a landmark...the bridge from Dodge Island (the Port of Miami...Terminal Island) is a tremendous problem...trucks leave with cargo and teeter dangerously along Biscayne in front of the great new skyscrapers that are going up, and then they try to lug there weight up the ramps to enter the freeway (395/836).
The Port could handle much more cargo if there wasn't a bottle neck getting goods out and off the island...most people are thinking tunnel...
Hatter, put together a tall ass bridge or something!!! Rock the world baby! Maybe a Calvatrawatever thingy spaning the cargo port all the way over the CBD and linking to I-836 on the west side of 95!!
Go get 'em tiger.

Hatter, That is an excellent idea!!!
There is an opportunity to fill a need and to create a landmark...the bridge from Dodge Island (the Port of Miami...Terminal Island) is a tremendous problem...trucks leave with cargo and teeter dangerously along Biscayne in front of the great new skyscrapers that are going up, and then they try to lug there weight up the ramps to enter the freeway (395/836).
The Port could handle much more cargo if there wasn't a bottle neck getting goods out and off the island...most people are thinking tunnel...
Hatter, put together a tall ass bridge or something!!! Rock the world baby! Maybe a Calvatrawatever thingy spaning the cargo port all the way over the CBD and linking to I-836 on the west side of 95!!
Go get 'em tiger.

A monument like the Sydney harbour bridge Roark?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/miami17/portofmiamibridgeneverbuilt.jpg

Dug up this old clipping. Bridge with restaurant on top. Too costly -- just a dream.

There was also a proposal for a giant "St. Louis" type arch over Government cut back in the late 1970's. Spanning from Dodge Island to MacArthur Cswy. I need to dig up this clipping and I'll post it. It was very intersting, but again too costly.

Does anyone remember the proposal to put a giant Christopher Columbus statue at the opening of Govt. Cut? That proposal had a quick death.

I hope that someday, some type of observation tower a-la CN Tower or Space Needle will be built to provide panoramic views of our skyline, bay and ocean. Maybe as part of the FTAA hdqts on Watson Island next to Island Gardens. I think that the view from the top would be breathtaking.

Yea a bridge would be great.But I'll go with a observation tower.More stuff out of that then a bridge.

Whatever happened to the mermaid statues proposed for the entrance to government cut?

Since the state of Florida did go and trademarked with the patent office that Miami be the "Gateway of the Americas"... maybe there can be some kind of huge monument gateway, preferably on the tip of government cut. could have an observation deck at top. ya know? yes? no?

i was thinking along the lighthouse on gov.cut...to show how miami was a gateway and a beacon to the world

Columbus statue (350 ft. monstrosity :puke: ) by Russian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli was proposed for South Point Park in the early 90’s but thankfully rejected. He then tried to peddle it in the rest of the US but with no luck until the Russian government donated it to Puerto Rico where it sits.

MIAMI NEEDS A WORLD CLASS OBSERVATION TOWER....LIKE THE SPACE NEEDLE IN SEATTLE, TOWER OF THE AMERICAS IN SAN ANTONIO, CN TOWER IN TORONTO, ET AL.....

why not verticus? That envisioned tower for Bicentennial Park. It's amazing. Not only would it be the greatest architectural achievement in the world (aside possibly from Burj Dubai), but also would house the Florida Marlins, hover above it all, serve as that observation deck, and be the beacon of light that could be seen as far away possibly as Cuba and the Bahamas!

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=243446

That thing would cost so much money.

verticus....haha,lol
the memories

I googled 'vertical city of the americas' and found this:
"Vertical City of the Americas, Miami, FL
Elevatoring for 100+ Story Conceptual/Development Design, Active Project"
http://www.barkermohandas.com/current_projects.htm

Why does it say active project?

I googled 'vertical city of the americas' and found this:
"Vertical City of the Americas, Miami, FL
Elevatoring for 100+ Story Conceptual/Development Design, Active Project"
http://www.barkermohandas.com/current_projects.htm
Why does it say active project? Who knows? Don't believe everything you read. :)

Maybe there is some progress on this if he is paying elevator consultants. I think that the guy behind this is Guillermo Socarras, who has been talking about this for years. It seems he now has registered a company with offices on Brickell called Vertical City of the Americas, LLC. Someone may be able to dig up an old Herald article on this, it was also mention in the Wall Street Journal after Sep. 11.

The Miami Herald - September 28, 2001 - 1C Business

TOWERING ABOVE THE REST
Guillermo Socarras isn't one to be deterred. In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that left many questioning the wisdom of skyscrapers, this one-time condo developer from Miami is pushing to build what would be the largest building in the world - a 155-story glass triangle soaring 2,000 feet in the sky. He says he has the would-be site, mostly three blocks of parking lots across from the American Airlines Arena, under contract. ``Why not?'' asks...

Maybe there is some progress on this if he is paying elevator consultants. I think that the guy behind this is Guillermo Socarras, who has been talking about this for years. It seems he now has registered a company with offices on Brickell called Vertical City of the Americas, LLC. Someone may be able to dig up an old Herald article on this, it was also mention in the Wall Street Journal after Sep. 11.I have seen the offering memorandum distributed with an NDA to raise the necessary private equity on this project.
There has been a lot of thought on it, and a pretty impressive buisiness model. Plenty of big names were consulted and involved from around the world.
However, from speaking to the Commissioner Winton, it has about a snowballs chance in hell...unfortunately.

However, from speaking to the Commissioner Winton, it has about a snowballs chance in hell...unfortunately.
Aw come on...

"If O.J. can get away with murder, why can't miami have Verticus......

..... that guy knows what i'm talking about"

For one thing, the land has already been given to the Museam of Science and the Art Museum for use (and that was contreversal to some people). Could you imagine the firestorm a 155 story private building would create?

For one thing, the land has already been given to the Museam of Science and the Art Museum for use (and that was contreversal to some people). Could you imagine the firestorm a 155 story private building would create?The museums were taken care of in the Verticus proposal. The development was to build all three museums to order and give them a 10 year rent abatement. The way the deal was structured, the museum interests would be loving it more than anybody. I order to get that high, Verticus would have had to acquire a lot of land (FAR) and they proposed a large amount of green/park space, thereby appeasing the Biscayne Boulevard Times guy and his 6 readers/followers. :)

They were going to build a baseball stadium too, right?

The museums were taken care of in the Verticus proposal. The development was to build all three museums to order and give them a 10 year rent abatement. The way the deal was structured, the museum interests would be loving it more than anybody. I order to get that high, Verticus would have had to acquire a lot of land (FAR) and they proposed a large amount of green/park space, thereby appeasing the Biscayne Boulevard Times guy and his 6 readers/followers. :)

That would take alot

They were going to build a baseball stadium too, right?Yeah...Retractable Domed Stadium, Three Museums, Shopping mall, Marina, lots of restaurants, lots of green space, hotel,convention space, enough office space to house the offices of the FTAA, and finally some residences.
Notice that in order for the plan to have worked, all of the Herald parcels would have to have been acquired in order to have enough area to satisfy the FAR of a building that tall. Here is the pic for old times sake.
http://www.restainer.com/skyscrapers/Verticus_ariel.jpg

http://www.restainer.com/skyscrapers/Veticus_big.JPG

verticus....haha,lol
the memories

Yeah, Hatter. You and I are Verticus survivors, aren't we ? ;)

Yeah, Hatter. You and I are Verticus survivors, aren't we ? ;)

Veraticus just about did Hatter in, glad they let you back man. What made them think that the FAA would allow that when they freak out about a 1000 footer.

TOWERING ABOVE THE REST
The Miami Herald
September 28, 2001
Author: DOUGLAS HANKS III, dhanks@herald.com
Estimated printed pages: 4

Guillermo Socarras isn't one to be deterred.


In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that left many questioning the wisdom of skyscrapers, this one-time condo developer from Miami is pushing to build what would be the largest building in the world - a 155-story glass triangle soaring 2,000 feet in the sky. He says he has the would-be site, mostly three blocks of parking lots across from the American Airlines Arena, under contract.

``Why not?'' asks the Cuban-born Socarras. ``It will let Miami say to the world, `We are a powerful city. And we are not afraid.' ''

He claims he has the financial backing. And he says his political support is strong, too.

``It has the potential of being one of the key projects that we have done here in decades,'' said Miami Mayor Joe Carollo. ``It would be the crowning moment of making Miami truly the commerce trade capital of the Americas.''

Adds Miami real estate broker Edie Laquer, who is representing Socarras, ``It's one of the most significant projects Miami will ever see.''

But Socarras' plan to build a towering $1.4 billion international trade center has met with heavy skepticism, and private ridicule. Developers question how downtown Miami could support something so large - 4 million square feet in all - north of the Miami River, where prime office space yields to a scruffy area targeted for revitalization.

And as the World Trade Center smolders in New York, they question how financial backers could support Socarras' Miami Trade Center of the Americas - a structure his promotional materials tout as the ``World's Tallest Skyscraper.''

``While it's feasible, only a lunatic would suggest that,'' said Bruce Eichner, head of New York's Continuum Co., a hotel developer that is building a pair of luxury towers on the tip of South Beach. ``It's not financeable by anyone in the world. . . . You might as well put a giant bullseye on yourself.''

Socarras, 56, says the design, including its triangular form, would allow the building to remain standing after a collision with a jumbo jet.

He says he has lined up enough investors to build the trade center, though he will not name them.

Sources familiar with the project have cited Tyco International, a global electronics company, as a key supporter. Several Tyco executives have made the rounds in Miami with Socarras, the sources say.

A Tyco spokeswoman said Thursday the Bermuda-based company is interested in helping wire the skyscraper, but not in financing it.

``It is a project we would love to participate in,'' said spokeswoman Maryanne Kane. ``We have many products we'd like to sell that facility. But Tyco is not a real estate developer, or a real estate investor.''

If the financial backers are a mystery, in some ways so is Socarras. He is not a known real estate player in Miami; the last development he cites on his resume was a mid-sized Key Biscayne condominium built in the 1980s.

``He's basically been a condominium developer. But nothing of this magnitude, obviously,'' said Rene Garcia, a Miami perfume distributor who is investing in the skyscraper project. ``He's a very bright guy, very hard working. And he doesn't give up.''

At 16, Socarras left his parents at a Cuban airport on a plane bound for Miami, part of the Catholic Church's ``Pedro Pan'' evacuation in 1962. His parents followed two years later.

A math and economics major at the University of Florida, Socarras went to work as a financial consultant at the U.S. Agency for International Development here. Later, he worked as a loan officer and then a general contractor, borrowing money for small construction projects and then investing the profits into larger ones.

Things went well for the father of four, and he eventually moved to a penthouse in Key Biscayne. But as the real estate bust of the early 1990s approached, Socarras says his holdings went sour, too. He retreated back to the mortgage business, hunkering down until about four years ago, when the Miami business community started exploring the possibility of an international trade center.

The project would be separate from the local World Trade Center, which is part of a franchise with 337 offices in 98 countries, including the destroyed towers in New York City. Miami's building bearing the World Trade Center brand name is on N.W. 72nd Ave., and mostly houses generic office space. Executives at the local World Trade Center could not be reached for comment.

City leaders have long sought an office complex that could accommodate international trade shows, as well as offices for importers and exporters from around the world. The idea is such a center would cement Miami's status as the trade hub of Latin America.

A 1994 Arthur Andersen report for a Miami business group said such a facility could attract tenants, but could not turn a profit. About $20 million in public funds would be required for construction, said Johnny Winton, a Miami city commissioner who was part of the group that commissioned the study.

Socarras says his plan offers a novel way of funding a trade center.

He proposes stacking enough commercial ventures on top of each other to subsidize a major exhibition center. Thus the 550-room hotel; the 350,000-square-foot luxury shopping mall; 700 condominium units; 500,000 square feet of office space; 14 restaurants; and a 100,000-square-foot virtual-reality theater. All of which is intended to support 500,000 square feet of exhibition space for trade shows.

``The trade center will fill my hotel. It will fill my restaurants. It will fill my offices,'' Socarras said. ``It's the engine of the whole thing.''

But skeptics point to hurdles they say they can't imagine being cleared. First, the design: a giant glass `A' with an extra cross bar, supported by 65-story pillars colored like a kaleidoscope by commissioned artists. (Laquer emphasized that the design is a ``rough draft.'') And the height, more than double the tallest point in Miami's current skyline and one the Federal Aviation Administration would have to approve.

Then there is the location, made up mainly of several parking lots owned by Jacob ``Hank'' Sopher, according to Laquer. It is a site well beyond Miami's Brickell Avenue, considered the most desireable office space in the city.

``The concept of a world-class high-rise office tower north of the Freedom Tower is an absolute non-starter,'' said Doug Campbell, executive director of the Cushman & Wakefield real estate brokerage. ``It is merely a big building built on cheap dirt.''

Mayor Carollo said the height may have to be reconsidered, given the events of Sept. 11. Socarras has said the 2,000-foot goal remains fluid; the final altitude will depend on the various companies he signs as partners. If a hotel needs only a few floors, the building might shrink, he said. But it will still dominate the Miami skyline.

``The building will be one of the tallest buildings in the world, no question,'' Socarras said between puffs of a Winston cigarette at The Grand, the condominium and hotel building where he lives and works. ``But not necessarily the tallest.''

^anyways, i think this article is talking about that crappy triangular monster, not verticus,


u guys remember that b/s, the triangle crap, it had a website, and i think it was world trade center of the americas or something.

haha,yea dale we survived the verticus!!

anyways i just noticed that it would have reclaimed land and have a connector to the triple a.

Guillermo Socarras,reminds me of the developer for empire world

Yeah...Retractable Domed Stadium, Three Museums, Shopping mall, Marina, lots of restaurants, lots of green space, hotel,convention space, enough office space to house the offices of the FTAA, and finally some residences.
Notice that in order for the plan to have worked, all of the Herald parcels would have to have been acquired in order to have enough area to satisfy the FAR of a building that tall. Here is the pic for old times sake.
http://www.restainer.com/skyscrapers/Verticus_ariel.jpg

http://www.restainer.com/skyscrapers/Veticus_big.JPG
That looks like a great project.Except there shouldn't be that many spaces in that tower.Why didn't they approve it?They can build something like that for the new Tropicana Field.If they ever decide to get rid of that place.

Ah Verticus damn i wish they'd build that thing. I think our monument should be a supertall if Chicago gets its Sears Tower, and New York ESB and Freedom Tower, why cant Miami get a little something?

If they were too bulid Verticus. It would be the pinnacle of the city. Dammit those politicians always say no to everything we don’t have no landmark, no culture. I’m sure if that building were to be built with the marlins stadium downtown Miami will have much more life. Can you imagine with the Empire World towers together that would be kodaq moments. I’m always seeing NYC with their parades and empire state building and bridge on tv. and when I think of Miami we don’t have shit. It gets me soo angry seeing that empty land next to the AAA cuz idiots say no and have no vision for the city’s future. All dark and useless Stupid FAA and Politicians. I hope one day some dude like trump or someone with vision gives this wackass city more life. Who the hell wants a stupid Musuem in the heart of Miami. Does anyone know who is responsible for always saying no

If they were too bulid Verticus. It would be the pinnacle of the city. Dammit those politicians always say no to everything we don’t have no landmark, no culture. I’m sure if that building were to be built with the marlins stadium downtown Miami will have much more life. Can you imagine with the Empire World towers together that would be kodaq moments. I’m always seeing NYC with their parades and empire state building and bridge on tv. and when I think of Miami we don’t have shit. It gets me soo angry seeing that empty land next to the AAA cuz idiots say no and have no vision for the city’s future. All dark and useless Stupid FAA and Politicians. I hope one day some dude like trump or someone with vision gives this wackass city more life. Who the hell wants a stupid Musuem in the heart of Miami. Does anyone know who is responsible for always saying noOh boy...sorry that you are angry. But if you think that there is no culture in Miami you are sadly mistaken. Check out the New World Symphony, one of the best in the world. Go check out Art Basel, the largest art show IN THE WORLD. Go to the Fairchild Tropical Gardens Dec. for a Dale Chilhuly exhibit...the best glass artisan in the world. If you think the politicians only say no, go check out the $500 Million Performing Arts Center, one of the best in the world. If you want a parade, you might have missed the Orange Bowl Parades or the King Mango Strut.
You think this is a wackass city??? I think you don't really know much about the city.
Welcome to the forum and please stick around , there are lot of well educated and passionate people that will guide you from anger to enlightenment!!!!

stick a fork in him... that dudes done... lol

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/13288409.htm

MIAMI | IMAGE


FIU professor wins contest, will add to Miami skyline

BY NOAH BIERMAN

nbierman@herald.com


Eddie Leon has spent the past few years helping transform the Miami skyline, creating the computerized graphics that architects use to sell their projects. But he saw something missing amid the rush to build a new metropolis -- a monument that defines the city.

''What can we do with our city that can bring it to world-class status, sort of like Paris with its Eiffel Tower?'' asked Leon, president and chief executive officer of Spine3D, which created three-dimensional drawings for several downtown projects.

While no one is stepping forward to pay for the design, 20 architects from around the world had fun imagining the answer to Leon's question anyway. For his contest, they came up with projects resembling giant ice cubes floating in Biscayne Bay, a geometric sculpture in Bicentennial Park and a brightly lit tower.

WINNING ENTRY

The winner of the $1,500 first prize to create a symbol of this transient city is -- fittingly -- an architect who just moved here. Roberto Rovira, a professor of landscape architecture at Florida International University, said his entry, Miami Sunspars, is about a place that is constantly redefining itself.

It is ''this ability to change and transform, get beat back by a hurricane, but at the same time come back 10 times stronger,'' said Rovira, 37, who moved with his family from San Francisco in August.

The monument is three 20-story metal spires that loosely resemble palm fronds -- if palm fronds were created with erector sets. They reach into the sky and form a line that starts at the Port of Miami and extends to Watson Island and South Beach.

They would use solar power to light up at night. Announcements and graphics could be broadcast on a digital strip that runs along their sides. And visitors could ride up an elevator -- designed like a ski-lift -- to see the view from the top.

''For Miami,'' he said, ``it has this idea of seeing and being seen.''

But Rovira -- who has an undergraduate degree in engineering and a master's in architecture -- has more in mind. He wants to lower the towers during major events or storms and turn them into pedestrian bridges, evoking London's Millennium Bridge project.

Local historian Paul George said the city could use a good monument. The 1981 Atlantis Building on Brickell Avenue -- with its spiral staircase and palm tree in the middle -- comes closest, George said, in part because it was used in the TV show Miami Vice.

Another local monument, the Freedom Tower, will be largely obscured by the time most of the new condominium projects are finished. Leon's firm created the computer rendering, though not the actual design, for a condominium on the Freedom Tower property that outraged historic preservationists.

LACK OF MONEY

Other ideas for local monuments, including an arch in Little Havana, have come and gone over the years for lack of money.

''People just didn't buy into it,'' George said.

That's not likely to change. Miami Commissioner Johnny Winton, who represents the downtown area, said the city has too many pressing needs to use tax dollars on a monument right now.

Leon, whose contest was co-sponsored by the Miami Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the FIU School of Architecture, plans to sponsor a new contest every year, looking at different areas of the county.

''It's just about generating conversation,'' he said.

The winning entries:

http://www.miamimonument.com/winners.php

They can go to Tampa next for the contest. Tampa has high protential to do a monument for the city.

whoa those winning designs were crap....the sunspars thing is the ugliest thing i've ever seen.....the second place its ok but no really a monument more of an artistic sculpture...third place was ok not to bad.....

i wish i would of tried to enter..but i really didn't have time

whoa those winning designs were crap....the sunspars thing is the ugliest thing i've ever seen.....the second place its ok but no really a monument more of an artistic sculpture...third place was ok not to bad.....

i wish i would of tried to enter..but i really didn't have time

exactly i was gonna try 2 but working as an architect drains you from doing it at home 2 (esp. when making a grad school portfolio to top it off) anyways first ones r a bit ridiciulous but cool scale the 2nd one is rendered & designewwell but its just an object 2 small 2 b significant really for anything othre than looking at. bayfront park has a few of those already and they r not hot hangouts.and third could b any generi-condo here just in the bay.

thats cool arch....i remember you saying you were trying to get a degree in architecture a while back,so i'm guessing you finished if your working on your grad school portfolio,any decision on what school your going to choose?and are you working for any firm right now?

I really like it. Its different. Outside-the-box thinking. Imagine those three things lining the skyline, it would be awesome. Sure some people will reject them, and some will down right hate them, but they'll get used to them.

When the Eiffle Tower was built, everyone hated it... thought it was ugly, and glad they 'knew' it was gonna be taken down after the Worlds Fair. Look at it now... Try to imagine Paris without the Eiffle Tower.

The Sunspars is unique and different, and if built, will definitely put Miami in the world spotlight.

agreed. Very unique and posh.

Wow these designs suck that sunspar thing crap wow i put three things that look like radio towers along the bay what a landmark. The second one looks like it belongs in south beach or a commercial plaza. The third was actually ok but id still expect better from a landmark but i think this shoulda been first outta these.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/I-275/sw_jorge_peralta4.jpg
These designs have nothing on Verticus and i really hope that that stupid sunspar thing doesnt get built, NYC has ESB, Chicago Sears Tower, Miami crappy radio tower like things what ever happened to buildings that were landmarks those are alot better.

Eddie Leon of Spine3d had an Op-ed in the Miami Herald this morning on the state of Miami and how he feels it could use some monuments

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/13347042.htm

FREEDOM TOWER


Miami's past, future

BY EDDIE LEON

eddie@spine3d.com


A Miami Herald reporter recently asked me a rattling question: In organizing a design competition for a new Miami monument, was I looking to replace or eclipse the Freedom Tower?

One of my earliest memories is riding up an elevator holding my father's hand inside the tower as a 3-year old. The year is 1971, and my family has just arrived from Cuba. My mother tells me that we are going to the Freedom Tower -- or El Refugio, as she calls it -- to get financial and medical assistance.

A much more recent memory involves working on the architectural rendering of the building that is slated to go up behind the Freedom Tower.

So the reporter's question, though valid, was troubling.

But who says that memories and dreams cannot stand side by side? Why can't history and the future balance each other?

No, I was not calling for a monument to replace the Freedom Tower that my family and I cherish so much. However, I argue that Miami lacks monuments and landmarks as other world-class cities do. The same way that being an architect and a Cuban American are not mutually exclusive, a city's future does not have to ignore its past or vice versa.

Europe proves that. Paris not only has the modern buildings of La Defense contrasting with the city planning of Baron Georges Eugene Haussman, but not that long ago architect I.M. Pei convinced Parisians that a futuristic glass pyramid would not demean the Louvre Museum's history. What about the Eiffel Tower? That iconic iron structure, which at one point Parisians considered just an ugly stunt for the 1889 World's Fair, today is a synonym for the City of Lights.

I have been granted a peek at the city's future, as the bulk of the new projects going up downtown and in Miami Beach have come through our rendering studio. Celebrities such as Donald Trump and the most prestigious architectural firms in the country have jumped at the chance to put their imprint on this growing city with bold designs and brave ideas. However, we have nothing that ties together the new Miami with the old, or something that symbolizes the city's new face and diverse culture.

While the Freedom Tower does represent an important chapter in our city's history and in the lives of people such as I, it doesn't tell the new Miami story: the one that calls itself the Capital of the Americas with a diverse population from many nations; one with a growing cultural life with recognized events such as Art Basel.

The world's great cities are laid out in a ''nodal'' pattern. Imagine a wheel, and at the end of each spoke there is a monument or landmark that gives both closure and connectivity to the overall urban plan. This design gives those cities geographical cohesion. Madrid has the Puerta de Acalá and the Cibeles Fountain. Miami, on the other hand, is just a grid with no end and no beginning.

It does not have to be. The Freedom Tower can be one of those major nodes reminding us of the history that made Miami; a series of bridges along Government Cut can announce to air and sea travelers that they have arrived at the gateway to the Americas; along Edgewater we could have a waterfront much like Havana's Malecón.

So the answer is No. Not in a million years do I want the Freedom Tower to be replaced or eclipsed. But I do want the city that opened its arms to me and my family to take its rightful place among the world's great cities.

Eddie Leon is president and CEO of Spine3D, an architectural visualization studio in Doral