^^ Well i'm convinced i wouldn't take much attention in the U.S. as i'm not taking much attention in Europe, but i'm concerned i'm not normal though. Experiences teached me that my views come closer to ancient medieval anti-catholic catharizism.
Seems very Miami... Or not.

But if you look at this building it wouldn't fit any european city as well, because it simply is more monumentalistic than elegant and this architecture is not yet seen with this huge dimensions. I clearly see parallels between this and communistic monumentalism, this building would be proper standing alone, but between this row of high rises from another time, out of an traditional european viewpoint, simply not nice.

Ever heard of two cities called New York and Chicago? They are filled with monumental art deco scrapers. So why on earth wouldn't Miami be up for the same?

Ever heard of two cities called New York and Chicago? They are filled with monumental art deco scrapers. So why on earth wouldn't Miami be up for the same?
I think that's clear, Miami skyline isn't consisting of enough art deco stylish buildings to create a synthesis. I wonder why skyscrapers must be historic looking, skyscrapers with that look have been naturaly been builded in new york and chicago in the last century, but not artificially in the last 20 years. All buildings of Miami shouldn't be build in aww of history, but in curiosity of the future... But Art Deco and Business, did this ever come together?

I think that's clear, Miami skyline isn't consisting of enough art deco stylish buildings to create a synthesis. I wonder why skyscrapers must be historic looking, skyscrapers with that look have been naturaly been builded in new york and chicago in the last century, but not artificially in the last 20 years. All buildings of Miami shouldn't be build in aww of history, but in curiosity of the future...
Why couldn't it be both?

But Art Deco and Business, did this ever come together?
Gee, I dunno... :nuts:

http://www.bestcitiesinamerica.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/NYC-EmpireStateBuilding1.gif
http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/new-york-chrysler-building-new-york-city-nycchr.jpg

I guess this would be a good thread for this article. Hey Q, maybe you could go to the AIA meeting and mingle with these so called "Miami's best-known architectural photographers".

:lol: That may be a good idea Dave!
I want to check out that book.

Hey Q, maybe you could go to the AIA meeting and mingle with these so called "Miami's best-known architectural photographers".

Where is this going to be? The Miami Beach Convention Center? I most certainly will go with one of my framed enlargements and my book of 8 x 10s.

Where is this going to be? The Miami Beach Convention Center? I most certainly will go with one of my framed enlargements and my book of 8 x 10s.

Yes its at the Convention Center, not sure if you have to be an AIA member to attend or not. Here is the website:
http://www.aiaconvention.com/AIA2010/public/enter.aspx

The building doesn't even look monumental at all. It's just another late-80s to 90s postmodern insult to the art deco architecture it's supposed to represent. Miami really DOES need some monumental buildings, and OBP is a start. But the city also needs to check and preserve what's left, which is little as evident to the Everglades Hotel demolition, and two others that were originally where this building was proposed. Not to mention still existing buildings that could be utilized more effectively.

Speaking of Miami archtiecture... We really need to get away from this "basical condo tower"-style with plenty of balconies and plain entrances. It's all starting to look the same.

Can you give examples of this? I find 50 Biscayne pretty distinctive, Met 1 to beautifully correspond to how the street it faces curves, and there's no way Icon Brickell looks uniform to everything else. I don't know about the rest of Brickell. As for Midtown, we really need the development and Zyscovich has been doing pretty well with it.

It's not an individual building, it's more the sense you get when you see them together. Feels somewhat like a project.

'One Broadway' will hopefully vanish even sooner. Absolute, embarrassing garbage.

How so?

I enjoyed this thread hope to see more pictures posted up soon.

Well i promissed a long time ago to post some pictures from the time i lived in Miami and here are a few, Soon i´ll post a lot more, i have hundred´s of photos of miami in the 90´s. Enjoy!!

View of the skyline from Miami Seaquarium 1998
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0033.jpg

Brickell Avenue around 1995 i guess
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0079.jpg

View of my balcony looking at the brickell key
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0083.jpg

view of my balcony 1996
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0081.jpg

view of my balcony looking at the port and Miami Beach area
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0080.jpg

close up view of the miami beach area using a Nikon F3 at the time
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0082.jpg

Tropical storm hitting south florida around 1994
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0076.jpg

now pictures taken from the top of the interconinental hotel around year 2000
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0040.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0041.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0043.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0044.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0045.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0042.jpg

If someone could help me i don´t know how to put my names in the pictures for future credit´s. More to come.

:cheers: Lookit all the little cruise ships!

WOw, you promised those pics back in 2009 :)

you kept your word

I Hope you people can bring out more historic pics in miami.

I enjoy seeing these old pictures since growing up in South Florida I have always admired the Miami Skyline and its transformation over the years. Keep them up....

We need more photos of miami.

hey i am glad you guys like'it. Here's a few more, i'm sorry for the poor quality, but those photos were scanned and uploaded so they lose a lot of quality.

So here's a few more from the top of the intercontinental hotel, for those who live in Miami it's a nice place to go cause you can see the hole skyline from a different angle, these pic's were takin in March 2000.
climing the stair's : http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0002.jpg

The old Dupont Plaza Hotel (r.i.p. :lol:)
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0001.jpg

brickell key
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0003.jpg

Brickell Area, the old Sheraton (i think) hotel
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0005.jpg

Biscayne blvd, the weather was nasty on this day
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0014.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0009.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0033-1.jpg

Now here's a little from the view of my balcony:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0047.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0049.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0050.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0018.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0015.jpg

Now some pic's from the key biscayne island:
this is from 1997.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0038.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0046.jpg

now from my last trip to miami 2004
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0079-1.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0007.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0013.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0008.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0010.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0011.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0012.jpg

Downtown 2003
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0029.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0030.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0036.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0031.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0034.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0037.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0031.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0051.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0119.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0120.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0117.jpg

this is from early 1993 you can see the reform of the macarthur causeway
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0048.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0017.jpg

brickell av 1995
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0111.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0079.jpg

downtown 1994
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0016.jpg

i love this pic, it's from 2004 i don't remember if it's Coral way, but i know is in the gables area
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0006.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0004.jpg

My brand new (at the time :lol: ) Oldsmobile Ciera at Dadeland Mall 1997
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0020.jpg

Some Post's cards and areal photos:
the 80's
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0032.jpg

the 90's
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0075.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0076-1.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0077.jpg

The versace's house right after his assasination
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0019.jpg

well that's now for today, soon i'll post more, Those were the best year's of my life, i hope one day i'll move back to Miami!

Nice Pics you have.

Miami looked sooo weak... damn

Thanks for the pics :)

Thanks. i have some areial´s from the 80´s next week i´ll post some more photos.
Greetings to all

Here's a little preview of what i'll soon be posting..
Miami 1989
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0025-1.jpg

Flager street
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0027-1.jpg

one question, do i post the pictures here or start a new thread?

one question, do i post the pictures here or start a new thread?

This would seem to be the appropriate thread. Enjoy seeing that stuff! :cheers:

Well this pictures are scanned from and old book i have that´s called Aerial Miami by David King Gleason and photos by David King Gleason. It was taken on 1989 and 1990. Part´s of the photos are blurry because the book is too big and didn´t fit on my scanner.

downtown Miami 1989
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0005-1.jpg

Miami River 1989
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0006-2.jpg

he also made some comparations between before and after :lol:


http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0003-1.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0004-2.jpg

the calle ocho area in the 40´s
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0011-2.jpg

the calle ocho area 1989
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0012-2.jpg

Miracle mall
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0013-2.jpg

brickell
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0009-1.jpg

the atlantis
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0010-2.jpg

brickell avenue
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0008-2.jpg

superbowl final 1989 at Miami Orange bowl
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0007-2.jpg

Miami International 1989
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0014-1.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0015-1.jpg

downtown 1989
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0017-1.jpg

the freedom tower 1989
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0016-1.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0018-1.jpg

sailing 1989
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0019-1.jpg

Star´s island (not shure)
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0023-1.jpg

the miami grand prix 1989
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0020-1.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0024.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0025-2.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0022-1.jpg

dezember 1989
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0021.jpg

and for the ``before and after´´ lover´s here´s a little gift:

Downtown Miami 1926:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0002-1.jpg
downtown Miami 1989:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/davidkinggleason.jpg
downtown Miami 2006 ( the most recent one i found in the same angle)
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/998.jpg

More to Come!

Those were awesome.

Great stuff!!

One note (perhaps the book got it wrong): That 1989 picture of the Orange Bowl couldn't have been a Super Bowl for two reasons. First, there's quite a few empty seats and second, the last Super Bowl at the OB was way back in January, 1979. All the subsequent ones were played at Joe Robbie (or one of its various other names). It has to be a UM game.

(REALLY loving seeing the very old pics)

Great stuff!!

One note (perhaps the book got it wrong): That 1989 picture of the Orange Bowl couldn't have been a Super Bowl for two reasons. First, there's quite a few empty seats and second, the last Super Bowl at the OB was way back in January, 1979. All the subsequent ones were played at Joe Robbie (or one of its various other names). It has to be a UM game.

(REALLY loving seeing the very old pics)

Your right! there are two photos of the orange bowl in the book, this one was a regular one, the other the author posted it was the final, i'll check out the date, thanks for the correction:)

A little more :
This is the Point view (brickell bay drive) i got to look up in the book to see from what year is this picture but i have to say i had no idea that those mansions existed, in the middle is where is located today the Four season´s hotel.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/5508778782_82fdab2920_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59874712@N04/5508778782/)
scan0026 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59874712@N04/5508778782/) por betto8677 (http://www.flickr.com/people/59874712@N04/), no Flickr
i used to live on that street but it was called South Bayshore drive, after i moved they changed to Brickell Bay drive here´s a photo of my building
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0037-2.jpg
I sold that condo in 98 for U$ 160.000.00, yesterday i was searching in a Miami real estate and i found the apartament i use to live in: http://www.trulia.com/property/3029869714-1420-Brickell-Bay-Dr-603-Miami-FL-33131 the asking price is U$ 600.000.00 :bash: But what can we do. Anywho more photos
the downtown Skyline
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0028-1.jpg
The miracle Mille
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0029-1.jpg
Miami Night skyline in 1940's (rare)
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5174/5508195003_6693ef6c2f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59874712@N04/5508195003/)
scan0030 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59874712@N04/5508195003/) por betto8677 (http://www.flickr.com/people/59874712@N04/), no Flickr

And more from the view of my balcony i never get tired of seeing them!
this picture is my favorite of all my photos:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5138/5508771806_a362268841_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59874712@N04/5508771806/)
scan0034 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59874712@N04/5508771806/) por betto8677 (http://www.flickr.com/people/59874712@N04/), no Flickr

one time i received a little visitor :lol:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5508732058_b71d2b3aac_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59874712@N04/5508732058/)
scan0033 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59874712@N04/5508732058/) por betto8677 (http://www.flickr.com/people/59874712@N04/), no Flickr
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5508731284_c9e9b9492f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59874712@N04/5508731284/)
scan0032 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/59874712@N04/5508731284/) por betto8677 (http://www.flickr.com/people/59874712@N04/), no Flickr

well that's all for today, soon i'll post some more, and guys please excuse my english, it used to be perfect, but over the year's i lost practice.

Wow. Great post.

Wow. Great post.

Thanks Meph, soon i'll post more!

Man, those are great Betto8677! I'm going to show these to my Grandmother. She was born in Miami 1n 1928. I'm sure she'll get a kick out of them.

www.thomaskramer.com has some great pics, but I cant get them to work. :(

Amazing 1983 clip of the construction of the Southeast Financial Center, the tallest building in the Southeast at 776 ft. Arguably still Miami's tallest and most imposing structure.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1428258789044

Amazing 1983 clip of the construction of the Southeast Financial Center, the tallest building in the Southeast at 776 ft. Arguably still Miami's tallest and most imposing structure.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1428258789044

What do you mean by using the word arguably? Is this up for debate? I thought the Four Seasons Hotel was clearly taller...

What do you mean by using the word arguably? Is this up for debate? I thought the Four Seasons Hotel was clearly taller...

I'd still argue that the Southeast Financial Center is Miami's tallest. Though the Four Seasons has more floors and the decorative roof piece, an accurate height of the tower has never been given, as well as the point can be made for the Southeast Bank tower. Hines, the developer, during the construction and opening, made the claim to be nearing 800 ft, as also the FAA's objections. For a fact, the Southeast Financial Center has still the highest occupiable floors in the Southeast. Atlanta and Charlotte's tallest buildings have decorative elements by those heights.

Does anyone have a map of how Biscayne Bay looked like say 1890 or around the time Miami started to take shape?
It'd be interestig to the the natural shapes of the shores, before the man made islands. :)

Does anyone have a map of how Biscayne Bay looked like say 1890 or around the time Miami started to take shape?
It'd be interestig to the the natural shapes of the shores, before the man made islands. :)

1890:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l59xHfk-yfI/Tg01qBCq_cI/AAAAAAAAA48/RMbOw9JlrVM/s1600/1890%2BMiami%2BMap.JPG

(no, I wasn't around then, wise guys)

^^ Thanks. Something more zoomed in would be great.
Not that there was anything to zoom in back then. :)

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o200/betto8677/scan0004-2.jpg

Former airport: Viking Airport. Note the hangar in the top-right corner on the west end. History (http://www.airfields-freeman.com/FL/Airfields_FL_Miami_C.htm#viking)



Thanks. Something more zoomed in would be great.
Not that there was anything to zoom in back then. :)


Maybe something like this? Fire Insurance map from 1918:


http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/1015/miami1918.jpg


(Sorry about the size, hard to read the details if it's any smaller.)

^^Very cool...especially all those long-forgotten street names Miami once had. :cheers:

Haha, "Viking Airport" Awesome. :D

Cool map. I was actully looking for Miami Beach pre-anything. Like before the Dade Canal.
But that was cool!

Someone should mail the map to the city, they should incorporate some of thoose old names in the new developments.

Any pictures of downtown Miami from the late 60's and 70's?

Any pictures of downtown Miami from the late 60's and 70's?

There's tons out there but rather than post a couple I would invite you to check out this site: http://www.donboyd.net/

It's a real treasure trove of vintage photos of Miami and South Florida and covers all sorts of specific categories. You can leave comments as well. I even found an old elementary school classmate that way.

Also, if you are on facebook please check out: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/I-Grew-Up-in-South-Florida-in-the-60s-70s-and-80s/203472476342271

Frequently updated, and also full of great old images and memories for all of us who love Miami. :cheers:

There's tons out there but rather than post a couple I would invite you to check out this site: http://www.donboyd.net/

It's a real treasure trove of vintage photos of Miami and South Florida and covers all sorts of specific categories. You can leave comments as well. I even found an old elementary school classmate that way.

Also, if you are on facebook please check out: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/I-Grew-Up-in-South-Florida-in-the-60s-70s-and-80s/203472476342271

Frequently updated, and also full of great old images and memories for all of us who love Miami. :cheers:

Great sourse of trivia too....every Miamian needs to know where Johnny & Mack is located....

Great sourse of trivia too....every Miamian needs to know where Johnny & Mack is located....

Rumor has it "by the railroad track."

And that's a fact. :cheers:

Rumor has it "by the railroad track."

And that's a fact. :cheers:

But is it still the world's largest?

But is it still the world's largest?

My good friend Tom Gustafson says yes.

Miami, Florida 1908 (http://www.shorpy.com/node/9213?size=_original)

Biscayne Bay 1910 (http://www.shorpy.com/node/9860?size=_original)

Hialeah Park 1939 (http://www.shorpy.com/node/3466?size=_original)

^^Cool pics... going back to the fire insurance map, seeing some street names such as "Prado, Havana, Santiago, Gomez, Marti, O'reilly, Obispo, and Vedado" really does make me feel like home :')

^^Cool pics... going back to the fire insurance map, seeing some street names such as "Prado, Havana, Santiago, Gomez, Marti, O'reilly, Obispo, and Vedado" really does make me feel like home :')

I was born in Vedado...!

I was born in Vedado...!

:lol: ^^ Then welcome to the family! :cheers:

^^Cool pics... going back to the fire insurance map, seeing some street names such as "Prado, Havana, Santiago, Gomez, Marti, O'reilly, Obispo, and Vedado" really does make me feel like home :')

Yes, me too !!!

Back in the day Indian Creek hosted the world water speed record on three separate occasions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_speed_record

CiM8ZVQRY_s&feature=related

:okay: Cool video. Thanks for sharing

Interesting fact.

Miami, incorporated in 1896, is older than New York City, incorporated in 1898.

Interesting fact.

Miami, incorporated in 1896, is older than New York City, incorporated in 1898.

Well, 1898 is when NYC was consolidated to include the five boroughs that make up the city today but New York City (Manhattan) had already been an incorporated city a LONG time prior to that.

In fact, it was first incorporated in 1653 under Dutch rule---with the name changing to 'New York' when the British took over a decade later.

Interesting fact.

Miami, incorporated in 1896, is older than New York City, incorporated in 1898.

Are you serious?

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam. Why they changed it I can't say. Some people just liked it better that way.