As we finish up our fabulous summer of 2022, I am asking how much time did you spend at the beach, in the water, or just lying in the sunshine? I know I was grateful to splash in the splendor of Presque Isle watching an open-sky sunset. I was calmed by some serene kayaking on our Twin Cities Lakes. And also able indulge on floating in the lovely Chippewa River on a raft with a sweet summer cocktail. Nothing beats any stretch where sand meets the shore.
I was recently made aware of the exotic lifeguard huts of Miami Beach - as predictable as one would expect. Bright, splashy and unique as one would assume them to be - and then more. I had visited the upscale esplanade a few years back. At that point I was taken more with the fetching art deco designs of the buildings along the boardwalk & the neon lights. For some reason I didn't notice a one of these special huts.
History: Credit and kudos needs to go to William Lane Architects. The whole project started back in 1995 after Hurricane Andrew decimated the shores of South Beach. At that point they designed 5 towers to replace damaged ones. But it was in 2015, that the firm came up with the concept of 36 glorious lifeguard huts all based on 6 blueprints and really made a statement. They are the perfect symbiosis of Art Deco, Latin influence and whimsical Florida colors.
They remind me of the mythical treehouse or clubhouse I was always trying to create as a child with leftover lumber and abandoned gallons of pastel paints. In addition to the photos posted, there is a link to their firm's design page which shows the layout of each of the 6 prototypes. Worth the visit to the beach themselves. The hunks of Baywatch never had anything like this!
William Lane Architects; beach houses
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