Having recently been completed in 2010, the Herzog and de
Meuron parking structure situated at the intersection of Alton and Lincoln Road
is working its way to becoming an icon. “Eleven eleven,” as it is so called,
has become a new term in the vocabulary of Miamians and tourists alike to
denote this large, yet light, concrete structure that functions as the grand entrance
to the pedestrian zone of Lincoln Road. It works similarly to the gateways of old
cities in the sense that when people pass by it, it marks a new territory. In
the case of 1111, it marks the beginning of a retail district or strip where
people can shop, eat and take part in many other activities (Figure 1).
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| Fig. 1. The scale of 1111 and its prime location at Lincoln Road and Alton Road. |
The design of 1111 has many qualities that would cause it to
become an instant symbol for Miami Beach, and more specifically Lincoln Road. The
structure stands at a height of 125 feet, towering over any of its neighboring
buildings, which were all built with a height restriction of 75 feet. This
allows 1111 to be seen from many vantage points while driving in Miami Beach (Figure 2).
When one is driving down Alton Road or 17th, it can be seen from a
distance allowing a driver to know that they are approaching Lincoln Road, a
road that does not allow for vehicular traffic (Figure 3). One might think it strange for
a parking garage to become a symbol of Miami Beach but even though one of its
functions is to serve as a parking garage, at its large scale, it only houses a
shocking 300 parking spaces. The fact that it is a multi-purpose space that can
host events, has a variety of retail and restaurants located within, and even
has residences on its top level, makes it a very suitable icon because it
contains all that defines Miami Beach and why people live and travel here. With
its openness and large separation between floors, at night it serves as a
beacon that becomes filled with light (Figure 4). It illuminates the entrance of Lincoln
Road starting at the ground floor and continues all the way up through the
structure. All these features, together with its simplicity of design and signage have allowed 1111 Lincoln Road to easily fill the role as new icon for
Miami Beach (Figure 5). The real test for 1111’s ability to be the new icon will come when
similar structures that are scheduled to be constructed by other well-known
architects are placed in the Miami Beach grid (Figure 6). Although these other structures
might make 1111 just one of many, 1111 will prevail because of its location and
connection to the centerfold of Miami Beach, the historic and symbolic Lincoln
Road.
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| Fig. 2. View from a parking lot across the street. |
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| Fig. 3. View from West Avenue and Lincoln Road. |
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| Fig. 4. View at night all lit up. |
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| Fig. 5. The simple signage. |
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| Fig.6. Locations of current and proposed structures. 1111 Lincoln Road by Herzog and de Meuron Parking Garage by Ten Arquitectos Proposed Garage by Zaha Hadid Proposed Parking/Retail/Hotel Complex by OMA Proposed Structure by Norman Foster |
2 comments:
How is HdM's 1111 a symbol? It's novelty and irregularity may make it iconic, but what is that icon communicating?
What tectonic, spatial, and experiential gestures of 1111 represent the essence of Miami Beach?
The "symbol" that 11 11 creates for Miami Beach and Lincoln Road has to be remembered as one of the main influences of the firm's design process. You touch on many points on how this building becomes an icon: its size, its multifunctional spaces, how it complements Lincoln Road. I am not sure if you should have concluded that this building will always be an icon. Maybe you could have just explained how this building becomes a true part of the community, which is a major factor in creating a "symbol" for the community.
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