1111 Lincoln Road

1111 Lincoln Road

1111 Lincoln Road uses different heights to define programs thought the project and to create visual impact on the site. The diverse heights which respond to the different programs of the project are divided into three main parts: retail, offices and parking.

The cast-in place concrete slabs function as floor plates which are held by v-shaped columns. The lack of walls accentuates the visual impact of compression and expansion of the structure.

1111 Lincoln Road - Urban Surface (video)

1111 Lincoln Road - Urban Surface

1111 stands out amongst the design of other Miami Beach structures, it’s large skeletal frame a contrast to the heavy facade of the Art Deco. A series of floor plates, ramps and columns are arranged in a playful and expressive manner. Using but one material, concrete, the building assemblies a collection of elements. The buildings program includes: parking, retail, a restaurant, offices, a rebuilt bank, and a luxury apartment.  Rather than being a piece of monolithic infrastructure, the building wants to become a multipurpose complex, a reinvention the car park as a sculptural, flexible unit. Though the design was influenced by a number aspects, it doesn’t draw lines between its elements, and its surroundings. The building marks a shift from the design of enclosed objects to the design and manipulation of a larger urban surface.

Extension of Lincoln Road

The 1111 Lincoln garage and a game of its Transparency

    The 1111 Lincoln garage is successful urban sculpture, designed by Herzog & de Meuron that allures the Miami Beach visitors and publicity with its futuristic look. The building integrates the varieties of the city functions, such a notion of the vertically sliced version of the facing public plaza; a giant buffer of the Lincoln Road corner; an open-air box, with the exposed plagued glass-glazed retails and hidden roof private unit with hanging garden on the top.

Figure 1. View of 1111 from Alton Rd 

1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

Parking garages are usually unseen, covered up, poorly lit and uncelebrated
architectural structures. However the 1111 parking garage by Herzog and de Meuron
celebrates the architectural necessity of providing parking structures in the densely
populated community of Miami Beach. The structure celebrates its flexible relationship to
the adjacent pedestrian Lincoln Road Mall while creating a civic space and identity for

Miami Beach.

1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach [Diego Diez de Medina]

            Located at one of the ends of Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, the 1111 Parking garage by Herzog and De Meuron is a reflection of the programmatic, and circulatory relationship that happens on the pedestrian road it sits on.  The Building is a series of unevenly spaced out floor slabs connected by ramps that drive circling around the vertical pedestrian circulation.

1111 and It’s “five points towards a new Architecture”

1111 and It’s “five points towards a new Architecture”

About a century ago in the mid 1920s Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret published a manifesto/declaration entitled "Five points towards a new architecture", it goes as follows: 1) Supports; 2) Roof gardens; 3) Free design of the ground plan; 4) Horizontal windows; and 5) The free design of the facade.

The following essay will attempt to briefly study, compare and describe the relationship between the Pritzker Architecture Prize winner start Architects Herzog & de Meuron 1111 garage on Lincoln Road, One of the most active pedestrian areas in the city and Le corbusier's five points towards a new architecture. 

"The supports" Le Corbusier stated that the ground plane of any structure should be raised 12 to 15 ft from grade, so that "the rooms are thereby removed from the dampness of the soil”. Even though the 1111 Garage is programmed to be a mixed use building with more than one specific programmatic use, the larger part of its function- the garage- was raised about 15 ft from grade level, Allowing for panoramic views of the City. With help from Landscape architect Raymond Jungle, The ground level was treated as a continuation of the Lincoln road mall, both vertically and horizontally, it maintains the 1^st floor height at a comfortable human urban scale. 

“The roof gardens” leCorbusier wrote: “The flat roof demands in the first place systematic utilization for domestic purposes: roof terrace, roof garden”. The roof of the 1111 garage was not only programmed with a luxurious loft but the  bridge connecting to its adjacent building activates and joins together both as one plane. On the other hand and what makes the statement truly strong is that each platform of the building, every “roof” of the structure is utilized or could be transformed to hold a series of different activities.

For instance: Public and Private corporate events, Art exhibitions, concerts and even private backyards. 

“The free designing of the ground- plan” states that both the horizontal and vertical structural system of a building should act independent from each other. The structural system that carries the floors should be separate from the ones carrying the partition walls, Allowing for infinite manipulation of the interior space plan allocation of use. In the 1111 garage one could argue that the architecture seeks that of parasite Architecture. Essential to concepts of sustainable designs, buildings whose present won’t affect future transformations. This building, while preserving its identity and given its structural qualities, could easily serve as frame completely different service without the need for demolitions. It is a shining example of architecture that responds and adapts itself to possible change.

 Private event level 6 of garage

Art display under main stairwell

Roof top concert

Aerial view of a private roof top courtyard

Creative usage of urban space by Tadashi Kawamata

Domino house Le Corbusier

“The horizontal window” for le Corbusier meant a series of things, a lucid way to see that the walls are not the main structural part of the building and that the building is being clearly held by a different or separate structure, and perhaps most importantly it offers a direct connection with the horizon. This aspect is what is most successful in the building and what really defines the intention of the architecture.

The use of horizontal slabs, in reference to Corbu’s theory, emphasizes that the walls are non-structural; in fact there are no walls to support the slabs, only irregularly shaped columns that give a notion of uncertain stability. Around The perimeter, the parking spaces are widely exposed to the horizon, an infinite frame of visual connection to the city. 

“The free design of the Façade” The architects extended the irregular in height slabs beyond the supporting also irregular shaped columns or structural system of the garage. Now generating a rather uncertain sensation of what is really holding this structure up. In this case the façades is in constant alteration, in constant movement, in continuous transformation made by cars.

1111 Lincoln Road Architectural Oasis, Fabio Segre

Perspective Sketch of 1111 Lincoln Road Building. By Fabio Segre

Located at the gateway to Lincoln Road’s pedestrian promenade, the new 1111 Parking Garage by Herzog & the Meuron and the adjacent pedestrian boulevards extension of Lincoln Road by Raymond Jungles, provides a harmoniously reinvented perspective of how to integrate mix programing building types with iconic sculptural element and public spaces.( Photo - 1) 

 Photo 1- First: South-West view day time/ Second: South-West view night time/ Third: North West View. Photos: Fabio Segre

Type vs Form. Sketch : Fabio Segre

 The New Parking Garage is unique on its type. It is a good example where building type is complete disconnected with our traditional idea of form. Parking garage are usually or most of the time boxes or big containers with a minimal intention of architecture desire. However the Herzos & de Meuron parking structure in Lincoln Road strongly question our entire previous concept of how this type of building should look like (Photo-2). The architectural language in the design screams singular and new. Particularly, it has the persistent aspiration of articulating the local and global as well as the particular and universal. It can be define as a pure Type concept modifying the traditional form of a Parking Garage. It is a Paradoxical architectural “form”, represented by its “type”. 

The building also responds to a strong regionalism expression by integrating the design with the social and natural environment. Its characteristics are bold in comparison; by studying the place, the architects were able to accurately reflect its usage, the climate, and the landscape. (Photo-3 and 4)

 Photo-3 and 4: Integration between building, climate and landscape. Photos: Fabio Segre

The garage is both original and creative; by using what can be call a “continuous modern tropical overhang” at ground level, the integration with Lincoln road Pedestrian Boulevard happens gently. This overhang creates a transitional space between the building, the sidewalk and the trees canopies; a wonderful in-between space and magnificent example of a multi-functional space, mingling restaurants, play space, and public parking spaces. (Photo 5-6) 

 Photo 5-6: Transitional Space. Photos: Fabio Segre

The 1111 with its open verticality gives you the idea of a public observation tower, providing a connection between, building, people and region. It is almost impossible to distinguish the boundary or end between the multi layering systems of Lincoln Road and the beginning of the Garage Structure(photo 7) . It looks like both are welded together in one unique piece. Its free-form structures are reminiscent of the trunks of trees, and this gives a sense that nature is present. The structure almost seems like a small forest in the middle of the city. (Photo 8-9 and 10)

 Photo 7- 1111 Building as an observation tower. Photos: Fabio Segre

Photos 8, 9 and 10 Building Nature. Photos by Fabio Segre

 Another aspect of regional integration is the extremely open design and different heights between floor slabs favorable for tropical weather, allowing natural light and cross ventilation increasing the visual relationship between city and building.

 As mentioned on the beginning  the urban oasis success is not just related to the iconic expression of a building but to the collaboration of architects, landscape architects, artists and designers of how to re-interpret the design of our cities.  One good example of this perfect relationship between architecture, art and landscape is a permanent curvilinear glass sculpture installation by Dan Graham located at the site. The installation’s horizontality visual effects distortion breaks the hardiness of the surrounding elements; linking the architecture of Herzog & de Meuron, with the floor pattern and trees canopies of Raymond Jungles design. (Photo-11)

Glass Sculpture Installation by Dan Graham

Experiencing  the 1111 Building Including over-night camping.

Merging of 1111 Parking Garage and adjacent building - Ana Benatuil

The 1111 Lincoln road parking garage located at the intersection between Alton road and Lincoln road, serves as a successful connection between the pedestrian traffic on Lincoln road and the vehicular traffic accessing Lincoln Road Mall. The 1111 is a multipurpose building that seeks to fit into the Miami Beach urban fabric, by serving as an entrance to Lincoln Road Mall and also by becoming an icon to Miami Beach. This writing seeks to critique and analyze the connection between the 1111 parking garage with the existing building next to it. 

One of the purposes of the 1111 parking garage was to serve as an addition to the existing building. At the human scale, right along Lincoln road, a canopy above the retail spaces continues across the new building to the existing building, marrying the two together. Also, the top floor of the existing building is articulated in the same manner as the concrete slabs of the parking garage, with the same slanted ends. This way, the garage is wrapping the existing building, successfully merging them together. 

 

Last floor of adjacent building treated in the same manner as the parking garage concrete slabs

Overhang continuing through the existing building, creating a unified experience for the pedestrian

On another note, while it was clever to accentuate the continuation of the canopy at the first level, another way the garage was connected to the existing building was through bridges and stairways on each level of the parking garage. Said connections although they might be functional to the users, I think they are architecturally unsuccessful and out of scale. The grandness of the parking garage is overwhelming in contrast to those tiny stairways and bridges, creating a sensation of improvisation or temporary pathways. Also, the feeling one gets while standing over those bridges is a feeling of uncertainty and vertigo, and when looking at the gap between the two buildings, one sees that there is nothing else that relates one building to the other.

Bridges and Stairways connecting both buildings

Gap between both buildings, notice small stairway above.

Bridge to existing building

As an object, the parking Garage is a successful piece of architecture, being a landmark to the urban fabric of Miami Beach, and also connecting to the existing building at a larger scale, wrapping it on the first floor and last floor with the same concrete slab treatment, but the connections at a human scale, such as the bridges and stairways are somehow random and improvised. An example of a better attempt to connect both buildings can be seen on the roof garden which is part of the residential area of the parking garage, one can see the wide stairway going to the top of the existing building, with a better sense of scale in contrast to the parking garage.

Stairway to roof garden, better sense of scale.

1111 Lincoln Road: A Ceremony of Arrival, Priscilla Pagan

Image 1: From 1111 Lincoln Road's Official Website

      With 1111 Lincoln Road, Herzog and de Meuron rethink the conventional archetype for a parking garage. The simple absence of its façade introduces it as a new archetype. Traditionally, in a building that has the function to store cars, the program is hidden. However, 1111 Lincoln Road celebrates cars by putting them on display. In an article for the New York Times, Michael Barbaro calls the 1111 “a piece of carchitecture” and sees it “as an ode to Miami’s flashy automobile culture.” Jacques Herzog describes 1111 Lincoln Road as "pure Miami Beach -all muscle without cloth," explaining its lack of skin or facade. The absence of the façade gives theatrical views of the city while driving through it, creating a ceremonial event of arrival. 1111 Lincoln Road cements the transition between modes of transportation, from vehicular to pedestrian, making an experience from this transitional event of arriving at Lincoln Road. 

11 11 Lincoln Road, [Jillian Rio]

Being a multi-use building with retail and restaurant spaces on the ground floor, fifth floor, and seventh floor, along with a penthouse residency, 11 11 Lincoln Road becomes more than a parking garage and a complement to Lincoln Road Mall (Figure 1). The building was designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron to primarily be a parking garage, but also a multipurpose space.

(Figure 1: Storefronts at ground level and the fifth floor cradling the open-air parking)

11 11 Lincoln Road is grounded to its site by welcoming accessibility off of the street and into Lincoln Road Mall. It is most often viewed on one of Miami Beach’s main streets, Alton Road. Driving North on Alton Road, the full length of the columns on the seventh floor of the 11 11 building can be seen just above the buildings preceding it. Its remarkable height and seemingly unfinished framing attracts attention and sparks wonder in the foreground of its surrounding stucco clad structures. When the cars parked up to the very edge of the floor plates come into view, the building is finally realized as a parking garage. Conveniently located at one end of Lincoln Road Mall, the building becomes an icon calling cars off of Alton and onto the pedestrian friendly street (Figure 2).

(Figure 2: 11 11 Lincoln Road demanding attention from Alton Road.)

Standing on Lincoln Road, next to 11 11 and in the building’s park designed by landscape architect Raymond Jungles’, the focus of the building is no longer on its farsighted sculptural quality, but its decisions on a smaller scale to become a true part of Lincoln Road. Although the building is 125’ tall, the strong delineation created by the overhang of the second floor, continues the respected storefront height that the buildings of Lincoln Road Mall share (Figure 3).

(Figure 3: Model of 11 11 Lincoln Road. The cross between storefront and open parking garage)

The undulating, glass storefronts of 11 11 Lincoln Road also carry the same dynamism created by most of the other storefronts in Lincoln Road Mall. The recessed entrances pull the pedestrian into the stores. Also like the surrounding restaurant and retail spaces, the spaces in 11 11 Lincoln Road vary in size to refrain from conducting a monotonous walk (Figure 4).

(Figure 4: Ground floor plan of 11 11 Lincoln Road showing relation to Raymond Jungles’ park and that variation in storefronts.)

There is a small break in the building on the ground floor that carries the pedestrian up into the upper floors of the parking garage (Figure 5). 11 11 Lincoln Road adds to the experience of Lincoln Road Mall by becoming a successful extension of the mall and bringing in an alternative view of the pedestrian street and the city (Figure 6). 

(Figure 5: On the second floor of 11 11 Lincoln Road looking down into the break in the ground floor and start of the building’s vertical circulation.)

(Figure 6: North view from sixth floor of 11 11 Lincoln Road.)

1111 Lincoln Road, Alexandra Pagliery

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).

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 17^th, 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.      

Fig. 2. View from a parking lot across the street.

Fig. 3. View from West Avenue and Lincoln Road.

Fig. 4. View at night all lit up.

Fig. 5. The simple signage.

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

1111 and Lincoln Road

Top: East end | Bottom: West end

 

One thing that the development of 1111 Lincoln Road did quite well was create an appropriate continuation of Lincoln Road as well as providing a space that creates a subconscious spatial “anchor” to the pedestrian mall. When traveling from the East end on Washington Avenue to the West end on Alton road one would experience a common spatial experience of flat artificial commercial surfaces that are broken down or bisected by an arrangement of soft landscaping and architectural follies that create a series of zones. These contain the veins and the bones of what becomes the body of the consumer experience of the mall. The veins would be the circulation and the follies and soft-scapes hold them together and are the bones which allows for a wide array of program to be interpreted within these spaces.

Starting at East you would encounter the inspiration for the 1111 space. On either side there are large buildings that tower over many other buildings in South Beach. This creates a feeling large vast empty spaces which are appropriately filled with follies and soft-scapes that force down the pedestrian field of vision. Only when standing far back and one really comprehend the magnitude of the space and even then it is not vast or empty but dense and heavy allowing very little views beyond the end of the block. 

 Moving West towards Alton Road you would encounter many similar blocks each one unique but all with the same general experience of pedestrian spaces encapsulated in a metaphorical box of perforated decorative walls.  All along the way there are the same elements of water, plants, and follies. Each of these elements is expressed as continuous parts of a cohesive whole: water follies, plant follies, plants among water, etc.

Boxed space

 When you come to 1111 you suddenly encounter something new. Something unlike the rest of the mall but familiar enough to understand that this space is a part of Lincoln. You would encounter Live Oak and Cyprus trees that are different from the normative deciduous and common Ficus shrubbery you would see on the rest of the road. The soft-scape is much more sparse and intentional as are the water follies and seating areas created from them. The space as a whole is large and powerful but the pedestrian area does not diminish this like its sister to the East. In fact this feeling is embraced as well as it maintains a pleasant pedestrian experience that really punctuates Lincoln Road in an appropriate fashion.