Miami Modernist architecture, or MiMo, is a regional style of architecture that developed in South Florida during the post-war period. The style was internationally recognized as a regionalist response to the International Style. It can be seen in most of the larger Miami and Miami Beach resorts built after the Great Depression. Because MiMo styling was not just a response to international architectural movements but also to client demands, themes of glamour, fun, and material excess were added to otherwise stark, minimalist, and efficient styles of the era. MiMo can be described as having decorative breeze blocks, smooth corners, flat roofs, the use of glass, and an overall tropical aesthetic. [2] The style can be most observed today in Middle and Upper Miami Beach along Collins Avenue, as well as along the Biscayne Boulevard corridor starting from around Midtown, through the Design District and into the Upper Eastside.
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The term MiMo has only recently been associated with the style. Popularity of the term is credited to Miami Beach resident Randall C. Robinson and interior designer Teri D'Amico. Principal examples of MiMo include the Fontainebleau Hotel, Eden Roc, Seacoast Towers, Deauville, and Di Lido hotels by famed architect Morris Lapidus; Norman Giller's Carillon Hotel, which was voted Miami Beach's "Hotel of the Year" in 1959; and the original Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, Florida. Giller designed numerous hotels that added many stylish characteristics to Miami, even describing it as "light", "floating", and "whimsy." [3] Giller's designs gave Miami some architectural identity during a rapid growth of tourism after the war. These designs were climate-ready with relaxing designs. This kind of modernism was just what the public needed after World War II, and it is what drew so many tourists towards the city. [4]
To some degree, Miami developed the style through the work of younger architects immediately after the war; they were more closely aligned with media promotions and sensationalism than older architects of the era. The region successfully transposed its extravagant resort styling to a national audience easily captivated by the area’s relative exoticism. [5] A book regarding the architecture of Miami, “A guide to the architecture of Miami”, touches on how its style should represent its culture, stating that it must have “its own expression of the culture it serves” [6] This kind of expression helped MiMo stand out from other styles of architecture while cementing its tropical and leisurely nature.
The area along Biscayne Boulevard is now the designated "MiMo Biscayne Boulevard Historic District" or more uniquely named "MiMo on BiBo", for "Miami Modern on Biscayne Boulevard". MiMo Historic District runs roughly from 50th Street to 77th Street along Biscayne Boulevard, although MiMo can be found in the Design District and Midtown. Many annual festivals are held to promote MiMo architecture, such as "Cinco de MiMo" a play on "Cinco de Mayo" in early May. The area is bounded by the Little River to the north, Bay Point Estates to the south, the Florida East Coast Railway to the west, and Biscayne Bay to the east. [7]
Because of their architectural and cultural worth, preservationists advocate for the protection of MiMo buildings around North Beach. These efforts aim to protect not only the physical architecture, but its historical importance as well. [8] Thanks to preservation efforts, tourism, and historical protection, MiMo has become greatly valued. Characteristics like its breeze blocks and tropical style are considered vital to Miami's identity
