Contemporary-Temporary Lexicon: Lifeguard Towers of Miami

Miami Beach is renowned for its Art Deco architecture, yet scattered along the shoreline stand vibrant structures that contribute significantly to the city’s visual character. While the lifeguard towers of Miami have become ingrained in popular culture, their origins trace back to the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The hurricane left a trail of devastation in South Florida, rendering the existing life-guard huts virtually nonexistent. Seizing an opportunity to redefine these structures as future icons, the City of Miami enlisted architect William Lane to create the initial replacements. Subsequently, additional towers emerged through collaborations with local businesses and design competitions. Now numbering 31, these kaleidoscopic towers act as magnetic attractions for photographers visiting the beach. Influenced by a fusion of organic forms, playful colors reminiscent of cartoons, and the city’s distinctive Tropical Deco style, these structures continue to captivate tourists world-wide. In this case, the contemporary lexicon is read from the perspective of potentially temporal structures and for that reason important to catalogue.