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South Beach Art Deco
Discover how a passionate group of activists and a splash of pastel paint saved Miami's historic Art Deco buildings from the wrecking ball.
5 chapters93 assets
by andy · Jul 20, 2026
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Chapter 1
The birth of Tropical Deco
1How Paris inspired Florida's coast
2Design tricks to beat the heat
3Why buildings look like cruise ships
4The rule of three in symmetry
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Chapter 2
The dark ages and the threat of the bulldozer
1How South Beach lost its shine
2The threat of the wrecking ball
3The birth of the preservation movement
4Winning the historic district crown
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Chapter 3
The pastel revolution of Barbara and Leonard
1The designer who saw in color
2Painting the town pastel
3The hotel that started it all
4How colors highlighted the details
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Chapter 4
Pop culture to the rescue
1The TV show that changed everything
2The fashion world moves in
3Versace's oceanfront palace
4The economic boom of preservation
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Chapter 5
How to read a South Beach building
1The magic of terrazzo floors
2Glowing in the dark with neon
3The elegant symmetry of the facade
4Plaster reliefs of land and sea
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