In 1995, three years after Hurricane Andrew, architectural firm William Lane was commissioned to design some very charmingly outlandish lifeguard towers. Each one is unique with vividly painted hues. The bright colors such as magenta, cyan, lime green, and sunflower yellow are a stark contrast to the natural ecru of the sand.
Bring your beach gear and head out for a walk along the coastline! Art Deco at the Beach: Dotting the Miami shore and all along South Beach in vivid contrast to the sparkling blue ocean, stands an array of brightly colored lifeguard towers. They have become a cherished symbol of Miami and are part of the movement that came to represent the rebirth of the city. Time to whisk you away on a tour of Miami's lifeguard towers, from the stars and stripes to the South Pointe Jetty lighthouse.
The charming candy-colored towers are replacements for a series of more conventional lifeguard stands that were destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Architecture firm William Lane designed five of them in 1995, and in 2015, the city invited them back to complete 33 additional wooden structures. In Miami Beach, a lifeguard tower isn't just a lifeguard tower.
It's a mode of expression, often adorned in a splashy pastel palette to capture the vibrant tropical vibe of the scene. After. 2,376 likes, 33 comments - jamesandkarla on January 23, 2021: "There are 36 candy.
New York City-based photographer Tommy Kwak shares their fascination. He has been photographing the candy-coloured lifeguard towers on Miami Beach since 2019, slowly making his way along the 8.5. Candy-colored lifeguard stands at the South Beach, Miami have a unique art deco design and it's own pieces of history.
@visitflorida Many of the Lifeguard stations were destroyed when Hurricane Andrew hit the area in early 1990's. In 1995, our office designed 5 lifeguard towers to replace those towers that were lost in Hurricane Andrew. A candy sweet selection of lifeguard towers, from the fun to the funky, with one that even resembles a spaceship, and each bathed in bright beach sun.
The pale sands and blue sea and sky are no match for the bold paint on the boards of the towers - there are bright pinks, alternating yellows and reds and even a stars and stripes pattern. One of Miami Beach's most iconic and Instagram-worthy attractions is its collection of lifeguard towers. 36 of them are scattered along the shoreline, each built to withstand the elements while showcasing bold colors, whimsical shapes, and unique architectural details.
Architect William Lane's vision transformed these utilitarian structures to reflect Miami's playful art deco aesthetic.