One building stands out from the rest. It is truly majestic and its simplicity and proportions leave me in total awe. That one building that seems to be fighting its surroundings is Ten Museum Park designed by Chad Oppenheim.
The concept behind this building as explained by the architect is "A crisp, well proportioned exoskeleton engages a pure crystalline volume soaring 50 stories above the baya dynamic beacon for the majestic cruise ships as they return from their voyages around the globe. Framing fragments of water, city and sky, every personal and communal space within the complex was designed to serve as a backdrop for life in its most beautiful form. Exuding power and grace within the skyline the structure creatively organizes inherent rhythms to distort scale and abstract typological references becoming a sublime sculptural expression".
Architecture is an art form, it is poetic and it is sculptural, this one building is the perfect example. When growing up, the principal of the private music school I attended told me that "architecture was crystallized music"......I will never forget those words, thank you Emil Friedman, for inspiring me.
My interpretation of the exoskeleton (if music, art and poetry can be interpreted, so can architecture) is protection, protection against those evil forces that are closing in, protection against the negative condo real estate energy that surrounds our city, protection agains a Miami in despair.
Oppenheim Architecture+Design is also responsible for other great projects around Miami and the world, including The Montclair Lofts, Villa Allegra, Casa, Cor, Cube, Element, Ice, Ilona and others.
Ten Museum Park is definitely one of my favorite buildings in our Miami Skyline, I hope it can overcome adversity.
**top photo courtesy of www.oppenoffice.com** **article also appears in miamism.com**
Ines,
I can see why you admire this building....It's beautiful!!! "Architecture is crystallized music" I love the quote from your music professor. I never heard architecture described so eloquently. Have a great day!!
Ines, OK I will tell you the same thing that I told Colleen. With all the hurricanes that you guys get down there, there is no way I would want to be on one of them top floors!!!
Ines,
You constantly amaze me with your knowledge and expertise in the Miami Shores market. You do such a great job on showcasing your community.
What an absolutely stunning breath taking view of Miami! This makes me want to check it out!
Chrissy - you are so sweet! Architecture seems to inspire me....these are my favorite type of posts and they usually go unseen, so thank you!
Lynda - thanks so much (although this building is in Miami, per se - near the performing arts center), but Miami is full of great stuff to write about, that's for sure!
Lisa - you just made me laugh (21?) : ) There are some cities is Miami with height restrictions (Surfside, for example is a max of 12 stories on the ocean side) - zoning restrictions are always a good thing.
Katrina - it really is! Here's a picture from the bottom of the building that I took this week.
Gena - LOL!! I have a funny story about a customer who was afraid of heights and wanted to buy a unit on a 30th floor in Brickell - I told her it was crazy and she should look at lower units. She lived in the unit for 6 months and called my crying one day that she could not take it anymore!
Steve - Oppenheim became really active with the whole building boom in Miami and can tell you that yes, all his buildings are beautiful - he has a green project going up in the Midtown area in Miami which I will definitely write about.
Gena - I'm sure she won't do that again! : )
Sharon - they have all the necessary emergency stuff in these state-of-the-art beauties....as for evacuating....you better believe it!
Lisa - : )