Comments on: A Closer Look: South Beach (West Ave. Corridor) INTRO

By: Xavier Zayas-Bazan

Xavier Zayas-Bazan — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 01:16:14 +0000

A name is extremely important in a development. It might tell you about the project’s design. Its place in the community. The technology within. Everglades on the Bay is built on the site of old Everglades Hotel. Marina Blue is near the bay and a marina. Opera Tower is near the PAC.

The marketing campaign emanates from the name. In the case of the Mondrian, without the allusion to the artist’s work, the project’s name loses its conceptual luster. It begs the question, why Mondrian?

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 23:49:37 +0000

What’s even more of an insult is that the “Mondrian” label is being applied to projects in more than one city, without any consideration of local history, tastes or relationship to the the artist.

Yet the naming of buildings in this manner goes back at least a half-millenium. Think of all the “Savoys” or “Tivolis” there are around the world.

The habit of naming buildings with an anglophile name on South Beach in the early days I always thought was an affront to local history. Now I see it as a part of the historic path.

By: Xavier Zayas-Bazan

Xavier Zayas-Bazan — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:07:19 +0000

It's funny James, I thought the same thing, but then Bayside made me think of the marketplace. There is a condo in the area called South Beach Bayside C.A. MHG does have a West Hollywood Mondrian and is in fact expanding with the Chicago Mondrian. Although I was oblivious to the artist correlation, I think it merits credibility since the term only has one definition in the dictionary. Look forward to more of your goods on Transit Miami. You guys are doing an incredible job.

By: James Wilkins

James Wilkins — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:01:14 +0000

The building is named after the Mondrian in LA, I believe, in fact the hotel group may have a couple of others named Mondrian so there is more to it than just the artist.

How about calling the neighborhood Bayside, South Beach

By: Xavier Zayas-Bazan

Xavier Zayas-Bazan — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 19:43:43 +0000

Alesh, I had no idea that the building was named after an artist–when it comes to these matters I’m clueless. Now that I know, you’re right, if one is going to name a building after an artist, you would expect for the design aspects to draw at least some inspiration from that artist’s work. Otherwise, what’s the point?

Peter, If there is a Picasso project within the next year, I’ll give you a $500 cash reward. By the way, if there is one, I’ll be sure to blast it on this blog–unless it’s a super tall, and then I’ll pay up with a smile.

By: Peter Santiago

Peter Santiago — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 19:00:51 +0000

Alesh,

Good point about naming the building Mondrian, seems a bit cheesy. But, unfortunately you will notice that the trend is to attach the artsy flavor to new projects by having them designed by famous designers such as Stark, and Armani, or naming them after a famous dead artist. Don’t be surprised to see Picasso South Beach coming soon.

By: alesh

alesh — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:01:43 +0000

I don’t like the fact that they’re using the name of a super-famous artist to name their condo renovation, and their sales materials are completely unlike the work of that artist.

I live near that neighborhood, and I like it. It’s undergoing some crazy transformations. But in terms of flavor, for me it’s very similar to SoBe south-of-fifth, and I always think of it as an extension of that neighborhood. Even the direction of the changes are the same in the two places.