Love Letter: The Bacardi Building; Miami, Florida

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There is a stretch of Biscayne Blvd in Miami that is at once super cool AND totally sketchy, framed by run down motels that were once 1960’s groovy and today’s fast food joints devoid of any style at all.  Tucked within that crazy quilt of visual noise is a gorgeous example of 1960s modern architecture, the corporate home of Bacardi USA, housing a museum of the corporate history, family history, and the history of their eponymous rum. 

The architect of the tower was Enrique Gutierrez of the Puerto Rican firm Sacmag International and the blue and white tile work on the exterior was created by Francisco Brennand of Recife, Brazil.  In 1973, the cool square building was added to the property, designed by local architect Ignacio Carrera-Justiz, and the glass tapestries, designed to withstand hurricane gales, were created in France under the direction of Gabriel and Jacques Loire of Chartres, after an original painting by the German artist Johannes M. Dietz.  Fancy, huh?!  (wink)

It’s a really, really beautiful spot.  I spend a lot of time in Miami.  Everyone knows it as a place for mad partying and chic hotels, but there is a ton of cool stuff tucked here and there and everywhere.  Come visit!

xo

D.