Pérez Art Museum Creates a 'New Vernacular' for Miami

Ray Rinaldi considers two buildings by Herzog & de Meuron in Miami—the parking garage at 1111 Lincoln Road (completed in 2010) and the newly opened Pérez Art Museum. “Both pose the same question: Where does inside start and outside end?”

Rinaldi acknowledges that the blurring of boundaries between inside and outside has been an ongoing project of architects for a century, but “Herzog & de Meuron go one better” by eliminating exterior walls altogether.

“Together, the two Herzog & de Meuron buildings raise the possibility of a new vernacular for Miami, better known for piling on art deco ornamentation and sealing things tight so conditioned air can’t escape. Their breathable, stripped-down style suits the beach town’s sultry personality while functioning just fine in its warm climate.”

Rinaldi also notes that those interested in architectural star power should keep an eye on Museum Park in Miami. Work by James Corner Field Operations and Zaha Hadid, among others, are currently in the development pipeline for the adjacent neighborhood.