BIG TOGETHER WITH WEST 8, FENTRESS, JPA AND DEVELOPERS PORTMAN CMC PROPOSES MIAMI BEACH SQUARE AS THE CENTERPIECE OF THEIR 52 ACRE CONVENTION CENTER

Miami Beach is a unique city in so many ways. It is one of the youngest cities in America – and perhaps right now one of themost vibrant and dynamic. Its streetscape is characterized by a lively walkable urban fabric with a friendly human scaled environment under the cool shade of tropical trees and art deco canopies – except at the convention center. It is a dead black hole of asphalt in the heart of one the most beautiful and lively cities in America. Our mission is to bring Miami Beach back to the Convention Center – and to imagine an architecture and an urban space unique to the climate and culture of Miami Beach.

We propose to roll out an urban fabric of paths and plazas, parks and gardens that forms an archipelago of urban oases throughout the site. At the heart of it – we introduce a central square to become the pivoting point of the entire neighborhood. Becoming the front door to the convention center, and the convention hotel, a front lawn to the revitalized Jackie Gleason Theatre, a town square for the city hall, an outdoor arena for the Latin American Cultural Museum, and the red carpet for the big botanical ball room.

“We have devised a strategy that combines urban planning and landscape design to create a neighborhood characterized by human scale, pedestrian connections, shaded spaces with public oriented programs lining the streets and squares. A neighborhood that, depending on the season, the weekday, or even the time of day can be perceived as a lively downtown neighborhood or an inviting public park.” Bjarke Ingels, Creative Director BIG

MIAMI BEACH SQUARE from BIG on Vimeo.

Miami Beach Square

READ ALSO: ECOWEEK AT COPENHAGEN