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Facades+ Miami will examine facades in tropical environments

Regalia, a tower designed by Arquitectonica, a presenter at this year’s Facades+ Miami conference (Courtesy Arquitectonica)

On October 4, The Architect’s Newspaper will be hosting Facades+ Miami for the third time. The morning event features talks and workshops by national and global leaders of the AEC industry covering a range of subjects relating to building envelopes within tropical environments and the architectural vernacular of the Miami metropolitan area. Allan Shulman, founder of Shulman + Associates, is co-chair of the event.

Over the last century, Miami’s population has grown from approximately 60,000 to just 6 million. This explosive growth of the southernmost major in the U.S. has fostered an architectural identity distinct to the region, one that often adapts modernist trends to suit local environmental performance. 

Founded in 1977, Arquitectonica has designed dozens of developments in downtown Miami, and they are bringing their expertise to this year’s conference. In recent years, the firm has completed the Brickell City Centre, the American Airlines Arena, and Regalia. The Regalia is a nearly 500-foot-tall tower on the northeastern edge of the Miami metropolitan area described by founding partner Bernardo Fort-Brescia as a rectangular glass prism “wrapped by a sensuously undulating terrace” that simultaneously serves as a tool for interior shading.

The “Orb” ties the historical Betsy to the contemporary Carlton, projects designed by Shulman + Associates, a presenter at this year’s Facades+ Miami. (Courtesy Shulman + Associates/Robin Hill)

Ateliers Jean Nouvel, another presenter, is currently constructing a significant project in Miami’s South Beach: The Monad. The residential complex will contain approximately 200,000 square feet, and will stand atop an 11-foot podium to avoid the increasing threat of storm surges in Miami. Significant segments of the facade will be clad in perforated screens, filtering natural sunlight while maintaining a degree of privacy for residents of the glass-faced residential tower.

The Monad is clad with glass and perforated metal panels, allowing outward views and interior privacy. (Courtesy Ateliers Jean Nouvel)

While the lion’s share of high-rise construction is centered in Miami’s downtown and in a ribbon of development adjacent to the coastline, other local and international practices are advancing with sensitive residential and commercial projects throughout the region, such as Brillhart Architecture’s timber Surfer’s Outpost; Gelpi Projects’ proposed Coconut Grove Playhouse; Germane Barnes‘s public art installations; and micucci arquitectos asociados‘ institutional projects across Latin America.

The Surfer’s Outpost is a 600-square-foot space raised off the ground, with operable flaps and shutters, designed by Brillhard Architecture. (Courtesy Brillhart Architecture)

Outside of architectural practices, representatives from manufacturers and engineering practices such as the Al-FarooqCrawford-TraceyTerranovaSTI Firestop, Gate Precast, and Valspar will also be on hand to lead workshops and panels.

Further information for Facades+ Miami can be found here.