Standing atop the Eiffel Tower is sure to spark feelings of romance. Memorials in Washington, D.C. create an environment for somber reflection. When Anders Berensson and Ulf Mejergren, principles of Stockholm-based architecture firm VisionDivision, were challenged to create an iconic landmark for Miami Beach, they asked, "What kind of monument would be nice to have a colorful cocktail next to?" and "What kind of monument would be nice to do push-ups next to?"
Their proposal is called The Miami Sun, a hotel/casino that takes the form of a giant half circle emerging from the water, amidst an archipelago of palm tree-dotted islands. The surface of the structure is covered with reflective panels that mirror the sky and would be laced with high-power lights that can create the illusion of a shining sun just a few hundred feet from shore.
>"What kind of monument would be nice to do push-ups next to?"
"Miami is a tropical metropolis, a major tourist destination, and it has an air of flamboyant decadence that is very intriguing," says Mejergren. "We wanted to create something positive and glamorous that would capture the soul of Miami and at the same time be unique and truly epic." The proposal is a spectacle worthy of the city and achieves the rare feat of making Zaha Hadid's nearby project seem conservative by comparison.
The daring design flirts with kitsch. Their thin dome echos another Floridian architectural landmark — the geodesic sphere at Disney's Epcot Center. "To compete with the sun and the moon is a tough task, no doubt, but it is do-able in some aspects," says Berrensson. "The feeling of seeing the building blazing in the dusk from the Bayfront Park is probably more spectacular than any sunset, because it is arranged, enhanced and developed for a unique site and viewing point. It is a sunset on steroids." The VisionDivision team also proudly claims that their version of the sun makes for a more reliable photo-op.
Hubris aside, the designers seriously considered how to produce something ambitious that wouldn't feel like a tacky eyesore a few years after construction. They achieved this by stripping away detail and letting the simple form and play of light provide the visual appeal. Site placement was another important design consideration — there is no physical connection to dry land in the proposal. Instead, visitors arrive by water taxi or swimming, the lack of traditional roads and parking is intended to make the project seem exclusive. "Since the sun is standing in the water that also helps creating a certain distance so you're never too close to the exterior," says Berensson. "Thus keeping up appearance of being almost immaterial as a mirage."
>"To compete with the sun and the moon is a tough task, no doubt."
The concept reflects Miami's glitz literally and figuratively, but the proposed design would earn a grudging nod from members of the Green Party. The entire exterior surface of the building would be clad in translucent solar panels allowing natural light to stream through the facade, reducing energy use during the day, while harvesting solar power that would completely meet the building's energy needs by night. Sadly, the chances of visiting The Miami Sun are dim. The design is merely one of many proposals in a competition, neighbors in multi-million-dollar waterfront condos would likely oppose any project that blocked their views, and the building's scope and technical complexity would make it prohibitively expensive. However, Berensson and Mejergren were undaunted by these challenges. "Sometimes the creative urges are too strong, and if you get an idea that you want to try, it is hard to have the patience to wait for a paying client to pay to investigate the thoughts further."
