Building Bagel Beach: An Examination of Jewish Architects and Regional Design in Twentieth Century Miami Beach

Abstract

This research critically examines the role that Jewish architects played in the development of several regional forms of architecture in Miami Beach during the midcentury period of the 1930s through the 1960s. From Tropical Art Deco through Miami Modernism (MiMo), Jewish architects were at the forefront of design in the region. Three Jewish architects are highlighted: Henry Hohauser, Norman Giller, and Morris Lapidus. Beyond documenting the role that these architects played in the region, this is an examination of how Jewish experience and identity in twentieth-century America shaped their careers and design influences. The profession of architecture has historically been exclusive and heavily WASP, while the resort industry was a battleground for Jewish inclusion in mainstream American society. These Jewish architects were both working on the margins of their profession, and at the same time were challenging social exclusion in the resort setting of Miami Beach.