Essex House

Construction date: documented 1937*

Current name:

Essex House

Architect:

Henry Hohauser

Builder:

Prufert-Wein Construction Company

Style:

Collins avenue hotel, Art Deco, Streamlined Moderne.

Symmetrical primary facades; Continuous eyebrows rounded at corners; Original building structure rounded at corners; Horizontal banding at cornice, above second and third floor level windows on the buildings corners and between windows at the second and third floor levels on the primary facades; Bas relief porthole ornamentation just below cornice; Eyebrows and windows rounded at building's corner to conform to unique shape; "Essex" neon signage sits above roofline at southwest corner of building, aligned with primary entryway below; Multi-colored terrazzo floor designs both inside and outside; Glass block ornamentation along patio walls; Lobby interior has etched glass window, original Earl LaPan mural, and scagliola mantel and wainscoting. (All listed features refer to original structure and original facades)

Open to the public:

Yes.

Status of Historic Designation:

Designated at National level : Miami Beach Architectural District, 1979
Designated at Local level : Ocean Drive/Collins Avenue District, 1986

Area(s) of Significance:

Architecture
Community Planning and Development

Associated Files:

1001_COLLINS_AV.pdf

Architectural Description:

This is a 3-story domestic building in the Art Deco style with Streamlined Moderne influences built in 1937. The building is rectangular in plan. The structural system is concrete block stucco. The foundation is spread footing. Exterior walls are stucco. The building has a flat with parapet roof. Windows are replacement aluminum jalacy casement. Primarily jalacy casement; Series of 3 octagonal windows along Collins Avenue. There is a single-story, corner wrap-around open porch characterized by an integrated (under the main) roof with fluted stuccoed posts on round stuccoed piers. Art Deco wall with ironwork marks the porch along Collins; Porch wraps corner of Collins and 10th street and is recessed into southwest corner of the building; Open patio/terrace along south elevation; Multi-colored terrazzo floor designs. Primary entryway is along the south elevation on the porch; Two double-doors serve as entryways from the porch; Double wooden doors with remarkable multi-colored terrazzo floor designs. There is a three-story, rear, extension addition. Additional wing distinguished in its design- complements, but does not mimic, original design.

* Date source: Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser

Description generated by RuskinARC^™.

Located in:

1001 Collins Ave Miami Beach, Florida USA

Essex House

Construction date: documented 1937*