Bodies in Parallax: Reframing the Cultural Experience of Miami Beach

Abstract

Parallax is integral to the conception of movement in modern architectural space. This research examines the role of architectural parallax in creating dynamic spaces that champion the primacy of perception to reinforce a conceptual narrative. The study is contextualized in the cinematic context of Miami Beach to understand the dynamic quality of its public spaces. An analysis of these spaces studies the role of parallax in reinforcing the city’s scopophiliac meta-narrative of Seeing and being Seen. A final design project is situated within the shifting sociocultural context of Miami Beach today as it strives to reinvent itself into a cultural destination for the high Arts. The chosen site is a historically significant site that has remained as a municipal parking lot for over 70 years, and may not be developed for commercial purposes. The design proposes Collins Cultural Center that draws from the exhibitionist Beach culture of the city and fuses it with the high Arts culture. The aim is to use parallax as an architectural strategy to create a dynamic space for cultural production and exchange. Reframing the cultural imagination of residents and visitors fuels Miami Beach’s momentum towards becoming a future cultural destination for the Arts.