Living Life Excessively

Post #138

The Atlantis condominium, located at 2025 Brickell Avenue in Miami. Designed by Arquitectonica in 1980, with construction completed in 1982.

One of the most strongly postmodern residential towers ever built, it shows a very clear Memphis-Milano influence. This is what you would get if Ettore Sottsass and Piet Mondrian had a love child.

Note especially the primary color scheme (red, yellow, blue) that was one of the definitive themes of the 80s, along with the abstract geometric shapes.

Also note the red Le Corbusier chairs in the lobby. Along with the Cesca chair and the Wassily chair, the Le Corbusier chair was one of the 1980s’ most widely-reproduced pieces of 1920s/1930s Art Deco furniture. The Le Corbusier chairs were also made in a matching couch, and in every concievable color combination of leather and metal framing (the original was black leather w/ chrome frame.) Despite the squarish look, they’re reputed to be sinfully comfortable.

The Atlantis was featured on Miami Vice as part of the opening montage before every episode, as well as being used as one of the interior sets in season 3, episode 22 (“Viking Bikers from Hell”). The exterior was also seen briefly in the movie Scarface.

The second-to-last photo – don’t you wonder where that ladder leads? Is that where the little mouse goes up into his giant piece of cheese?