austin cubed

2.23.2025

architecture for street art in miami

The last time we were in Miami, some nine years ago, we focused on the Art Deco and MiMo of Miami Beach. Since we had heard of Wyndam Walls, we headed over for lunch and were simply blown away by how much high-quality street art there was over there. So for my birthday, we came back to Miami but focused solely on Wyndam, staying in a hotel nearby.

The biggest shocker was how much more developed the area was. When we were there, there were hints of development coming. At the time, there was a restaurant at Wyndam Walls (no longer there), a coffee shop, (no longer there), and a brewpub (no longer there), but much of the eastern half of Wyndam is unrecognizable with mid-rises galore and a bustling restaurant, shopping, food, and club scene. All of this new development is because of the street art, so many of the new mid-to-high rises incorporate street art, albeit in a corporate way.

Here are some shots of buildings built for art and some interesting buildings. Stay tuned for the full monte of street art we saw.

2.16.2025

a visit to le corbusier's villa le lac (corseaux, switzerland)

Villa Le Lac (Lake Villa) was one of two must-sees on our trip with the other being Eileen Gray's Villa E1037. Our itinerary was built about these two sites.

Villa Le Lac was Le Corbusier's first realized Modern project, a lake cabin for his parents. What many don't realize is that what we see today is not what was originally built in 1923-24 but with a small second-story addition constructed later (1931) and changes in the cladding (1931 on the northern and western facades; 1951 on the southern facade) as the hiking trail changed into a busy roadway.

The original structure was white stucco with Corbu's soon-to-be-trademark ribbon window and the famous white-washed stone wall with a window to the lake in the back yard. Corbusier placed a two-story tall privacy wall on the western edge of the property to block the view from next door's two-story house.

Although Villa Le Lac is small (it was a cabin, after all), the space is comfortable and feels good. The linear lakeside garden provides a small setback from the shore, and the ample side yard has several options for outdoor dining and enjoyment. Corbu even included a small window to the street in the fence and steps to get to it for the family pets to gawk at the world. Otherwise, there's the gentle lapping of clear lake water a few feet away.

We found it difficult to leave this magical place. Walking round and round with the biggest smiles.

The original Villa Le Lac circa 1924