Masonry Magazine February 1973 Page. 25
The entire 125-ft. exterior of the new Decorators Showcase building in Miami features a masterly use of brick. Architects said the solid brick concept was created to enhance the "long look" of the structure.
Decorators Showcase
Miami, Florida
Architect: Thurston Hatcher Associates
Mason Contractor: Charles R. Poe Masonry (MCAA)
South Florida apparently has made a startling discovery. Brick is beautiful! In most any other part of the country, brick long has been popular as a building and decorative material. But in Miami and environs, where glass and concrete dominate, it has been traditionally rare in appearance.
Now, all that's changing. In fact, the demand for brick as a building material by architects and contractors is increasing dramatically, according to the Miami Masonry Guild. One firm alone sold six million bricks to South Florida customers last year, according to the Guild. And because clay brick, the most popular, is produced out-of-state, its orders must be placed six months ahead of anticipated sales.
South Florida brick is seldom used as the chief building material. But because of easy maintenance, durability, strength and beauty, it's one of the most attractive decorative materials in use. Recently, the new Decorators Showcase in Miami made such "masterful and artistic" use of brick across the entire 125-foot front of its building that the Miami Masonry Guild accorded the project its "Mark of Masonry" award. Guild spokesman George Miller said Decorators Showcase was cited "because it exemplifies the ultimate utilization of masonry products in construction of South Florida homes and commercial buildings."
Architect for Decorators Showcase, located in the fashionable "decorators row" of Miami, was Thurston Hatcher Associates of South Miami. George Gunn, AIA, the firm's site supervisor for the project, said a solid brick concept was created to enhance the "long look" of the frontage. He added that the prime reason for using brick was its esthetic value: "The texture was all important to us. Color and durability were secondary."