Monday, December 27, 2010

Front or back?

I've been thinking about the proposed design of the rehabilitated casino building's western facade.  Prior to the hurricanes of the late 1940s, A1A (Ocean Boulevard) was east of the casino building.  The front of the building was designed to face the ocean, although the west side was essentially a copy of the east, only without a tower.  The western frontage had an extension along the north side of the building that was torn down in the early 50s.  
The above is a postcard showing A1A east of the building and a much narrower barrier island.  The width of the island was doubled in the early 1950s by the addition of fill - essentially the area that is now the western parking lot.

Most of the traffic coming to the building will be by travel over the Lake Worth bridge.  Does the western facade as proposed reflect the "front" of a building?  I don't think so - it looks like what it is - a building that's been added on to a lot and one that doesn't make a lot of aesthetic sense.  The front is better, although I am having trouble warming up to the "Tuscan Revival" of the existing two-story session.

I bring this up now as the architectural package will be on the Planning and Zoning Board's agenda of January 5th.  If you share this concern or any other, this might be your only opportunity to voice your opinion prior to the City Commission reviewing the design of the building.  

I'd be interested in knowing your opinion.  To see the entire design package, click here.