Henry Hohauser – The Originator of Modernism in South Florida

Henry Hohauser was an architect who designed over 300 buildings, such as apartment buildings, hotels and restaurants. One of his best-known designs was the Barthelemy house with its curvier facade and flat cement sunshade.

Its rounded corners and window eyebrows resemble the smooth prows of trains and ships, as well as being reminiscent of the style used by architects behind Hoffman’s Cafeteria built in 1940.

Early Life and Education

Henry Hohauser was born in Brooklyn and received his architectural training at Pratt Institute. Upon moving to Miami Beach in 1932 he designed over 300 apartment buildings, hotels, and theaters. Widely considered the founder of modernism in Miami Beach he inspired many other architects with his designs.

He understood the middle class’s attraction to South Beach for sun, sea and relaxation and his hotels and apartments catered directly to this market by keeping construction costs low and designing them simply.

He is best known for designing Streamline Moderne style synagogue extensions, such as Beth Jacob Social Hall and Congregation at 301 Washington Avenue in Miami Beach which now serves as home for the Jewish Museum of Florida. Features of his design include its symmetric front elevation design with Art Deco details such as its ziggurat roofline with glass bricks arranged symmetrically along its base; glass bricks with rounded edges; neon lighting.

Professional Career

Henry Hohauser was an award-winning New York architect who pioneered South Beach’s distinct Art Deco architectural style. Known as its architect, Hohauser designed over 300 apartments, hotels, stores and restaurants during his illustrious career.

He designed a two-story tower house for Harry and Ruth Simms on South Beach in 1933, complete with rounded corners and squared window “eyebrows” to resemble an ocean liner on land.

He designed many buildings in a similar style, such as the Carlton, Essex House, Congress and Cardozo hotels; also creating the synagogue extension at Congregation Beth Jacob in Miami Beach on Washington Avenue at 301 and 311, now housing the Jewish Museum of Florida. He died in 1963.

Achievement and Honors

Henry Hohauser was an architect who lived his life to its fullest and made an important mark on Florida. Known for many Art Deco designs, he is listed among The Miami Herald’s Great Floridians and designed the Essex House Hotel in Miami Beach. Born in New York and passing away at age 67 in Miami Beach – Henry is survived by family. If you were close to Henry please share your memories of him so we may honour his memory forever by creating this tribute book with pencil and adding details from his life – his legacy will live on!

Personal Life

Henry and Grace couldn’t have children of their own but still found joy in having Danny as their companion and boating trips along with watching boxing matches at Miami Auditorium.

As an architect in South Florida, he designed over 300 apartment buildings, hotels, stores and restaurants in Miami Beach alone. A major contributor to Miami Beach’s Art Deco style, he was even recognized by The Miami Herald in 1993 as a “Great Floridian”.

Some of his finest work can be seen at Essex House Hotel, built in 1938 and still standing today. Resembling an ocean liner with its sleek curves and distinctive smokestack tower, this piece stands as one of the city’s finest examples of Nautical Moderne architecture.

Net Worth

Henry Hohauser was born and educated at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Soon after arriving in Miami Beach in 1932 he began practicing architecture, eventually becoming known as the ‘Originator of Modernism’ in South Florida with over 300 buildings designed by his firm in Miami Beach alone.

He was the designer of the Essex House Hotel which first opened at 1001 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach in 1938, one of the finest examples of Art Deco design at that time. It features clean lines, symmetrical structures and ziggurat (zig zag) shapes which reflect medieval Spain’s influence in popular culture during that era.

He enjoyed boating and boxing matches during his free time. Additionally, he was an accomplished pianist who played with the Miami Symphony Orchestra.