Thoughts about Googie and Space Age Architectural Style

Which Came First?

The International Spy Museum, in Washington, DC has a section dedicated to the question: Which came first, the spy gadgets we see in the movies or the actual spy gadgets? This next question moves us a little closer to our topic: Which came first, the image of rockets and spaceships, or the actual rockets and spaceships? Our topic actually applies to architecture: Did space age design, or space age technology come first?

The spy museum doesn’t give a definitive answer, but there is a LOT of crossover involved (did James Bond think of explosive toothpaste and submarine cars, or did he copy authentic spy tech?). Space age design in architecture began showing up in the late 40s, after rockets had definitively become a thing during WWII. That means, in the case of Googie and Space Age architecture, the rockets came first. 

Let’s talk about a property, once nicknamed, “The Jetsons House” in Miami, FL, which was built in 1949. The interesting thing about the nickname is, The Jetsons cartoon wasn’t created by Hanna Barbera until the late 1960s. Although this house looks startlingly similar to the Jetson family home in Orbit City, the iconic house in the Morningside neighborhood of Miami came first! Let me tell you more about it.

“The Jetsons House” was designed by architect Rufus Nims who was born in Pensacola, Florida in 1913. He went to NC State University to study journalism, but after completing his first year, he bought a Ford for $5 and drove to Oklahoma to join his father on a construction job. There he discovered architecture. It had such a profound effect on him that he changed his major, graduating in 1934 with a degree in architectural engineering. After the war, he returned to Raleigh, North Carolina to work with Thomas Cooper, then fell in love with Miami. 

Nims is one of those architects that people will know by his work (at least those over the age of 30 in America). However, very few people will know him by name. He's best known for designing the orange-roofed Howard Johnson's restaurants and motor lodges, branding these iconic structures which came to be recognized alongside highways throughout the U.S.

Rufus’ design for “Jetsons House,” a sleek, futuristic home—recently renamed SkyFin—was the result of two men thinking outside the box. Rufus and owner Charlie Roman wanted to see something different in the subtropics of Miami, and they accomplished it! 

Before A/C was around, Nims would orient his designs to make the best use of the environment. In the case of SkyFin, he lifted the house a story off the ground, ventilating all four sides and adding a long overhang. This prevented the direct sun from entering the house, while allowing air to flow through. His mantra was to get in the shade and in the breeze. As long as there was shade and breeze, he could maximize comfort. 

Charlie Roman’s research indicated that a concrete slab would be the most economical construction method to achieve the needed elevation. However, it was 1948 and the effects of WWII on the labor force were still being felt. It ultimately fell to Mr. Roman and his builder to perform much of the labor, plan out the site, and finish all the details. While there is no way to verify for certain, it is possible this was the first site in South Florida construction where the entire weight of the building was carried by columns and not by exterior walls.

Skipping 7 decades, SkyFin has been empty and in want of attention for quite a while. After finishing a different project, Gabriela Liebert and her design/development team were looking for a new property, desiring to renovate an existing structure. Everything they found turned out to be either overpriced or too boring. Then a treasure of a property appeared in the most unlikely place—Facebook Marketplace. “Two unit Miami townhome for Sale.” It seemed too good to be true. The ad stated, classic, mid century modern design, a fun up-and-coming neighborhood, two lots, and all for a reasonable price. That was the beginning of SkyFin and after several years of hard work, the finishing touches are being applied. What do you think?

You can experience one of Miami's most extraordinary midcentury modern treasures! See for yourself how architecture can float, breathe, and make you believe it can fly - just as it was meant to 77 years ago. You can tour this 4,220 sf masterpiece and discover how mid-century innovation meets contemporary refinement. Fall completely in love with SkyFin during a benefit tour in partnership with USModernist. Get your tickets today!

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