The Adventures Of Morris Lapidus In Miami Beach

Lobby of the Fountainebleu including the "Staircase to Nowhere" in the back of the photo




The famous cheese hole windows and the curving facade



Morris Lapidus completed the Fountainebleu in 1954. According to his autobiography "Too Much Is Never Enough," his relationship with the owner was contentious from start to finish. And instead of being grateful to Morris for creating what was an instant hit and worldwide sensation, Morris had to sue him to get paid his final draw. What lay ahead made the fight about pay seem trivial by comparison, When the owner of the Fountainebleu found out that Morris had agreed to design the Eden Roc Hotel next door, he went into a rage. How dare he create another project in Miami Beach, let alone on a neighboring property! And the Eden Roc's owner was his former partner in the Sans Souci Hotel, with whom he had an acrimonious divorce. Never mind that he had no exclusivity agreement with Morris. Forget the fact that he had treated Morris shabbily in every aspect of their relationship, he expected loyalty and he sued to stop the project. Obviously this fellow was off his bean.

Morris went a completely different direction with the Eden Roc. From its steamship top to its infusion of Louis the XIV elements, the design was different enough from the Fountainebleu to have been built by another architect entirely. It is merely a testament to his genius that he could succeed with something so refreshingly new. At the end of the day, the Fountainebleu is the stronger design. Both properties have had fairly recent renovations and in my opinion the Eden Roc's is closer to the original.


The Steamship Top of the Eden Roc with new Fountainebleu Tower at far right

Eden Roc interior mixes Louis XIV with modern

After failing to stop the project, the owner of the Fountainebleu vowed to seek revenge in another way. He built an addition to his hotel that was windowless on the north side and as tall as the Eden Roc. He claimed that he had built a wall between the two properties. He was particularly proud of the fact that he had blocked the rival hotel's views and put the pool area in shade for most of the winter months. The Eden Roc's owner sued but lost when the courts ruled that the property rights of the Fountainebleu superceded the Eden Roc's need for sunlight. Once again the litigation merely went along with Morris' credo , which proved a blessing and a curse, too much would never be enough for him.