Topical Guide 658
Mark Dorset
Misfits, Eccentrics, Outsiders
Architecture
What a Piece of Work I Am, Chapter 7:
[…] the view beyond Denny, over his shoulder, caught her eye: it was a “resort motel” under construction at the edge of the bay, just a short way from the dock.
She had noticed the resort before, but she’d only seen it from farther away, and not from this angle, which was really one of the best. […] At the sides of this building the walls continued beyond the roof and toward the bay. They were made of smooth concrete, every edge rounded, and they tapered and diminished as they advanced toward the bay, curving and meandering. […]
In the dark, Ariane smiled a secret smile, and she began to imagine another self, someone who moved through that interesting, curvaceous space, so white and clean and smooth and tropical, so out of place against the Babbington background, […]
“It sure seems out of place,” said Denny.
“Yes,” said Ariane. “Yes, it does,” but she meant something different from what Denny meant.
The resort certainly does seem out of place in Babbington. It’s as if the people behind the project deluded themselves into thinking that they could lift a bit of Babbington out of Babbington, transform it into a bit of Miami Beach, and plop it back down beside the bay.
They may have been inspired by a resort hotel like theCardozo, designed by Henry Hohauser in 1939. From the website of the restored hotel, accessed on January 29, 2024:
Built in 1939 and named after Benjamin Cardozo, one of the first Jewish jurors on the US Supreme Court, Cardozo stands proudly in the renowned Art Deco District, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by architect Henry Hohauser, the hotel showcases traditional art deco style with its curved lines reminiscent of a Studebaker’s fender and stunning keystone trim crafted from dyed porous limestone. Beyond its architectural significance, Cardozo has graced the silver screen, playing prominent roles in feature films like “A Hole in the Head” (1959), “There’s Something About Mary” (1998), and “Any Given Sunday” (1999). Experience the allure of Cardozo’s rich heritage and cinematic charm.
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