The Butterfly Theater is a living pavilion—part sculpture, part habitat, part playground. It takes inspiration from the elegance of flamingos and the presence of butterflies in Miami Beach, transforming the park’s open center into a place of movement, color, and quiet spectacle. It’s both a temporary event and a potential permanent resident: a soft landmark in the city’s landscape.
Like a flock of flamingos wading in shallow water, a field of thin steel columns stands lightly across the grass. Some are paired, some are staggered, creating a sense of rhythm and flow. Painted in soft, bright colors, they form a loose grid that’s playful, navigable, and ever-changing depending on your point of view.
PROGRAM: Butterfly Habitat
CONTEXT: Miami Beach, Florida, USA
SITE: Flamingo Park
TEAM: Bryan Maddock, Grace Infante
ORGANIZER: The City of Miami Beach
Beneath the butterfly canopies, a playful forest emerges. Visitors wander shaded paths on soft grass, following organic routes worn naturally over time. These desire lines are embraced, not erased, guiding movement through the space. Children explore freely—hiding, playing, imagining—within the slender steel columns. The installation becomes both passage and playground, merging art, ecology, and everyday park life.
