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| Walter Michot/Miami Herald Staff Photo of Architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia vs. Becky Matkov |
I know Becky Matkov. I have seen her speak at dozens of meetings and was on a Board with her. We have had numerous conversations. She is the definition of benign. I have always found her to be gracious and polite. Therefore, I was surprised to see a renown architect displaying this kind of anger towards this reserved woman at a public meeting at the City of Miami. What does he do at home and in the office? If I were Becky, I would have been doing more with that pen.
The Herald reported about Bernardo Fort-Brescia:
Shortly afterward, during a break, a red-faced Fort-Brescia approached Matkov and began jabbing his finger in her face while shouting at her and Florida International University architecture professor Sandra Suarez. Fort-Brescia said he was “offended’’ that Suarez had used a quote “out of context’’ from an article by his wife, Arquitectonica co-principal Laurinda Spear, about the pressing need to save MiMo architecture. Other Genting consultants had to pull Fort-Brescia away.
28 comments:
This is where the insane people trying to turn this already Banana Republic further down the Rabbit Hole. I don't know if I would have kept composure as well as she looks like she did. He should have been arrested for assault because this picture really does capture his temper. I guess being a thug pays in this City. This looks like the beginnings of one of those when people go insane in public meetings, either behind or in front of the dais.
There is something wrong with this man. Others had to pull him away? Matcov should file charges.
Fort's renderings of Genting's ambitions at the Herald site, so unrealistic politically (not to mention visually), deep-sixed gambling in Florida. No wonder he is angry.
This architect was probably concerned that he wouldnt get his enormous fee from Genting if the woman got her way.
The whole story is embarassing. I think this architect should issue a public apology to Matkov, Dade Heritage Trust Board and the community for this behavior at a public meeting. Citizens and civic activists and mild-mannered preservation ladies should not have to be subjected to this behavior under any circumstances.
Perhaps a $10 million fine (or,"donation") to DHT should be required by Genting.
And, by the way, with Climate Change sea level rise (see the other EOM post), coastal development like Gentings development on the bay will be a fool's errand. Soon - right after the next Superstorm hits Miami (next summer), there will be a fundamental change is what development will get insurance and mortgages in South Florida. We are truly in the last days of disco here.
That Brescia made himself look like a lunatic pales in absurdity to the the Dade Heritage Trust's claim that this bay-blocking monster is architecturally important and/or historically significant.
Too bad ulterior motives aren't written across one's forehead.
The reason Matkov seems unperturbed is because the tirade was directed to Suarez behind her and to her left, out of the frame. Those that were there know it was hard to contain yourself with the barrage of absurdities brought up about the merits of the building, its ease of re-use and worthy example of true MiMo. We shouldn't reward bad mistakes with this wasted of time.
Bernado looks crazy. Becky is polite and well mannered. This Hearing was another example of how easy it is to pay so-called Miami experts to lie. Bernado, Heistlbottom, Kasden, that witch Garcia-Toledo... Miami is lucky to have honorable people like Becky Matkov.
The guy in the middle should have come across him with a left hook. No matter who it is, I would never allow any man or woman to assault another while idly standing by. The man is obviously a threat. Neutralize now.
Can you imagine if the building HAD been designated historic!
Bernardo's firm designs ugly buildings. He needs to retire.
What is with these temperamental architects. I remember at Miami 21 meetings, architect Andres Duany was always getting into loud arguments.
First off, it doesn't matter who bought the property and what they want to do with it, as long as what they want to do is within the code when they purchased the building. The DHT was essentially trying to "downzone" the property for the current owner (at best).
If you bought a 2,400 sq/ft house, built in 1963 on a 10,000 sq/ft lot, and there was no "designation" when you bought it, and the city code allowed you to build up to 5,000 sq ft on that lot, and you decided to tear down the old house and build a new one, but the day before demolition the City decided that "then" they were going to designate that house historic and prevent you from tearing it down, the property owner would prevail in court.
If Genting proposed to tear down that building and put a park on the property, no one at the DHT would have claimed the building was of significant historical value.
M
To the Poster Above,
Recently, the Coral Gables Preservation Department declared a home historic AFTER it was purchased by someone who was planning to demolish it and re-build. So there is precedence.
My own view is that the Herald building is ugly as sin. To call it "historic" would only be to put an imprimatur on a building that would make no difference to anyone if it was torn down. Agree with M's comment above.
The issue is Bernardo Fort-Brescia who is being paid by Genting and the other so-called experts who opposed the historic designation. Would they and the other paid experts have shown up IF they were not getting money from Genting? Have they no sense of public service?
The interior of the Herald building, where the advertising department was based, is truly majestic with huge windows overlooking Biscayne Bay. I think it would make a great gambling hall and Genting should take advantage of it in a redesign. Genting still has the opportunity to do the right thing for the community without the designation and incorporate the Herald building into any new development. Genting should look to save the Boulevard Shops as well. Saving the buildings is about respecting this community it is coming into and hoping to profit from it. Cash is good but Karma counts.
Genting, "a sense of public service"? That is a joke right. Don't forget that Genting displayed its public service by hiring Jorge perez to rescue his sorry ass, using him and his partners as a straw buyer for the Omni he flipped to them, making a tidy fortune of $30-$40 mill for a six month investment, that he in turn "pledged" to the miami art museum, only giving a few mill in cash and the rest, in a bad art collection overvalued for estate purposes no doubt. Plus he got his name on the museum: that's Genting's sense of "public service", and I doubt they give ten cents about what happens in Miami as a result. Just bid'ness, as the crackers used to say. Teach the children, that will help the next generation.
We will someday rue the day the Herald Building was demolished.
I was right there next to becky and in front of sandra to protect her as he looked like he was going to get violent w/sandra. Truly sad to see such a well known star architect make such a fool out of himself in such a public forum. Most of his comments in regards to saving mhb were also baseless exaggerations of what could not be done w/the building. A shame we never get to see a large adaptive reuse like the one in london or baltimore's inner harbour...
Obviously, Genting is only investing in Miami in order to take money from tourists and residents. What we learn from Bernardo Fort-Brescia and Neisan Kasden and Richard Heisenbottle is that they will sell their reputations to the highest bidder. And cheap too. Public service? "I don't need no stinking public service..."
I was an employee at Arquitectonica's Miami office several years ago. I used to see this face almost every week as Bernardo would verbally abuse the office staff. I'm only surprised it has taken so long for a photo like this to surface.
Bernardo Fort-Brescia is a verbally abusive bully who has for years harangued and otherwise demeaned and humiliated, the unpaid architectural interns who have worked in his Firm. He is not only thoughtless and disrespectful, he is CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP, hiring talented young graduates as interns and often paying them no salary. What does that say about his character?
I worked as personal assistant to Bernardo Fort-Brescia. I have never met a more verbally abusive person in a work setting than this man. I was always surprised that he got away with withering verbal assaults on his staff, including professional architects who apparently in fear of being blacklisted by this celebrity bully just stood there and took it. As far as I know, no one has sued this man for creating such a truly frightening work environment as there was when I was at Arquitectonica. I'm sure they would have PLENTY of witnesses. I left after only a few weeks but every time this nut spoke to me my hands would ball up and I'd get ready to punch him in the face just in case he finally went off the rails. Glad at least a bit of this crazy bastard's nature was exposed here! This would make for a great investigation for the Herald Staff....there is a "there" there!!
Let's not forget Laurinda Hope Spear, Wife of Bernardo Fort-Brecia and the Co-Crazy of Arquitectonica. These are 2 peas in a pod when it comes to their horrific mistreatment of staff and their other assorted servants that are on the payroll. It has been decades since I worked for the Gargoyle and the Witch tag team from Hell, yet I still manage to have nightmares occasionally about working for them again. Who knew I needed hazard pay to work at ARQ, let alone the expenses I incurred from therapy. It was pointed out the week I stated at Arquitectonica that QUIT is in the middle of the company name for a reason.
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