PROFILE EXCLUSIVE: NEW RENDERINGS OF NEXO RESIDENCES IN NORTH MIAMI BEACH

Fortune International Group in partnership with Blue Road announced the sales launch for Nexo Residences in April and today have released new renderings and design details, exclusively on PROFILEmiami.

The property, featuring 254 residences, is one of the first condo projects with short-term rental capability in the rapidly growing city of North Miami Beach, adding to the area’s economic growth currently underway. Located at 13899 Biscayne Boulevard, it presents move-in-ready residences with full home-sharing capabilities without restrictions, coupled with resort-style amenities. Priced from the $400,000s, studios to four-bedroom townhomes range from about 525 to 2,190 interior square feet.

“We underwent an extensive design process, which included traveling to Italy to visit Il Salone Di Mobile which is the most important design fair to incorporate the most cutting-edge elements throughout the property. Both within the residences and shared amenity spaces, it is important that we deliver a project that speaks to both the buyer and user,” said Ana Christina DeFortuna, Executive Vice President of Fortune International Group. “In studying the audience for Nexo Residences, combined with its prime North Miami Beach location, it was necessary to consider a tech-forward destination that incorporates sustainability with contemporary materials, while making social gathering spaces the highlight of the property.”

The project is designed by Frankel Benayoun Architects Inc, with consultation from internationally-renowned architect Carlos Ott. Its common areas, residence interiors, and landscaping are curated by Urban Robot, the local, full-service design collective behind some of the city’s leading hotels and retail concepts, including W Hotel South Beach, the Gucci Flagship in Miami’s Design District, and Oasis Wynwood. The amenity program was purposefully designed to activate spaces that inspire connectivity within the community.

A rooftop observatory deck will be perfect for scenic experiences, enjoying the expansive open vistas of the neighborhood treetops and water views. The space will be regularly activated as a central area for socializing, complete with a fire pit, dining and cooking area and a refuge for stargazing.

The architectural centerpiece for Nexo Residences is the two-story tech hub with a café, coworking spaces, and a business center. It was designed as a grand focal point when you approach the property from the main thoroughfare of Biscayne Boulevard. The multi-story space will span more than 2,600 square feet and feature large floor-to-ceiling windows that will welcome natural light throughout.

Blending the necessities of remote work life with inspiration from South Florida as a year-round vacation destination, Nexo Residences’ suite of amenities includes a two-story arrival lobby and lounge, which will be an impressive visual experience upon entry to the building. The property’s contemporary design extends onto an outdoor children’s playground. Catering to the modern family, it is a kid’s haven of fitness and activity surrounded by striking architecture and lush greenery. Health enthusiasts can relish the indoor/outdoor fitness center with a yoga studio and virtual trainer and a luxury pool deck complete with resort-inspired pool and two spa pools with loungers.

Miami Design District Reveals Its Next Iconic Office Building 'The Ursa' Designed By Arquitectonica

The Miami Design District has revealed the next iconic building to come to life in the dynamic neighborhood, The Ursa. Located at 30 NE 39th Street, The Ursa will be the first new Class A office building in the neighborhood. The fifteen-story building was designed by Arquitectonica, who was charged with creating world-class architecture that fits within the award-winning creative neighborhood, and generous, modern spaces for companies inventing the future.

With museum-quality exterior public art and interior art and furniture by Daniel Arsham, The Ursa makes an artform out of office space and is in keeping with the ethos and energy of the Miami Design District. At the same time, the state-of-the-art facility offers businesses all the amenities and conveniences expected in the modern workplace -- all within a neighborhood that features the best in shopping, dining, and culture in Miami. Leasing is now underway.

“We are thrilled to be bringing The Ursa to the Miami Design District. Integrating state-of-the-art workspaces into the neighborhood has always been a part of our plan. People want to work in centers of creativity, culture, and commerce; and the District really provides the type of environment where innovation can take flight,” said Craig Robins, Chief Executive Officer and President of Dacra. “Beyond providing office space in the neighborhood, The Ursa as a structure itself adds to the beauty of the Miami Design District. Arquitectonica has created an iconic, elegant, and functional building that highlights both art and natural beauty. We couldn’t be happier with the design and know that businesses will find a special place to call home within The Ursa.”

“The Ursa is an exceptional addition to the Miami Design District. In keeping with our development approach, our emphasis was creating something that truly enhanced the built environment and added to the overall experience of being in this unique community. Bringing a dynamic office building offering to the Miami Design District is an important next step in the neighborhood’s evolution and we are so excited to watch it unfold. We know the District has so much to offer and businesses want to be a part of what we have built here. We cannot wait to welcome them,” said Mathieu Le Bozec, Managing Partner, L Catterton Real Estate.

The Ursa is being developed by Miami Design District Associates, a joint venture between Dacra, L Catterton Real Estate, and Brookfield Properties. The fifteen-story building houses ten floors of approximately 180,000 square feet of office space, with efficient floor plates that embody a center core design. There are also two retail spaces available on the ground floor. The building has abundant outdoor space. Each floor has its own private balcony, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows which provide unobstructed 360-degree views and seamlessly connect the building to the neighborhood. The building also has a rooftop garden deck (indoor/outdoor) accessible to all tenants. Verdant landscaping on each level is by Island Planning Corporation (IPC).

“The building will mark the western gateway to the Miami Design District in a design that combines Miami’s outdoor living with a boutique office building. The District not only has one of the most impressive collections of art and architecture, but also is lined with a stunning native landscape palette throughout. The tree-lined streets of the neighborhood served as the inspiration for bringing the landscape into the building as a series of stepped planters that wrap around the building alongside terraces for the floor-to-ceiling glass office spaces. We are excited to work with Dacra and the team to bring the project to the Design District,” said Raymond Fort, Senior Associate, Arquitectonica.

In keeping with the neighborhood’s commitment to art, culture, and design, The Ursa provides a unique office experience with museum-quality art. Daniel Arsham, famed contemporary artist and founder of architecture and design company Snarkitecture, has created new monumental site-specific artworks to be incorporated into the façade of The Ursa. The works are inspired by sculptural reliefs from Greek and Roman Antiquity, such as sarcophagi, and the walls of the Parthenon enlarged to a monumental scale of up to 36 feet in height. The interior lobby of The Ursa will also feature artworks and furniture specifically designed for the location. Arsham has a long history with the Miami Design District as he attended the Design and Architecture Senior High School (DASH) and was provided his first studio space in the District by Dacra. He has also collaborated with brands that have flagship stores in the District like Tiffany’s and Dior.

“Having an almost life-long personal presence and relationship within the Design District it’s an honor to be invited to collaborate with Dacra on The Ursa. The integration of the surrounding tropical landscape with world-class architecture, contemporary art, and design sums up, to me, what is special about Miami and this neighborhood specifically. I expect this building to become a landmark to the city and an important example of how art and architecture can coexist in exciting new ways,” said Daniel Arsham.

State-of-the-art technology will be integrated throughout the building, with 24-7 onsite security and property management services. The Ursa also benefits from its ideal location and from being a part of the larger Miami Design District ecosystem. In the Miami Design District, tenants have access to over 20 restaurants, 170 retail stores, leading cultural institutions and community programming all with direct accessibility to I-95, and easy connectivity to Miami Beach and surrounding markets.

The Ursa is expected to be completed by fall 2024 with the first tenants moving in by winter 2024.

Sumaida + Khurana and Bizzi & Partners Announce Alberto Campo Baeza-Designed Office Building In South beach

Two internationally recognized real estate development firms – Sumaida + Khurana and Bizzi & Partners - have announced a new joint venture to develop best-in-class buildings across the United States. Their first project is an office building located in South Beach and designed by renowned Spanish master architect Alberto Campo Baeza. The developers’ objective is to deliver a Class A+ building that sets a new benchmark for architecture and quality in the office market. Perfectly situated at the entrance to Miami Beach from the MacArthur Causeway, it will be Baeza’s first building in Miami, as well as his first commercial building in the United States. Sumaida + Khurana is led by Saif Sumaida and Amit Khurana. Bizzi & Partners is headed by CEO Davide Bizzi and Managing Director Alessandro Pallaoro.

Bizzi & Partners and Sumaida + Khurana are individually known the world over for developing some of the most significant real estate projects in the world, collaborating with critically acclaimed designers. Bizzi & Partners, which has offices in New York, Milan, São Paulo, and Tallinn, worked with Pritzker Prize winning architect Renzo Piano to design both 565 Broome SoHo in Manhattan and Eighty Seven Park in Miami. The firm also developed the Langham Hotel in New York, designed by Charles Gwathmey. The firms recently decided to collaborate and will develop a wide range of luxury residential and commercial buildings across America through the new partnership. New York-based Sumaida + Khurana collaborated with Pritzker Prize winning architect, Tadao Ando to design 152 Elizabeth Street, as well as Pritzker Laureate, Alvaro Siza for 611 West 56th Street.

While the firms have generally focused on luxury residential development, the new partnership is also focused on elevating the quality level of office development by delivering the architectural pedigree, custom quality finishes, bespoke amenities and services delivered at their residential projects.

“We are happy to be entering into this new joint venture and are excited by the opportunity to be collaborating with Alberto Campo Baeza. His work speaks to both firms’ shared set of beliefs to create timeless buildings that are contextually appropriate and that thoughtfully consider the historic architecture of neighborhoods like South Beach,” said Davide Bizzi, Chief Executive Officer, Bizzi & Partners.

“We have a great deal of respect for one another’s projects and approach to development. We share in the vision to create seminal buildings that add significant value to the built environment. Alberto Campo Baeza’s buildings are known for their purity of design and subtle detailing. Similar to the other projects that our firms have developed, Campo Baeza’s design will provide the opportunity to deliver a building of exquisite craftsmanship and quality,” said Amit Khurana, Founding Partner, Sumaida + Khurana.

In the coming months, Sumaida + Khurana and Bizzi & Partners plan to release more details about the Baeza building, which is expected to start construction next summer. Project executive architect is the award-winning firm, Cube 3. World renowned architecture firm, Gabellini Sheppard is designing interiors. Miami-based Urban Robot Associates is the project’s landscape architect.

The building will be made of white concrete, glass, and marble. Many of its features including high ceilings, open and flexible floorplans, expansive private outdoor terraces for all offices, floor-to-ceiling windows, a fitness center, multiple F & B venues, and a large atrium that opens up all of the offices to a dramatic experience of light, air, and outdoor space for tenants, and a private rooftop with expansive water views.

Based in Spain, Baeza has been widely recognized for his work including winning his country’s National Prize for Architecture in 2021. He has designed the Houses Turégano and de Blas, both in Madrid, the Gaspar House, Asencio House in Cádiz, Rufo House in Toledo and Moliner House in Zaragoza. He has also designed the BIT Center in Inca-Mallorca, the public space Between Cathedrals, in Cádiz, the Caja de Granada Savings Bank and the Museum of Memory of Andalucía, both in Granada. In 2020, he won the competition for the new bridge over the Piave River in Belluno, Venice.

Bizzi & Partners and Sumaida + Khurana are currently in the process of finalizing details on additional developments they plan to announce in the near future.

Stantec-Designed Avalon Doral Residential Building Brings Modern Tropical Living To Doral

Leading global design firm Stantec designed the eight-story Avalon Doral, located along one of the main corridors of the City of Doral at 3940 N.W. 79th Avenue. Featuring a central courtyard surrounded by 350 residential units and a seven-story, 595-space parking garage, the development sits adjacent to the planned 80,000-square-foot retail development known as Atrium at Doral. Stantec served as the architect and engineer on the project.

“Avalon Doral’s design was inspired by the duality of the urban and natural environments, allowing both to exist simultaneously,” said Andrew Burnett, senior principal at Stantec. “The building’s stylish units, amenities, and proximity to the city life are balanced by the lush, tropical landscape and open-air courtyard, creating a serene environment.”

The courtyard serves as the central gathering space for residents, with a resort-style pool, cabanas, and a BBQ area surrounded by ample green vegetation. The courtyard also connects to a pedestrian plaza, bike path, and dog park.

The light colors used in the building’s faceted exterior were selected to create a modern, tropical feel, while the facets subtly change in color as the sun moves throughout the day, breathing life and movement into the building. The entry pavilion and the activated spaces use warm wood tones, steel, and glass to contrast the courtyard walls and create a streetscape that complements the adjoining retail buildings. The entrance of the building is glass that has been integrated into a small plaza and connects to the future retail development.

Avalon Doral’s residential units range from studios to one-, two-, and three-bedroom units with floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies, and modern kitchens, featuring quartz countertops and stainless-steel appliances. Other amenities include a clubhouse, craft room, gym, bicycle storage, dog wash area, and a lobby lounge that includes a bar and pool table.

Avalon Doral is designed to achieve Silver Certification through the Florida Green Building Coalition.

Stantec is ranked among the top 10 architecture firms by Architectural Record. The firm has designed numerous prominent projects throughout Florida, including Solitair Brickell; YotelPAD Miami; Bezel at Miami Worldcenter; Yard 8 in Midtown Miami; 17 West in Miami Beach; Avalon Doral; Adela at MiMo Bay; and Strata Wynwood.

About Stantec:

Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

We care about the communities we serve—because they're our communities too. This allows us to assess what's needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what's never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.

We're designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN. Visit us at stantec.com or find us on social media.

For more information about Stantec’s response to COVID-19, visit Responding to COVID-19.

Images via Stantec

This article was produced in partnership with Stantec

Related Group Reveals Plans For Transit-Oriented 41-Story Miami Station In Downtown Miami

Related Group has revealed plans for Miami Station, a proposed transit-oriented 41-story mixed-use tower adjacent to MiamiCentral Station. Miami Station is located at 525-533 NW 2nd Ave. in Downtown Miami on a 30,527 SF lot that is the former site of the never completed Krystal Tower. The project is designed by ODP Architects and plans have been submitted to Miami’s Urban Development Review Board for review. If approved Miami Station would rise 458’ and would feature 200,234 square feet of office space, 309 apartment units, 8,508 square feet of commercial space and 510 parking spaces. Amenities would include a 22nd floor amenity deck and a rooftop pool.

Related Group Files Plans For Redesigned One Island Park By Arquitectonica On Miami Beach's Terminal Island

Related Group has filed redesigned plans to build One Island Park, a proposed Class A office complex on Terminal Island in Miami Beach. The proposal will be reviewing by Miami Beach’s Design Review Board in early February. One Island Park will feature 123,087 square feet of Class A office space spread over two five-story buildings designed by Arquitectonica. The project will also feature a 120-seat restaurant and 283 parking spaces. The development will preserve the existing superyacht marina with 7 existing boat slips.

In 2017 Related Group sought a zoning change in an effort to develop a project with 90 condominiums on the site. Related Group first acquired the 3.71 acre site, located at 120 MacArthur Causeway, in 2013 for $9.94 million.

PROFILE Exclusive: Inside The Mind Of Kobi Karp, Designing For The Future By Remembering South Florida's Culturally Rich Past

Kobi Karp’s restoration design techniques have contributed to a renaissance in one of the United States’ most iconic neighborhoods, Miami Beach’s Art Deco District, which is internationally recognized around the world for its culture, lifestyle and architecture. Kobi has designed everything from large-scale, high-rise condominium and hospitality projects to intimate, small-scale low-rise residential and commercial structures. Over the past three decades Kobi has garnered international acclaim and been selected to spearhead numerous resort projects, growing his firm to service projects in the Caribbean, Black Sea region, and the Middle East. His projects in South Florida include Four Seasons Surf Club, One Hotel Miami Beach, Palazzo Del Sol on Fisher Island, The Cadillac Hotel, and 2000 Ocean, amongst many others. Despite his fast-paced, busy schedule and lifestyle we were able to catch-up with Kobi between his work on his current projects including The Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach and Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale, to get inside the mind of one of Miami’s most prolific and iconic architects:

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PROFILEmiami: Can you tell us about your background? Where did you grow up?

Kobi: I was born in 1962 in Israel. When I was 11 years old, my family moved to Minneapolis, MN. That was a bit of a change, but it was good to grow up in the Midwest. It was a different time. The Midwest in the 1970’s was a cool place, and Israel in the 60’s was also a cool place. We were outdoor kids and we grew up in nature. The environment, whether it is in the Middle East, which is more desert, or Minneapolis, is radically different. In Minnesota you go ice fishing, ride the toboggan, play pond hockey, and you become part of the environment. In Minnesota if you don’t play hockey or you don’t ski, there is nothing to talk about. All sports were part of our daily, ongoing life. That is how I grew up.

PROFILEmiami: When and how did you first get involved in architecture?

Kobi: I was also artistic, and I liked history a lot. History and the art came together in a nice way when I started to study buildings, art and statues. I was also good at drawing, which is what I enjoyed. Later that became urban planning, but not knowing at the time that it was architecture. That led to studying architecture and environmental design at the University of Minnesota, which later led to me receiving a degree in environmental design and architecture. It gave me an opportunity to see the world in a different light and the opportunity to see how people lived. I also lived in Alaska, and began thinking about how eskimos live in igloos versus how people live in trailer homes versus tents. That gave me an ability to deal with people on a completely different level.

When I came to Florida in 1988, that was the Miami Vice and Scarface days, a little bit different than it is today. I worked in the Caribbean. I lived and worked in St. Lucia, in Grenada, in Turks & Caicos, and Bahamas, where I worked on all-inclusive resorts, which were luxury, but at the time, did not have good phones and mail compared to today. The environment played a big role in my development. Florida is the only tropical climate we have in the lower 48 states, compared to my previous past living in Alaska, Minnesota, and Israel. The experience gave me a contradiction. For example, the contradiction made me appreciate the coconut which falls and floats in the ocean and you can drink it, or eat it. It gave me the ability to understand the world we live in in a broader, more correct fashion. It gave me the opportunity to understand the world for what it really is.

Architecture for me is a backdrop to the environment. It is a backdrop to the landscaping, to the mountains, to the river, to the beaches. I don't care who you are, you are a part of your environment. That is what I take as inspiration on a daily basis and try to do with my design in the buildings. I use the environment, the buildings that were built before us in our community, the historical buildings and historical environment as a cantilever, the point of thought and discussion.

PROFILEmiami: What are some of the elements of design that you have brought to Miami?

Kobi: When I designed a building called the Caribbean Condominium in Miami, which was on the ocean, we used the historical building to welcome you when you walk in. We did the same thing at the 1Hotel in South Beach—we restored the existing building and welcome you into the property via the original building. We do it in other locations more strongly, for example in The Four Seasons at the Surf Club, where we restored the historic structure, and then we bring you into the new structure.

The argument is in order to understand the new, or appreciate the new, you have to walk through the original space as well. You then understand who was there before us, 100 years, 80 years before us. It is a bit nicer to walk into the old, and then walk into the new. I do that as well in the Marriott Autograph in Miami Beach and the Confidante Hotel. I try to do it anywhere I can in order to make you appreciate where we came from and the community’s history. I think understanding the history of who we are, as a human race, helps us to have a better idea of who we are individually and who we are architecturally going forward.

PROFILEmiami: How has design in South Florida changed since you arrived here over the past 30+ years?

Kobi: Design is continuously changing and modifying and reflecting who we are as society. It is dynamic, not static. At the same time, the architecture basis, the DNA, is essentially the same. Despite this, the materials and the methods that we use to build today are radically different, and I believe that they will be even more radically different in the next two decades and the next generation. The methods of construction are going to be much more sophisticated than they have been. A lot has happened in my generation, and a lot will happen in the next generation. Since the industrial age, civilizations have moved radically forward. We as architects are the tools to help evolve that environment; we are the tools that help people to live and create the spaces that we live in which are continuously changing.

A house is like a tree or a person. The tree you plant is not the tree you have 50 years later. You have to respect that and you have to acknowledge that. Whether it is a house or hotel or office building. We have to recycle it.

PROFILEmiami: Within the design ecosystem who is driving it? Architects or construction firms?

Kobi: I think it is individualistic. The people who push forward are usually visionaries. It is a minority in the population. East, West, North, South. It makes no difference. It is a minority of people. Sometimes it is the architect, but not always. In my case, yes, I push, but I seek the input of developers, bankers, institutions, operators, etc. who have the same thoughts and ideas. I work very well with Barry Sternlicht, Steve Witkoff and Nadim Ashi, people who have that kind of a thought process and vision.

PROFILEmiami: Can you explain how you developed your relationship with Nadim Ashi and the Four Seasons properties he has developed?

Kobi: Nadim was originally not a developer or builder. He brings the canvas and asks, “What can you do?” He purchased one of my buildings in foreclosure, the Capri, before I designed Four Seasons Surf Club for him. I designed Four Seasons Surf Club in a way that helps make the property successful for him, but also really creates value, and most important created value through historical preservation within the town of Surfside. Four Seasons Surf Club is in Surfside, and there was pushback to call it The Surf Club in Miami Beach, or the Surf Club in Bal Harbour—everyone has their visions and desires of what they want to be. People told me that Surfside was going to be a complete failure, it is the armpit of Miami Beach. You drive through it and it is not as nice as Bal Harbour. Even people on Indian Creek.

The Surf Club used to be a beach club for people that lived in Indian Creek. People would go to the beach, then play a little golf or party at the club, then go to Bal Harbour Marina and get in their yacht and sail out through Haulover Inlet and head down to Havana, Cuba. The minute you understand the history and how rich the history was 100 years ago, you realize that you are just a single designer who has to think “What are you trying to make?” or “What are you trying to create?” It really is the anchor of the direction of that community.

PROFILEmiami: How does the buyer differ from someone who wants to be in an urban city center, like Miami WorldCenter, as opposed to someone who wants to be in a more beach lifestyle location such as The Four Seasons at the Surf Club or Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale?

Kobi: That is a sophisticated question that must be analyzed on multiple levels. People who live in Fort Lauderdale may not have a desire to live in Miami, and vice-versa. This gives you an opportunity to really create a unique destination of a residence for people who want to, for example, live in Fort Lauderdale. The minute you understand that, you will understand that people will live in a town like Surfside if you give them the right property. People will actually buy in the building you are building if you give them what they want, even if it was desolate before. It is my duty, my responsibility to provide them with the product that they want.

In Fort Lauderdale I was able to do that. I was able to have a block on the city’s 50-yard line with great views of the Atlantic Ocean, phenomenal views to the West and Southwest looking towards Downtown Fort Lauderdale and the historic part of Las Olas and the river. It is a great location. If we have a brand like Four Seasons—which was also the anchor of The Surf Club—as well as having one of the best locations in the city, when combined it creates one of the best locations in perpetuity.

We designed Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale so that the land, which is the most valuable commodity that we have, belongs to the community. We have lush landscaping and corner parks and linear parks so that the public can come and sit and enjoy their coffee in the morning or dinner at night. Anyone can come to the building and enjoy the urban fabric of it. We have both indoor and outdoor experiences.

PROFILEmiami: What other features did you use that were unique when designing The Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale?

Kobi: We floated the building up in the air and created semi-private spaces for the hotel and its guests. The hotel guests have a separate entry and the residential units also have their own separate entry. We created an environment of privacy that gets more public and semi-public as you go around the building. We were able to do that because we made the building sustainable and resilient by taking the demand for the parking, and instead of floating it up in the air as a louvered parking garage, we buried it underneath. That freed up the land to make the public and semi-public spaces, which also freed up the building to float above the landscaped marble deck that Fernando Wong created. It makes for really nice, three-dimensional urban landscaping with functional gardens and indoor-outdoor spaces. On top of the public spaces, we were then able to create a lanai deck, which is the pool for the hotel and the residences. That also allowed us to have the pool out towards the ocean in a way that mimics the bow of a ship. The geometry of the design adds a nautical feel to the building.

We also made sure to provide panoramic views not only towards the ocean—which at night is just black—but also to the city side, which at night is vibrant and lit up. The building is pretty sculptural so it has a unique feeling. As opposed to being rigid and geometric, it is free flowing and takes inspiration from the nautical sand dunes and the waves of the ocean. It is a more environmentally sustainable and resilient building, especially as the shape allows for the winds and tropical breezes to blow around and surround the building in a gentle fashion so when you are on the terraces it is enjoyable. People want to appreciate the environment and the Florida weather. I think it all comes together to make Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale one of the best buildings to live in, and it will continue to be.

PROFILEmiami: You are now involved in the redevelopment of The Raleigh Hotel in South Beach with Michael Shvo, can you give us some insight into what you are building over there?

Kobi: Michael Shvo hired me a bit over a year ago to look at the Raleigh Hotel, which itself is already a beautiful piece of architecture that Michael already appreciates. We met there and discussed why many of the previous owners and their past projects at The Raleigh had failed. Michael is a great visionary and saw the neighboring Richmond and The South Seas Hotels, which are not the nicest looking buildings architecturally speaking in modern terms. They were gorgeous at one time, and they were designed by a great architect named Dixon. When he built them they were beautiful. Over time they changed them and different designers updated them; thus, the original charm was lost, and with those changes the original value of the buildings were lost.

After discussing, Shvo went ahead and purchased the adjacent Richmond and The South Seas Hotels, which allowed me to create a master plan known as the Raleigh Master Plan. We went to the city and explained to them that bringing back the splendor of the original structures would restore the properties to their original glory. Instead of just encumbering the development rights, which disengages the design and the DNA of the property, we created a new tower closer to the ocean while restoring the original structures. This harkens back to the way I love to design property, in which you enter the original structure and, as you walk through the building, you are greeted by the old and get a feel for the history of the property before walking into the new. In the Raleigh Master Plan, you walk through the original structures, then out to a historical landscaped garden and pool before arriving at the new tower, which is behind the Richmond and South Seas Hotels and becomes part of the environment. The new structure will in essence float over what we call The Raleigh Gardens, which allows you to appreciate the land; again, the land is the most valuable commodity that we have. You create the value of the architecture by understanding the value of the history and the land.

My job as an architect is to create and think back to our forefathers who were unique and special themselves, whether we have discovered that already, or we are yet to discover that. That is my job as a space-maker and a designer. I not only create value for my client, not only for the community, but also for the end user. The person who will spend a good chunk of their quality time at the property.

PROFILEmiami: Any last words? How about thoughts on your legacy?

Kobi: I don’t really think about a legacy myself. I think that we go through this world like sand; if people remember you, then you are blessed. I just really love what I do. As my wife would say, I would do it for free. We joke that she works in the office to make sure I don’t do it for free. My two most important projects that I have, one I have been working on for 24 years and one for 18 years, are my sons. If I can help sculpt who they are, and assist them, and be there for them, that is really my biggest enjoyment. I love what I do and do not have a reason to retire. It’s not like I want to stop so I can go fishing or golfing—if I want to do that, I go do it anyway. I get self-enjoyment by hearing what people want, and being able to give that to them. To make people happy in their homes is what I enjoy. It gives me a sense of fulfillment, and that is really important.

About Kobi Karp:

Kobi Karp is the Founder and Principal of Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design, Inc (KKAID). Kobi Karp founded the firm in 1996 and has been the Principal-in-Charge of design since that time. KKAID is a full-service architectural and interior design firm providing a vast array of services, ranging from the design of large-scale, high-rise condominium and hospitality projects to intimate, small-scale low-rise residential and commercial structures. His restoration design techniques have contributed to a renaissance in one of this country’s most cherished areas, Miami Beach’s Art Deco District which is internationally recognized around the world.

Kobi Karp has developed expertise in design over the last 20 years, working with a wide range of project types, sizes, complexities, and budgets. It is through this last quarter century working in warm weather climates that KKAID has garnered international acclaim and been selected to spearhead numerous resort projects. Developers and builders in the Caribbean, Black Sea region, and the Middle East have relied on the firm for their design eye and planning.

Kobi Karp is a recognized member of the American Institute of Architects, honored for his award-winning designs and buildings and he is a licensed Professional Architect in 9 states and in Abu Dhabi (UAE). His firm has been featured in renowned national and local publications based on their major contributions in the preservation of historical areas.

Terra Group's Proposal To Develop Bjarke Ingels-Designed Tower At 300 Alton Road Denied By Voters

Just days after we reported on Terra Group proposed 385’ Bjarke Ingels-designed tower at 300 Alton Road in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood, voters have denied the sale of a parcel of land and air rights necessary to develop the project. Terra Group had offered $55 million for .3 acres and the air rights at 300 Alton Road but local opposition held that the offer was too low and Miami Beach is already too dense. Despite this the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and Ocean Drive Improvement Association supported the proposal. The sale of the .3-acre site and air rights was voted down by a 51.1% to 48.9% margin; although voters approved the long term lease on the city owned marina and management to Suntex by a margin of 52.4% to 47.6%.

“The results of yesterday’s vote make it clear that Miami Beach voters support our vision for a revitalized Miami Beach Marina alongside a package of community benefits and resiliency improvements to develop a ‘world class’ marina. Our team will now work with the City to determine the path forward,” said David Martin, President of Terra Group.

The project, which would have been called Marina Park, would rise 30-stories and would feature 60 luxury residential units which would be sold as condos in addition to 45,000 square feet of commercial space. The project would have a total development size of 225,000 square feet and would be the first Bjarke Ingels-design in Miami Beach.

Fontainebleau Miami Beach Reveals New Renderings Of NBWW-Designed Addition

Jeffrey Soffer’s Fontainebleau Miami Beach has revealed its proposed Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe-designed expansion across the street at 4360 Collins Ave, which is currently a surface parking lot. The buildings would be connected via a 90’-long pedestrian sky bridge that would cross West 44th Street. The addition would rise 5-stories and would feature convention space including two levels of ballrooms, a rooftop deck and three floors of parking offering 500 parking spaces. The parking lot to be developed at 4360 Collins Ave. was acquired by Soffer in 2005 for $15 million, the same year his family acquired the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel.

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach opened in 1954 and was designed by architect Morris Lapidus. The property spans more than 15 acres with 11 pools, a 40,000 SF spa, and 12 different restaurants and bars including Hakkasan and LIV Nightclub. The hotel is made up of four towers including the Chateau and Versailles towers with 846 hotel rooms as well as the Tresor and Sorrento towers with 748 condo-hotel units. It was acquired by Turnberry Associates for $325 million in 2005 before undergoing a $650 million gut-renovation.

Check Out The Bjarke Ingels-Designed Tower Terra Group Has Proposed For South of Fifth

Terra Group’s proposal to develop a 385’ Bjarke Ingels-designed tower at 300 Alton Road in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood is headed to vote. The boutique tower would rise 30-stories and would feature 60 luxury residential units which would be sold as condos in addition to 45,000 square feet of commercial space. The project would have a total development size of 225,000 square feet and would be the first Bjarke Ingels-design in Miami Beach.

The project has been a hot-button topic over the past several months and the development team has been working with the community to present a design that would preserve view corridors and increase green space accessible by the public. The new proposal Led by David Martin, Terra Group is seeking to purchase air rights to the property from the City of Miami Beach for $55 million, in addition to the developer completing $22.5 million of public improvements including a one-acre public park and upgraded baywalk and $15 million for site residency and flood mitigation. The developer will also sign a long term lease for the city-owned Miami Beach Marina which will also see $35 million of improvements over 30 years and Suntex will be appointed as the new marina operator.