Featured Listing: Kick-Back In This Lavish Condo In St. Regis Bal Harbour Complete With A $400K Chinese Art Collection

Miami is a hotspot for art and this unit is St. Regis Bal Harbour has no shortage for the highly curated, coming complete with a $400,000 Chinese art collection featuring works by Yu Han Xi, Li Gang, Yang Tao, Lui Bolin, Tsui Tin Yun, Stella Shang, Lu Yanpeng, and Irene Kung. Finishing off the ultra-luxe interior are furnishing by Axel Vervoordt. The unit features 1,777 SF of living space spread over 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Finishes include a large living room with fireplace, floor-to-ceiling glass, smart home technology, wine cooler, large balcony and spectacular panoramic city, Intracoastal waterway and sunset views. The unit also provides access to the St. Regis' five star hotel amenities including a state of the art fitness center, private residents pool, spa, 2 infinity pools, a full-service poolside pavilion and wet bar, cabanas with daybeds, business center and St. Regis butler services. Unit 704N at the St. Regis in Bal Harbour is currently listed for $3,100,000 by Bill Hernandez and Bryan Sereny of The Bill & Bryan Team at Douglas Elliman.

Check-out the drone video tour below. 

Check-Out Miami Beach's Museum of Ice Cream In The Faena District

Miami Beach now has its very own Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) in the Faena District, offering residents and visitors alike a chance to escape back to their youth. The 4-story building was designed by OMA showcasing iconic art deco elements and contemporary interiors along with stunning ocean views. The Musuem of Ice Cream in Miami Beach features 7 rooms designed to engage all five senses through physical, digital and experiential dialogues. The MOIC aims to be a place where "ideas are transformed into real life experiences" and serves as a safe environment for visitors to embrace their imagination and creativity, building an environment where people can check their fears, anxieties and social norms at the door and have fun. According to MOIC Founder and Creative Director Maryellis Bunn, the museum chose Miami for its 4th location due to the city's culturally diverse and inclusive environment. The museum's first location in New York opened in the summer of 2016 to huge success before expanding to other cities. The Miami branch is located at 3400 Collins Avenue, the museum also has locations in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Museum of Ice Cream in Miami will officially open to the public on December 13, 2017 unless you were lucky enough to get an Art Basel preview and tickets are available for purchase online.

Jade Signature Continues To Power Towards Completion, Reveals Permanent Snowman Installation "Bonhomme Universe"

Just days after the installation of a massive 65,000-pound, 38-year-old kapok tree at the base of Jade Signature in Sunny Isles Beach, the tower and Fortune International Group celebrated the unveiling of “Bonhomme Universe,” their new gemstone snowman, a whimsical piece is by Romania-born artist Daniel Knorr which was commissioned by Fortune International Group President and CEO Edgardo Defortuna. The sculpture will be accessible to the public, a potential future social media icon for Sunny Isles Beach. The unveiling was celebrated with a fashionable beachfront luncheon, guests included Edgardo Defortuna, and his wife, Ana Cristina; the artist himself Daniel Knorr, co-host Sarah Harreslon, founder of CULTURED magazine; Jason Frantzen, partner of Herzog and de Meuron; Raymond Jungles, founder of Raymond Jungles Inc.; Vice Mayor Dana Goldman of the City of Sunny Isles Beach; and former U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios. Defortuna spoke about his passion for art and the ability of sculpture to enliven and embellish outdoor spaces (December 8, 2017).

“We are thrilled to be able to share this unique sculpture with the world – one that celebrates Miami’s diversity, its beauty, soul, and welcoming atmosphere,” said Defortuna.

Daniel Knorr added, "This fantastic building that challenges architectural standards, like three stories of parking under the beach, inspired me to the idea of the snowman and his impossibility to melt under the strong Miami sun. Like the house that hosts inhabitants of 25 countries, the snowman is decorated with gemstones coming from various places in the world. It shows the good soul of mankind and its close connection to nature."

Knorr first began creating these sculptures when he became fascinated by the conceptual possibility of a snowman existing without snow. In Bonhomme Universe, he re-locates this cold-climate object to a sub-tropical environment, releasing it from the material it was once reliant on. Bonhomme Universe stands 10.5' tall and 5.57' wide at the base. The "snowman" crafted around a metal grid of stainless steel, topped with concrete which is adorned with 28 different types of precious and semi-precious stones that have been polished and treated for durability, including green quartz, red jasper and moonstone. The vibrant gemstones chosen are inspired by the colors of the Miami landscape yet sourced from around the world. These natural materials reflect the diverse mesh of buyers at Jade Signature, a testament to Miami’s unique cultural identity. Instead of the typical broom for an arm, this snowman has a palm tree, fashioned from stainless steel. This extended arm serves as a friendly wave to passersby, but also has the deeper visual reference, with the palm tree an ancient symbol of peace, victory, and eternal life that originated in Near East and Mediterranean culture. 

Jade Signature is located at 16901 Collins Ave. and was designed by Herzog & de Meuron, interiors by Parisian interior design firm PYR, led by Pierre-Yves Rochon, and landscape architecture by Raymond Jungles. The tower feature 192 flow-through units with pricing ranging from $3.9 million and 1,581 SF for a 1 bedroom + den with 2 baths to $33 million for a 5 bedroom, 6,407 SF penthouse. Jade Signature will also features lush, landscaped grounds with beach access, a beach grill, resort style amenities including a lagoon style pool, fitness center and spa, wine cellar, library, teens lounge, 24 hour concierge and valet along with more five-star amenities that buyers demand in such a high-end, luxury building. Jade Signature features views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Intracoastal Waterway. Check-out PROFILEmiami's coverage of Fortune International Group reporting over $51 Million in sales in Q1 2017 at Jade Signature in Sunny Isles Beach. 

Construction Update: PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter Reaches Milestone Halfway Point At 30-Stories

PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter has reached a construction milestone halfway mark after completing the 30th floor of the glass tower’s rise. When completed, the tower will rise 60-stories and on course for its top off in summer 2018 with completion anticipated for Q1 2019. Earlier this year, PARAMOUNT reached another new high, closing a $285 million construction loan, among the largest on record for a new condominium tower in the City of Miami. PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter is reportedly more than 70% sold out of its 513 condo units with $360 million in sales. Units range in size from 1,180 to 2,350 square feet, with prices starting at $750 per square foot. 

PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter is known as the most amenitized building in the country and has made international headlines with its Upper Deck, which will debut as the largest amenity deck in the U.S., spanning 90' above downtown Miami featuring an extraordinary array of 40 action-packed resort style amenities which include a resort style pool complete with floating pods, the country’s first outdoor soccer field to be featured in a high-rise residential development; two tennis courts, boxing studio, jam room, basketball court, golf simulator, state-of-the-art fitness center, guest suites, Sky Observatory, Tai Chi deck, and a rooftop entertainment deck 60-stories above the Miami skyline, amongst others. PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter is also the only residential tower currently for sale within the massive 27-acre mixed-use Miami Worldcenter site. Miami Worldcenter’s retail plan reflects downtown Miami’s emergence as one of the country’s fastest-growing urban centers, home to a population that has doubled in size since 2000, with a streetscape that has become more pedestrian-friendly in recent years.

“Seeing PARAMOUNT at its midpoint just six months from top off is a stunning moment for our team underscoring the continued progress as we bring this extraordinary, landmark project to life,” said developer Dan Kodsi. “This announcement marks another major milestone for the project and in the evolution of downtown Miami. We have a lot of excited residents that we cannot wait to welcome.”

PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter is being developed by Dan Kodsi with Art Falcone and Nitin Motwani. PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter is the luxury residential condo tower that is part of the larger $2 billion, 30-acre Miami Worldcenter initiative that will transform Miami's urban core via world-class high-street retail concept with shopping, dining, entertainment, hospitality, office space, a Marriott Marquis Miami Worldcenter Hotel & Expo Center, apartment rentals, amongst others.

Check-out PROFILEmiami's exclusive interview with Dan Kodsi, developer of PARAMOUNT Miami Worldcenter.  

The Aranguren + Gallegos Arquitectos-Designed Institute of Contemporary Art Miami Opens In Miami Design District

Miami's brand new Institute of Contemporary Art has officially opened its doors in the Miami Design District right in time for Art Basel. The metal-faced building was designed by Madrid-based architectural firm Aranguren + Gallegos Arquitectos, their first project in the United States. To create the facade the architects used geometric metal panels to create a "magnetic" appeal to attract visitors along with a cove lighting system to illuminate the metal-clad face at night. Each gallery features double-height ceilings and overlook the sculpture garden via floor-to-ceiling glass. The sculpture garden will also be used to host events and talks. The back of the museum features a sculpture garden. The museum has a free-admission policy. ICA Miami previously operated from the historic Moore Building, also located in Miami Design District which is being developed by Craig Robins as a neighborhood that fuses high-end luxury shopping with art, culture and eduction. ICA Miami sits on land donated by Robins adjacent to the De La Cruz Collection on NE 41st Street. Norman Braman, the iconic Miami car dealer, and his wife Irma, who chairs the board of trustees at ICA Miami, provided the funds to cover most of the cost of the museum. The museum will first feature over 100 works by more than 50 artists with a show called "The Everywhere Studio." The institute joins a group of privately-owned museums in Miami including the Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, the Rubell Family Collection, the Cisneros Fontanels Art Foundation and the adjacent De La Cruz Collection. 

Photography is by Iwan Baan.

Cirque du Soleil Founder Guy Laliberte Joins The $1 Billion Magic City Innovation District Project Coming To Little Haiti

Tony Cho, Bob Zangrillo and Plaza Equity Partners have announced that Guy Laliberte's Lune Rouge has joined as an arts and entertainment partner on the $1 billion Magic City Innovation District project in Little Haiti. Guy Laliberte, who will join as creative director, is the founder of Cirque du Soleil and his Montreal-based company Lune Rouge develops and invests in real estate projects with focus on technology, arts and entertainment. The developers have just applied for a Temporary Use Permit for the 17-acre former trailer park, which, along with 22 other buildings will be redeveloped into a mixed use technology and culture-driven, walkable, live-work-play development. Magic City will include a 30,000 SF Magic City Studios a 15,000 SF innovation center with co-working and start-up accelerator space, an office tower, retail, workforce housing and a hotel. Laliberte will also build a pop-up area with local retail and food options. Magic City Innovation District extends from NE 60th Street to NE 64th Street and east of NE 2nd Avenue. 

"Magic City is an opportunity for us to put all our creativity to the service of entertainment and new technologies,” Laliberte said. “This collaboration will allow us to explore new forms of entertainment and make available multimedia and interactive installations adapted to future Magic City residents and visitors. Lune Rouge is proud to be a partner in this important revitalization project.”

Jade Signature Installs Towering, 65,000 LBS Kapok Tree Kicking Off The Tower's Countdown To Completion

Winter is upon us, but Fortune International Group's Jade Signature tower in Sunny Isles Beach is just beginning to “blossom.” At the beginning of December 2017, a giant kapok tree was installed at the entrance of the condominium tower under the watchful eye of landscape architect Raymond Jungles, signaling the building’s countdown to completion, a return to Sunny Isles’ roots, and the culmination of a developer’s obsession for perfection. On an even grander scale, the planting is part of an effort by the developers to reintroduce native and naturalized species to the surrounding environment. From 11:59 p.m. Saturday evening (December 2, 2017) into the early hours of Sunday morning, the massive, 65,000-pound, 38-year-old kapok tree was planted at the base of the tower. The tree is symbolic of the singular vision behind Jade Signature, an innovative collaboration between Raymond Jungles and a trio of industry titans: luxury real estate leader Fortune International Group, Pritzker Prize-winning architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, world-renowned, award-winning Parisian interior design firm PYR, led by Pierre-Yves Rochon.

“We turned to Raymond Jungles and his team to create a landscape that would work well with the surrounding waterfront setting,” said Edgardo Defortuna, President and CEO of Fortune International Group. “Naturally, Jungles is a mastermind in conceptualizing designs that are sustainable and unique.  The kapok tree, which thrives in the tropics, will be the finishing touch of this beachside oasis and a local landmark in and of itself.”

The kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra) is a species that was sacred in ancient Mayan culture, revered as a source of strength and resiliency.  Known for living for hundreds of years and capable of reaching extreme elevations (some have been recorded at heights of 250 feet), the tree’s unmistakable silhouette is defined by an umbrella-shaped crown made of numerous branches and arranged in horizontal tiers. As conveyed by Raymond Jungles, the implementation of grown trees, such as the kapok in this case, has immediate benefits, including erosion control, drainage improvements and an enhancement of native ecosystems. Because of the way the architects have positioned and oriented Jade Signature, the building will be bathed in an abundance of sunlight – a welcomed change from surrounding buildings that have large zones of shade. In addition, the developers hired French engineering firm Bouygues Construction (the same team behind the excavation of the Port of Miami tunnel) to dig 50' underground for the implementation of a concealed, 400-space parking garage, a first in Sunny Isles. This innovative design has thereby allowed the team to plant more vegetation at the surface of Jade Signature and offer a seamless connection from Collins Avenue to the beach. 

“In the case of Jade Signature, it was pretty easy to conceptualize and implement a landscape design because of so many of the wonderful spaces the architects created,” added landscape architect Raymond Jungles.  “The tower is going to offer, what I believe, will be one of the best amenity packages I’ve ever seen…and certainly one of the most dramatic and well-designed.  I think Jade Signature is really going to be a trendsetter.”

Jade Signature is located at 16901 Collins Ave. and was designed by Herzog & de Meuron. The tower feature 192 flow-through units with pricing ranging from $3.9 million and 1,581 SF for a 1 bedroom + den with 2 baths to $33 million for a 5 bedroom, 6,407 SF penthouse. Jade Signature will also features lush, landscaped grounds with beach access, a beach grill, resort style amenities including a lagoon style pool, fitness center and spa, wine cellar, library, teens lounge, 24 hour concierge and valet along with more five-star amenities that buyers demand in such a high-end, luxury building. Jade Signature features views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Intracoastal Waterway. Check-out PROFILEmiami's coverage of Fortune International Group reporting over $51 Million in sales in Q1 2017 at Jade Signature in Sunny Isles Beach.

Enjoy the video of the process installing the Kapok tree below. 

Ready For Art Basel? Check-Out The New Downtown Site For CONTEXT Art Miami And Art Miami

Art Miami has released a new drone video of their 250,000 SF installation for Art Basel which will house the popular Art Miami and CONTEXT Aft Miami shows. The location at One Herald Plaza, the current Genting property and former Miami Herald site, will also feature a cafe, outdoor dining area, a transportation area with pick-up and drop off, valet parking for 4,000 cars, cocktail lounge and exterior deck overlooking Biscayne Bay. Art Miami represents Miami's longest running contemporary art fair, hosting their 28th edition recognizing America's Modern and contemporary art and primary destination for acquisition of works from the 20th and 21st centuries. CONTEXT Art Miami is in its 6th edition after launching in 2012 and aims to create a dialogue between artists, galleries and collectors. The new location sits just across MacArthur Causeway from the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), Museum Park and the newly opened Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. Check out the drone video below.

Check-Out Birdman's Palm Island Mansion Which Recently Dropped The Asking Price To $16.9 Million For Art Basel

Situated on the ultra-luxurious, Palm Island, famous for its waterfront estates, sits 70 Palm Avenue, the infamous mansion previously owned by Scott Storch. The property is now availible for $16.9 million after dropping the price from its previous ask of $20 million. The ultra-luxurious 20,000 SF mansion which was built in 2004 features 7-bedrooms, 12-bathroom along with a 4 car garage. Inside there is a chef's kitchen with backlit marble kitchen island, 2 wine cellars, movie theater, billiard room with wet-bar, dramatic foyer flowing into formal living room, and a 3,500 SF master suite with dual bathrooms, walk-in closets, sitting area, and private balcony. Outside, the estate features a volleyball court, pool, summer kitchen and 100' of water-frontage on Biscayne Bay. 70 Palm Avenue is listed for $16,900,000 with Brett Harris and Darin Tansey of Douglas Elliman. 

Melo Group Reveals Miami Plaza & Art Plaza In Fast Rising Arts + Entertainment District

Melo Group, one of Miami's leading real estate developers, has fully committed to the quickly transforming Arts + Entertainment District, formally Omni District, in Downtown Miami. After delivering Melody Tower in 2016, their Square Station development, which is nearing completion, will help reinvigorate the once desolate area by bringing 710-units over 2 towers. Other major developments in recent years include NR Investment's nearly-completed CANVAS and Filling Station Lofts. Melo Group has now revealed their plans for the proposed Miami Plaza and Art Plaza in the fast rising Arts + Entertainment District. Miami Plaza, located at 1502 Northeast Miami Place, would rise 35-stories, 350', and would feature 425 apartments with easy access to the MetroMover. The project would also bring 5,064 SF of retail to the area and 508 parking spaces. Art Plaza would feature 2 twin 33-story, 325' towers across the street from Square Station at 58 NE 14th Street. The project would bring 655 apartments and 14,599 SF of retail to the district along with 886 parking spaces. The tower is seeking a 19% parking reduction request. In all, Melo Group wants to bring 1,790 units to the Arts + Entertainment District and both projects were up for review by Miami's Urban Development Review Board on November 29, 2017.