PROFILE Exclusive: Inside One Thousand Museum with Louis Birdman, Co-Developer Behind The Uber-Lux, Zaha Hadid-Designed Futuristic Tower

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Louis Birdman, one of the co-developers behind One Thousand Museum by Zaha Hadid Architects, to discuss the futuristic, ultra-luxury, condo tower. Louis tackles everything from working with legendary architect Zaha Hadid, to tackling the luxury market and the unique GFRC exoskeleton design that makes up the tower's unique, skyline changing, iconic design. Take a look inside the mind of one of the masterminds transforming Downtown Miami into a vibrant, modern, world-class city center.

PM: No developer had touched creating ultra-luxury in downtown Miami up until this point. What made you guys say let's be the first?

LB: When we started to see the market coming back. There was a period of time when the market imploded. It wasn’t just a Miami issue, it was a global banking issue. The first real estate market that started to rebound was New York, and shortly thereafter came Miami. The profile of buyers changed dramatically from the last peak in the market, where it was a highly speculative market that lots of investors highly leveraged. This time around, the buyers for condo products, particularly in Miami, were more focused on luxury. They were investors, but they were also end users. With a large flow of capital domestically and in Latin America, Miami has been one of the places that people look to invest in real estate. 

When we saw this resurgence, we zeroed in on this site, which was a former BP station. We always looked at this site as one of the best development sites in Downtown. You have Museum Park with nothing built in front of it, you have great views of the bay and great views of Miami Beach. We had a unique site that a lot of people had interest in and is high-density. We could have put 500 units on it, but instead we decided to scale down the number of units and create an ultra-luxurious property. We wanted to create a type of unit that didn’t exist in the market place. As the market bottomed out and then moved back up, the units that were bringing the greatest premium and spending the least days on market were units that were over 3,000 SF. Less than 5% of the inventory were units over 3,000 SF and many of those were combined or the premium units like penthouses and tower suites; units that made up a small segment of the inventory in Downtown and Brickell. 

We set out to create a building that fit that profile, and started looking at Miami Beach and what people were buying single-family units on the islands (Palm Island, Star Island, Hibiscus Island, Venetian Islands, Sunset Islands), and in the South of Fifth neighborhood. If we were going to attract a buyer that would otherwise be purchasing there, we had to create a building that would attract the top segment of the market. That is how we decided to create this product type in this location. Since we paid a lot of money for the site and wanted to build a few units that were very large, we knew we were going to look at absolute prices just above $5 million. 

PM: Where did the idea and concept to build such an architecturally stunning building come from? When did this all of this start to come together?

LB: Because of the record number of homes being sold over $5 million and $10 million, we felt that there was enough of the market to create that type of inventory but in a luxury high-rise building. That is where the idea of bringing in someone like Zaha Hadid came from. We wanted to bring in an architect that was very high profile, maybe even controversial, who had never done anything in Miami before. Herzog & de Meuron and Rem Koolhaas already had projects here, we didn’t want someone that had already left their mark. We wanted to do something different. 

Zaha was at the top of our list when we created our fantasy list of top architects. We didn’t even know whether she would have any interest or if we could get her to do a high-rise condo in Miami. As it turned out, when we pitched the project to her and her firm, they were immediately interested. Unbeknownst to us she really wanted to do something big in Miami. She had competed to get the Frost Museum of Science, she was one of the architects that submitted proposals and they ultimately went with Grimshaw Architects, a contemporary of hers from the U.K. I think for her own personal reasons it was important for her to do something like this in Miami. It was an opportunity that presented itself at the right time and her style fit our idea to create these large, out-of-the-box units. 

PM: With the New York building that she did as well, 520 West 28th Street, it becomes iconic to where it becomes the “Zaha Building."

LB: Exactly. That project actually came after One Thousand Museum. She was commissioned on that project by Related Companies in New York well after the announcement of this project. We got her into that type of space, and I think Related Companies saw that we got a tremendous amount of PR as a result of getting her to do this project in Miami. They thought it was a good fit for New York. That project is really nice. It is different for that area and on a beautiful site. It is not a high-rise, but it is very unique. You see the building is immediately recognizable as a Zaha design, and I have been there on a typical weekend seeing people on the high-line walk by and take pictures all day. It is very iconic. 

PM: Your background is as an architect…

LB: I’m an architect and moved to the development side in the early 1990s-2000s. On One Thousand Museum, Zaha Hadid Architects did all of the design. With my experience as an architect I am able to participate in the decisions that are being made, but they were given a free hand to design the building as they saw fit. The original design and the final design didn’t deviate very much from Zaha’s original concept.

PM: What have been some of the challenges about building such a unique, artistic structure and all of the teams and moving parts of the project?  

LB: The structure is very complex. We are utilizing a system that has never been used before to build a high-rise building. We are using a pre-cast GFRC, which is a glass-fiber-reinforced-concrete, as formwork to create the construction of the building. This formwork is actually used in the construction and left in place. It is not like typical formwork where you use formwork that you pour concrete then you strip the formwork away. The building from the 15th floor up is utilizing this GFRC as formwork and from the 14th floor down we are using it as a cladding over concrete. The lower portion of the building will be covered with the same material that is used to cover the upper portion of the building. The actual product is being manufactured from the architect’s 3D model that they created in Dubai. 

Examples of the GFRC Panel Exoskeloton 

LB CTND: About 5,000 panels that range anywhere from 2,000 lbs. to 5,000 lbs. are “dryfit” together in Dubai and then shipped to Miami in containers in an ongoing 18-month process. The panels come into the Port of Miami and are taken to a yard in Doral where they are inventoried and checked for damage. The steel cages of rebar are fitted inside 2 GFRC panels together make the column and the brackets that you see on the corner of the building. We bring the put together pieces to the building as we work on each level. It is a process that can go on for almost 2 years from beginning to end. We are completing a floor each week on average and are up to the 50th floor right now.

The process has actually gone really well. One of the concerns we had was what if one of the panels got damaged in shipping or while being hoisted into place. We have only had 3 damaged out of nearly 4,000 panels. One was damaged being put in place and 2 were damaged in shipping to the point where they couldn’t be used. We planned ahead for these obstacles by building the lower part as cast-in-place concrete that would then be clad later, giving us a head start so that we could have 8 or 9+ floors at any one time. That way if something got damaged, we had time to have another panel replacement made and shipped back over here. They can make a panel in about a week to 10 days, but it takes a while to ship it here. We didn’t want to stop and miss a pour because we were waiting for a piece. 

The whole process is being filmed for a documentary by Discovery Channel and PBS called Impossible Builds. We are going to be one of five buildings around the world that are featured in a documentary series that they are doing on buildings that are highly-complex and difficult to build. 

PM: Where does the GFRC start?

LB: It starts on the first half-floor unit right above the townhouse level. The townhouse levels have big 2-story balconies formed by very round holes, which is all done in cladding. It was logistically impossible to do it as formwork. By using this GFRC form process, we are able to create very precise shapes and finishes that we could never get out of cast-in-place-concrete, at least not in a high-rise building. Everyone was wondering how it would come out and the results are really impressive. 

PM: It’s interesting how style and technology can go hand-in-hand.

LB: You could never build a tower like this without the current technology that exists with computers and 3D modeling. Every time they make a change they are modifying the entire 3D model for the building. When we make a change as we are going up in the building, it affects the entire structure. 

PM: How do you think this Park West area of Downtown will change over the next five years and how will One Thousand Museum contribute to this change?

LB: This area is changing at a very fast pace. The big catalysts for this are the numerous public projects. The first big one was the Adrienne Arsht center that goes back about 10 years, but the planning of it began even earlier. There was also Museum Park, which used to be called Bicentennial Park, that was going to be redeveloped to create a whole arts center. The idea of putting museums in the park, came in the early 2000s. This was an area of Downtown that was very unique. It is not often that there is an opportunity to do a major downtown redevelopment and have so much land that was ripe for development all in one place. Miami WorldCenter aggregated almost 32 acres when you add in the former arena site. 5 years from now you are going to see a very mature, developed area of Downtown because Miami WorldCenter already has seven or eight projects under various stages of development. We were the last Biscayne front piece on the park. This whole neighborhood is filling in and from the point of access, we have always felt that this end of the Biscayne corridor is much more suited for the type of intensive development that is going on. The museums are now a reality and the number of visitors that they are getting at the Frost Museum of Science has exceeded everyone’s expectations. There has been discussion about getting Museum Park into a conservancy like Millennium Park in Chicago and Central Park in New York. They have made so many improvements and activated the space for people. You are going to see more of a push to continue to improve the area. 

About Louis Birdman, Co-Developer, One Thousand Museum by Zaha Hadid Architects:

For nearly three decades, real estate industry veteran Louis Birdman has taken a leadership role in the development of over 70 residential projects, comprising more than 18,000 residential units nationwide. Mr. Birdman has a significant background in property acquisitions, dispositions, entitlements, financing, planning, design, construction, sales and marketing. Mr. Birdman has been a principal investor and developer in numerous real estate developments projects throughout Florida and nationwide, including Las Vegas, Arizona, Colorado and Texas. He is also the founder and principal of Louis Birdman Architect, an architectural consulting practice that provides consulting services to developers of real estate in both related and unrelated entities. He has been a registered architect licensed in Florida since 1989 and has held architectural licenses in multiple jurisdictions in the United States, including Chicago, New York and Nevada.

Louis Birdman is currently the Co-Developer of One Thousand Museum by Zaha Hadid Architects, a 62-story, ultra-luxury high-rise condominium Tower in Miami, FL with 83 half-floor and full-floor residences. One Thousand Museum is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in mid-2018, slated to be Miami’s most iconic tower and the centerpiece of Miami’s Museum Park.

The Sales Center at One Thousand Museum

PROFILE Exclusive: Exploring W Fort Lauderdale & The Fast Growth of Fort Lauderdale Beach with ISG Principal Craig Studnicky

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Craig Studnicky, Principal and Co-Founder of ISG Realty and leads sales at The Residences at W Fort Lauderdale. Take a look inside Related Group and Related Companies $60 million renovation of the iconic property and find out how the Fort Lauderdale Beach real estate market is on the move.

PM: Fort Lauderdale and Fort Lauderdale Beach have seen an influx of high-end condo and hotel developments in recent years. What sets The Residences at W Fort Lauderdale apart?

CS: The W Fort Lauderdale was completed in 2009. It was designed and developed as part hotel and part condo, essentially a condo hotel. A lot of the developments on the ocean in Fort Lauderdale, like Auberge and Paramount, are being developed for the end-user. Auberge and Paramount have typical rental restrictions for end-user condominiums. The Residences at W Fort Lauderdale, by contrast, has the ability to be rented short-term. The original developer designed the W as two towers, with the hotel in the east tower, and the condo residences in the west tower. 

What really sets The Residences at W Fort Lauderdale apart is the flexible use of the units. You can buy a unit as a second home and never rent it, buy it as your permanent residence and live there year-round, or you can buy it as a combination second home and rental property. Most of the people who buy at the W use their condo as a combination of a second home and rental property. When owners are not in town, they sign a management contract with Starwood and Starwood manages the unit as a “hotel residence” which generates income for the owner.

W Fort Lauderdale was acquired by Related in 2014. Related has developed more than 80,000 condos over the past thirty years, and are clearly the largest condo developer in the U.S. After taking ownership, Related decided to do a $60 million renovation to the entire property. The W, Starwood and Related agreed to use New York-based design firm Meyer Davis to head up the redesign. Meyer Davis has also been hired by Related for Auberge Beach Residences & Spa, the Paraiso Bay Beach Club in Edgewater, Park Grove in Coconut Grove and 1 Hotel & Homes in South Beach.  

PM: Do you see a need for more hotel branded residences in Fort Lauderdale?

CS: Absolutely. We are welcoming the Four Seasons, just two blocks north of the W, which promised to break ground this fall. The Four Seasons is the most recent addition to the high-end branded residences in the area, including W Fort Lauderdale and Ritz-Carlton.

PM: So, you guys were selling strong when a lot of other projects were slowing down?

CS: We are selling strong because Fort Lauderdale Beach is selling strong. The pricing gap between oceanfront properties in Miami Beach vs. oceanfront properties in Fort Lauderdale Beach has never been greater, and developers and buyers from around the world have noticed. Historically, the price difference from Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale Beach has been about 25 to 30 percent, with Miami always getting the premium. Today, Miami Beach is about 200 percent more expensive than Fort Lauderdale Beach.  

In the last three years, $1.5 billion in new development has taken place in Fort Lauderdale, 70 percent of which has already been sold. 

PM: Where do you see most of the buyers coming from? Are there a lot of New Englander’s and New Yorkers who want a second home and like the supplemental income and the ability to show up with their golf clubs?

CS: The United States is the number one market for The Residences at W Fort Lauderdale. The overwhelming majority of buyers are from the northeast, including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Chicago but also Canada, Toronto and Montreal. The next market after that is Brazil. Brazilians have discovered Fort Lauderdale and the price difference between Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale is very appealing to them. They love the beach, and the beach in front of the W is the nicest beach in Fort Lauderdale. Even though the dollar is high, they love the idea of buying into a condo hotel because they get their rental income in U.S. dollars, which is valuable for Brazilians. 

PM: So how did you start to connect with Chinese buyers?

CS: I have owned my company for 25 years and we have done lots of work for developers, but I can honestly say, this is the first time I have ever sold to Chinese buyers. About 18 months ago, I started a division called ISG Asia and currently have 20 Mandarin-speaking agents working with me. A majority of China has not been exposed to South Florida and needs a lot of education on what Florida is and the different markets it includes. They are starting to discover South Florida and interest is rising because Florida is a bargain compared to pricing in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. The Chinese are only investing so far, mostly looking for income-producing properties. Of all of the properties I show them, The Residences at W Fort Lauderdale is one that they like the most because of its brand. 

When President Xi visited President Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach in April, travel websites from China were completely sold out of availability for Florida. The visit was really big for Florida real estate in terms of introducing Florida to the biggest country in the world. By the end of 2017, we are supposed to have a non-stop flight from Tokyo, and by the end of 2018, we are supposed to have non-stop flights from Beijing and Singapore, which will be a real game changer for South Florida real estate. 

PM: Can they move money freely out of China? How easy is it for them to invest their capital in the United States? 

CS: Currently there is a $50,000 restriction per individual on foreign investments annually, which is a challenge. There are ways of getting around it, but it is very challenging. The Chinese government is watching them very closely at the moment. 

PM: What else does Related Group and Related Companies have in store for Fort Lauderdale Beach?

CS: I think you will see Related develop more high-end condos like Auberge Beach Residences & Spa. The value difference between Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale Beach makes this Fort Lauderdale’s time.

About Craig Studnicky:

Craig Studnicky is a principal of International Sales Group, ISG, and has been a real estate broker for more than 25 years. Studnicky began his career in New York City as a sales associate in residential real estate for JPS Associates. In 1984, he founded Steven Craig Realty in Atlantic City  where his firm became Atlantic City’s leader in real estate, cornering two thirds of the market. In 1992, Studnicky relocated to Florida to work as Director of Sales for Country Club Estates in Aventura from 1992 to 1994. In partnership with Philip J. Spiegelman, he co-founded International Sales Group. Under Studnickys’ leadership, ISG maintains the areas top-producing sales force who have posted record real estate sales. Studnicky is a licensed real estate broker in states of New Jersey and Florida. He holds a degree from Virginia Tech.

Take our tour of Related Group & Related Companies' $60 million renovation of W Fort Lauderdale HERE

PROFILE Exclusive: Bringing Eco-Friendly Living to Coconut Grove at Arbor

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Nick Hamann of Urban Atlantic Group and Jeremy Waks of Oak Ventures, LLC. to discuss their new development shaking-up Coconut Grove, Arbor. Arbor is an eco-living inspired development that will rise 5-stories and feature 52 units. The building is being designed by Behar Font & Partners with with interiors by Smauel Amoia andlandscape design by Witkin Hults and Tyler Nielsen. Units will come in 2 and 3 bedroom layouts and range from 1,400 SF to 2,000 SF. Find out how they used the lush landscape of Coconut Grove to bring family friendly and ecologically friendly, green living to the historic neighborhood.

Nick Hamann, Principal of Urban Atlantic Group

Jeremy Waks, Principal of Oak Ventures, LLC.

NH - Nick Hamann (Urban Atlantic Group, Managing Principal)

JW - Jeremy Waks (Oak Ventures, LLC., Principal)

PM: Arbor seems to bring a truly Coconut Grove vibe. Where did the idea and concept come from? 

NH: Jeremy and I are Miami natives and we share a tremendous appreciation for Coconut Grove, its historic roots and unique offerings. We have specifically drawn inspiration from these hallmarks to build something that pays homage to the social threads of the neighborhood, its ‘green’ composition and community-centered attributes. 

JW: Our vision has been to create large, house-like residences that capitalize on wide views, special amenities and walkable access to restaurants, recreational spaces, and top-rated schools – essentially, the quintessential home-sites for long-term members of this vibrant community. 

PM: What makes Arbor so unique? What sets it apart from some of the other great new buildings that have been built in Coconut Grove recently? 

NH: What sets us apart is our strong emphasis on livability and sense of place, a place where you can get to know your neighbors. Arbor is a midscale building with 52 residences, which we recently have not seen in Coconut Grove. This scale allows us to focus on the elements, design, and facilities that connect residents in a livable space and where they can get to know each other.

JW: Our amenities, which are geared toward end-users that enjoy an active lifestyle and sense of community, are specifically designed to feel more like an extension of your living space, rather than an offering that is underutilized. Throughout the building, we’ve focused on creating spaces that encourage residents to engage with each other and the surrounding neighborhood. 

For example, our bike share program, which offers residents 24-7 access to bikes and provides an additional option for getting around the neighborhood. Our lobby will also be active and inviting. Also, our pet-walk, rooftop terrace, outdoor cinema, Yoga & Pilates deck, and backyard-like amenity deck (which features a landscaped courtyard, outdoor summer kitchens, social spaces and seating, a lap pool, and water fountain) are all designed to encourage engagement, livability, and to complement a well-balanced lifestyle and maximize indoor-outdoor living.  

PM: What is the best feature that residents will enjoy? When they move into Arbor, what sets the residences apart from the other buildings? What makes Arbor a great place to live? 

NH: The best feature about Arbor is that it feels like a large home. It’s a place where you can live in a condominium residence that offers family-friendly living spaces -- large open floorplans, high ceilings, and chef-style kitchens – with neighborhood-like qualities and amenities that are an extension of your livable space.  

PM: Arbor is an eco-living inspired residences; can you explain what that means and what makes it eco-friendly? 

JW: The environment is a passion. Arbor’s design is inspired by the tree-shaded setting of the surrounding neighborhood, carefully pulling the outdoors in through floor-to-ceiling windows and private gardens. There will be ample green space and landscaping throughout the property, including many trees that will provide plenty of shade and add to the property’s overall ambiance. 

Our residences are equipped with energy efficient appliances. Our electric car charging stations and bike share program provide a green alternative to transportation. We will also be incorporating recycling throughout the building and using some recycled building materials during construction. Our irrigation system will be eco-friendly and conserve water. We are also exploring the use of solar energy to power some of our common areas and reduce the building’s energy consumption, and are seeking to obtain a green building certificate. 

PM: What was one difficulty that you ran into or what was one of the hardest obstacles to overcome to help bring Arbor to reality?

NH: We haven’t run into any unusual challenges. All of our buyers are end-users that really care about the space, and we’ve worked closely with each of them to deliver a unit that they can call home. It’s exciting to see that they are designing their spaces to be specifically conducive to their lifestyles, in both the short- and long-term, and not simply just an investment. However, this adds a certain level of complexity to the building and design process.

PM: What do you think of the recent new developments in Coconut Grove and the new energy they have brought to the neighborhood? 

NH: Coconut Grove is one of Miami’s oldest and most diverse neighborhoods, known for its verdant parks, bayside walks, and year-round festivals. The new developments are an improvement to the neighborhood, have brought positive attention to the Grove, and placed it at the forefront of many conversations. The area’s revitalization in general has helped educate people on the neighborhood’s historic roots and unique offerings, which is attracting younger families seeking to take advantage of the area’s great public spaces and parks. 

PM: Where do you see Coconut Grove's place in Miami in the next 5 to 10 years? 

NH: Coconut Grove will continue to strengthen its position as a balanced community where people can live, work and play. It is becoming more of a complete neighborhood with irreplaceable elements. 

JW: The revitalization, increased development and growing business community will continue to make the Grove a desirable location for young professionals, young families and empty-nesters seeking an alternative to high density neighborhoods, such as downtown and Brickell, and a true walkable community. You cannot replicate the historic aspects of the Grove, which is what makes this community so unique.  

About Urban Atlantic Group:

Urban Atlantic Group is a real estate development and investment company focused on creating value in urban neighborhoods including repositioning and development of urban core residential, retail and office properties. Urban Atlantic Group believes value maximization is achieved through a combination of core and opportunistic strategic investments in key underserved urban submarkets. UAG is led by founders Nick Hamann as well as Daniel Buraglia. Prior to founding UAG, Nick Hamann worked as Southeast Region Assistant Development Director for the New York-based Rockefeller Group Development Corporation.  

About Oak Ventures, LLC.:

Oak Ventures is a Florida based real estate development firm led by Jeremy Waks. He has developed Heathrow Lounge and Treehouse, which brought world-class artists to Miami. Waks aims to construct the cultures around his development to ensure that a new concept seamlessly ties itself to the neighboring community. Waks is also the co-founder of Debris Free Oceans, a non-profit which produces educational programs for teachers and children to host beach cleanup event and raise awareness for the negative effects of pollution of marine life.

PROFILE Exclusive: Delivering the Miami Beach "Beachfront" Lifestyle to Edgewater with Two Roads Development & GTIS Partners of Biscayne Beach

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with the masterminds behind Biscayne Beach, Edgewater's newest waterfront, luxury high-rise. Biscayne Beach was developed as a joint venture between the South-Florida based Two Roads Development and the New York Based GTIS Partners. The 52-story tower features 391 units priced between $400K through $9 million and opened last week (June 2017). We were able to catch-up with Reid Boren and Taylor Collins, partner's at Two Roads Development as well as Robert Rediker, the managing director of GTIS Partners to find out how they delivered the "beachfront" lifestyle to Edgewater. 
 
RR - Robert Rediker (GTIS Partners, Managing Director)
RB - Reid Boren (Two Roads Development, Partner)
TC - Taylor Collins (Two Roads Development, Partner)
 
PM: The lot that Biscayne Beach now stands on was such a prime lot but in an area/ corridor that was yet to undergo much development, how did you guys get access to such a great lot/ opportunity? 
 
TC: We started looking in Miami in 2012, we were doing some workout work for some other developers down here. We met with a land holding company called the Fifteen Group and we approached them and asked them if they had any assets that they bought during the last cycle in the downturn. They mentioned this piece of property, which was basically 5 abandoned apartment buildings. We drove down to look at the property, literally turned around, went and put a contract and put up money. After that we went out to the markets to find a strategic partner to help us develop it.

PM: How did the concept for Biscayne Beach come about? What was your main goal with the project?
 
RB: We were very cognizant of the great developers that have been here in Miami. We wanted to make sure that as new to the market we were, GTIS and Two Roads were going to deliver something of amazing quality. We had to bring in the best of brands but I also think that we had a different sensibility and that the market could use something that was different then some of the other buildings we had seen. There was a move towards a minimalist, starck, but clean, beautiful design and we thought that bringing in Thom Filicia could add a little more warmth and bridge the gap between the north and the south. I think what we got is a really chic, but livable beachy atmosphere that still speaks to luxury.
 
PM: A lot of New York and Miami has been in a crossover market. Everything people have up north is now down here. Do you see that the New Yorkers feel more comfortable living here full time as opposed to five, ten years ago?
 
RB: I think they are coming sooner rather than later. I think that the New Yorkers, and also New Englanders, have to deal with the cold winter weather for a good portion of the year, higher taxes and a cost of living that’s almost three times as much as compared to Miami. A very basic unit in New York is 2,500 - 3,500 SF and that is not prime, on the water perfect location like we have at Biscayne Beach. To be in the $600, $700 per foot range and be on the water and close to everything, you will see more people moving down here. As the world gets smaller and technology drives these business more and it's not as common to walk next door to see your lawyer or your banker, there are many good reasons to be in Florida as opposed to the northeast. 

PM: Do you guys find the commercial development and industry to be lagging behind the residential development?
 
RR: The service sectors are already here, you have accounting, law, financial services. They are very strong in Miami. You are seeing more family offices open up as more Latin Americans are beginning to spend more time in Miami in their homes. I believe they are going to be moving more of their assets to the U.S. and becoming larger institutions and that will grow over time.  
 
PM: What do you think of the recent new developments in Edgewater and the new energy they have brought to the area?
 
TC: Edgewater is new to the development scene. Downtown Miami itself is kind of new. Downtown’s residential market really started growing in 2007 when you saw Ten Museum Park and 900 Biscayne go up in the last cycle, and then things really took off. The commercial market was ahead of it which you typically don’t see because Miami had gained this traction with the art and the culture scene – and with that, you had the Design District basically become the Rodeo Drive of Miami, you had Midtown pop-up with great restaurants and shops, and you had Wynwood come alive as a haven for artists and creatives. Edgewater was a natural next step – it’s location on the water in the middle of Miami’s thriving urban core with access to all of these surrounding amenities and trendy neighborhoods made it a no-brainer on the investment side. This is what people come to Miami for. In ten years Edgewater is going to be the most popular neighborhood in this entire area because this is where you are going to have the newest, highest-end buildings that are located directly on the water. 

PM: Edgewater has seen some great towers be built in recent years. What sets Biscayne Beach apart from these other developments? What makes it so unique?
 
RR: I think Thom Filicia’s aesthetic and what we have done with our amenities really makes us stand out. It drives a unique element to the property. Some of our neighbors are projects on the larger side with very large shared amenity spaces. I think this building will live in a smaller, more comfortable way. What we tried to accomplish was the idea of bringing the beach element to the city side of Miami and I think that that won’t be replicated. I think you will see, as our residents start living here, people tanning on the beach and enjoying their days as if they were on Miami Beach. 
 
RB: In terms of location, Miami Beach and Brickell are just a few miles away. Broward and Palm Beach Counties are just a hop away. I think that the city is generally moving itself here. What is interesting is that the prices still do not reflect that. On the beach you see $1,500 - $2,000 SF, in Brickell it is getting close to $1,000 SF. Edgewater is still in the high $600’s for new construction. I think that there is a great value proposition. When I grew up in New York and you were on the Upper East Side you didn’t go south of Midtown. Now, nobody wants to live uptown. I think so goes Miami. It started where it was just the beach and there were the tourists. Now, if you walk in Brickell at any time midday you will think you are in Madrid, or New York or Paris where everyone is in suits and elegant and going to nice lunches. It is a very vibrant urban core. 

PM: Do you think Biscayne Bay will end up being to Miami real estate what Central Park is to New York. 
 
RB: There is a story that we get from our brokers all the time, and we hear it especially from the people who have been here since the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, “the bay is part of everyone’s lives.” Everyone talks about swimming in the bay. On that island there are tents and jet skis and boats. If you are in Florida you want to be on the water. It is crowded out there and I think it is already similar in to a park. If you look at New York, they (GTIS) are doing a beautiful building that overlooks the park on 78th street; that’s prime real estate in New York and this is prime real estate in Miami. 
  
PM: What is the best feature that residents will enjoy?
 
RR: The double level of amenities and the ability to sink your feet into the sand without leaving the property. You can only get that in Miami Beach. 
 
RB: I think when people thought about it they may have thought it was gimmicky, but now that it is built, it is very usable. It really is like a beach. They will be pleasantly surprised when they come see how well done the amenities were done. 

PM: What will Biscayne Beach mean to Edgewater in the short & long term?
 
RB: We have very good competitors that we highly respect, like the Melo Group, Related Group, etc. Our team at Two Roads is also working on developing our second East Edgewater project, Elysee Miami, which will be located right down the street from here also along Biscayne Bay. We’re all bringing very different projects to the market but the thing they all have in common is that they are all high-quality, well-built buildings that are going to collectively continue to make Edgewater one of the greatest neighborhoods to live in Miami. I think like any big city you should have choices and different aesthetics. The more we see these other developers working on new buildings the better it is for the neighborhood and Miami. In the long term Miami is going to be on par with New York and Paris, it’s just a younger city. At the end of the day Edgewater will be at the center of it all. 

About GTIS Partners:

GTIS Partners is a global real estate investment firm headquartered in New York with offices in Los Angeles,  San Francisco, Atlanta, São Paulo, Brazil, Paris, France and Munich, Germany. GTIS Partners was founded in 2005 and is managed by President Tom Shapiro and Senior Managing Directors Josh Pristaw, Rob Vahradian, Tom Feldstein and Joao Teixeira. GTIS Partners currently has approximately $3.6 billion of assets under management. The firm pursues opportunistic real estate investments through direct equity investment and non-traditional lending activities. To date, the firm has committed capital to residential, retail, industrial, office, hotel and mixed-use projects in the U.S. and Brazil, and is among the largest real estate private equity companies in Brazil.

About Two Roads Development:

As one of the emerging leaders in the development of residential communities, Two Roads Real Estate Group has quickly established itself as a premier developer of multi-family and residential communities. Two Roads Real Estate Group has set the standard in luxury housing by developing, building and managing residential properties with the best location, architecture, amenities and services in the industry. Two Roads Real Estate Group is a leader in developing, constructing, and managing successful and innovative retail, office, residential and mixed-use communities. Two Roads Real Estate Group is about performance, imagination and experience from a broad service real estate development team. Their portfolio includes Biscayne Beach and Elysee, which is soon to break ground in Edgewater. 

PROFILE Exclusive: How the Melo Group Took Edgewater Real Estate to the Next Level with Aria on the Bay

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Carlos and Martin Melo, founders and principals of The Melo Group, as well as tour their brand-new luxury condo development on North Bayshore Drive, Aria on the Bay. Their multi-generational family business is thriving as they continue to deliver projects across all neighborhoods and price points as their vision continues to drive the city of Miami forward. Find out how they brought Aria on the Bay from concept to reality in just a few short years.   

PM: The lot that Aria on the Bay now stands on was such a prime lot on a road with major residential demand, how did you guys get access to such a great lot/ opportunity? 
 
MM: We bought this land about nine years and what we found was a beautiful land in a premier location, so we held on to it until we decided that it was the proper time to develop it. It was also the last piece of land in front of the park and in front of the water. We worked on the design for some years and then we decided it was the moment to start!

Aria on the Bay at Top-Off

PM: How did the concept for Aria on the Bay come about? What was your main goal with the project?
 
MM: Our main goal was to build a spectacular building, in an extraordinary location with amazing views. It’s situated in downtown Miami’s burgeoning Arts & Entertainment District, which is home to some of South Florida’s top destinations for arts and culture, entertainment, dining and shopping. It’s one block from Venetian Causeway, one block from 395 and it’s very close to the airport, Downtown, the Metromover, Adrienne Arsht Center, the museums, and the arena. 
 
When you live in a crowded city like New York or Buenos Aires, you really know what the location and views mean. We’ve seen the transformation of the city in the last 15 years, and knew that this was a prime location. You have to select what is the best place to build if you are a developer, or to buy if you are a buyer.

Flagler on the River 

PM: What do you think of the recent new developments in Edgewater and the new energy they have brought to the area?
 
CM: The recent new developments are extremely nice and have changed the area. I think that people now realize the value of the Edgewater location and are starting to see the neighborhood come alive. Residents of all these new buildings and Aria on the Bay will live within blocks of world-class venues such as the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Museum Park’s Perez Art Museum Miami, the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, and the American Airlines Arena. 
 
Also, nearby are dozens of luxury retail shops and restaurants in the Miami Design District, Midtown Miami, Brickell City Centre, and the upcoming Miami Worldcenter project. Several public transit and alternative transportation options are within walking distance, with trips to South Beach and the Brickell Financial District only a few minutes away.  
 
The area is new and it is up-and-coming. We are creating a new building that will be part of a new kind of neighborhood that will fulfill necessities for the modern lifestyle and what is coming in the future. 

Bay House Miami

PM: Edgewater has seen some great towers be built in recent years. What sets Aria on the Bay apart from these other developments? What makes it so unique?
  
CM: It’s the last one to be built in front of the park, and we have a price point that is extremely reasonable for the high-end product we are delivering. We were able to have this price point because we got a good value on the land, when we bought it years ago, before anyone knew what Edgewater was. 
 
We are also a vertically-integrated firm, meaning we handle everything in-house because it allows us to have complete control of our projects – from the design process to the development/construction phase – we typically act as our own architects, general contractors, property managers and developers. The system has worked very well for us over the years, allowing us to complete our projects on time and within budget, control construction costs and move on to the next project ahead of the real estate cycle. 
 
All of the decisions are made by my father, my brother and myself. All of this allows us to reduce the price and give a better product at the best price for our buyers. 

Rendering of Aria on the Bay 

PM: What is the best feature that residents will enjoy?
 
MM: They will be impressed with the units because they are very well designed. Units feature floor-to-ceiling glass, expansive wrap-around terraces, private elevator access, open-plan living areas, designer finishes and fixtures, European-style kitchens, and modern custom-designed cabinetry.
 
We also have a 14th floor resort amenity deck with two sunrise/sunset-facing swimming pools, a jacuzzi, custom-seated fire pits, barbecue grills and outdoor summer kitchens. Additional perks include a private spa with massage treatment facilities, a state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga studio, entertainment lounge, and a screening room. 
 
Our location can’t get any better- Aria on the Bay overlooks Margaret Pace Park giving residents access to a host of additional amenities and activities. Situated directly along Biscayne Bay, the 8-acre, the pet-friendly waterfront park offers jogging paths, biking trails, tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer fields, an outdoor gym, daily yoga and fitness classes, as well as barbecue areas, picnic and playground areas.

PM: What will Aria on the Bay mean to Edgewater in the short & long term?
 
CM: For Miami, it adds value-the beautiful architecture and design of the tower, are the creation of internationally-acclaimed design firm Arquitectonica. We had buyers from 42 different countries making it a very international tower, continuing to position Miami as an international destination and hub. 
 
In the past, when immigrants arrived in the U.S. they would often all choose to live in one neighborhood, where they could feel a piece of their homeland by sharing with other immigrants from the same county. Nowadays, Miami has become so multi-cultural that wherever you go, you feel the urge to want to be interconnected with different cultures and dive into the energetic vibes the city gives off as a whole. The world is moving towards one community and both Miami and this building are a great example of this! 

PM: Where do you see Edgewater's place in Miami in the next 5 to 10 years?
 
MM: I think it will be an extremely desirable residential area in the next 5 to 10 years. Edgewater is an option for residents who want to get away from downtown Miami’s traffic congestion, yet want to live in the urban core. If you want to work in Downtown you can walk to the Metromover and in two minutes be in Downtown. With its waterfront location, luxury buildings and pedestrian-friendly setting in the center of Miami’s thriving urban core, Edgewater is one of the best value-buys in all of South Florida.

About The Melo Group:

The Melo Group was originally founded in 1948 by Armando Ferreira de Melo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Melo Group is one of the strongest family-owned, full-service real estate development firms operating in South Florida today. To date they are behind more than 50 successfully completed projects which offer a combined total of more than 5,000 residential units. The company also remains actively involved in real estate development in Argentina as well as in Montevideo, Punta del Este, Uruguay. Dr. Jose Luis Ferreira de Melo acts as the President and managerial leader of the company along with his sons, Mr. Carlos Ferreira de Melo and Mr. Martin Ferreira de Melo. Their contributions to Miami include Aria on the Bay, Bay House Miami, Flagler on the River, and Melody amongst others. 

About Aria on the Bay: 

Aria on the Bay is a luxury condo development located on the coveted North Bayshore Drive in Edgewater. Units at Aria on the Bay range from 1 to 4 bedrooms and $400K to $6 million and sold around $550 per square foot. Residences feature floor-to-ceiling glass, expansive wrap-around terraces, private elevator access, open-plan living areas, designer finishes and fixtures, European-style kitchens, and modern custom-designed cabinetry. Amenities include a 14th floor resort amenity deck with 2 sunrise/sunset swimming pools, a jacuzzi, custom-seated fire pits, barbecue grills and outdoor summer kitchens, a private spa with massage treatment facilities, a state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga studio, entertainment lounge, and a screening room. More than 80 percent of the units at Aria on the Bay have been sold. For more information about Aria on the Bay, please contact Cervera Real Estate at (305) 537-0666 or visit the project’s sales gallery at 250 NE 25th Street, Suite 101, Miami, FL 33137. Learn more at www.ariaonthebay.com.

PROFILE Exclusive: How Douglas Elliman Conquered South Florida's Luxury Real Estate Market with Jay Parker, CEO of Douglas Elliman's Florida Brokerage

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Jay Parker, CEO of Douglas Elliman's Florida Brokerage. Douglas Elliman has been one of the major driving forces behind the evolution of the luxury real estate markets in South Florida and Jay has been one of the cornerstones of the company's growth. Find out how he helped Douglas Elliman stand out in a crowded, cut-throat industry.

PM: How has Douglas Elliman's presence in South Florida grown? Where do you see it heading?

JP: Most notably we've seen an extraordinary expansion over the last four years because of the repositioning of our company as Douglas Elliman Real Estate other than the former, Prudential. I would hope to think I also had an impact along with the core of my colleagues and executive leadership team. Ultimately, having been a real estate lawyer in this market over the past 20 years, I recognized having worked with many of the top real estate professionals that there was a defect in the real estate brokerage model. The model here became one where broker-owners, whether they were franchises or independent operators, were really using the brokerage side of the business almost to augment or supplement their real estate brokerage operations. This forced an unsustainable push of the real estate splits where agents just kept saying, "you're not giving me much, so why should I continue to pay you such a significant share of my revenue." It was a question of "I might as well keep something rather than nothing." I used to see this as an attorney because so many of the agents that I would work with would come to me with questions that I felt should handled in a typical professional association environment.

5446 North Bay Road, Miami Beach. Listed by Brett Harris of Douglas Elliman for $29 Million.

When Howard Lorber and Dottie Herman approached me to run the company, at the first round when we were Prudential, I wasn't all that excited because I didn't see us as having the strengths and cohesion and the flexibility that I thought could be opportunistic. Howard and Dottie at the time agreed with me. A year later when I was approached the decision was made to unify Douglas Elliman and eliminate the bureaucracy that came with the franchising structure. We have since really enjoyed remarkable growth. We have gone from four offices to nineteen offices, from a couple hundred agents to over one thousand agents and $300 million in sales to $3 billion in sales in just four years. That is extraordinarily disproportionate to any other real estate company in South Florida. I think what we have done is lay the foundation to an industry which has suffered from a lack of foundation. My team and the market knowledge that they bring, the ability to find the right people, industry knowledge, and recognizing what has gone wrong in certain areas and what works. Each of us having come from different disciplines has really allowed us to capitalize on opportunities. Our strengths both domestically and financially has allowed us to do things that other companies has allowed us to have the ability to do. We are hyper focused, and already in the markets where our clients want to be or already are. We are able to hold the hands of our clients throughout the transitions, investments or movements in their lives and have earned their trust through a much more professional, sophisticated, approach to real estate consulting. We used to say we're not commission chasers, we're information providers. That message has been lost. Capitalizing on all of our diverse backgrounds, the real strength, knowledge base and reputation of Douglas Elliman in New York has really allowed us to develop this platform and allow our agents to grow, and strengthen, and spend more of their time doing the things they should be doing. 

Casa Costanera @ 300 Costanera Road, Coral Gables. Listed by Barbara Estela and Hilda Jacobson of Douglas Elliman for $27.26 Million. Tour the stunning estate here.

PM: Can you comment how Douglas Elliman has been one of the major players in the growth of the Luxury Real Estate market in South Florida?

JP: Three years ago I sat on a panel and I was asked the question of where do I see the greatest opportunity for migration to South Florida. My colleagues said Colombia, Argentina, Brazil; I said New York. It wasn't because I was a visionary, it was because I saw it from my practice of law. I heard it from the messaging in New York. I heard it from the people that lived there. I knew that the New York wealth was recognizing that they could now live in a market like South Florida and enjoy so many of the critical creature comforts that could make that next step a reality. Our school systems have evolved, our medical systems have evolved, our culinary and dining experiences have evolved, our culture, our real estate. We have become an answer to so many New Yorker's needs, that that release and transfers of wealth has been unbelievable. I saw that happening and with the credibility, strength and power that Douglas Elliman has, we were able to train our agents and our clients to look to us from other parts of the country. Unlike some of our competitors today, we remained very focused on what we do, our core business. Howard and Dottie have allowed us the flexibility to sometimes take chances and sometimes make investments in things that might not provide immediate return but then in the long run will certainly sure up the corners of the market and provide our clients with the representation, support, direction and exposure. 

Casa Costanera @ 300 Costanera Road, Coral Gables. Listed by Barbara Estela and Hilda Jacobson of Douglas Elliman for $27.26 Million. Tour the stunning estate here.

PM: Within South Florida and its different markets, where have you guys seen the most success over the past few years?

JP: We helped change the condo market in Miami. Before us, prices never hit anywhere close to where they are today. We redefined luxury living in South Florida with projects like Faena, Edition, Eighty Seven Park, Park Grove, One River Point, The Bristol in West Palm Beach. We have seen tremendous success in Coconut Grove. We have seen great success in parts of Fort Lauderdale with projects like The Four Seasons Residences. We really have been able to leverage our intellectual capital to help our clients, whether they be individual buyers or sellers, or developers, to succeed. What started as a vision and a dream, has now become a reality when as it relates to Douglas Elliman. We knew that their was a gap in the market, we filled it, and we continue to steamroll forward while our core focus remains. 

PM: When it comes to the luxury market in South Florida, do you see moving forward the buyers being more full-time resident buyers or buyers looking for second homes?

JP: I think we are going to have both. We are seeing more and more younger families call South Florida home. I think that the potential tax changes under the Trump administration may benefit us in that initiative. Potentially waiving or eliminating certain deductions for state income tax (in northern states) may provide us with another surge and transfer of wealth. I also think the idea that we are now no longer a market we we are dominated by old folks homes, criminals and nightclubs, we are now a real, international, cultural epicenter and business center. We are a real player on a global scale. I think that many of the hedge fund operators, investment bankers, are saying why should I pay such high state income tax when I live in Florida. I forsee a continued positive trajectory in that sector of the market. There is a little over 1,000 people per day moving to South Florida. 

Casa Bahia Located @ 3085 Munroe Drive, Coconut Grove. Listed by Pablo Alfaro of Douglas Elliman for $43 Million. Tour the award winning estate here. 

About Jay Parker:

Jay Parker is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario where he received his B.A. He continued his studies at the University of Miami, School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1998. Jay began his career in Miami at the Law Firm of Gunster Yoakley Valdez Fauli & Stewart. In 2000, Parker moved to New York City where he was General Counsel for LandTel Communications. He oversaw the implementation of a Pan-European fixed wireless market, raising over $375 million from numerous private equity firms. 

Casa Bahia Located @ 3085 Munroe Drive, Coconut Grove. Listed by Pablo Alfaro of Douglas Elliman for $43 Million. Tour the award winning estate here. 

In late 2001, Jay returned to Miami Beach and founded Clear Title Group, LLC., a boutique real estate title insurance company focused on offering closing services. In 2006, Parker entered a joint venture with Titan Capital, founding Titan Capital Florida, LLC. Parker is now the Managing Partner of Titan Capital Florida, a Direct Lender with offices in New York, Connecticut and Miami.  In the first year of Titan’s Florida operations, Titan Capital Florida closed on over $100 million in transactions. In 2010, Parker formed Beloff Parker which grew to Beloff Parker Jacobs, a real estate and transactional law firm based in Miami Beach.  Building off Parker and Beloff’s long standing relationships in the Miami Market, Clear Title Group quickly distinguished itself as one of the largest and most successful real estate law firms in Miami Beach, representing many of Miami Beach’s most respected developers, landlords, tenants and handling some of the most significant real estate transactions.

In 2013, Parker accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer of Douglas Elliman’s Florida Brokerage, where he has been fundamental to the growth of Douglas Elliman’s presence in Miami, Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Aventura, Boca Raton and Palm Beach. He is a member of the Florida Bar Association, serves on the Pillar Trustee Board for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. Parker is President of the Executive Board of Mt. Sinai Medical Center.  Jay is also active in Miami Beach politics and sits on the City of Miami Beach Community Development Board.

Grand Opening of the new Jupiter Douglas Elliman Office

About Douglas Elliman:

Douglas Elliman was established in 1911 and has grown to become the largest regional and the nation's fourth largest real estate company. Douglas Elliman has a current network of more than 6,000 agents in over 80 offices throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island (including the Hamptons and North Fork), Westchester and Putnam Counties, as well as South Florida, California, Connecticut, Colorado and New Jersey. In addition, through a strategic partnership with Knight Frank Residential, Douglas Elliman's powerful network extends to 488 offices in 59 countries. 

PROFILE Exclusive: HYDE & Related Group Shaking Up Hollywood/ Hallandale Beach

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Eric Fordin, VP of Related Group & Wendy Marks Pine, the Sales Director of HYDE Resort and Residences as well as at HYDE Beach House. Related Group has been one of the major driving forces behind development on the strip, find out how they are continuing to shake up the Hollywood and Hallandale Beach markets with their HYDE brand condo resort developments.

PM: Why did Related choose Hollywood? What made it an attractive location for HYDE?

EF:  We believe in the Hollywood/Hallandale Area.  It’s proximity to Ft. Lauderdale, Bal Harbour, Miami Beach and Downtown Miami makes this locale as the epicenter for what’s hot in South Florida. That in itself is what drew us to the HYDE Brand.

WM: There is incredible demand for the area. People want to be here. HYDE Resort was very successful and now we have HYDE Beach House across the street under construction and already over 70% sold. Hollywood has been popular for both residents and tourists alike.  

PM: Why did Related choose to go with the HYDE brand?

EF: We view HYDE as a young, cool and stylish brand that exudes luxury and style while having fun at the same time.

WM: sbe is a great partner on a number of projects with Related Group and has done an amazing job with HYDE Resort and Residences. HYDE is truly a full-service, high-end resort brand which is evident throughout the property. 

HYDE Beach House Pool Rendering

PM: What has the development meant to the Hollywood cities and markets? 

EF: We love this area!  Four of our Executives live/have second homes in this area.  We believe and hope that the attention from these projects cast a favorable light on this amazingly Beautiful City.

WM: It has been great for the city of Hollywood. HYDE has everything that a high-end resort would offer including a beach club, a full service spa, multiple swimming pools, Terrazas Restaurant, a coffee shop/ bakery and so much more.

HYDE Resort + Residences

PM: There has been much development in Hollywood over the past few years. Why just now is there an uptick in interest?

EF: We have always believed in the Hollywood/Hallandale Area.  The ability to conjure up land has become more difficult over the years, but that being said the Hyde projects marks our 9th and 10th project on this short stretch of the barrier island.

PM: What else does Related Group have in-store for Hollywood? 

EF: We are working on a number of Amazing projects which we hope to unveil soon.

WM: HYDE Beach House is across the street on the Intracoastal Waterway and sales are strong. The building will have 77 condos and 265 resort condominiums. Units are available for purchase with prices starting from $700,000.

HYDE Resort + Residences

About Related Group:

Established in 1979, The Related Group is Florida's leading developer of sophisticated metropolitan living and one of the country's largest real estate conglomerates. Its innovative residential developments, that reach cross-market sectors, have dramatically altered South Florida's urban landscape. Since its inception, the privately held company has built, rehabilitated and managed more than 90,000 condominium and apartment residences. The firm is one of the largest Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States with a development portfolio of projects in excess of $15 Billion. TIME Magazine named Founder, Chairman and CEO of The Related Group, Jorge Pérez, one of top 25 most influential Hispanics in the United States, and he’s made the cover of Forbes twice. Currently, The Related Group has over 50 projects in varying phases of development.

Read about January's successful grand opening of HYDE Resort in Hollywood & tour the property.

HYDE Beach House Rendering

PROFILE Exclusive: Innovating Sustainable Modern Luxury in South Florida with Choeff Levy Fischman

Robin Hill Photography

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with Ralph Choeff and Paul Fischman, partners at luxury architectural powerhouse firm Choeff Levy Fischman. Find out how they are using sustainability to transform and innovate when it comes to building modern luxury single-family homes in South Florida.

PM: What makes architecture and design in Miami so unique compared to other cities? 

RC: The climate. Our year round warm and breezy climate encourages indoor-outdoor living. This reinforces the use of vast opening sliding glass doors and the use of a substantial amount of glass to enhance the great view of the bays, canals and the ocean. The region is perfect for flat roofs and its origins are midcentury modern architecture that can be expanded upon. Because of our location, the use of materials natural to the area, such as wood, stone, stucco and natural concrete balance the architecture with the nature surrounding it. It does not feel out of place, rather as if it belongs.
 
PM: Choeff Levy Fischman has designed some of Miami's finest homes in one of the most competitive markets, what sets CLF apart from some of Miami's other great architects when it comes to luxury homes? 

RC: Our design of spacial layouts and floor plans in combination with our exterior design of these buildings sets us apart. If a plan is not functional and does not work properly, no matter how beautiful the exterior may be, the residence, or any building, will not work. Each residence is designed with the individual’s lifestyle in mind. We ask many questions how a person lives and functions in their residence. We study the patterns in which they move around and design our plans to complement their lifestyle. Our combination of midcentury architectural elements along with the use of natural materials completes the package. We also use large openings with open plans to make the transition between what is indoors and outdoors almost seamless  We blur the lines of what is man made from what is natural.

Robin Hill Photography

PM: You guys have been some of the major  innovators to bring a modern, luxury style to South Florida home design as opposed to the classic mediterranean design. How did this movement come about? 

RC: It started with one developer that had the vision and trusted us to deliver the product. This is how it all started and it just took off from there. Modern architecture has never gone out of style, it has always been here. These days there is an appreciation for it that lacked in some previous eras.
 
PM: When you look at a property as a blank slate, is there a room or a feature that you want to center the home around? How do you leave your signature?

RC: This really depends on the individual project and the owners we are designing for. Each person has their priorities and wants to feature different things. There is no one element to design around unless it involves natural elements such as water or nature. We want to take advantage of what nature provides us and combine it with what the owner is looking for.

VHT Studios

PM: What is the most unique feature that Choeff Levy Fischman has brought to a home in South Florida? 

PF: I got one. Having a batting cage with an oceanfront and Downtown view. An Indoor batting cage.

RC: Great example, because the first house we did for Alex Rodriguez he had a full 3,000 SF indoor batting cage. It had views that overlooked teh family media room, but the family media room had the large 2-story glass openings that also overlooked Downtown Miami and the water. 

PF: Even the new owner, he is an art collector not a baseball player, so he turned it into an office. The view was so great so he kept it.

RC: I'll tell you a feature that we brought to South Florid and expanded on, there is a form of construction called post-tension, which is normally used for apartment building slabs or office building slabs. It is so repatative that it is more inexpensive to do it floor-by-floor, but it wasn't used in single-family residences. I believe we brought that to South Florida because we wanted to capture a bigger slab and more mid-century modern features. That is unique to a lot of our designs. 

PF: Post-tension construction is really only used in large office buildings and large residential towers. My background before I joined Ralph was in that exact field. Ralph was trying to find a new way to express a mid-century modern motif with an exterior elevation. With my understanding of how the system worked Ralphs desire to work with these elements, we said why with the clientele we cater to, shouldn't we use this to create a very high-end residential even though it does cost a little bit more money. There are no beams so if you look at a condo all you see is floor-to-ceiling glass. There are no drops beams in the system. This allows for taller windows, higher ceilings, less mechanical penetration. We have found is it has become comparable cost-wise because we are actually using less concrete, less labor and less formwork. It presents its own challenges but the positives outweigh the negatives. Every client we have suggested it to has bought into-it. When we suggested it to Alex and his construction team, they were a little timid at first because they had never done a post-tension home, but when we had finished Jose, who is his (Alex's) VP of Construction,  told me it may have even been cheaper doing it post-tension as opposed to doing it the other way. All of the advantages I had touched on had ended up offsetting all of the extra costs. 

Alex Rodriguez's Coral Gables Home Designed by Choeff Levy Fischman | Lifestyle Production Group

PM: How has luxury home design in Miami changed over the last decade? Where do you see it heading? 

RC: Miami used to be mostly a vacation destination. Now Miami is a cosmopolitan city where people come to live and work. Because of this, the manner in which architecture is approached when it comes to residential design is totally different than it used to be. We now create a lifestyle, whereas before designs were predicated on short stays. We now design with the family in mind and the owner actually living in the residence long term. This is now the way of life here. People move to Miami to make a life for themselves rather than stay a week and leave. This will continue from now on.

PF: We are staying on the cutting-edge of LEED accreditation and sustainability. Now that we are dealing with the bulk of our clientele as end-users, we are implementing sustainable elements. It is typical for developers of condos, but the single-family market hadn't really touched on it. Now we are using sustainability elements like solar panels, rainwater reharvesting, all of these elements of sustainable design that cost 15% to 25% more up-front, but in these long-term homes the end up making their money back within a few years. We are reducing the carbon footprint and making homes that can be there for 100 or 200 years as opposed to 50 years which is the standard lifespan.

Mark Surloff

PM: How does architecture differ amongst the different neighborhoods of Miami? Does any stand out in your mind? 

RC: There are neighborhoods that are more forward thinking and then there are some that are set in their ways. There are also neighborhoods that want to maintain their history, such as Coral Gables, so Mediterranean architecture is encouraged there. Miami and Miami Beach tend to lean towards modern, with some historical elements to be respected in commercial areas of the city. Each demographic has a different way to think, thus the architecture reflects the demographics of each area.
 
PM: Where do you see Choeff Levy Fischman's role in Miami over the next five to ten years? 

RC: Our answers will differ here. You ask ten different architects, you get ten different answers. this is more of a personal thing. I want to expand the boundaries of modern architecture while learning and implementing the reduction of the carbon footprint as well. As technology changes so will we.

Alex Rodriguez's Coral Gables Home Designed by Choeff Levy Fischman | Lifestyle Production Group

PF: That is kind-of what I want to do as well. Really honing in on the sustainable aspects. In Miami we see global warming and sea level rise at many of our job sites. Elements of raising our sea walls on our properties 3 feet higher than we would have a few years ago. Its really addressing our climate and doing so in a manor thats really luxurious and not so that you feel like you are inside of a technological envelope. 

Alex Rodriguez's Coral Gables Home Designed by Choeff Levy Fischman | Lifestyle Production Group

About Choeff Levy Fischman

Choeff Levy Fischman’s partners have combined vast experience that includes custom single family residences in the modern style of architecture, commercial and residential hi-rise buildings, hotels, multi-family development projects and shopping plazas. Founded by Ralph Choeff, Raphael Levy and Paul Fischman, the trio joined-up as experts in the field of Tropical Modern architecture. Their designs maximize the use of indoor-outdoor living and spaces are emphasized and reflected in the projects. Choeff Levy Fischman has won several design awards for both residential and commercial design, and has had their work featured on television as well as major publications.

Ralph Choeff

Ralph Choeff is a graduate of Pratt Institute; where he graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. Upon graduation, Ralph moved to Miami where he went on to establish his own architectural practice in 1983. Since then, Choeff has established himself as a leader in the South Florida area in modern and tropical modern architecture. He has gone on to win several design awards, and has been published in many publications both nationally and internationally. 

Choeff is best known for his modern and tropical modern custom residential projects, although he has designed projects that include hotels, office buildings, shopping centers and multi-family developments. He has been commissioned by many celebrities to design their residences including Alex Rodriguez, Cher, Edward James Olmos, Matt Damon, Rony Seikaly, Barry Gibb, as well as many other professional athletes and high profile businessmen. He is also known for his work on recognized hospitality projects include the Mondrian South Beach Hotel and The Anglers on Miami Beach. 

Paul Fischman

Paul Fischman was born in Miami and raised in Vero Beach before leaving Florida to earn a Bachelor degree in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado’s School of Architecture and Planning. Fischman later returned to Miami to complete a Master’s of Architecture at the University of Miami while also working part time for Ralph Choeff. Eager to become a part of the redevelopment of South Florida, Fischman worked as project manager and designer for Arquitectonica, and then went on to establish his own firm where he worked on luxury single and multifamily residences, mixed-use buildings, architectural visualization, and interiors. He officially joined Choeff as a partner in 2012. 

With a background in environmental design, he strives to provide alternate, sustainable design and construction solutions in lieu of conventional methods, while educating his clients along the way. Paul is an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and is LEED certified.

Raphael Levy

Raphael Levy grew up in Miami and received a Bachelor of Design from the University of Florida. He later moved to New York to begin his career in architecture and earned a Master’s of Architecture from Columbia University. In 2006, he moved back to Miami, joined Ralph Choeff Architect as a project manager, and later became a partner in 2011. So far, he has worked on many high-profile luxury single-family homes and other major projects in South Florida, including the Mondrian South Beach and the relocation and renovation of a historic mansion on Star Island.

Check out our photo tour of the record setting Casa Clara, the Venetian Islands' $22 Million Home Designed by Choeff Levy Fischman

PROFILE Exclusive: Transforming Coconut Grove with David Martin of Terra

PROFILEmiami had the exclusive opportunity to sit down with David Martin, one of the founders of Terra and the mastermind behind Park Grove and Grove at Grand Bay. Find out how he is helping transform Coconut Grove into one of Miami's hottest neighborhoods. 

PM: You guys have been integral in transforming Coconut Grove. What do you think of the recent new developments in Coconut Grove and the new energy they have brought?

DM: I think it is about time. I think that the world and the city is realizing a lot of the amazing assets thats Coconut Grove has. It has amazing parks, amazing schools, amazing people. Geographically it is strategically located to a lot of different other neighborhoods as well. Now with the Grove at Grand Bay project that we did, it was big, and now Park Grove with Related, I think that this is developing into a neighborhood with new architecture as well as with some of the old Florida architecture as well. It has a good diversity and design and I think that there is a lot of new restaurants that are coming and a lot of new retail. Coconut Grove is a neighborhood that has a lot of components but it is very quite and peaceful. That quiet innocence is what people are looking for to raise their families, or spend time with their families. A lot of our buyers are empty nesters so they're looking for urbanism and walkability so that tree canopy here and walkability is very important as well. 

PM: How did the concept for Park Grove and the partnership between Terra & Related Group come about? 

DM: My father (Pedro Martin) and Jorge (Perez) have been very good friends for many years and I have always respected a lot of Related's team so we decided to do this together and we are working to see how we can get the best out of each organization and really put it in place here in Coconut Grove. We are very excited and happy with the partnership. We were both going after the same site and we decided to do it together. 

PM: Coconut Grove has seen some great towers be built in recent years. You guys built Grove at Grand Bay next door, what sets Park Grove apart from these other developments? What makes it so unique?

DM: Grove at Grand Bay is 3 acres, this one (Park Grove) is over 5 acres. Park Grove is a little more connected to the retail district and village. The amount of amenities in Park Grove is a significant number so those are some of the unique things. Also the residences, Park Grove's columns  are on the exterior of the building while the columns at Grove at Grand Bay are in the interior of the residences. 

PM: What is the best feature that residents will enjoy?

DM: Two things, the ceiling heights are pretty significant. Were talking about 12 feet which is an important component. Most of the comparable buildings are 9 or 10 feet. The views and the design of this building is very intellectual and very "amenitized" so I think residents are going to see a lot of see a lot of services here that is unique to other buildings.

PM: What will Park Grove mean to Coconut Grove and Miami in the short & long term?

DM: I think that there is a few things. This development will bring over 200 families to come live and be part of Coconut Grove's urban life. Also the tax revenue from this development is going to create a good financial engine for the city to create projects that will improve people's lives. 

PM: Where do you see Coconut Grove's place in Miami in the next 5 to 10 years?

DM: What is interesting about Coconut Grove is that it has very restrictive zoning so I don't see many opportunities. I think that this (Park Grove) is one of the last sites left to really build something of significant scale so most of the Grove is either single family residential or T-5 in the urban district which is 5 stories so overall I think that this is going to be a unique project for many years. 

About David Martin & Terra:

Terra is an integrated development firm in South Florida focused on creating sustainable, design-oriented communities that enhance neighborhoods and bring people together. Founded in 2001 by father and son Pedro and David Martin, who have played a significant role in the transformation of South Florida. Terra's portfolio includes luxury high-rises, single family homes, townhouses, retail shopping centers, office space and multifamily apartments, both in urban and suburban areas. Each development is a strategic investment in the region, with the impact on individual communities always carefully considered. Terra has had a recent push in Coconut Grove, Miami Beach, Doral and Weston. Terra has recently developed two new luxury condos that are helping revitalize Coconut Grove, the Bjarke Ingels-designed Grove at Grand Bay and the Rem Koolhaas-designed Park Grove. Terra also developed Glass, a 10-unit condo designed by Rene Gonzalez, in Miami Beach's South-of-Fifth neighborhood. Terra is currently working on Eighty Seven Park, a 70-unit beachfront condo designed by Renzo Piano in addition to other projects. 

Read about Park Grove and check out the renderings of the project.

Read about the Park Grove Top-Off.