MIAMI BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Few cities are as associated with a single architecture firm as Miami is with ARQUITECTONICA, and on Dec. 3, Miami Art Week officially kicked off when 57 Ocean, the newest condominium designed by the world-renowned firm, hosted “The Art of Architecture,” a panel discussion and book signing.
Held at PRIME Private -- Prime 112’s brand-new private event space on Ocean Drive -- the gathering showcased 57 Ocean’s impressive scale model (unveiled for the first time that evening) and explored the legacy of ARQUITECTONICA, which was founded in 1978 by the husband-and-wife team of Bernardo Fort-Brescia and Laurinda Spear. At that time, the firm operated out of a small office in Coconut Grove founded by a small group in their early 20s. Today, the firm enjoys nine offices worldwide.
Miami Herald Visual Arts and Business editor Jane Wooldridge moderated the lively discussion between Bernardo Fort-Brescia and Alastair Gordon -- the author of the new, eponymous book about the firm, ARQUITECTONICA -- published by Rizzoli. The Art Week premiere also served to highlight 57 Ocean, an ultra-luxury residential building comprising just 81 exquisite residences. Developed by Multiplan Real Estate Asset Management – which is led by José Isaac Peres, the internationally recognized Brazilian developer and owner of major residential and commercial real estate holdings – the boutique condominium is the very first project by ARQUITECTONICA in Miami to boast a specific focus on wellness.
In front of a full house of cultured elite, the panel heard from Bernardo Fort-Brescia, who studied architecture and urban planning at Princeton University and received a Master of Architecture from Harvard University, where he later taught, and whose firm is regarded as one of the pioneers of globalization in the architecture profession. Fort-Brescia discussed ARQUITECTONICA’s early roots and how the City of Miami shaped the firm’s work, including its iconic use of bright colors and flamboyant form – such as the Pink House, Babylon, Imperial, Atlantis, Palace. ARQUITECTONICA is credited with reshaping the city through its designs and, by that same token, continues to push the limits and raise the bar with its innovative use of materials, geometry, pattern and color -- all while growing further as a “family firm.”
With the debut of ARQUITECTONICA, Gordon has published more than 27 critically acclaimed books. An award-winning critic, curator, cultural historian and author (who also wrote regularly for The New York Times for more than 20 years), he has written about art, the environment and architecture for numerous publications, including Architectural Digest. In 2008, Gordon became a contributing editor for Art and Design at The Wall Street Journal Magazine.
“It was a privilege to celebrate the start of Art Week by looking back at the legacy of the firm that changed the face of Miami with its bold modernism,” said Marcelo Kingston, Managing Partner of Multiplan Real Estate Asset Management. “57 Ocean is proud to debut this book, and we look forward in showcasing the newest and what is arguably the most exciting project to be added to the firm’s prolific portfolio.”
At 57 Ocean, ARQUITECTONICA took cues from the project’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, citing the relaxing sound of breaking waves, year-round ocean breezes, and the site’s exceptional vistas toward the horizon. The Firm seamlessly captured the spirit of a luxurious coastal retreat blended with a sophisticated emphasis on healthy living.
Resort-like interiors by revered design firm Anastassiadis Arquitetos, led by Patricia Anastassiadis, embrace the beauty of the natural world.
Owners can expect to enjoy a multitude of ‘green’ spaces, including a seaside wellness garden as well as Vertical gardens on the ground floor leading from the porte cochère to the double-height lobby. With the parking garage underground, the connection from the first level to the beach will be seamless.
Prices for two, three and four-bedroom residences in 57 Ocean, including two penthouses and two beach houses, will range from $1.5 million to $31 million.
57 Ocean will feature an array of special amenities and services, such as a holistic wellness spa and pavilion, complete with a thermal suite (inclusive of a steam room, aromatherapy saunas, and an ice fountain), relaxation area, and a private spa suite; infinity pools; third-floor sundeck; poolside treatment cabanas; a pool bar and social terrace lounge; summer kitchen pavilion with a grill area; a multi-purpose club room with chef’s kitchen for full gastronomic experiences; and a state-of-the-art fitness center with innovative MyIsle training equipment by MyEquilibria and an indoor Technogym fitness center. There will also be a library, children’s activity room, 24-hour concierge, valet and security services, and pool and beachfront concessions and attendants. Residents will additionally have direct access to the adjacent, brand-new Miami Beach Walk.
Located just minutes from South Beach, at 5775 Collins Avenue on “Millionaire’s Row” 57 Ocean is surrounded by a number of the area’s top attractions -- from art galleries and chic boutiques to gourmet restaurants. Located in proximity to the New World Symphony, Bass Museum of Art, and Miami’s historic Art Deco district, 57 Ocean will offer buyers the rewarding benefit of an urban beach lifestyle with pedestrian-friendly accessibility.
Slated to open late December, the sophisticated, two-story oceanfront sales gallery for 57 Ocean will embody the unparalleled craftsmanship demanded by today’s discerning luxury homebuyers.
Fortune Development Sales has been named the exclusive residential brokerage for the oceanfront project. For more information, please visit www.57ocean.com.
About Multiplan Real Estate Investment
Florida-based Multiplan Real Estate Asset Management was established by José Isaac Peres to pursue real estate development opportunities in the South Florida real estate market. The natural connections between South Florida and Latin America — from business to personal ties — have continuously re-shaped Miami-Dade County, affording unique opportunities within the development arena. Appreciating that unique synergy, Peres has long maintained a deep admiration for the region, having lived part-time in Miami-Dade since 1998. He furthermore developed the highly-acclaimed Il Villaggio residential and retail community, which is located on Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive and faces both Lummus Park and the beach. From its onset, Il Villaggio enhanced the value of the surrounding neighborhood with its record-setting unit values. In the late 1990’s, he acquired a bayfront parcel off Brickell Avenue, known today as Jade Brickell — a luxury residential condominium which Peres conceptualized and designed. Financially secure and stable, Multiplan Real Estate Asset Management has structured a dedicated domestic development team, partnered with distinguished local partners and now looks to further its opportunities in South Florida.
Fortune Development Sales
Fortune Development Sales is the premier, exclusive on-site sales and marketing representative for third-party development projects in South Florida, having represented more than 80 of South Florida’s most successful projects. Led by visionary founder Edgardo Defortuna, Fortune has 18 offices around the world, with nearly 1,000 associates and a worldwide brokerage network, reaching prospective buyers in markets as diverse as South Florida, Manhattan, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Hong Kong and Paris. Fortune Development Sales is an affiliate of Fortune International Group, a recognized leader in development, sales, and marketing since 1983. www.fortuneintlgroup.com