What’s New
Miami’s Art and Design Repository Grows into its
Prime
Story by Frances Albán
It’s a crossroads of design culture, al fresco dining, unique fashion
retailers, vast events and wondrous art. Its proximity to South Beach,
downtown, Wynwood Art District and North Beach makes it accessible
to many. One need not peer far back to remember the Design District of
yesteryear. In just more than a decade the area has made an about-face,
from desolation row to a primarily trade-driven market to the eclectic
mix of shops, showrooms, galleries and restaurants that it is today.
Recent and
upcoming design and furniture showroom openings include
Clima Outdoor,
Dune
Living, Team 7, Luminaire Lab,
Vitra and Driade. Clima Outdoor unveiled
its showroom, stock full of the finest exterior furniture, fabric and
accessories - perfect for any outdoor configuration and lazy summer
afternoons. Close quarters? Come into Dune Living, whose design
philosophy is geared toward smaller living spaces. Here, innovation and
functionality merge perfectly. The Austrian-based TEAM 7 opens the doors
to its first stateside showroom on June 1. Leaders in engineering green
furniture, the company uses natural hardwoods from renewable sources,
finished with non-toxic natural oils and waxes. Luminaire Lab, with its
sleek European designs, has claimed its new Design District locale as a
laboratory of exploration, experimentation and experiential marketing.
Internationally acclaimed Vitra has developed a wide range of
furnishings for the office, home and/or public spaces since 1957. The
goal of the showroom’s Miami locale is to make the place of work as
appealing, productive and healthy as possible. Finally, Driade opens its
fifth store in the District, following the Milan flagship and stores in
Rome, Tokyo and Osaka. The space includes full-home vignettes, including
kitchens with cookware, dining room sets for entertaining, bedrooms with
linens, and living rooms with furniture and rugs. |
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If it’s not unique, it’s not
worth buying. If this sentiment rings true take note:
Y-3,
En Avance
and
Emeshel
are all
part of the Design District’s new wave. Y-3, which premiered
its first free-standing monobrand store this past fall,
offers the perfect blend of Adidas’ expertise and innovation
in sport functionality and Yohji Yamamoto’s signature sense
of design. Emeshel recently unveiled its expansive
6,000-square-foot “world of crystal” showroom, inclusive of
a jewelry line that is sure to please any leading lady in
your life. Fans of Lincoln Road’s En Avance need not be
disheartened because its doors closed this spring. The
high-end boutique will reopen in the Design District, where
commercial rents are affordable, this summer.
On the art front, Adamar Fine
Arts has returned to the Design
District after a five-year stint in Coral Gables’ Village of
Merrick Park. “We originally opened in the Design District
and decided to move back because of the energy that
permeates the area. We have also built up a loyal clientele
after 17 years in the District and we wanted to give them a
place to return to,” said gallery owner Tamar Erdberg. The
full-service gallery boasts quality artwork with investment
appeal that is unique and attainable.
Amidst design and fashion retailers lies the iconic
Gibson Guitars showroom. It’s
not the typical retail store, but rather a main hub for
artists. The showroom opened late 2007, and is one of a
handful of similarly typed Gibson locations across America.
The space is used largely as a venue for filming
Billboard Latino
every month, where live showcases of
local and national bands are hosted.
On the dining front, Brosia,
Domo Japones
and
Pacific Time
enter
the scene. The stylish Mediterranean newcomer, Brosia, now
boasts a distinct burger for each weekday. The bustling
restaurant is superb for business lunches or romantic dining.
Domo Japones – whose interior was designed by the
avant-garde Karine Rousseau – is beautiful and its cuisine
brilliant. The menu weaves local, organic and distinctive
ingredients into a clean and simple tapestry of Japanese
innovation. Pacific Time, a 15-year Miami restaurant, is
relocating to the District with plans to open this summer.
Designed by Kay Witte, CEO of XO Design Group, Pacific Time
will rival its neighbors in visual appeal and mouth-watering
fare.
According to Michelle DiLello, Craig Robins’ publicist, “The
Design District has become what Craig had always
envisioned.” As president of Dacra Development, Robins
spearheaded the area’s first and subsequent evolutions,
making it a true destination. In the pipeline are plans for
a boutique hotel, a private museum to house Robins’ personal
art collection and an event venue to be designed by architect
Zaha Hadid. The area is already home to numerous events and
celebrations. In addition to the monthly gallery walks, the
District’s showrooms, retailers, restaurants and galleries
frequently host chichi shindigs. Check out the “Event
Calendar” for a sampling of what’s to come.
With so much happening in the opened air streets of the
Design District, there’s never a dull moment. Whether you’re
a design aficionado, fashionista, dining connoisseur or art
snob, you’ll quickly find that this neighborhood has chops,
attitude and heart. |
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