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Rap Star Lil Wayne Buys Choeff Levy Fischman Design for $17M

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One of Choeff Levy Fischman’s Tropical Modern luxury homes has caught the attention of another celebrity seeking an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Lil Wayne recently purchased an Allison Island residence for almost $17 million. The Grammy Award-winning rapper is privy to Choeff Levy Fischman’s designs. His previous waterfront residence on La Gorce Circle was also designed by the award-winning architects.

The rapper’s new home sits right in the middle of the waterway leading to Biscayne Bay and the ocean. It features an atrium, living walls, and numerous water features.

The entire design for this home is to make it feel as though it is floating on water.
It begins with the pond that feels like a moat you have to cross to get to the front door—across slab steps that appear to rise up from the blue depths—and once indoors the moveable walls make it hard to tell where the outdoors starts and the indoors end. The seven-bedroom, ten-bathroom house, which sold for $16.75 million, is 10,472 square feet with 110 feet of water frontage. The picture above is a close up of the backyard to orient you into the ways of the floating concept the architect was going for.

To read more details on the home and see photos, read Forbes most recent feature here.

Choeff Levy Fischman is featured on PROFILE Miami

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Award-winning architecture and design firm Choeff Levy Fischman has completed another home on Miami Beach’s star-studded North Bay Road. The highly sought-after architects known for designing ultra-luxury single-family residences for the rich and famous have created a residential oasis for the ultimate indoor-outdoor living experience. The fully-furnished manse is on the market for $32M.

Miami Beach’s newest mega-mansion has been unveiled by EWM Realty International top-producer and Senior Vice President Nelson Gonzalez and designed by Choeff Levy Fischman, offering the ultimate in waterfront living and year-round entertainment.

“This is one of the most notable residences to enter Miami Beach’s prime real estate market,” said Gonzalez. “The attention to detail and expert craftsmanship within the estate is unparalleled, complemented by some of the best water views South Florida has to offer. The level of privacy and the number of high-end amenities being presented here cannot be overstated.”

Priced at $32 million, the residence comprises an eight-bedroom eight-bath main house, a four-bedroom four-bath guesthouse, and a cabana house. The ultra-luxe modern home was designed to blend the outdoors with inside with floor-to-ceiling glass sliding walls. The mansion is spread over 13,381 SF with 2,700 SF of covered outdoor space and a 3,000 SF rooftop deck which offers sweeping panoramas of Biscayne Bay and sunsets over the water.

 

To read more on this turnkey-ready home, visit PROFILE Miami’s online feature.

Miami Center for Architecture & Design Moves into New Space

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The Miami Center of Architecture & Design recently celebrated the grand opening of its new space. Located at 310 SE 1st St., it is in the heart of Downtown Miami, bringing visibility to the organization, and the design and build of the environment.

With community meeting space and educational programs, MCAD is the place for anyone who is interested in enhancing their appreciation for the city’s vibrant and unique architecture and design. MCAD is home to AIA Miami as well as the Downtown Miami Welcome Center, in partnership with the Miami Downtown Development Authority. The Welcome Center is everything Miami – cultural events, attractions, maps, history and more.  MCAD educates the public through exhibitions, lectures, tours, film series and other programs that aim to reveal the richness of design in Miami.

To stay up to date with MCAD’s events. Visit https://miamicad.org/.

Wix and Stantec Redefine the Office

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When you think of an office, grass-colored carpets with cabanas, a pool table and hanging lounge chairs probably don’t come to mind, unless you work at Wix. Wix’s new office in Miami Beach redefines the office setting. Although they do a lot of web building, they left the architecture and design of the office to Stantec in Miami. Stantec kept in mind what Wix stands for and their innovative work ethic. They created a bright and energetic space with a lot of natural light, colors, and unique features, which were recently shared on Forbes.

Web building and design disruptor Wix has made it simple and fun for people of all skill levels to drag-and-drop design a business website. The platform is praised for its intuitive UX, attractive designs and supportive community. I took a tour through Wix’s Miami office, and chatted with Shelly Cohen, head of WixStores Business Development, and with U.S. Operations Manager Dax Pedraza about how Wix’s physical work spaces reflect the company’s open-minded and collaborative philosophy.

Regardless of what continent or country the office may be, “Wix has an open-minded environment and a unique vibe—and it starts with the office design,” says Cohen.

The interior design of every Wix office is characterized by bright colors, clear windows and proximity to the beach. In Miami, the office is located within footsteps of the Lincoln Road pedestrian thoroughfare, not to mention many famous restaurants and nightspots. That being said, the office still feels like a workplace—distant from the chaotic noise and odors of Miami Beach.

Designed by architecture firm Stantec, the Wix Miami office is an aesthetic treat from the minute the elevator opens into reception. The Wix sign is stenciled over a green wall, so the three letters are actually green moss. Immediately inside reception, three grownup-sized swings, with fake roses intertwined, beckon guests to come and kick their feet up.

To see more of this unique office space, visit Forbes.

Wesley Kean, Principal & Founder of Award-Winning Architecture and Design Firm, KoDA

© Azeez Bakare Studios

© Azeez Bakare Studios

Architect Wesley Kean, Principal & Founder of Miami Beach-based architecture and design firm KoDA, is designing with ambition for its clients and optimism for the world. He is an expert in connecting architecture with nature and finding radical solutions to sea-level rise and other environmental concerns conducive to South Florida and other coastal communities.

Wesley and his team specialize in offering creative solutions and design services for all scales and types of architecture including retail, residential and large urban projects.

The award-winning firm uses analysis and research to develop the design of highly distinctive buildings, landscapes, interiors and experiences. Wesley is a leader in Metabolism, a post-war Japanese architectural movement that fused ideas about architectural mega structures with those of organic biological growth. His view on “How Metabolist Ideas Can Potentially Solve Sea-Level Rise Vulnerability” has been published in AIA’s Florida/Caribbean Architect magazine.

An active member of the AIA and NCARB and a visiting critic at the University of Miami, Florida International University and Miami-Dade College, the New Hampshire native is also a champion of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a member of the Miami Music Project soundboard. For the upcoming Miami Art Week, Wesley will be showcasing his artistic talents. As part of a creative campaign for the Miami Music Project, KoDA’s “Miami Music Box” exhibit will be on display at RAW POP UP art show that’s taking place at the historic Burdines flagship building in downtown Miami.

Head to KoDA’s website or follow them on social media @kodamiami.

Stantec’s Design Expert, Jon Cardello, In INDULGE Miami Magazine

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From Miami’s urban core to the shoreline, Stantec’s Jon Cardello has helped reshape the South Florida skyline with many high-profile development projects. Drawing from over 20 years of planning and design expertise, Jon organizes building forms, building uses, and sustainable design techniques to create dynamic, multi-faceted spaces, which promote enjoyment, wellness, and productivity.

Jon Cardello develops the overall corporate strategy, business development and marketing of Stantec’s growing commercial sector practice in South Florida and throughout the U.S. Cardello’s planning and design expertise in high-profile residential, mixed-use, hospitality and workspace project spans more than 20 years. Projects include Solitair Brickell, Luma at Miami World Center, Eve at the District, Midtown 29, Midtown 8, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach and Atelier in Dallas. Cardello and his team have also helped to reshape the famed Collins Avenue in Miami Beach with the restoration of seven historic Art Deco hotels.

Check out the article to read his interview with INDULGE Magazine.

 

OBR Highlights Architects Throughout the Month of ‘Archtober’

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Today marks the first day of Architecture Month, also knows as ‘Archtober’ – a month-long celebration of architecture and design.

Once popularly known for its influential Art Deco movement, Miami has reinvented itself, while preserving characteristics from its past, to become a world-class architectural destination. Today, it’s not uncommon to hear of world-renowned architects selecting Miami as the location for their next project.

We have a deep appreciation for the architects in Miami that embody its unique styles and have put our city on the map. So, throughout the month of October we will be spotlighting our architecture clients and how they’ve impacted our local built environment.

Award-winning architecture firm, Choeff Levy Fischman, is well-known for its Tropical Modern home designs that have transformed Miami Beach’s most luxurious neighborhoods, including the Venetian Islands and North Bay Road. Architecture and design firm Stantec is responsible for some of Miami’s best residential and hospitality venues, which are all designed with the community in mind. An architect by trade, Robert Ayona is the co-founder of Bloommiami, a design and production firm specializing in the creation of retail pop-ups for luxury brands. Kean Office for Design + Architecture is a knowledge – and creativity – based practice with a focus and dedication to architecture and design, leading to highly distinctive environments, buildings, interiors and experiences.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram @obrmarketing to learn more about each client and their work.

Hospitality Leaders Discuss Industry Trends at Miami Hospitality Designs Awards Panel

dsc_4812-copyTop leaders in South Florida’s hospitality industry gathered yesterday for the Miami Hospitality Design Awards’ inaugural panel discussion, Distinctive Hospitality Design in Miami’s Evolving Neighborhoods.

 Hosted by the award’s founders Oberhausen Marketing & Public Relations, the Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association and AIA Miami Chapter and in support of IIDA South Florida, the panel took place at the Hyatt Centric Brickell.  The panelists included Stantec Director of Interiors, Susan LaFleur; The Barlington Group Co-founder, Bill Fuller; and The Genuine Hospitality Group Chef and Owner, Michael Schwartz.

Moderated by Indulge Magazine Editor in Chief, Evan Benn, the panelists discussed how consumer demands are affecting hospitality architecture, design and programming.

 Downtown Miami, Brickell, Wynwood, Little Havana, and Coconut Grove are some of these evolving neighborhoods that have emerged with their own distinctive identity.

“We take into account what speaks to us about the neighborhood and translate it into the architecture and interiors to make each project relatable to its location,” said Susan LaFleur.

“Although the food has to be great, I’ve always said it’s not the one thing that makes a restaurant successful,” said Michael Schwartz. “We want our restaurants to fit with the neighborhood, so we look at where we are, what we’re trying to accomplish and how that plays into the design.”

“Little Havana is a passion project for me because of my Cuban American background,” said Bill Fuller. “We seek out historic properties in Miami to give them a new life, but always wrap the property’s history into what we do to keep the building’s and neighborhood’s authenticity.”

The panel is part of the awards’ program leading up to the second annual Miami Hospitality Design Awards to be held in spring 2019. The awards will honor the architects and designers whose hospitality projects have enriched Miami’s built environment. Next year’s awards will include new categories, giving additional designers an opportunity to showcase their work.

Stay tuned for details on the 2019 Miami Hospitality Design Awards by visiting http://miamidesignawards.com.

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2018 Miami Hospitality Design Awards Panel

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The founders of Miami Hospitality Design Awards, Oberhausen Marketing & Public Relations, AIA Miami and the Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association (GMBHA), invite you to join South Florida hospitality leaders for a panel discussion on distinctive hospitality design in Miami’s evolving neighborhoods. The panel, moderated by Evan Benn, Editor-in-Chief of INDULGE, will be held at the Hyatt Centric Brickell on Thursday, September 20, 2018 from 4 pm to 7 pm.

The panelists include:

Susan LaFleur, Stantec’s Director of Interiors, is an award-winning interior designer with expertise spanning hospitality and residential projects across the country. Her knowledge of emerging trends, detailed focus on design aesthetics, and a deep understanding of her client’s needs allow her to take a holistic design approach, creating spaces that are timeless and tell a story for each guest.

Bill Fuller is co-founder of Barlington Group and co-founder of Madroom Hospitality, the company behind the Little Havana bar, Ball & Chain. A preservationist at heart, Fuller has partnered with local entrepreneurs and owners of emerging concepts to bring them to the Miami urban core and house their concepts in the historic properties that Barlington Group has diligently worked to assemble and restore.

Michael Schwartz is a James Beard Award Winning Chef and owner of The Genuine Hospitality Group. As a nationally recognized celebrity chef, Schwartz has successfully developed complementary concepts focusing on great service and delicious food, with a genuine culture embraced by employees and guests alike.

For more information on the panel, visit Miami Hospitality Design Awards. Click here to register.

MCAD’s BAM Sparks Interest in Architecture in African-American Students

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Of the 105,000 registered architects in the U.S., less than two percent are African Americans. In an effort to increase their representation in the industry, architect Craig Aquart of M.C. Harry and Associates created Black Architects in the Making.

BAM is a hands-on educational workshop focused on educating students, primarily African-American, on the architectural profession, and is supported by the Miami Center for Architecture and Design and the American Institute of Architects Miami chapter.

The definition of an architect is “a person who designs buildings and advises in their construction.”

So, it makes sense that the American Institute of Architects Miami Chapter would help build a program that focuses on educating middle and high school students, primarily African American, on the architecture profession.

The U.S. has produced very few African-American architects. According to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, of the 109,748 registered architects in a 2016 survey, only 2 percent are African Americans.

In an effort to increase that representation, Miami architect Craig Aquart of M C Harry & Associates created Black Architects in the Making to join the already established Architects in the Making program. The American Institute of Architects Miami Chapter supports both.

“BAM is a seed planting program that we must continue in more communities to diversify the architectural profession,” Aquart said in an email. “Students who knew little or nothing about architecture and the role it plays in their communities, now understand that their involvement in building better communities is essential to their well-being.”

Since its inception in 2015, Black Architects in the Making has designed more than 21 workshops led by African-American professionals. The efforts have reached over 300 students in Overtown, Liberty City, Richmond Heights and Homestead.

To read the full story, visit the Miami Herald.