MAISON&OBJET Americas
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/503691
Among the l Atest ArrivAls to miami's Design District is a building that predates the city itself: a stone granary that stood for centuries in a village along spain's Atlantic coast. the temple-like structure, which crossed the ocean to become the centerpiece of the frst loewe store in north America, is currently surrounded by handcrafted leather bowls in a special exhibit timed to coincide with the debut of maison&objet Americas. this mix of ancient and modern, fashion and design, culture and commerce is emblematic of the district's ongoing transformation, and it's just the beginning. the man behind the metamorphosis is real estate developer Craig robins. A miami native, he founded Dacra, a real estate company, in 1987 at the age of 24 and began amassing a portfolio of properties in miami Beach's Art Deco District. "in the mid-1990s, once we'd made our way to lincoln road, i realized there was no room for expansion in south Beach, and i began buying property in the Design District," says robins of the area roughly bounded by ne 36th street to the south, ne 43rd street to the north, nW First Avenue to the west, and Biscayne Boulevard to the east. "the neighborhood had been a fourishing area for shopping in the mid-20th century but had fallen into disrepair. i recognized that the historic architecture of the neighborhood had intrinsic beauty and value." From the start, robins combined renova- tion with curation, focusing on prospective tenants that would connect not only with the area's largely forgot- ten history as a trade hub for furniture and design, but also with his vision of the neighborhood as a place for creative experimentation. top design firms like Kartell, luminaire, Knoll, Water works, and holly hunt were among the frst to open showrooms in the fedgling district. "in the late '90s, miami seemed underserved and sleepy in all things interior design," says hunt, whose name is synonymous with luxe furnishings. "Craig robins came to see me with his very persua- sive infuencing skill and big promises for the Design District's future." she was intrigued by the concept of a stand-alone ground-floor showroom that would also sell to designers, and the deal was sealed when robins showed hunt the space he had in mind for her: 22,000 square feet spread over three foors on ne second Avenue. "it offered far more independence in approach and interior architectural design," adds hunt. "i was sold." As design showrooms moved into the district, robins also provided studio space to artists and com- missioned public art, including installations by marc newson and Zaha hadid that refected the nascent confuence of fne art, industrial design, and architec- ture. the 2002 arrival of Art Basel in miami Beach was another milestone. those in town for the global art fair were drawn to the district by collaborative events, and designs on miami Like the city itself, Miami's Design District has become an international hotbed for architecture, design, and fashion. During the debut of Maison&Objet Americas, the district will host installations, exhibits, and other events showing how its special creative alchemy has made it a destination for visitors worldwide. by stephanie murg m i a m i m&O opposite page: photography by robin hill (cit y view garage); richard pat terson (jungle, netscape); © w yat t gallery (dash fence) 84 m a i s o n - o b j e t. c o m