Art deco architecture is as much a part of South Beach as sandy beaches and dancing on tables. The Delano Miami Beach has stood tall inside the same iconic building since 1947. After a six-year full-scale renovation, led by Elastic Architects, the latest reincarnation of the once hard-partying hotel – one of the most exciting recent hotel openings – brings its iconic luxury footprint back to Miami Beach with plenty of glamour and a more modern mindset that, while still convivial, puts wellness ever-so-slightly above late-night antics.

Wallpaper* checks in at Delano Miami Beach

What’s on your doorstep?

Located on Collins Avenue, the Delano sits in the middle of a stretch that’s seen the old guard flip – with The Shelborne by Proper opening last year and revamps of The Raleigh and the Shore Club (which soon fly the Auberge flag) coming down the pipeline. It’s also in a prime beachfront position, providing direct access to the Miami Beach Boardwalk and the Delano’s serviced beach area.

Who is behind the design?

The Delano is one of Miami’s most emblematic hotels. When it first opened, the sign read ‘nothing finer’. It also advertised air conditioning – a big deal back in the day; thankfully, now standard across the balmy Florida city.

Hotelier Ian Schrager, in collaboration with designer Philippe Starck, reignited the historic hotel into a sleek, scene-driven South Beach destination in 1995 and operated it for 25 years. The latest iteration, nay transformation, turned back the clock in some ways, honouring the hotel’s legacy, while also bringing it into the present. The design and management teams worked closely with the City of Miami Historic Preservation Division to stay on task. Aesthetically, there’s plenty to appeal to history buffs, from the terracotta floors emblazoned with the original emblem to the scene-stealing lobby, which shows off soaring columns and billowing fabric.

Despite its deep roots – and thoughtful choices that pay homage to its glam past – the Delano feels refreshingly on the pulse, thanks to its airy palette and impressive collection of works by Miami artists – including a mythical glazed stoneware relief by Nina Surel, oil paintings by Natalie Galindo and striking botanic sculptures by Alissa Alfonso that adorn the walls outside of Rose Bar.

The main pool area is now flanked by loungers and umbrellas, accented with lemon print underneath and playful fringe, plus a row of cabanas for VIP poolside hangs. Rooms are bright with crisp linens, light wood flooring and rugs evoking the soft sands below and large, ocean-facing windows. The dining concepts channel other vibe-driven destinations: the dynamic energy of Osaka, languid summers on Italy’s Mediterranean coastline.

The room to book

The Delano Miami Beach features 171 rooms and suites, decorated with crisp tonal hues, curved furnishings and oversized windows for gazing at the beach or the city skyline. For the ultimate in space and scenery, the swank 2,824 sq ft ocean-view penthouse offers unobstructed panoramas of the sandy shoreline and Atlantic waves from the three ensuite bedrooms, living and dining spaces and terrace.

If you’d rather soak in the social buzz, the two-storey poolside bungalows are the epitome of a Miami Beach holiday. Located just steps from the pool, each boasts a covered patio that effectively doubles as a cabana, allowing guests to enjoy food and beverage service without ever leaving the shade.

Staying for drinks and dinner?

It’s not a secret that Miami Beach is chock-a-block with great spots to eat and drink – a trio of them happen to reside at Delano Miami Beach, the result of a partnership with Paris Society, marking the group’s first restaurants in the United States. Gigi Rigolatto – a chic Italian eatery with outposts in Saint-Tropez, Paris, Dubai, Rome and Bodrum – brings its effortless elegance and coastal Italian cuisine to South Beach. Designed by Hugo Toro, the first-floor space, which extends from the air-conditioned dining room to the covered terrace, gleams with the sun-dappled warmth of plaster walls, carved wooden panels, archways and yellow Sienna marble. Signature dishes include seabream carpaccio, tomato salad, linguine alle vongole and grilled octopus.

On the fourth floor, at Mimi Kakushi, Elastic Architects and Pirajean Lees utilise wooden screens, textures, and hand-painted walls to transport Delano Members Club and hotel guests to Osaka, blending art deco-influenced design with modern dining. There’s an open sushi counter where chefs craft nigiri by hand as well as a menu of shareable Japanese plates such as tuna tartare topped with caviar, Wagyu and foie gras gyoza and miso black cod. The cocktail program, inspired by Sessue Hayakawa, celebrates the Japanese silent film star’s many on-screen characters through cinematic tipples and nonalcoholic options.

For a nightcap, the Rose Bar, just off the lobby, is back in all its glam glory, whether you belly up to the dusky-lit Rosso Lepanto marble bar for a Rose Old Fashioned or sip a Floral Negroni on one of the low-slung sofas that spill out into the lounge.

Where to switch off

Back in the Ian Schrager days, the basement was a nightclub. The glow-up, which taps into Miami’s wellness-oriented lifestyle rather than dance-till-dawn nights, replaces that more debaucherous after-dark fixture with a forthcoming wellbeing wing. There’s also a chic gym kitted out with tonal Technogym equipment and a fitness studio. Beachfront yoga sessions are also available to guests.

The verdict

Delano Miami Beach is a chic, grown-up – much-needed and welcome – addition to the South Beach scene. It’s a place where you can indulge in rosé by the pool, cocktails and late-night sushi. But there’s also a quieter emphasis on wellness. Guests might just as easily turn in early rather than stay out till dawn and rise for morning yoga. The service is friendly, warm, and young. Not inexperienced by any stretch, just vibrant and youthful. The Delano employs people who can match the fun, sunny energy of South Beach.

Book Delano Miami Beach, 1685 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States. Rates: from $650

Since starting her practice two decades ago, architect Victoria Yakusha has become Ukraine's most dominant design voice.

Yakusha's work — which spans buildings, interiors and collectible design — is firmly rooted in the traditions, materiality and mythology of her native country. Her charming sculptures created with her firm’s design arm, Faina, especially, have become a fixture at US design fairs and the design awards circuit. To wit: as part of Design Miami’s 2.0 section last December, Yakusha unveiled The Land of Light II, a series of pleasingly-round sculptural animals made from ztista, a sustainable plaster she’s developed.

While Yakusha, who splits her time between the US, Belgium and Ukraine, has brick-and-mortar galleries in Kiev and Antwerp, and sells her work online, Americans looking to experience her work need to see it as part of a dedicated exhibition or a fair. No more: this month Yakusha opened up her first dedicated design gallery in the US in Miami’s Design District.

For the designer, the opening provides the perfect way to further introduce her practice to US audiences. ‘My work is built around physical presence — material density, surface, scale and the way light interacts with form. These are qualities that can’t be fully communicated digitally, no matter how refined the image,’ Yakusha explains to Wallpaper*. ‘I wanted to create a place where objects could be experienced in real time, through the body as much as through the eye.’

The gallery, located in a low-slung building on the periphery of the Miami Design District, is the embodiment of Yakusha’s design values — ‘calm, grounded and quietly expressive,’ she explains.

The space is quite literally, ensconced by her home country: the walls are finished in natural clay that was shipped from Ukraine, a move that lends an organic, earthy sensibility. This earthiness is contrasted with sleek stainless steel cabinetry which displays design objects, including lighting and smaller animal sculptures, and softly diffuses light from the storefront’s generous windows.

At the gallery’s centre is a round ‘island’ containing mosses and plants in a soft circular mound. Amid the dove-coloured clay walls and against the stainless steel shelving, it's at once a nod to Miami's lushness and a surreal portal to another world.

‘I want visitors to feel a sense of lightness and harmony the moment they enter. This is not a space designed for quick consumption. It’s meant to slow people down — to encourage observation, reflection and sensory awareness,’ Yakusha says.

Yakusha wants to create not just an exhibition space for her most recent objects, but a cultural hub, a place where people can attend a lecture or an intimate gathering. In doing so, the designer says, ‘[The gallery] becomes a place where people can return, where relationships can grow, and where the work can be understood in a deeper, more layered way.’

‘On a personal level, this moment feels both grounding and energizing,’ she reflects. ‘It’s a point of arrival, but also a beginning.’

Miami Design Residences Designed by Chipperfield, the newest offering by architect Sir David Chipperfield, has just been unveiled. The design for a new development is currently underway in Florida, located in Miami’s design district. The new residences mark a first foray by Chipperfield in the area, and are currently the architect's only development underway in the Sunshine State.

The new piece of residential architecture scales 26 stories, and covers nearly two acres. Within its elegant, contemporary envelope, Miami Design Residence will offer 143 condominium homes, each designed to melt into the laidback, luxurious lifestyle of Miami. The project is also set to contain the first flagship hotel of a high-end international hospitality brand (yet to be named).

Step inside Miami Design Residences by David Chipperfield Architects

The design features ceramic columns that wrap around the exterior, designed specifically to capture and reflect Miami’s distinct light. Meanwhile, custom, pale-champagne mullions frame the floor-to-ceiling windows. Such design details reflect Chipperfield’s distinct architectural language, adding to his studio's portfolio, which includes the Neues Museum and James-Simon-Galerie in Berlin and the Turner Contemporary Museum in Margate, UK.

Miami’s Design District is an important global destination and the city’s most creatively vibrant area, also home to Design Miami. Filled with contemporary art galleries, boutiques, art installations and intriguing architecture, it's a neighbourhood where the new building is well at home. Additionally, it is a stone's throw from Miami Beach and other waterfront destinations in the wider region.

Says the Pritzker Prize-winning practice: ‘This is an exciting opportunity to shape the identity and experience of Miami’s Design District with its first large-scale residential and hospitality masterplan. The project prioritises high-quality public spaces and proposes an alternative architectural approach for the city – one that responds to climate through structure, substance and materiality. The buildings and garden work together to create both a distinctive presence and a civic contribution to this evolving cultural quarter.’

miamidesignresidences.com

davidchipperfield.com

At Wallpaper*, movement is second nature, and savouring it is an art. Whether on assignment or off-duty, our editorial team is perpetually combing the globe, visiting places that are mind-expanding and spirit-lifting. This year, we paused to gather the places that truly stayed with us. Consider this selection of travel highlights, handpicked by our staff, as a starting point for the year ahead, compiled to spark curiosity and fuel your future travel plans.

As such, follow the sun to Mexico, Greece, Spain and Italy, or embrace the stark beauty of Finland and Iceland. Looking for adventure? Uzbekistan, Egypt and Kenya deliver. For a spiritual reset, Japan and South Korea offer ritual and depth. From European mainstays such as Vienna and Lisbon to American icons including Miami and Joshua Tree, let’s get globetrotting.

Amanohashidate, Japan

‘Last April, adding a few days to a long-haul work trip felt like the responsible thing to do, particularly when long-haul now extends to a 16-hour dog-leg to Osaka via Doha, which is how I came to visit one of Japan’s most revered destinations, Amanohashidate, site of a 3.6km sidebar known as ‘the staircase to heaven’ that cuts across Miayazu Bay in Kyoto prefecture. Amanohashidate itself is a quiet village with a national landmark at its heart and a well-run ryokan (Monjusou) to relax in, but the surrounding area is blessed with no less significant points of interest. Ine is a ‘floating village’ of 230 fishing cottages, protected as a heritage site, that offers good walking with splendid sea views and great coffee in one of its repurposed properties. Sometimes all you need is sea air, the odd stroll and the chance to indulge in something as silly as matanozoki, or peering between your legs atop Kasamatsu Park, at which point the now-inverted sandbar appears as a bridge across the sky.’

– Bill Prince, editor-in-chief

Athens, Greece

‘This past autumn, I celebrated a milestone birthday in Athens. The city feels as though it was shaped by accumulation rather than careful urban planning, its layers of typeface, texture and attitude stacked across eras, politics and glitzy inconsistencies. Visually, Athens is unrelenting: everything speaks loudly and constantly, and nothing is treated as too precious. Even the Acropolis feels unresolved, its original fragments scattered between the exquisitely built Acropolis Museum and far beyond Greece’s borders. I enjoyed long lunches with generous pours of Assyrtiko from aluminium jugs, and late nights drifting into hot spots like SMUT, where Athens’ spontaneity really kicks in. I chose Athens as my favourite of the year because it thrives in chaos, offering moments of beauty and excitement, and rewarding those who stay longer, pay attention and arrive hungry.’

– Gabriel Annouka, senior designer

Brittany, France

‘On something of a nostalgia trip to the south coast of Brittany, France – the destination of my first-ever trip abroad – now with my own teenagers in tow, I was relieved to find it a still-lovely, laidback and low-key escape with none of the hussle or hassle a beach break during the summer holidays can entail. The sea was utterly clear – too freezing for me, even in July, for more than one cold plunge, but perfect for kayaking or admiring endlessly from coastal walking paths. Bike hire in this cycling-obsessed nation was ubiquitous and the paths plentiful and well sign-posted; they even continued across estuaries, courtesy of short ferry hops on which bikes were not just bienvenue but (bafflingly for a Brit used to transport-network shortfalls) positively encouraged. And a day’s hire extended through to the evening, allowing ample time for a thoroughly civilised French lunch break en route with (savoury) galettes and (sweet) crêpes galore. Pancakes for all courses is a concept close to my heart.’

– Bridget Downing, executive editor

Cairo, Egypt

‘In November, I visited Cairo and spent a few warm, autumnal days watching the light shift over the Art D’Égypte installations, set in the sand beneath the pyramids of Giza. I was particularly drawn to SolidNature and Studio PROBA’s organically shaped, naturally coloured stone sculptures. Seeing them positioned against the pyramids was both wondrous and surreal: two forms of stone, prehistoric in material yet composed millennia apart, held in quiet dialogue with one another. The experience was utterly mesmerising, leaving me feeling incredibly small in the face of such magnificence and scale. Other highlights across the city included losing track of time in the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and wandering through the calming gardens of Adam Henein’s gallery house.’

– Olly Mason, head of interiors

Évora, Portugal

‘When my sister moved to Lisbon in 2024, I dreamily imagined endless weekends of wandering, but life got in the way and it never quite happened; until this summer, when we managed to bring both our families together for ten scorching days in Alentejo, a more off-the-beaten-path part of Portugal, around 90 minutes east of Lisbon. We stayed in gloriously serene countryside, awash with olive groves and vineyards, occasionally popping into the medieval, walled UNESCO city of Évora for ice cream (Pezagno, delicious!). On one visit, we explored the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), a 16th-century chapel within the Church of St Francis, built by Franciscan monks as a memento mori to inspire reflection on the transience of life. Its walls and columns are clad with thousands of strikingly arranged human skulls and bones, previously buried in Évora’s medieval cemeteries. Above the door, an inscription reads: “We bones are here, waiting for yours.” At the entrance to this macabre chapel is a simple modern mural by Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira – a counterpoint to its meditation on mortality.’

– Anne Soward, production editor

Helsinki, Finland

‘While others escaped to hotter climes, last February, I decided to embrace the cold and wintry feel of Europe and headed further north, to Helsinki. It was one of the best travel decisions I ever made. The day was short, but the city was fun, and the cultural offerings were plentiful and welcoming. Helsinki was frozen – not that you would be bothered with the right clothes and shoes, especially in the city centre, where pavements are heated so that the snow doesn’t build up. A short ferry ride, breaking through the icy waters, took me to the magical Suomenlinna sea fortress - thank you, Laura Iloniemi, for the tip! I also explored the numerous art offerings the city has to offer, from the Amos Rex museum to the Temppeliaukio church of the rock. I stayed at a timber-framed hotel by the water, Solo Sokos Pier 4, paid a visit to the renovated Finlandia Hall, and enjoyed sticky Korvapuusti (Finnish cinnamon rolls) and warm and creamy salmon soup. As travel reviews often conclude, “would definitely recommend.”’

– Ellie Stathaki, architecture and environment director

Hydra, Greece

‘This year I’ve been lucky to visit great European capitals including Vienna, Paris and Athens, but somehow it’s my day on the small Greek island of Hydra that was most memorable. Big cities are filled with great things to do and see, but Hydra offers an escape from it all, with no cars, no museums, and practically no phone reception. And yet it still has everything you might possibly need on a nice autumn day: a lunch at a taverna followed by a dip in the sea, and a walk along the coastal path, suspended between the blue sky and the Mediterranean.’

– Léa Teuscher, sub-editor

Joshua Tree, USA

‘In May, I made the three-hour journey from Los Angeles into the Mojave Desert to Joshua Tree. It had long been on my list to visit, likely prompted by endless interviews with musicians who enthused about the desert’s mystical energy. There are no shortage of incredible architectural stays to book in the area, but after much deliberation, I settled on this geodesic dome, far enough away from civilisation to get the full experience (the drive back from dinner in the pitch black was a little hairy) but just twenty minutes from Joshua Tree National Park and the must-sees of the Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms. I loved every single thing about this trip. From the weird roadside stops along the route – a desert crochet museum? A shrine to fifties hairdressing? A park filled with many, many statues of Christ? – to dinner at The Copper Room, drinks at Mas o Menos and obligatory live music at Pioneertown institution, Pappy & Harriet’s (the nearby Red Dog Saloon was a little quieter when Pappy’s is packed). I can’t wait to return.’

– Charlotte Gunn, director of digital content

Kyoto, Japan

‘I loved visiting Kyoto this year, and discovering its rich history, gorgeous food and beautiful surroundings. The highlight, though, was being able to get to know some of the locals, who were as generous with their time as they are cultured, intelligent, and extremely kind.’

– Hannah Silver, art, culture, watches and jewellery editor

Lake Como, Italy

‘Until last year, I had never been to Italy; now, I can say I’ve been three times. A run of good fortune took me to Milan for Salone de Mobile, and Venice for an immersive exhibition hosted by Golden Goose. In addition, to mark the beginning of the summer season, I was invited to Lake Como to stay at Il Sereno’s new listening suite, designed by Patricia Urquiola. The lake in the foothills of the Alps took my breath away. It was scenery I had not seen before, and I was captivated by its beauty. There was an effortless air of Old Hollywood glamour and relaxed sophistication coupled with the calming nature of the lake, which makes the location entirely unique. I cannot wait to go back.’

– Tianna Williams, staff writer

Menorca, Spain

‘The Menorca Experimental hotel had been on my bucket list for years, and I finally made it there for a short break in September. Designed by Dorothée Meilichzon, the interiors strike a balance between playful colour and subtle Art Deco references, incorporating local designers and materials. It felt considered yet relaxed. The weather was still warm enough for sea swims in some of the clearest water I’ve seen in Europe, and it was easy to find quieter spots that felt untouched. There’s a quiet, understated rhythm to the island that encourages you to slow down, making it a perfect mid-season reset.’

– Cindy Parthonnaud, acting photography editor

Mérida, Mexico

‘I spent 10 days in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula this summer and enjoyed soaking up Mérida’s rich history, intense summer heat and xtabentún, the local firewater. The city is about 30 miles inland, meaning those craving a swim-up bar or large beach resort won’t find it here. Instead, they’ll discover a mix of unhurried streets, bustling markets, pretty boutiques and innovative cuisine that spotlights traditional Yucatec cooking. My husband and I checked in at Hotel Cigno, an elegant boutique property located in Mérida’s historic heart, before hiring a local guide to take us to Uxmal, one of the Mayan world’s most important sites, and an azure blue cenote, a naturally occurring limestone sinkhole that peppers the area. There was still an opportunity to hit the beach, though: an hour-ride taxi will take you straight to the coast, where you can take in tranquil waters, white sand beaches, bright-pink salt lakes and – my favourite – droves of flamingos.’

– Anna Fixsen, U.S. editor

Miami, USA

‘I came to Miami for the Grand Prix – where Lego had built ten fully drivable cars – but stayed for the art deco architecture, palm-lined boulevards and viscerally cinematic sunsets. Miami’s expansion in the 1920s and 30s left it with a remarkable concentration of art deco buildings, which I completely fell in love with. A stroll down Ocean Drive – one of the finest showcases of the style – took me hours, slowed by pastel façades and kitsch vintage cars that demanded to be photographed. Little Havana, shaped by Cuban émigrés after the 1959 revolution, is home to cigar shops, graffiti tributes to Celia Cruz and Old’s Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina, which, with its yellow walls and mojito production line, is an institution. So, too, is Delilah – swathed in pink velvet and favoured by A-listers – though in an entirely different vein. Miami is a place I’d return to in a heartbeat.’

– Anna Solomon, digital writer

Nesjavellir, Iceland

‘My yearly travel mainly comprises the movement between Milan, Paris and New York for fashion week (and the freneticism and overstimulation these trips bring), so when I’m not working I seem to be attracted towards the vast and the desolate – Lanzarote has become my go-to escape, and this spring I loved losing myself in its strange, moonlike landscapes once again. Though it was another otherworldly (and volcanic) island that was my favourite trip of 2025: Iceland, which I visited with 66 North last month (the outerwear brand was founded on the island a century ago). I have been a couple of times before, though each time it is surprising in its vastness and scale: speeding across the snow-covered mountain ridge Thórsmörk – named after the Norse god Thor – on off-roading buggies was a truly cinematic experience (and the perfect release). We spent the second night at the Ion Adventure Hotel, a Brutalist box on stilts that looks out over the geothermal fields of Nesjavellir – in the silence, it was my best night’s sleep of the year.’

– Jack Moss, fashion and beauty features director

Seoul, South Korea

‘About two hours from Seoul, in the mountains of Wonju, Museum SAN (Space Art Nature) heralds an architectural feat by Tadao Ando: a 25-metre-wide subterranean dome beneath the museum’s flower garden, topped with an oculus rising more than seven metres high. Titled Ground, it was commissioned to accompany Antony Gormley’s exhibition Drawing on Space.’

– Jason Hughes, creative director

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

‘I spend much of my year bouncing around beautiful design-led hotels. But at least once a year, I make it my mission to step out of this bubble as a reminder of why I love to travel in the first place. And this year, my trip to Uzbekistan was a welcome reset. It’s not a destination known for luxury, but with tourism on the rise, you can feel the energy in Tashkent’s creative pockets and across Samarkand and Bukhara, which just hosted its inaugural biennale. From the staggering detail of the Islamic architecture to the small, genuinely local boutique hotels, there’s an incredible history and a rawness that was not just compelling, but a reminder that stepping away from the familiar is not just refreshing, but important to keep your curiosity alive.’

– Lauren Ho, travel director

Tokyo, Japan

‘Tokyo had been calling for some time, and this October I was finally able to answer. Japan’s capital is an urban sprawl of ritual, contrast, beauty and tradition, where even the smallest details feel deliberate and meaningful. It was my first visit, and I tried to stay fully present, absorbing as much of the city’s energy as possible; yet I still feel I barely scratched the surface. There are countless moments I hold onto, but one stands out: waking to a bright, clear morning and, from my hotel room on the 34th floor of Fairmont Tokyo, spotting Mount Fuji in the distance. It appeared as a majestic presence on the horizon, wishing the city a good day.’

– Sofia de la Cruz, travel editor

Vienna, Austria

‘Vienna is a really great city for a short getaway, especially for those interested in design. The city is filled with hidden gems, such as the interiors and ambience of Café Prückel, located just across the street from the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK). Be sure to check out the numerous storefronts designed by Hans Hollein throughout the city, including the iconic façade of the Retti candle shop. One of the highlights for me was the Roman Catholic church depicted above, built in the late 1970s by architect Viktor Hufnagl.’

– Sebastian Jordahn, head of video

Watamu, Kenya

‘Earlier this year, I travelled to Kenya and spent time in Watamu, a coastal town known for stunning white-sand beaches, coral reefs, mangroves and a large marine life. I was there for a private yoga retreat with a yoga company called Pana and stayed in a one-of-a-kind treehouse, Watamu Tree House, near Watamu Beach. Our treehouse retreat, built by the family who runs it, rises through the landscape, from the ground to the top floor, with shimmering coloured glass mosaics. Each day in Watamu began with yoga in the studio at the top of the building, which offered quiet and perspective. Practising yoga above the ground, with the sea nearby and trees in the distance, felt grounding. Fresh vegetarian meals formed the core of each day, as each meal came with coconut water and juices made fresh each morning.’

– Jamilah Rose-Roberts, social media editor

California-based artist Woody Othello was back in Miami a month or so ago in preparation for his first museum exhibition in his hometown, at Perez Art Museum Miami, and he was trying to reflect on ‘how I got from point A to B and to multiple points’, he tells Wallpaper*. He soon referred to his sketchbook, where he had scribbled his thoughts on the colour red’s connotations for renewal, transformation, and rebirth. This was the point when he decided to cover the walls of the exhibition, titled 'coming forth by day’, in a ruby-toned lime wash paint. Another influence was a trip to Senegal two summers ago, which had exposed him to many interiors painted in clay with rich textures. ‘Each day is a mini rebirth over and over again – we don’t realise how much we change in a lifetime,’ adds the artist, whose works span sculpture, ceramics, painting and drawing.

The exhibition delivers a cohesively ritualistic experience enveloped in Othello’s scarlet hue choice on the textured walls, and tapping into multiple senses, with an olfactory component concocted with vetiver, a plant commonly found in Haiti. Nooks, plinths, and a pyramid layer the show with suggestions to look in, up, and around where his sculptures in glazed ceramic and carved wood await like seasoned storytellers. ‘Woody wanted to take the visitors elsewhere, outside his own space of the museum and transform it into a calm, tender place that feels almost like it hugs you,’ says the show’s curator Jennifer Inacio.

A sculpture from 2025, 'one becomes two, and two becomes one,' 2025, shows a couple of huggers with gramophone-like heads. They tightly caress one another while standing on their knees inside two massive hands that cup them with a motherly compassion. The palpability of safety mingles with a mythical echo in the sculpture’s richly glazed surface, which stems from the artist’s multiple firing process in his kiln in search of the desired finish. ‘Don’t always do the work for the result,’ he says about a commitment to the intuitive process that he lets ‘dictate where things go with openness’.

Besides a creative journey often freed from an urge for a destination, a sense of homecoming resonates with Othello’s return to Miami. He takes the moment to contemplate time and heritage as non-linear forces, with references to spiritual figures of Central Africa, his personal interest in metaphysics, Yoruba shines, and everyday objects, which generally appear in his sculptures as larger-than-life totems of memory and use.

A book about Kongo funerary objects, Four Moments of the Sun by Robert Farris and Joseph Cornet, was inspirational in the show’s embodiment of the animate. The sculptor, in fact, strives to grasp a non-hierarchical physicality in both living and mundane objects through his experiments in scale and material. ‘Both the living and everyday objects are animated by the same presence,’ he says. ‘There is the same emanating force that causes humans to exist as well as the inanimate world at the same time.’ Othello sculpts familiar objects such as mirrors and even telephones out of his receptiveness to their fleeting impact. ‘Spirit takes form in all objects,’ according to the artist, who sees an abundance of potential in ‘unpacking what is between being a messenger and the receiver of that message’. The show’s mirror-like glazed ceramic works with wooden frames possess such double-sided souls between being grounded and ethereal.

In the artist’s offering of a journey to each visitor, the way up remains one of his routes. The show’s central wood pyramid structure, which exhibits various small ceramic sculptures, stemmed from the intention to suggest ascension. ‘At first I thought about a staircase,’ explains De Othello. Eugene Fersen’s book Science of Being, where he talks about the four corners of the evolution – life, mind, truth and love – propelled him to settle on the pyramid form. The sculptures inside the pyramid show oozing bodies, mask-like faces, and less recognisable abstracted compositions, entangled with hands. The medley of the spirited body and the insentient summons another form of spirituality. ‘Everything radiates an essence and functionality,’ says Othello, who continues to ask, ‘How do we become more aware of being in a physical body?’

'Woody De Othello: coming forth by ay' is at Perez Art Museum Miami until 28 June 2026

pamm.org

Alcova has quickly become one of the most exciting and hotly anticipated exhibitions of Milan design week calendar, showcasing both established and up-and-coming talent in architecturally striking venues since 2018. Three years ago, curators Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima brought the contemporary design fair to Miami Art Week, and for its 2025 edition, the show returned to the Miami River Inn — the city’s oldest hotel — to exhibit new work from across the globe.

From 2-7 December, the exhibition unfolded in and around the rooms, patios, terraces and hallways of four Victorian buildings, each identified by its pastel-toned façade. Meanwhile, the property’s central plaza was overhauled by Milan-based designer Patricia Urquiola, who applied a pink checkerboard across the grassy lawn to showcase Cappellini’s Thinking Man Lido chairs, and installed yellow Utrecht armchairs by Cassina along the edge of the swimming pool. Throughout the week, these outdoor spaces hosted a program of talks and conversations with the exhibitors, who represent a new generation of leading voices in design. Here is a selection of our favourite presentations from Alcova Miami 2025.

Adrian Cruz

Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Mexican designer Adrian Cruz uses resin to mold sherbet-coloured lighting and furniture, pairing the translucent material with richly veined onyx. At Alcova, he debuted a console with three curvaceous legs and a swooping purple top, as part of a collaboration with interior designer Carmen Arechiga, titled ACCA Editions. Cruz also presented a lamp influenced by the proportions of Renaissance villas. A spherical ‘bulb’ with a carved centre contains the light source, mounted on lightly tinted parallel blocks that slot into a solid base.

Christine Kalia

Who knew that aluminium window frames could become sci-fi influenced furniture? Cypriot designer Christine Kalia partnered with Muskita to repurpose the brand’s window profiles, transforming the offcuts into the Mission chair and a bench that would look right at home inside a spacecraft. Bright orange cushions offset the cool industrial metal, and mimic the hue of re-entry heat shields, while seatbelts are provided for the sitter to buckle in and feel secure. Both of the pieces were packed tightly and shipped to Miami in an ultra-efficient metal cuboid.

Dace Suna

The Rayleigh scattering effect that makes the sky appear blue is also employed by Latvian designer Dace Sūna in her series of Sky-Set lights. Comprising layers of curved opalescent glass disks, the lamps recreate the optical phenomenon—appearing pale blue around the edges and sunset orange in the centre. Also on show, Sūna’s Ontara mirrors are formed by laying warmed recycled glass over a topographic mold, allowing the material to slump into a wavy shape reminiscent of a manta ray. The designer then applied silver sheen over the surface using a vacuum coating technique, enhancing the undulations with reflections.

Jensin Okunishi Studio

For her latest series of custom carpets, American designer Jensin Okunishi looked to the mesmerising striations of marbled stone. She hand-drew her own version and then recreated the sketches in hand-knotted patterns, and placed these two-tone designs at the centre of colour-blocked rugs. Made in Nepal using the Tibetan-style technique, the Formations carpets are edged with scalloped and zig-zag shapes, resulting in a bold Memphis-like aesthetic.

Objects of Common Interest

Expanding on shapes found in a series of jewel-like vases for Tacchini, Objects of Common Interest revealed a set of lamps embedded with cast-resin pieces shaped to resemble precious gemstones. The Brooklyn and Athens-based studio presented these richly hued pieces in an all-white space, allowing the colours to pop and the glow from the light sources to highlight the translucency of the material.

Ombia Studio

Los Angeles-based designer Cristina Moreno references her Colombian origins in her furniture and lighting, whether looking to ancient ornaments and ceremonial jewellery to influence her golden Quimbaya sconces and pendant light, or wood-carving techniques to add texture to her Mare dining table. Ombia Studio’s unconventional forms and warm materials feel deeply rooted in place, reminiscent of the past while strikingly contemporary.

Strat Coffman

A nomadic play system that turns safety infrastructure into ‘instruments of contact’ was installed by designer Strat Coffman. Each installation in The Railings series is constructed into the desired set-up using scaffolding-like stainless steel bars and connectors, which are wrapped in crash mats and padded cushions that are strapped into place. The system is intended to produce ‘tools for pleasure, friction and unexpected forms of touch,’ and was first showcased at Body Zone, one of Detroit’s last remaining gay saunas.

Studio Maerz

Artist Selma Alihodžic of Studio Maerz claims to have created the lightest-ever fabric, woven using a traditional technique on a machine that only a single remaining artisan is trained to operate. To preserve this dying art, Alihodžic recorded the sound of the process, and translated the audio in a visual pattern that she then projected onto the ethereal textile within a blacked-out room.

Terumi Saito

New York-based Japanese artist Terumi Saito combines ceramics and fibre art into vessels and wall-hangings that represent cross-cultural craft. She uses backstrap weaving — one of the earliest weaving techniques that’s used in both Asia and South America — to produce textiles that she wraps around rope sculptures and hand-made clay vases. After completing artist residency programs in Japan, Peru, Guatemala and the US, the resulting body of work melds together styles from all of these cultures into a unique aesthetic.

Undress House

A chair adorned with moveable screw-ball rings, another strung together like a medieval longbow, and a stool that evokes a cooled lava flow were among the pieces shown by artist Jaeho Lee of Undress House. The collection is awash with contrasts—metal and wood; heavy and light; shiny and matte interplay dynamically across each object, and a couple of tongue-in-cheek references offer IYKYK inside jokes.

Since Design Miami first launched in 2005, collectible design has been catapulted onto the global stage. This week’s been proof, with some 80 international exhibitors congregating beneath a sprawling tent in Miami Beach and with international arms of the fair in Paris and, in 2027, Dubai. The theme for the fair, which runs through Sunday 7 December, is ‘Make. Believe.’, a theme that is ‘a celebration of the extraordinary power of design to turn imagination into reality’, said Design Miami CEO Jen Roberts at the opening press conference.

All that creativity means there’s a lot to see, even if you skip the greater hurricane that is Miami Art Week, anchored by Art Basel Miami Beach. We’ve been on the ground all week perusing booths, special installations and galleries, and there have been a few stand-out things that caught our attention. If there’s a common denominator, it’s their ability to ignite the imagination and their sense of fun. How very Miami!

Superhouse’s super booth

Move over Winky the Norwich Terrier: the crown for this year’s ‘Best in Show’ at Design Miami was handily snatched by Superhouse. For its booth, the New York-based gallery teamed up with San Francisco design practice Studio Ahead to create a fun-filled Wunderkammer of American-made furniture designed between 1980 and 1990. Works by Dan Friedman, Forrest Myers and more were interspersed between two towering Ionic columns, whose capitals felt like a squiggly riff on the overall postmodern theme. Wackier works – like an Alex Locadia-designed chair whose back is imprinted with Batman’s abs of steel – added just the right amount of wrong to a booth that felt absolutely right.

Es Devlin’s beach reads

Miami’s sandy shores are typically dotted with beach umbrellas and hard bodies, but this year, something of an anomaly appeared – a bookshelf. Specifically, a 50ft-wide, rotating wedge-shaped bookshelf filled with 2,500 tomes. It’s the handiwork of English artist and set designer Es Devlin. Called ‘Library of Us’, the installation is a follow-up to Devlin’s ‘Library of Light’ unveiled at Salone del Mobile earlier this year. The shelf slowly revolves on a circular platform, where the public is invited to sit and contemplate words on an LED screen – selections from Devlin’s own personal library – and watch the ocean and the seaside towers slowly spin round. ‘You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down,’ read one quip from Toni Morisson’s 1977 novel, Song of Solomon. Amid a week whose raison d'être is centred around exclusivity, this public-facing sculpture felt like a gift.

Kohler’s fishy installation

Why settle for white porcelain when your toilet, bathtub or sink could be iridescent? That was the theme of Kohler’s 2025 fair booth, which showcased Pearlized, a glimmering new rainbow finish created in collaboration with artist David Franklin. Pearlized was the result of a happy creative accident, created when Franklin was figuring out new ways to glaze his signature ceramic fish during an artist residency with the Wisconsin-based company. Kohler liked it so much that it has glazed a sink in it and tapped designer Harry Nuriev of Crosby Studios to design a glowing, meditative installation to celebrate it at the fair. Topped with a swirling school of Franklin’s shimmering fish and clad in mirrors, it made for a meditative moment amid the fair’s buzz.

Gerrit Rietveld’s covetable chairs

When strolling through the halls of a large collectible design fair, a little aesthetic litmus test comes in handy: Would you have it in your own house? The answer is a resounding ‘hell yes’ when it came to these gorgeous Gerrit Rietveld chairs presented by Netherlands-based gallery Mass Modern Design. These beauties are original productions dating to the 1960s, but have been reupholstered in a swirling fabric, designed by Heather Chontos for Pierre Frey. They’ll set you back a cool $40,000 for the pair – chump change compared to the multi-million-dollar transactions across the street at Art Basel.

Fendi’s gilded lilies

Fendi routinely brings some of the most exquisite works to Design Miami – and this year was no different. The Milanese house tapped Argentina-born designer Constanza Vallese, whose scale-spanning work encompasses everything from jewellery to furniture, to create a series of bronze furnishings and objects. Vallese, using lost-wax casting techniques, embellished the resulting chair, screen and bench with exquisite gilded blooms. A particularly delightful detail? Fendi’s signature selleria stitches, wrought in bronze, around the seat of a chair. Grounded on butter-yellow carpets loomed by CC-Tapis, the booth was a moment of understated richness.

Katie Stout’s cast of rotating characters

New York ceramic artist Katie Stout took this year’s Design Miami theme, ‘Make. Believe.’, and ran with it, starting with a whimsical installation of frogs, crabs and other critters (they all function as public benches!) in the heart of Miami’s Design District. But the Design Miami tent held something even more fun – a carousel made from ceramic mermaids. Attendees were even invited to sit on it and take it for a spin.

Sabine Marcelis’ outdoor dining room

SolidNature always has something epic in the works – to wit: the luxury stone company’s recent Alex Proba collaboration alongside the Pyramids of Giza. For this year’s Art Week showing, the company, in collaboration with We Are Ona, tapped Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis to create a dreamy minimalist dining room on the roof of the Andaz Miami Beach hotel. The space is hosting culinary pop-ups all week. When viewed in the blazing Miami sunlight, it casts a rainbow of coloured shadows on the roof.

Gufram’s blooming cactus

Since it was unveiled more than half a century ago by designers Guido Drocco and Franco Mello, Guftam’s polyurethane cactus has been bringing grins to the faces of even the most serious collectors. The icon of Italian Radical Design has undergone many riffs over the years (who could forget Toiletpaper’s eyebrow-raising version?) but at Design Miami, the company revealed a flower-topped version, Fiori di Cactus, to mark a collab with the American real estate company Ray and designer Francesco Vezzoli. Appropriately, the new specimen marks the opening of a new residential project in Phoenix, Arizona, famed for its desert climate.

Bethan Laura Wood's pickle tower

Finding oneself in a pickle is a good thing, if it’s due to Bethan Laura Wood. The British designer teamed up with 1882 Ltd for the reveal of Pickle Tower, a 4.5ft-tall earthenware totem in the shape of – you guessed it – vinegary delights. It’s a continuation of Wood’s Disco Gourds series, an exploration she kicked off in 2022 with the company that riffs on 19th-century tromp l’oeil vessels with a hit of 1960s fantasy. In Miami, we were entranced by the delicate, hand-painted embellishments on these fancy cornichons. Dare we say the effect is a big dill?

A covetable trumeau at Achille Salvagni Atelier

One of the joys of attending a design fair is being able to view rarities of 20th-century design up close. Achille Salvagni Atelier, the international gallery, had plenty of treasures in its booth, but the standout was a stunning 1951 ‘Architettura’ trumeau designed by Gio Ponti and Piero Fornasetti. On the exterior, the lacquered cabinet appears as the façade of a palazzo. Open up its drawers and doors, however, and you’ll discover a series of rooms in addition to a mini paved piazza. The Barbie Dream House has nothing on this masterpiece, which is available to lucky collectors for $800,000.

Victoria Yakusha’s animals

Ukrainian-born designer Victoria Yakusha’s work centres around strength, resilience and the folk symbols of her native country. See: her hand-hammered wallhangings inspired by Ukraine’s painted houses unveiled earlier this year. At Design Miami, she’s revealed a new body of work, Land of Light II – a series of monumental animal sculptures dedicated to leading Ukrainian figures across fashion, art and science. Each of these friendly figures is made from ztista, a plaster-like material she’s developed from recycled paper, clay, flax and more.

Amber Cowan's glass fruits

Fairgoers will be drawn to Miami-based gallery Mindy Solomon’s booth with its vivid sunset-coloured walls. The work on display is similarly colourful and a favourite was that by Philadelphia artist Amber Cowan, whose bright glass cloches of piled-high antique fruits felt like a surreal bit of Victoriana with a very Miami twist.

Harry Nuriev’s mini cinema

British perfumer Clive Christian teamed up with Harry Nuriev on the design of a special installation called Perfume Transformism to promote its new global flagship, set to open in London. Visitors received a paper cinema ticket and were invited to peek into a mini, doll-house-sized cinema, complete with a tiny film and a diminutive audience. A detail not to be missed, though, is the recessed popcorn maker at the back of the booth – quite possibly the world’s most stylish upgrade of the classic cinema snack.

Lasvit’s splashy mirror

The Czech Republic has been producing some of the world’s best glass since the 13th century – and Czech company Lasvit used its booth at Design Miami as an opportunity to show off. For the theme 'Make. Believe.', the company tapped several glass artists to push the technical and artistic boundaries of the medium. A favourite was a glass mirror by designer Martin Gallo that appeared like an exploding water droplet.

Stephen Burks Man Made's homage to Kuba

The Italian company Alpi has been creating luxury wood veneers for three generations and has collaborated with everyone from Ettore Sottsass to Norman Foster along the way. This year, for Design Miami’s 2.0 section, Alpi tapped designers Malika Leiper and Stephen Burks of Stephen Burks Man Made (who recently teamed up on a seating collab in Senegal) to create a special series of furnishings for the company. The pair used the opportunity to reinterpret Kuba cloth – traditional woven textiles created in the Kuba Kingdom, today the Democratic Republic of the Congo – using an Alpi product that richly recreates the texture and colour of endangered tree species. The project, called the Lost Cloth, is both deeply researched and deeply beautiful.

The Future Perfect’s gigantic woodpecker sculpture

Walking into The Future Perfect’s freshly opened Villa Paula in Miami’s little Haiti is like stepping back to an earlier Miami, thanks to century-old architectural details, ornate tile floors and – as rumour has it – its resident (friendly) ghost, the wife of the Cuban Consul and the gallery’s namesake, Paula Milford. Which is why this recent visitor got a complete kick out of a 6ft-tall statue of a pileated woodpecker by local artist Autumn Casey. Called Castle, the delightful mixed-media piece sticks its beak through a doorway, peering inquisitively at visitors.

Misha Kahn’s rug at Friedman Benda

If you go to a design fair, you’re sure to encounter plenty of carpets, rugs and textiles. But you’ve never seen anything like Misha Kahn’s Swatching Space Time, now on view at Friedman Benda’s booth. For the 14ft-long piece, the Brooklyn-based designer mashed up digital drawing and IRL objects (apparently there’s a piece of chewing gum hidden somewhere in this piece) and, working with a South African textile studio, translated it into a sprawling rug. The gallery opted to hang it on a wall instead of laying it on the booth's floor – a move that allows you to get lost in the piece's trippy, post-digital swirls.

Karen Atta at Tuleste Factory

Tuleste Factory’s booth was a corner of pure joy with its candy-coloured display, called Keep It Curious, of furnishings and objects by Facture, Miranda Makaroff and Marina Abramović (which, alas, had shipping delays for the press day). But a favourite was a sprouting sculpture by Lebanese-American designer Karen Atta. Her sculpture, Scale Model Cloudbusting, is crafted from pale-green resin and resembles something like a dandelion seed or an alien spore from The Upside Down. It’s available in an edition of five, but is sure to be snapped up fast.

Alcova adventures

It’s always a treat to go to Alcova, the itinerant design showcase that got its start in Milan. Alcova landed in Miami two years ago and its third edition, at the historic Miami River Inn, did not disappoint. The works – with contributions from Objects of Common Interest, Patricia Urquiola and more – are presented in a series of quaint, pastel-washed timber houses, a nice change of scale from the rest of Art Week’s vacuous tents and convention centres. Beneath the shade of palm trees, it felt like a world away.

Delvis Unlimited’s Trompe l'oeil ceramic furnishings

You’d be forgiven for thinking that this group of furnishings in Delvis Unlimited’s booth were clad in painted ceramic tiles, but upon closer inspection, you’ll realise they’re made of individual cherrywood squares. They’re the handiwork of Rotterdam-based designer Laurids Gallée, and deliver a healthy dose of retro charm with a warm, painterly twist.

Rivian takes a break from trail running on the West Coast to hit the neon-streaked streets of Miami. For the first time, the electric SUV brand is making a splash at Miami Art Week, debuting a new exterior colour, Borealis, along with a limited-run Miami Edition of the R1S. There’s also an interactive installation and even a Rivian scent.

All this activity stems from the carmaker’s desire to become more of a cultural player. The Rivian Concept Experiences, as seen in New York and California, are now joined by a pop-up Rivian pavilion in Collins Park, which is holding panel discussions throughout the week.

In addition, Rivian’s increasingly sophisticated manufacturing set-up makes short-run editions more practical, allowing the company’s design team more latitude to explore new materials and colour combinations. The arrival of the California Dune Edition R1 earlier this year was a pointer to things to come.

The Rivian R1S Miami Edition is certainly unexpected, picking up the city’s reputation for pastels and parties with a zinging colour scheme conjured up as part of Rivian’s handcrafted Studio Originals series. Just ten of the R1S Quad Miami Edition will be made, so if you fancy a palette of teal and pink, right down to the 22-inch wheels, along with an interior influenced by ‘Ocean Coast and Driftwood’, you’ll need to move fast.

Equally vibrant but less Florida-facing is Rivian’s new exterior colour, Borealis. Described as a colour-shifting velvety purple, it was inspired by imagery taken by a group of outward bounds Rivian owners during a solar event in 2024. The lustrous finish pairs nicely with the new All-Terrain Burnished Bronze 20-inch wheel.

Finally, Rivian is using its Miami events to release its own scent. No word on commercial availability yet, but the smell is meant to convey ‘ruggedness and sophistication … inspired by diverse landscapes from alpine to canyon to forest’. You can’t get much more outdoorsy than that.

Rivian.com, @RivianOfficial

If you're walking around the Miami Design District this week during Design Miami 2025, you'll notice some curious zoomorphic forms: you might bump into a large-scale horse, or a lizard, a frog or even a mermaid, carved out of stone and playfully perched across the district's boulevards.

These are the work of New York-based designer and artist Katie Stout, and the result of this year's Design District creative commission in collaboration with the Design Miami Curatorial Lab.

Katie Stout's animal magic at Miami Design District

Dubbed ‘Gargantua’s Thumb’, the open-air installation features seating that will stay in the district into the new year, continuing an ongoing tradition of creative commissions to enliven the location through art and design.

'This project is about blurring the line between function and fantasy,' says Stout, known for her abstract, colourful compositions, and ceramic objects and furniture that boldly and playfully recreate the human body. 'By scaling up these sculpted creatures and amplifying their idiosyncrasies, I want to highlight the tension between intimacy and monumentality, precision and imperfection, celebrating the rawness of the handmade in a neighbourhood synonymous with design excellence.'

Stout crafted each sculpture's form out of clay in her studio, before working closely with fabricator ALTBLD to scan, enlarge, and CNC-cut the designs from different stones. The full family of seating objects includes a horse, a lizard, a frog, a dog, a whale, a trout, a pelican, a crab and a mermaid, all creatures inspired by Miami itself.

'The objects are inherently sculptural, but their scale and location invite viewers to perch, drape and play on them,' adds Stout. 'Interaction with these pieces feels natural, their playful quality creates an opening [for people] to participate in their existence rather than a barrier.

'Over the past decade, the Annual Design Commission has helped shape the Miami Design District into a global stage for bold, original ideas,' comments Craig Robins, president and CEO of DACRA, the company that, over the years, has developed the location into a vibrant district uniting art and commerce. 'We’re proud to mark this ten-year anniversary with Katie Stout, whose playful and provocative work challenges the boundaries of design. This milestone is a celebration of the creative voices that continue to transform our public spaces and define the cultural spirit of the Miami Design District.’

When Nina Johnson founded her eponymous gallery in 2007, she set out to serve Miami’s contemporary art community while engaging an international audience. Now, as Art Basel Miami Beach 2025 (running 5-7 December, with preview days on 3 and 4 December) gets started, the gallery is making its debut at the fair, presenting a selection of artists who have shaped its trajectory over the years. Works by Anna Betbeze, Rochelle Feinstein, Dara Friedman, Patrick Dean Hubbell, Emmett Moore, George Nelson Preston, Nathlie Provosty and Katie Stout will be shown at Booth D20.

Alongside its presence at the fair, the gallery is rolling out a vibrant programme on-site at its own base (in the Little Haiti neighbourhood): ‘Acid Bath House’, curated by Jarrett Earnest; ‘Star People’, a solo show by Dara Friedman; and ‘Neon Sun’, a suite of outdoor works by Emmett Moore. Johnson’s gallery may be a first-timer at Art Basel, but Miami is her native ground. ‘Having grown up here, it’s been extraordinary to see how much has changed over the years; the architecture, the museums and of course the art scene have all blossomed into world-class destinations,’ she tells Wallpaper*.

She also points to the city’s intimate entanglement with nature – its beauty and its volatility. ‘We feel it every day, whether through a stunning neon sunset or a torrential tropical downpour, we are always reminded of how small we are in the larger scope of nature.’ Here, she shares her essential Miami haunts for Art Basel week and beyond.

What to see and do in Miami, Nina Johnson’s tips

What to do

MOCA North Miami

‘Head to the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, for “Hiba Schahbaz: The Garden”, a sweeping 15-year survey of the Karachi-born, Brooklyn-based artist. Blending Indo-Persian miniature traditions with lush large-scale works, the exhibition transforms the idea of a paradise garden into an immersive exploration of nature, myth, and femininity.’

MOCA North Miami is located at 770 NE 125th St, North Miami, FL 33161, United States.

Nina Johnson

‘There is a brunch happening at my gallery on 6 December 2025, featuring German artist Dara Friedman with her daughters, Violet and Cherry Handforth, alongside Julia Trotta, founder of nonprofit organisation Artists and Mothers, which provides childcare grants to artist mothers.’

Nina Johnson is located at 6315 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33150, United States.

Pérez Art Museum Miami

‘The Pérez Art Museum Miami recently reimagined its permanent collection galleries to highlight new perspectives on Latin American, Caribbean, and African diasporic art. The refreshed presentation features work by Eamon Ore-Giron (acquired from us), among others, reflecting the museum’s ongoing dialogue between Miami’s cultural landscape and the global contemporary art scene.’

Pérez Art Museum Miami is located at 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, United States.

Zey Zey

‘Zey Zey is a locals’ favourite, an outdoor bar and music venue with a range of spaces and a mix of music depending on the night.′

Zey Zey is located at 353 NE 61st St, Miami, FL 33137, United States.

Where to eat and drink

Caracas Bakery

‘This is my go-to for breakfast on the Miami side of town; their cachitos (a traditional Venezuelan pastry with a savoury filling) are the perfect hangover cure!’

Caracas Bakery is located at 7283 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138, United States.

The Cleat

‘My favourite spot for a sunset cocktail that feels undeniably Miami. I always get a piña colada; it’s a great way to end the week after a busy Art Basel.′

The Cleat is located at No Name Harbour, 1200 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149, United States.

Sunny’s Steakhouse

‘Sunny’s is a Little River fixture with a menu built on simple, well-executed staples like handmade pastas and wood-fired steaks. The space has an easy warmth that keeps the energy relaxed, even on a busy night.’

Sunny’s Steakhouse is located at 7357 NW Miami Ct, Miami, FL 33150, United States.

Twist

‘A classic and, in my opinion, a last bastion of freedom in an increasingly oppressive state. The club often has no cover, and each room has a theme for different types of dancing; it’s been this way for decades. If you need to shake your bones well into the early morning, this is your place!’

Twist is located at 057 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States.

Where to shop

Éliou

‘Éliou is a homegrown gem! This local brand started small and has become a favourite of celebs the world over. We are lucky to have them just a few blocks from the gallery. If you need a gift (for yourself) or others, this is where to go!’

Éliou is located at 160 NW 73rd St, Miami, FL 33150, United States.

UmaLu Vintage

‘If you’re looking for those 1990s or early aughts gems, this is the spot for you.’

UmaLu Vintage is located at 7648 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138, United States.

Vara

‘For all your vintage needs, Vara is a highly curated, multi-brand boutique on the Miami River. My husband and I make it a must-stop before any big event; I recently picked up a gorgeous Mugler skirt suit and some Courrèges sunnies.’

Vara is located at 210 NW 8th Ave, Miami, FL 33128, United States.

If there’s one thing that Wallpaper* does well, it’s houses – spotlighting architecturally arresting gems from around the globe and spanning the spectrum of modern design. Our inboxes are overflowing with news of the world’s most boundary-pushing architectural projects, and we strive to bring you the very best.

To ensure you don’t miss a thing – and to showcase the scope of residential architecture today – we’ve launched a monthly series: The Architecture Edit. Each instalment will highlight our favourite houses of the month: buildings that demonstrate creative planning, innovative methods and, of course, aesthetic excellence.

A Williamsburg loft

Brooklyn studio Of Possible has completed 103 Grand Street, a loft-style residential building containing two duplexes and a triplex. Each unit is defined by triple-height spaces, tall windows and abundant daylight, evoking the neighbourhood’s industrial-conversion past. Architect Vincent Appel prioritised not just floor area but vertical volume, seeking to elevate spatial quality. Meanwhile, interiors feature tactile materials – timber, stone and linen-like textures – for an organic, minimalist feel. While the street façade adopts classic Brooklyn brick, the rear reveals playful stacked volumes clad in custom fluted terracotta, creating terraces and outdoor rooms that encourage neighbourly interaction.

A Czech studio

Päivä Architekti’s Studio Above the Golden Canyon extends an existing home in the Czech village of Luka pod Medníkem with a new timber structure woven into a steep, wooded site. The addition, which overlooks the Sázava River, includes an open studio with mezzanine, an en-suite bedroom and a utility zone, linked to the original house by a covered walkway that incorporates a mature oak tree. Constructed from steel, tanned larch cladding, engineered spruce interiors and concrete flooring, part of the studio cantilevers over the landscape, with large sliding glass panels dissolving the boundary between interior and nature.

An Australian sanctuary

Amongst the Eucalypts by Jason Gibney Design Workshop is a New South Wales holiday home that sits lightly on its site, following the natural contours to form outdoor rooms and sheltered courtyards. Despite its serene minimalism, the house is engineered for bushfire resilience – developed with bushfire specialists and local craftspeople. The design incorporates pivoting façade panels, retractable mesh shutters and durable materials that allow the building to shift from openness to full protection. Its concrete and fibre-cement shell creates an ‘armoured’ yet contemporary aesthetic, demonstrating that fire-resistant architecture can be elegant and sustainable.

A Miami retreat

A couple in Miami commissioned Brillhart Architecture to create a home immersed in a lush, jungle-like double lot in historic Morningside – an approach inspired by the neighbourhood’s garden origins and Florida’s tropical modernism. Rather than clearing the hundreds of mature trees on site, the architects mapped the vegetation and arranged a 4,100 sq ft residence as four pavilions connected by glass corridors and open walkways. Elevated 30 inches above ground, the home appears to float among strangler figs, live oaks and gumbo-limbo trees, while shou sugi ban siding and ipe shutters merge with the greenery, and calm interiors of pale stone and wood frame continuous garden views.

A mid-century icon

The Stahl House – an icon of mid-century modernism perched in the Hollywood Hills – was listed for sale for $25 million this month. Designed by Pierre Koenig and immortalised in Julius Shulman’s 1960 photograph, its glass-walled design and cinematic views helped define California modernism. Though modest at 2,200 sq ft with two bedrooms, it has remained largely unchanged since completion, and retains its original open-plan kitchen, unrenovated bathrooms and legendary pool. The home has remained in the Stahl family for 65 years and was designated a Historic-Cultural Monument in 1999; it requires thoughtful stewardship, and the owners hope to find a buyer who appreciates its architectural legacy.

A renovated winery

Near Lisbon, Quinta do Álamo transforms the ruins of an old winery into a minimalist retreat for two musicians. Atelier Matteo Arnone organised the plan around symmetry, driven by the need for two identical recording studios. The long, linear structure is carved with voids and internal patios that draw daylight deep inside, while gentle curves introduce softness. The ground floor houses a combined living room, kitchen and bedroom; above, the twin studios are embedded within the building’s thick perimeter walls. Patios and passages thread through the home toward the pool, resulting in a serene, balanced composition defined by rhythm and light.

An Indian farmhouse

On a two-acre site in Karnataka, Taliesyn Design & Architecture’s House by the Grove reimagines a farmhouse as a porous, nature-immersed dwelling. The 5,400 sq ft home uses verandas, open walkways and sliding glass partitions to merge the indoors and out, while materials such as hand-finished cement, steel, Sira stone and Kota stone root the architecture in its boulder-strewn landscape. A soaring great room with operable façades forms the social heart, flanked by long verandas beneath a pitched roof clad in Mangalore tiles. Bedrooms feature open-to-sky bathrooms, and a second floor – accessed via an external stair – contains a library, another en-suite bedroom and walkways overlooking the great hall.

A London rooftop

Studio Felicity Bell has transformed a Clerkenwell rooftop into a minimalist home with sweeping views across London. Built atop a former industrial building once inhabited by the owners, the addition is set back from the street façade to form a wraparound terrace and reduce visual impact. The new structure’s columns align with the original building’s piers, creating a grid that alternates between open, pergola-like bays and glazed panels. Inside, a generous open-plan living space surrounded by glass frames views of the City and BT Tower. The adaptable interior to shifts between working, living and hosting, with a stained-oak monolith conceals a studio, desk and guest bed.

Miami is the very definition of a hotspot – a torrid playground of sun-dappled beaches, vibrant culture and high-octane nightlife. The streets, lined with art deco façades and swaying palms, set the scene, while the dynamic neighbourhoods – from South Beach to Wynwood – pulse with creative energy.

The jam-packed social events calendar fuels Miami’s non-stop buzz. Art Basel Miami Beach, the annual contemporary art fair, is essentially the Super Bowl for lovers of art and a good party. Held the same week in early December, Design Miami brings even more aesthetic attention and excitement to the South Florida city.

After a day of design shopping or sunbathing and a night of gallery hopping, see-and-be-seen dinners, cocktails or clubbing, travellers need a place to crash (or keep the good times going). The best hotels in Miami are more than just a retreat; each one is distinctive, overflowing with artful touches and bursting with personality. From the opulent to minimalist to the avant-garde, the city’s line-up of design-centric stays offers an immersive lens through which to explore the scene, kick back by the pool and, yes, eventually retire to a really chic room.

The best hotels in Miami

1 Hotel South Beach

Exuding quiet luxury with its natural palette and organic blend of raw stone and reclaimed wood, 1 Hotel South Beach manages a hat-trick of sexy, serene and eco-conscious. A swish South Beach refuge that fuses style with substance and sustainability, its ethos and aesthetics are perfectly aligned. Tactile accents punctuate the 425 breezy coastal rooms and the Bamford Wellness Spa. The airy interiors are complemented by a chic rooftop pool and a 300ft cascading green exterior wall composed of 12,000 local plant species. The culinary offerings cement the hotel's eco commitment, with seasonally driven dishes served at the restaurants and bars.

1 Hotel South Beach is located at 2341 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

The Betsy Hotel

Creativity courses through The Betsy Hotel. Visionary architect L Murray Dixon’s singular example of Florida Georgian architecture sits proudly along Ocean Drive, commanding attention. As part of a 2016 expansion, Henry Hohauser’s adjacent art deco gem was brought into the fold. The two wings – now connected by the egg-shaped 'Betsy Orb' – each bear the name of their respective architect. Literature, art and music are woven into the residential design tapestry, curated by Diamante Pedersoli and Carmelina Santoro. Guests can expect walnut bookshelves filled with diverse tomes in the library, live jazz at the convivial Piano Bar, walls that double as galleries and Fortuny chandeliers adorning the lobby.

The Betsy Hotel is located at 1440 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Esmé Miami Beach

Esmé Miami Beach comprises a series of interconnected buildings on Española Way that were originally built by developer NBT Roney in the 1920s. Then known as the Spanish Village, it got its start as a bohemian artist's colony. The Spanish-Mediterranean revival complex received a modern makeover a few years back, emerging as a boutique hotel. The interiors by Jessica Schuster Design, in collaboration with Infinite Hospitality, layer jewel tones, rich mahogany furniture and gold in a nod to the property’s Jazz Age roots. There’s plenty to appreciate from a contemporary perspective – including a rooftop with chequered tiles, a heated saltwater pool and striped cabanas.

Esmé Miami Beach is located at 1438 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Faena Miami Beach

Whereas many of its contemporaries lean toward restrained minimalism, Faena Miami Beach shines that much brighter with its theatrical, unapologetically maximalist sensibility (a trademark of the portfolio, which now includes a flashy new sister property in New York City). With creative visionary and hotelier Alan Faena at the helm – and input from Baz Luhrmann and his award-winning costume designer wife Catherine Martin – it makes a cinematic statement with red velvet, enormous gold columns and vivid, large-scale murals. Damien Hirst’s 3m-tall gilded mammoth skeleton takes centre stage, but performance extends beyond the setting, with cabaret, live shows, and music in the theatre and bar.

Faena Miami Beach is located at 3201 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club

In an area filled with frivolity and flashing lights, Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, nestled between Miami Beach and Bal Harbour, maintains an air of reliable luxury. Originally envisioned by architect Russell Pancoast and opened in 1930, the social club hosted a roster of luminaries – from Frank Sinatra to Elizabeth Taylor. Though the storied destination underwent a modernist expansion by Richard Meier, this beachfront respite retains all of its historic charm. After waking up in one of its 77 tranquil rooms, suites and bungalows with interiors by Joseph Dirand, you can choose to lounge around palm-fringed patios, retreat to the historic clubhouse, float in one of three swimming pools, dine in Thomas Keller's Michelin-starred restaurant, or simply enjoy a vast swath of cabana-dotted coastline.

Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club is located at 9011 Collins Ave, Surfside, FL 33154

The Goodtime Hotel

Celebrating Miami’s art deco legacy, 1950s glamour and party-centric present, The Goodtime Hotel – from musician and fashion designer Pharrell Williams and Miami hospitality mogul David Grutman – is all about having a good time (and capturing Instagram content). Stretching an entire block of Washington Avenue in South Beach, the 266-key hotel, with interiors by Ken Fulk, pops with pastels, tropical motifs and playful touches. The 30,000 sq ft pool club is decked out with pink scalloped cabanas and hosts weekend parties fuelled by stiff drinks and DJ sets. The whimsy and retro cool extend to the compact yet cheerful rooms, featuring striped linens, rotary phones and whimsical custom curtains.

The Goodtime Hotel is located at 601 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Hotel Greystone

Like many of the art deco edifices in South Beach, Hotel Greystone was originally built in 1939 by Henry Hohauser. Architecture firm Shulman + Associates spearheaded the extensive restoration. Design firm Bowen Holly modelled the interiors to match the lively, colourful character of Miami, but pulled from a palette of soft hues to create an adults-only oasis that provides a break from the buzz of Collins Avenue. The lobby pairs cream tones and lush greenery. The 91 minimally minded rooms feel refreshingly calm, courtesy of a monochrome palette, wooden headboards and woven carpets. And did we mention the cocktail bar?

Hotel Greystone is located at 1920 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Mayfair House Hotel & Garden

Situated in Coconut Grove, Mayfair House Hotel & Garden provides a lush departure from flashy South Beach resorts. Originally designed by influential Miami architect Kenneth Treister in 1985, the property was refreshed by New York-based studio Goodrich, preserving its spirit with copper details, mosaics, stained glass and hand-carved wood. Each room is individually decorated, following a scheme of emerald tones and warm wood finishes that stretch into the restaurant, Mayfair Grill. Secluded, leafy and deeply creative, it’s a verdant oasis for dreamers who appreciate an urban refuge where nature stirs the soul and art is key.

Mayfair House Hotel & Garden is located at 3000 Florida Ave, Miami, FL 33133

The Miami Beach Edition

With its distinguishing modern façade and pristine, white interiors, The Miami Beach Edition channels Mid-Beach minimalism. Overhauled by Ian Schrager, the 1925-built urban resort seduces with its high ceilings, subtle tropical undertones and heritage details – Carrara marble floors and gold mosaic columns in the lobby, a plaster gesso chandelier and walnut millwork in the grand oval dining room. Plants bring life into the communal spaces, echoing the lush landscaped gardens. The 294 sleek rooms are warmed with oak panelling. There are two swimming pools, a large spa and a beach club, plus a basement entertainment zone with a bowling alley and – yes – an ice rink.

The Miami Beach Edition is located at 2901 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140

The Moore Miami

The Moore Miami is an aesthetically pleasing, art-centric, multi-use hangout in the Design District. Developed during Florida’s 1920s land boom by David P Davis, the former furniture showroom and warehouse now houses a ground-floor restaurant tucked beneath a pliant-web installation by Zaha Hadid that spans the four-storey interior arcade, a members’ club, a co-working space and a boutique hotel concept. Designed by Studio Collective in collaboration with Icrave, the 13 residential-style suites showcase furnishings from emerging brands such as Dallas-based Mous and Brazil’s Sossego. Surprises include a decorated UV-lit elevator, a speakeasy and a karaoke room featuring a custom mural by Japanese painter Ryota Unno.

The Moore Miami is located at 4040 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137

Mr C Miami – Coconut Grove

Mr C Miami – Coconut Grove is backed by an all-star talent roster. It’s owned by Ignazio and Maggio Cipriani (yes, the Venetian family behind the global restaurant and hotel empire). Renowned architecture firm Arquitectonica designed the building from the ground up. As for the interiors, they're a blend of European sophistication and South Florida flair. Martin Brudnizki reinterprets the typical nautical theme into yacht-ready style that flows through a sea of blue and white, midcentury lacquered wood, maritime fixtures and sailboat photographs. Bringing a taste of Italy to South Florida, the rooftop restaurant, Bellini, is an upscale spot for carpaccio, baked tagliolini and refreshing mandarin cocktails.

Mr C Miami – Coconut Grove is located at 2988 McFarlane Rd, Coconut Grove, FL 33133

The Setai Miami Beach

Snowbirds who appreciate polished design, high-thread-count sheets and a prime Collins Avenue location regularly return to The Setai, Miami Beach. Previously known as the Dempsey-Vanderbilt Hotel, the property – designed by renowned architect Henry Hohauser – was opened by heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey in 1937. Its sleek, East-meets-West second act, headed up by Jean-Michel Gathy, leans into the building’s art deco legacy while layering in rich Asian influences – from Shanghai brick flooring and Burmese teak to Chinese-mythology animal statues in the courtyard and Lee Jung-Woong’s bold Brush artwork series. The new Japanese restaurant continues the theme with a mosaic crane, a hand-painted gold-foiled glass mural and temple-inspired ceilings.

The Setai, Miami Beach is located at 2001 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

The Shelborne by Proper

The Shelborne, originally conceived by Igor Polevitzky and Thomas Triplett Russell, with a later expansion by Morris Lapidus, has sat at the corner of 18th Street and Collins Avenue since 1940. California-based Proper Hospitality and ADC Atelier gave the Ocean Drive stalwart $100-million refresh, infusing the art deco landmark with contemporary, sun-dappled warmth and sophistication. The highly anticipated revival captures the chic, palm-trees-swaying-in-the-breeze cadence of Miami (a welcome departure from neon lights). Emblematic midcentury elements, such as the historic façade, remain intact. The lounger-studded pool, earth-toned rooms, flora-filled bar and convivial social scene amp up the cool factor.

The Shelborne by Proper is located at 1801 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Soho Beach House Miami

A surprising mash-up of classic Miami zest and cross-pond sophistication, Soho Beach House Miami occupies a 1940s art deco tower on Collins Avenue. Wood-panelled and vintage tiled corridors lead to a slender lap pool flanked by high-gloss day beds. The ocean-view rooftop terrace supplies another spot for swimming and sipping. Antique furniture and retro accents add character to the 49 guest rooms, while walls are adorned with artworks by local and international talents alike. It’s a buzzy affair – from the trellis-lined perimeters courtyard at signature Italian restaurant Cecconi’s to the beach bar.

Soho Beach House Miami is located at 4385 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140

With 2025’s Frieze London and Art Basel Paris in the rearview mirror, it’s roll on Art Basel Miami Beach, opening with two VIP preview days from Wednesday 3 December and welcoming the public from Friday 5 December to Sunday. This year’s edition promises to be as eventful as ever, with more than 280 leading international galleries representing 43 countries and territories. The fair will also debut a new digital art platform in partnership with OpenSea, a sign of the momentum that new media has in the broader art world. Embracing the city’s vibrant community ties, Art Basel Miami Beach will see standout presentations of artists exploring Latin America and the Caribbean. As always, the glitzy event rounds out 2025 on a celebratory note as dealers, collectors and everyone in-between flock to Miami for the art, the beaches and, of course, the parties.

From a major display of works by Christo and Jeanne-Claude on view at chic hotel The Betsy to monumental, pink inflatable creatures by Philippe Katerine suspended over Lincoln Road, there’s no shortage of pop-ups around town. This year, the most anticipated special event is from American artist Alex Prager, who will transform a historic Miami Beach movie theatre into an immersive installation exploring the glamour and artifice of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Called the Mirage Factory, the mise-en-scène, complete with an artificial orange grove, is a collaboration between The Cultivist and Capital One that will be activated throughout the week with dinners from renowned chef Dave Beran, as well as special performances and public experiences. Fresh from Prager’s having photographed Billie Eilish for the cover of WSJ. Magazine, the event marks a significant moment in the artist’s illustrious career.

To help you get the most out of Art Basel Miami Beach 2025, here are the must-see booths. (And while you’re in town, check out Design Miami 2025 too.)

Lehmann Maupin

Speaking of Alex Prager, the artist’s work will also grace the halls of the Miami Beach Convention Center, in Lehmann Maupin’s booth. The gallery is showing new photographs that exude glamour and drama as impressive as that of the pop-up installation; among them is Hidden Hills (Echoes) (2025), in which a housekeeper weeps as a buff man in a bathing suit stands outside the window behind her, posing as if in a body-building contest. He, in turn, looks through another window at a woman in a red satin dress sitting in front of a house of cards precariously stacked on a table. Masks hanging along the wall allude to deceit, and an open flip phone sitting on the sill hints at a fraught message, perhaps an image of betrayal on the brink of being revealed.

Jessica Silverman

With Woody De Othello’s impressive solo show of anthropomorphic sculptures and tile wall pieces on view across town at the Pérez Art Museum Miami, it’s particularly apt for Jessica Silverman to bring the Miami-born artist’s work to the fair. Included in the gallery’s presentation is a large-scale patinated bronze sculpture called inner knowing (2025). While little is needed to entice visitors to see Othello’s museum show, the sculpture offers a glimpse of what to expect in his equally contemplative and expressive investigations of the transformative power of spirituality and both ritual and everyday objects. Though he often explores themes of heritage and place, Othello leaves his work open to the viewer’s interpretation, inviting deep personal connections with whatever emotions the audience brings.

Uffner & Liu

With a roster full of women artists, it’s no surprise that Uffner & Liu should impress with an equally female-forward booth. Visitors familiar with the gallery will see recognisable names like Anne Buckwalter, whose Pennsylvania Dutch-inspired domestic scenes are filled with salacious details, like fornicating figures, and Bernadette Despujols, who paints intimate, textured portraits often centred on the body and exploring resilience and the Latin American diaspora.

The gallery will also show recent and historic works by Reginald Madison, a self-taught painter and sculptor who just joined Uffner & Liu’s roster. Now in his mid-eighties, Madison began working at the height of the Black Arts Movement in the 1970s, drawing inspiration from jazz and his fellow artists to explore the Black experience.

Gemini G.E.L.

A titan of the world of printmaking, Los Angeles-based Gemini G.E.L. is returning to the fair with a rich selection of editions that it has made with leading artists over the decades. Included in the booth will be several prints and sculptures by Robert Rauschenberg to coincide with the global commemoration of what would have been the artist’s 100th birthday. Rauschenberg collaborated with Gemini for four decades, pushing the boundaries of printmaking with works like the Hoarfrost series (1974), on view, comprising ethereal textiles with images transferred from newspapers and other media.

Among the newest editions that Gemini is bringing will be a monumental lithograph by Toba Khedoori featuring meticulously rendered, ghostly tree branches. The elegant image spans three sheets of paper, a testament to the skill of the printmakers at Gemini’s studio, which will celebrate its own milestone next year, its 60th anniversary.

Tina Kim Gallery

Always staging elegant presentations is Tina Kim Gallery, which is bringing a selection of artists from its primarily international roster with a keen eye for Asian-American and Asian artists. A highlight of the booth will be an abstract textile piece by 95-year-old Lee ShinJa. Called Hill (1996), the stunning wool and copper piece spans over 7ft in length and features a vibrant, geometric landscape. While she’s been working since the 1950s, Lee has been on a renewed rise in recent years, with a current solo show at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive in California and a glowing profile in The New York Times.

Erin Cluley Gallery

To tease Nic Nicosia’s solo show that opens next year at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, Erin Cluley Gallery is presenting a selection of photographs from the artist’s celebrated Real Pictures series (1987-89) in the fair’s Survey Sector. Dedicated to under-recognised artists of historical importance, the section offers visitors a chance to broaden their art historical lens and see rarely exhibited artworks. Nicosia’s Real Pictures series is exemplary of such work. Inexplicable scenes, such as children setting fire to a tree, and a clown preparing to brawl with a passing driver, fill these quirky and unsettling photographs, showing moments of everyday suburban life in Dallas. While the works are crucial to the history of photography, they haven’t been exhibited together since a 1999 retrospective at the Contemporary Art Museum in Houston.

Voloshyn Gallery

Also exhibiting in the Survey Sector is the Miami and Kyiv-based Voloshyn Gallery, which is bringing a series of paintings and works on paper by Janet Sobel. The self-taught, Ukrainian-American artist, who died in 1968, depicted anxiety-filled images of battlefields, prisons, and refugees, revealing the trauma and tragedies of the Second World War and its aftermath. These scenes combine Sobel’s memories of her life in Ukraine with the complexities of post-war America, where she was living. Often intimate in scale, the artworks on view reveal Sobel grappling with the duality of the immigrant experience and the transformation of the US in the mid-20th century.

Marianne Boesky Gallery

Bringing a selection of strong works from artists on its roster is Marianne Boesky Gallery, a long-time exhibitor of the fair. Included in the gallery’s booth will be a new, expressionistic painting by French artist Dora Jeridi. Titled Imperfect (2025), the work contains a vibrant yellow abstract drape inspired by the runway shows of designer John Galliano. Taken by the textures and theatricality of these events, Jeridi reimagines the dramatic shapes of Galliano’s designs to comment on the luxury of high fashion and aristocracy. She juxtaposes this with mangled feet and hints of a distorted face in charcoal, alluding to something darker beneath the glamorous surface.

Ryan Lee Gallery and Catharine Clark Gallery

In the Meridians Sector, artists can flex their creative muscles with large-scale and immersive artworks that wouldn’t otherwise fit the format of an art fair. Co-presenting in the buzzworthy section are Ryan Lee Gallery and Catharine Clark Gallery, which are showcasing an installation resembling an oversized vanitas by Stephanie Syjuco. Born in Manila, Philippines, Syjuco is known for her research-based practice exploring authenticity as it relates to race, labour, and history.

Her project in the Medians Sector, Neutral Calibration Studies (Ornament + Crime) (2016), features an array of readymade objects alongside digital prints and laser-cut images, blurring the boundaries between what is real and what is artifice. Symbols related to psychoanalysis, the Philippines, and the Black Panthers are among the themes Syjuco introduces in the work. Together, they question the construct of historical narratives, including in relation to American colonisation in the Philippines.

Art Basel Miami takes place December 5 - 7, artbasel.com

For years, Theodore Stohner had dreamed of building a home of his own. ‘I grew up not far from Fallingwater, which, as a child, was a formative architectural experience,’ he recalls.

Later, while working for an investment management company in London near the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Bartlett School of Architecture, he would slip away at lunchtime to browse the bookshops and daydream about a future house. ‘I'd done quite a lot of thinking about what I wanted long before there was an actual project,’ he says.

The opportunity came years later, after Theodore and his future wife, Belinda—a professional pianist and violinist—settled together in Miami. In the city’s historic Morningside neighbourhood, he discovered a rare parcel: an undeveloped, jungle-like double lot where the owner had planted an amateur botanical garden. Because the city charges a steep fee for every tree removed, the site resisted typical development and the Stohners were able to purchase it well below the list price.

While living in London, Theodore had come across a Miami house by Brillhart Architecture, designed for the firm’s founder and principal, Jacob and Melissa Brillhart. Inspired by Florida's Cracker houses and the Tropical Modernism of Paul Rudolph and others, its quiet rigour and sensitivity to the climate immediately struck a chord with him. ‘Brillhart was the only choice,’ he says of the local practice. ‘Thankfully, they liked the project.’ The partnership was set in motion.

At first, Theodore imagined a single steel-and-glass structure at the centre of the site. But realizing that such a scheme would require removing dozens of trees, he and the architects shifted course. ‘We wanted to be immersed in the beauty of the land,’ says Theodore, ‘which, despite being in the middle of Miami, contains over 200 mature trees, 600 saplings and too many plants to count.’

From the outset, the architects approached the one-third-acre property like an archaeological site. ‘We mapped the mature trees first,’ says Jacob. ‘Then we asked: how can we weave the architecture through those spaces?’

The 4,100-square-foot house evolved as four pavilions—two one-storey, two two-storey—linked by glass passages and open-air walkways and threaded through the forest of strangler fig, Southern live oak and gumbo-limbo trees, with understory plantings of and bay cedar, Bahama coffee and beach creeper, among many others.

To build without disturbing the roots, the team used stem walls with narrow spread footings over which the steel structure cantilevers. Elevating the floor 30 inches above the ground plane ‘makes the building feel as if it’s floating,’ says Melissa. Shou sugi ban siding and ipe shutters form a termite- and weather-resistant rainscreen that recedes into the tropical canopy. Inside, gray cement-based plaster surfaces and pale stone and wood finishes offer a calm counterpoint, while floor-to-ceiling impact-resistant glass draws the garden in. ‘There’s a spectacular view from every room,’ says Belinda.

‘The architecture has to be subordinate to the landscape,’ Jacob adds. 'People have a longing to be connected to nature.’

Because Morningside is a designated historic district, the house needed to fit within its context. Yet, the neighbourhood is a patchwork of styles—Mediterranean Revival villas, Streamline Moderne cottages, midcentury homes. Rather than replicate any one, the architects drew from the spirit of the district itself, adapting elements from its eclectic fabric to shape a contemporary tropical architecture suited to modern life. And, as Melissa points out, ‘the district was originally conceived as a garden. We took that vision and distilled it into a single house—creating a central courtyard and carrying forward the legacy of green space that defines the neighbourhood.’

Echoes of the Sarasota School and postwar Tropical Modernism run throughout: deep porches, shaded transitions, narrow footprints, screened facades, and the blurring of interior and exterior space. The Brillharts’ own house served as a prototype. ‘With the Stohners, we could bring it to the next level,’ says Melissa, refining materials, adding green roofs and realizing details they couldn’t afford the first time around.

At the heart of the house is a salon—a living room and recital hall where Belinda’s grand piano shares space with selections from Theodore’s modern furniture collection, including designs by Donald Judd and Charlotte Perriand. It’s here that the couple welcomes musicians and friends, cooking together in the adjacent kitchen with its travertine countertops and black walnut millwork. Bedrooms open to small gardens, green roofs turn the upper views into private landscapes, and a lap pool is tucked away among the trees. ‘Over breakfast we watch cardinals, mockingbirds, butterflies, even iguanas,’ says Belinda. ‘It’s like living in a National Geographic magazine.’

Sustainably speaking, the house is rigorous: sliding glass doors allow cross-ventilation; solar panels are concealed atop the two-storey volumes; and green roofs and a permeable hardscape reduce heat gain and manage stormwater. Yet its environmental intelligence feels more intuitive than didactic. The Brillharts often speak of the ‘chemistry of space’—their shorthand for the sensory ingredients that make architecture resonate. 'Light, structure, materials, climate, history,’ says Jacob. ‘If you handle those well, the building will elicit an emotional response.’

With this home, that response reveals itself in the curiosity it stirs in the surrounding nature, the connection it fosters among friends, and an overall meditative calm.

What began as a wild garden has become a home that breathes with the landscape. In a city often driven by spectacle, the Morningside Residence stands as an exercise in restraint—a reminder that architecture doesn’t need to dominate nature to be memorable, only to listen to what’s already there.

When winter begins to bite in the northern hemisphere, there are worse places to be than Miami. Each year, during the first week of December, the worlds of art and design converge in the South Florida city for a cultural bonanza along the beach and amongst the palm trees.

What’s now referred to as Miami Art Week has grown around Art Basel Miami Beach –the vast contemporary art fair held at the Miami Beach Convention Center since 2002 – and its sister exhibition, Design Miami, which launched in 2005 and is now a highlight of the collectible design calendar. This showcase of avant-garde work was co-founded by developer and collector Craig Robins and designer Ambra Medda, and has since taken place annually and concurrently with the art fair.

Over the years, more fairs and events have joined the fray, including Untitled Art, which occupies a huge tent erected on the beach; NADA; and Art Miami and Context, all of which take place across Biscayne Bay in Downtown Miami. Add to that a wide array of independent shows, museum exhibitions, brand activations, temporary installations, pop-up retail spaces and, of course, countless parties hosted across Miami and Miami Beach.

While the wider Miami Art Week has become increasingly commercial over the past decade, Design Miami remains a thoughtfully curated showcase of high-quality collectible furniture, objects and functional artworks. And although the event does invite brands to participate, these typically involve collaborations with international designers who create installations that range from ethereal to highly technical – and everything in between.

This year, Design Miami is open to ticket-holders from 3–7 December, with an invite-only preview day on 2 December. To mark the culmination of the fair’s milestone 20th anniversary year, renowned American design curator Glenn Adamson is using the theme ‘Make. Believe.’ to look both back and forward at the world of collectible design and guide the direction of the event – which includes a special-projects programme of satellite installations and partner activations.

What is Design Miami?

Design Miami showcases some of the most innovative, artful and avant-garde collectible design by global talents, presented by galleries from the US and around the world. Over 70 exhibitors – including more than 25 debuts – will participate in the 2025 edition, with notable returning galleries including the Future Perfect, Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Friedman Benda, David Gill Gallery, Superhouse and many more.

Alongside the 30 large gallery booths, a series of ‘Curios’ spotlights smaller or emerging galleries and their designers, providing a platform for new talent, while several brand-sponsored installations activate the venue. In recent years, the show has expanded its international remit, with new editions in Seoul (September) and Paris (October).

Where is Design Miami?

Design Miami is located in Miami Beach’s famed South Beach neighbourhood, close to the Art Deco district of architectural gems from the 1920s and 30s, and just a couple of blocks from the beachfront. The event takes place in a large temporary structure set up in Pride Park, right beside the Miami Beach Convention Center in which Art Basel is held, making it easy to hop between the two.

Visitors arriving by car are dropped off at Convention Center Drive and 19th Street, but since traffic is notoriously gnarly during this week – even by Miami standards – consider arriving on foot from the nearby hotels on Collins Avenue.

Top things to see during Design Miami 2025

Gargantua Thumb by Katie Stout

For its 10th annual design commission, the Miami Design District has tapped artist Katie Stout to create a playful public artwork that visitors can interact with – and, in this case, sit on. Her series of large-scale sculptural benches, named Gargantua Thumb, will be installed throughout the pedestrian alleys that criss-cross the popular retail destination. The fantastical pieces began as miniature clay animals that Stout hand-sculpted with intentional irregularities, before they were digitally scanned, enlarged and milled from durable outdoor-ready materials. The benches will remain on view through spring 2026.

Perfume Transformism by Clive Christian Perfume and Crosby Studios

Designer Harry Nuriev’s Crosby Studios is partnering with fragrance house Clive Christian Perfume to create an immersive, monochromatic installation that interprets scent as a spatial experience. Visitors will be invited into the sensory environment to imagine what a scent might look like, free from literal association, with the journey beginning in a miniature cinema. The installation is intended to offer a first glimpse into the brand’s new creative direction ahead of its global flagship opening in London.

Design Miami 2.0 curated by Glenn Adamson

To mark the fair’s 20th edition, curator Glenn Adamson has selected eight ‘compelling voices in design’ to present works that align with his theme, ‘Make. Believe.’ Each designer will unveil a capsule collection that showcases their imaginative practices and underlines the continued importance of experimentation in contemporary design. Highlights include Steven Young Lee’s surreal ceramic forms; Stephen Burks Man Made’s translation of Kuba textiles into wooden works; and Jack Craig’s ‘moulded carpet’ sculptures.

Fonderia Fendi by Conie Vallese

Argentine designer Conie Vallese is celebrating fashion house Fendi’s 100th anniversary with a show exploring ‘feminine strength’ through Italian craft. Her collaborations with five ateliers specialising in bronze, ceramic, glass, carpet and leather have resulted in one-of-a-kind Fendi pieces in a Roman palette of rosy bronze, and shades of the brand’s signature sorbetto yellow and pale blue. The designs will be presented in a reinterpretation of a Roman saletto, or living room, alongside a limited-edition Fendi Peekaboo bag designed by Vallese.

Memories of the Future by Achille Salvagni Atelier

Amongst this year’s Design Miami debuts is Achille Salvagni Atelier, a collectible design gallery and studio with locations in Rome, London and New York. Its 'Memories of the Future' installation will pair Italian midcentury works by masters such as Gio Ponti and Renzo Zavanella with contrasting contemporary pieces by designer Achille Salvagni. Housed within a futuristic setting formed by metallic walls and a deep orange carpet, highlights include a 1951 cabinet marking the first collaboration between Ponti and Piero Fornasetti, as well as a sculptural Zavanella armchair.

Tucked inconspicuously, with quiet splendour amid lush vegetation in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood, we find Villa Paula, the latest outpost of the contemporary design gallery The Future Perfect.

‘We love Miami – its beautiful culture drew us to the city, and we found this incredible space, which made the decision to open in Miami a no-brainer,’ says Future Perfect founder David Alhadeff.

The villa was originally built by architect Cayetano Freira for the Cuban government in 1926 to serve as a consulate and private residence for the Consul Domingo Milord and his wife, Paula Milord, the villa’s namesake. Paula, a renowned opera singer, would entertain social gatherings of artists, musicians and intellectuals, imprinting century deep stories of diplomacy and artistic exchange on the landmark property.

This energy and creative legacy are carried through by Alhadeff and embodied by The Future Perfect’s unique locations, which include a New York townhouse, renovated by Sir David Chipperfield; a Los Angeles manse, the former home of Hollywood legend Samuel Goldwyn; and a minimal San Francisco gallery.

‘Our brand is connected to these architectural locations. I love lore, I love history. If the history is the narrative of the architecture, then that’s great. We represent unique and incredible works, so we want to be in spaces that are equally incredible,’ says Alhadeff.

The interiors in Villa Paula’s main building were left nearly intact – a picture in time. As you step out of the sweltering heat and into the comforting warmth of its preserved stained-glass windows, vibrant tile work, white stately columns, and expansive wood doors, you are reminded of old Havana via Miami. The architectural elements, brought in by boat from Cuba, still carry their delicate imperfections with an eerie yet beautiful story of grandeur.

Keeping with the villa’s narrative, The Future Perfect has meticulously curated the space to feel as if each piece had always belonged there. You find Ian Colling’s stone side tables elegantly dispersed throughout the long central corridor as if excavated from the brown tiled earth.

The adjacent rooms are jewel box vignettes with works by renowned designers Lindsey Adelman, Piet Hein Eek, Vikram Goyal, Jason Koharik, Faye Toogood, Christophe Delcourt, Chris Wolston, Volker Haug and Eric Roinestad, to name a few. Chen Chen & Kai Williams’ Geo Transition mirror could have easily absorbed the fragments of broken floor tiles torn loose by hurricane winds.

There are also a handful of pieces by local and Latin American artists – Florida-based Autumn Casey’s illuminated sculptures, Venezuelan-born Reinaldo Sanguino’s functional ceramics. En route to a separate outdoor pavilion stands a sculpture of the nymph Dafne, by Antonio Aricò, poised in time as if she also arrived in that boat 100 years ago with tales to tell.

The programming will evolve to reflect the gallery’s locale, emphasizes Alhadeff. ‘For our Miami rotation right now, we have one or two pieces for each artist, a taste of what we do,’ he says. ‘Each location has informed us programmatically. Miami is a gateway to Latin America and will inform us of those artists too. We’ll develop a relationship and from there it will inform us – and that’s exciting!’

The villa will be activated during Art Basel Design/Miami through special events and the unveiling of a new gallery extension. The horse’s stable has been converted into a dark and seductive metal-clad space – where you might find yourself at 4 am after the after-party. Another a red-curtained room will open to the public in the coming weeks. ‘The space is such a jaw-dropper,’ Alhadeff says.

It’s all in service of a sense of discovery uniting The Future Perfect’s US satellites: that ‘unexpected feeling when you walk in,’ Alhadeff adds.

This is the latest instalment of The Inside Story, Wallpaper’s series spotlighting intriguing, innovative and industry-leading interior design.

While summer may be fading into a distant dream in the UK, in Miami, the sun sticks around year-round. Olga Malyev – co-founder of interior design studio Malyev Schafer and owner of this Miami Beach apartment – has embraced that endless-summer spirit.

Blending midcentury modern design with contemporary accents and a nod to Miami’s Art Deco heritage, Malyev has created a space that’s light, bright and infused with the life-loving levity that defines the city. Every detail seems touched by the optimism of endless sunshine.

The apartment sits in the sought-after South of Fifth neighbourhood, a visual feast where modern architecture intersects with the pastel-toned charm of the 1930s and 1940s. Streamlined facades, rounded corners and porthole windows are all wrapped in a palette of sea foam, blush and sand.

The apartment itself is housed in a boutique mid-rise from the early 2000s which, nonetheless, gestures to Art Deco through details like circular openings and curved forms. When Malyev acquired the space, it had barely been touched since it was built, prompting a full gut renovation. Stripping it down to its shell (preserving only the original windows), she rebuilt the apartment over a year-and-a-half-long process.

The design is a playground of colour and texture. From midnight blues and deep burgundies to soft whites and beiges, the palette shifts between bold and serene. Materials, equally, range from glossy lacquer to richly veined stone, exotic wood, glazed ceramics and patterned mosaics. The primary bedroom is enveloped in a sumptuous blue with a lacquer-like finish – a choice Malyev’s contractor initially questioned, but which ultimately became one of the standout features of the apartment.

The home is also a treasure trove of beautiful, covetable furnishings and art. Among the highlights: a Saarinen Tulip chair and table, an Andy Warhol print in the entry, 1950s Stilnovo wall lamps, an Alex Katz portrait in the living room, and a 1970s Sciolari chandelier in the dining area.

In the primary bedroom, a bed upholstered in camel mohair sits next to a custom dresser inspired by French architect and design Charlotte Perriand, paired with Jacques Moniquet brass sconces and a Brutalist Laurel lamp from the 1970s. The dressing room features Josef Albers-inspired rugs, while the children’s room includes bespoke beds with a checkered Tibor fabric headboard and a vintage Tucroma chair at a custom corner desk. The mood of the apartment shifts throughout the day thanks to a mix of natural light, bespoke lighting and vintage fixtures.

For Malyev and her family, this is a joyful second home – a love letter to Miami. For the rest of us, it’s a masterclass in how design can be both playful and profound.

Just what is it about the Miami waterfront that lures brands to make real estate investments? In addition to residential and condo towers associated with high-end hotel chains (Mandarin Oriental, Cipriani, The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Aman and St. Regis), you’ll also find interior and fashion brands in on the action. These include Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Armani/Casa and even Baccarat (‘where life forever sparkles’).

So far, so predictable – hoteliers and interiors firms can certainly claim to know a thing or two about creating luxurious places to live. But what about the car makers? First to make a foray was Porsche, whose Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles Beach revealed a hitherto untapped market for car enthusiasts who wished to cohabit with their collections, regardless of what floor level they lived on.

Next up came the Aston Martin Residences, which did away with the integral car lift but doubled down on the parity between in-car luxury and materials and the detail design and furnishings of the apartments in a 66-storey structure at 300 Biscayne Boulevard Way.

Still in the works are the Bentley Residences at 18401 Collins Avenue and the Mercedes-Benz Places development in Brickell (designed in collaboration with SHoP Architects). It’s worth noting that Miami isn’t the be-all and end-all of branded architecture. Mercedes is also building in Dubai (naturally), where you’ll also find residential developments by Lamborghini and Pininfarina. Meanwhile, Porsche Design opened a hotel tower in Stuttgart in 2023 and is mooting a tower in Bangkok.

Vroom with a view: Miami residences from Pagani Automobili

The latest premium automotive brand to take this robust approach to brand extension is Pagani Automobili, the Italian hypercar maker for extreme extroverts. Announcing a new site in Miami, the company is ensuring that the proposed Pagani Residences are pitched at those who love their cars just as much as their living quarters.

At this point, we should make a distinction between those who want to treat their cars like cars and those who wish to bring their four-wheeled friends into the bosom of their family. Both the Porsche and Bentley projects in Miami include something called the ‘Dezervator’, a sophisticated car elevator created by the developer, Dezer. Aston and Mercedes didn’t sign up for the same approach and nor, it seems, has Pagani.

Instead, the newest tower proposal for the Miami skyline moots a ‘luxury garage’, described as ‘not just a place to park, but a true architectural gallery designed for those who appreciate high-performance vehicles’. The tower was overseen by Revuelta Architecture International, but the garage space was by shaped by Horacio Pagani himself.

The former Lamborghini engineer, who set up his eponymous company in 1992, has shaped his dream workshop space behind a façade of perforated aluminium. Inside there’s enough space for each apartment to have a modest collection of cars, along with facilities for (outside) engineers to come and fettle the machines.

Residences range from 2,000 to 6,900 sq ft for the penthouses, and there’s an expansive residents’ lounge and terrace on the 30th floor, above a pool and gym. The structure is located on Harbor Island, one of the three islands that make up the city of North Bay Village in Biscayne Bay between Miami and Miami Beach.

Given that Pagani makes barely 50 cars a year, the real estate venture is a sizeable brand extension, one that highlights the ever-closer connection between Miami’s long-established developer community and some of the world’s biggest luxury brands.

More apocalyptically minded ironists could envisage a distant future where these towering monuments to the combustion engine rise up above a flooded city. For potential buyers, however, the Magic City still offers the promise of a gilded residential escape – now with added badge kudos.

Pagani Residences, from $3.7million, PaganiResidences.com, Pagani.com, @PaganiAutomobili

Fans of Formula 1 will have watched McLaren’s Oscar Piastri storm to victory in Miami over the weekend (2-4 May 2025) after taking the lead and never really being challenged again.

It was my first Grand Prix, and nothing could have prepared me for witnessing the raw power of the cars, which reach around 233mph. They appear as little more than flashes of colour as they whizz past, producing an almighty roar (I would recommend earplugs).

My F1 experience turned out to be one of the most memorable races in recent history, and not just because of Piastri’s clinical performance. Traditionally, drivers take a pre-race lap in a flatbed truck to wave at fans; in Miami, the truck was replaced by life-sized F1 cars made entirely out of Lego.

About four million bricks were used in the construction of ten fully functional cars (one for each team, with each car accommodating two drivers). Each weighs 1,500kg, just under twice as much as the real thing. They are perfect replicas of their F1 counterparts, each with their own colours, liveries and shapes (despite the fact that teams are notoriously secretive about their designs, they agreed to provide details for the sake of accuracy).

Each car had a team of 26 designers, engineers and builders working on it for a total of 2,000 hours. ‘It’s definitely a record for us, because it would usually take eight months to do one car,’ says Jonathan Jurion, senior designer at Lego.

The process of making the cars started with modelling software, he adds, before plans were passed to Lego’s builders in its factory in Kladno, Czech Republic, where many of the brand’s big builds, such as the ones featured in its theme parks, are created.

Because of the size of the cars (around 30 times bigger than the F1 Speed Champions toy on which they are based), they were not built in quite the same way as one might do it at home, but ‘layer by layer, like a house’, says Jurion. They were also constructed in sections – the cockpit, engine cover, front wing, rear structure and the halo – and then put together.

‘We glue the bricks together,’ the designer adds. ‘We don't want to lose any on the track!’ These proved to be famous last words as, during the driver’s parade, Lewis Hamilton’s car received a knock from Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, sending Lego flying.

It’s one thing to build an F1 car out of Lego, but to make it strong enough to drive at 20km per hour is quite another. ‘Our team of technical engineers needed to make sure that we could actually build these, because it's not an easy task,’ says Jurion. Each car contains a chassis, electric drivetrain, hydraulic brakes and a power steering system, as well as authentic Pirelli tires – these are the only non-Lego bits.

The Miami Grand Prix is like everything in the city: scaled up. Away from the high-performance vehicles of the track, Miami is full of hulking Suburbans and Tesla Cybertrucks. The buildings are huge and shiny, often with an art deco undertone – the city has plenty of architecture from this period, having undergone rapid development during the 1920s and 30s. You can see some of the best of it on Ocean Drive, a boulevard of kitschy buildings, vintage cars and neon-clad bars.

Elsewhere, the Wynwood district is full of graffiti murals and up-and-coming galleries, while Miami Design District is home to sleek design stores and fashion boutiques.

Little Havana is another highlight – the historic home of Miami’s Cuban population, which emigrated here after the Cuban Revolution of 1959. Calle Ochos is lined with cigar shops and traditional food spots (Old's Havana Cuban Bar & Cocina, a yellow-walled restaurant with glasses of mint and sugar lined up for quick distribution of mojitos, is a must). I also dined at Delilah while in Miami, which, with its pink velvet- and palm tree-filled interior (plus the fact that arguably the most famous couple in the world right now – Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner – were said to be in the vicinity), couldn’t have been a more different experience.

From the moment I was picked up from the airport by an Uber driver dressed like Don Johnson in Miami Vice, I knew that I was going to like the city. The breathless enthusiasm of the F1 confirmed it, and seeing Hamilton crash a Lego car was the icing on the cake.

Step inside Five Park Miami Beach, a brand new development on the shores of the Sunshine State.

Five Park Miami Beach is an elliptical tower by Arquitectonica set within a three-acre park. A pedestrian bridge with translucent panels designed by French artist Daniel Buren to connect the development to the main drag is currently under construction.

Five Park’s interior was conceptualised by Anda Andrei, known for her work on the Delano in Miami and Gramercy Park Hotel in New York; she landed on an overall design direction which blends Miami Beach glamour with comfort and character.

New York firm Gabellini Sheppard designed the spaces, which are quintessentially modern – clean, bright and streamlined – with colour splashes and blocks that nod to Five Park’s tropical provenance. The clean lines of the development meet more classical elements such as oak cabinets, marble countertops, Italian vanities, chandeliers and a curation of vintage furniture. Five Park is also home to residences dressed by RH, B&B Italia, Artefacto and Addison House.

One of two lobbies features silver travertine floors, fluted archways and an 18-ft domed ceiling. The reception desk is bronze and the walls wrapped in silver leaf, warmed by a hand-tufted rug, a light fixture made with hand-blown glass, and vintage pieces including a mid-century seashell lamp by Rougier and sculptural rattan armchairs designed by Giovanni Travasa in 1965.

In keeping with the highly-serviced culture of Miami Beach, Five Park is full to the rafters with amenities, and these spaces pack a punch. The Canopy Club, the development’s 12,600-sq-ft members-only social club, has gold and blue accents and lots of plants. It is home to a curved sofa, a sunburst hand-tufted rug, birch coffee tables made of aquamarine resin and a mahogany and blue quartz dining table by Kelly Behun, all of which threaten to steal the show from the 26th-floor views.

The gem-like Plum Bar, Peach Dining and Mint Lounge are named for their hand-applied colour plaster wall finishes, and are inspired by Moroccan hurricane lamps. Peach Dining is home to a marble dining table, a cloud chandelier by Apparatus Studio and a cabinet emblazoned with a digitally-printed floral pattern by Driade Lab. Plum Bar is a jewel box space where bottles are kept in a glowing niche and the banquets and armchairs are clad in sumptuous velvet. The Mint Lounge is also velvet-clad, this time in fresh green, and also boasts gorgeous geometric alabaster block wall lamps designed by Pierre Chareau in 1923. The cinema is also worth a mention, kitted out with Roche Bobois Mah Jong seating.

Meanwhile, a sun deck yields terraces, a hot tub and a vanishing-edge pool – this is Miami, after all.

fivepark.com

In October 2024, the Museum of Sex, which has been a cult institution in New York for 22 years, opened a second home in Miami (which Wallpaper* previewed in 2022). The 32,000 sq ft converted warehouse was designed by architecture firm Snøhetta, and has become a beacon of open discourse around sexuality, encouraging public awareness, discourse and engagement.

Residing in Miami’s Allapattah district – a stone’s throw from the Miami Design District, one of the most vibrant arts communities in the US – the museum is home to three exhibition galleries housing more than 20,000 artefacts and artworks that make up its permanent collection. Snøhetta, it has said, wanted to create spaces that bring people together, imbued with the levity and fun that characterises the Museum of Sex.

The New York Museum of Sex was founded in 2002, with its flagship location designed by SHoP Architects. It has since launched over 40 exhibitions committed to presenting and celebrating different shades of human sexuality (Dutch studio Droog set up camp there for a 2015 show; controversial Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki featured in 2018).

The executive director and founder of the Museum of Sex, Daniel Gluck, said of the Miami opening: ‘We are excited to reach this major milestone in our history and to bring our vision to the vibrant cultural landscape of Miami. Our inaugural programming perfectly embodies our ambitions to be a thought-provoking forum around sex and sexuality, and to bring a unique, beloved and critically acclaimed cultural offering to Miami.

The inaugural exhibition spotlights Hajime Sorayama, known for his detailed portrayals of feminine robots. The Japanese artist’s first solo show in the US explores the eroticism of human bodies via his signature hyperrealist aesthetic, featuring four large-scale ‘sexy robot’ sculptures.

The Miami outpost is also staging a retrospective of the design and marketing of sexual health products from the 1920s to today. ‘Modern Sex: 100 Years of Design and Decency’ considers the impact of historical sexual health campaigns, from the boom in sexual expression of the ‘roaring twenties’ to the restrictive impact of the Second World War and the sexual counterculture of the 1960s and 70s. It does this via more than 500 artefacts, historical media and medical objects that demonstrate how discourse, packaging and advertising on this topic have been received and controlled throughout history.

Also showing at the Miami Museum of Sex: a scaled-up version of an exhibition that has entertained New York visitors since 2019, ‘Super Funland: Journey into the Erotic Carnival’. This installation, inspired by the eroticism of the carnival (which dates back to the Roman Bacchanal), presents an immersive ‘fairground’ containing 20 sex-themed amusements and games. The Miami iteration of this permanent exhibit also features an otherworldly triptych by Sorayama, measuring 14ft high.

Snøhetta, which has worked on international projects such as the Oslo Opera House, North Carolina State University and the Groupe Le Monde headquarters in France, has found in the Miami Museum of Sex another boundary-pushing project on which to stamp its mark.

museumofsex.com

Introducing Zaha Hadid Architects’ latest project: a 37-home, ultra-luxury condo on Collins Avenue in Surfside, Miami. Each of The Delmore’s 12 floors will host no more than four residences, which average more than 7,000 sq ft in size, with penthouses starting at 10,000 sq ft. This is ZHA’s second residential project in the Miami area, and one of the firm’s select few in the US.

ZHA is working on The Delmore’s façade, which is sculptural and sinuous, choosing curves and crescents over corners – all hallmarks of Hadid’s style. It will be made from glass fibre reinforced concrete, which will mimic the sand of the beachfront. To replicate its hue and texture, ZHA architects actually collected handfuls from the nearby dunes.

The condo has a north and south wing separated by a flow-through canyon with sky views, leading from the porte-cochère to the glass-roofed lobby and out to the meditation garden (more on this later).

Apartments will have wraparound terraces, which will be staggered floor by floor to create a stepped configuration. The Delmore’s exterior will also feature a series of shell-shaped fins, ensuring privacy between residences while simultaneously providing shade.

Then, the pièce de résistance: a 75 ft swimming pool, made of see-though acrylic, is suspended 125 ft in the air across the canyon. Visible from Collins Avenue, the pool makes an impressive statement, and is the first of its kind in Miami.

'Our team was tasked with conceptualising an oceanfront development that would redefine the standard for bespoke residential in a region that has earned global acclaim for its luxury offerings,' said Chris Lepine, Director of ZHA. 'We believe that The Delmore exceeds that standard.'

Interiors will be executed by Singaporean firm Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), known for its work on The OWO Residences by Raffles in London. Its expertise in dressing the finest hospitality projects is felt in the fact that each residence at The Delmore will boast entertaining and chef’s kitchens.

With completion anticipated in 2029, The Delmore will sit within Miami’s ‘Billionaire’s Triangle’, the area nestled between Indian Creek, Surfside and Bal Harbour, known for its concentration of ultra-high-net-worth individuals. The development of the area suggests that Miami is no longer only looked to for holiday homes; people are now seeking permanent, year-round homes in the city. Prices for four- to five-bedroom, fully-finished residences at The Delmore will start at $15 million, making this the most expensive condo in Miami.

The Delmore will possess all of the services and amenities that one would expect of such a project – more than 55,000 sq ft of them. There’s a 20,000 sq ft meditation garden containing cascading pools, open-air yoga spaces, a fire pit, and botanical gardens. Elsewhere, a private restaurant boasts a Michelin-starred menu.

A fitness center will feature yoga, reformer Pilates and stretching studios, while an indoor lap pool and Jacuzzi will complement the rooftop pool. Finally, a wellness spa will offer personalised programmes, as well as access to a steam room, sauna, relaxation lounge, and cold and hot plunge pools. Finally, residents of The Delmore have access to 200 ft of sandy beachfront.

The development is part of a wider investment drive from Dubai-based developer DAMAC International, which has announced that it will put $20 billion into the buildout of data centres across the American Sunbelt and Midwest. As interest and investment flows to this part of the States, we may see more Pritzker prize-winning architects such as ZHA fashioning record-breaking projects. Watch this space.

Today, Apple welcomes its first customers to Apple Miami Worldcenter, the company’s first mass-timber store.

Located in the downtown district of Miami, the store is interesting for its take on biophilic design. It’s made with regionally-sourced timber and other low-carbon materials; surfaces are soft and undulating, and light and shadow play off the curved perimeter roof. Interiors feel sculptural and dynamic, simultaneously nodding to the Art Deco architecture of the city.

Occupying a standalone pavilion, the structure covers a large central space accessed from glazed entrances. This is filled with Apple's signature tables on a floor made of biomass-based terrazzo, flanked by an oak wall system which incorporates service areas such as a pick-up area, a Genius Bar and a demonstration space for VR headsets.

Apple retail design lead BJ Siegel has said that, considering its size and the fact that it is free-standing, it was decided that locally-sourced materials should be used in the construction of the Apple Miami World Center. The store also runs on 100 percent renewable energy.

Various pains have been taken to connect the interior with surrounding green spaces. Upon entry, customers are greeted with flora inspired by Miami’s Latin American influence. Rather than putting plants in planters, the Apple Miami Worldcenter is set within a densely-planted public space. The roof, which it calls a ‘raised garden’, is also covered in greenery, which is visible from the surrounding towers. Although the building echoes the precise, geometric architecture of other Apple Stores, it is softened by organic shapes, warm tones and an abundance of plant life.

Siegel explained that biophilic design has been part of Apple's design principles for some time now – the company’s recently-launched store in Abu Dhabi, for example, is surrounded by a stepped waterfall and home to rows of full-height trees. That said, this has usually been the extent of it: large glass storefronts and interior planting. ‘The climate in Miami offered a different opportunity, allowing us to embrace the lush landscape and gardens of South Florida to create a densely vegetated urban public space,’ said Siegel.

Sometimes, it’s the most unexpected combinations that yield the most remarkable results. A case in point: Italian fashion house Fendi’s enduring connection with Miami. For the first major fashion brand to champion the city’s art and design scene – Fendi has had a committed presence at Design Miami since 2008, and was one of the first luxury brands to set up shop in the city’s Design District – it’s a bond that goes way back. Now, showcasing just how perfectly the city’s fluorescent energy complements the maison's deep Roman roots, Fendi’s Miami flagship boutique reopens in the Design District after an extensive renovation and major expansion.

Inside Fendi's Miami flagship store

At more than double its original size – now 6,700-plus sq ft – the store sits at 150 NE 40th Street and is the brand’s second-largest US store after New York. Featuring four Roman-inspired arches and custom-made glass bricks evoking ocean waves, the effect – particularly after dusk – is dramatic. An external gallery, lined with pastel-pink tiles featuring the FF logo, is surrounded by tropical greenery.

Step inside and straight onto a marble floor inspired by the historical Temple of Venus in Rome, a mix of Patagonia and Travertine marbles in subtle geometric patterns. Ribbed Travertine walls, pale metallic accents and a custom-designed table by Roberto Sironi in Rima marble, bring layers of texture and intrigue.

Hand-tufted carpets in Miami’s signature champagne pinks and greens palette echo the curves of the Tiber River. Here, Fendi’s Women’s leather goods and accessories are given ample room to sing, while unique furniture pieces like the ‘Jia’ chairs by Atelier de Troupe and StudioTwentySeven’s ‘Marula’ chair keep things comfortable.

The second level is reached via a sweeping walnut staircase. Here, more StudioTwentySeven pieces anchor the menswear space.

The women’s section features a stunning, handmade, retro-fused glass wall that continues the arch motif from the exterior, and furniture from Fendi Casa. In the VIP area, pink-toned fringe curtains are set against a stainless steel backdrop and a concrete art piece by Edoardo Piermattei.

As the sun sets on a year of massive change for Fendi, including the departures of both CEO Serge Brunschwig and designer Kim Jones, who stepped down after four years as artistic director, the Miami store marks the beginning of a new era as well as the brand's upcoming centenary year in 2025.

Pierre-Emmanuel Angeloglou, who succeeded Brunschwig as CEO last June, joined Sylvia Venturini Fendi in Miami for the opening. Next up for Fendi is a coed fashion show at Milan Fashion Week in February, coinciding with the reopening of Spazio Fendi in Milan.

fendi.com

Where will your tastebuds take you in 2025? May the following compilation of this year’s hot openings inspire your cravings, whether that is dining under a colossal Zaha Hadid sculpture in Miami or indulging in New York classics in a diner alive with SoHo abuzz. Wallpaper* rounds up the crème de la crème.

The restaurants to book in 2025

Charlee, Mumbai

Charlee, a speakeasy tucked away in the lively heart of Bandra West, Mumbai, has quickly become the spot to be seen in the Bollywood capital. Its discreet location – concealed beneath an upscale wine shop – adds to its clandestine charm. Designed by Kaviar Collaborative, well-known for composing immersive spaces, Charlee entices with its moody, enigmatic ambience that promises intrigue after dark. At its heart, craft cocktails meet vegetarian culinary excellence.

Charlee is located at 1st Floor, Vatsala Niwas, CHS, Plot, 65B, Linking Rd, Santacruz (West), Mumbai, Maharashtra 400054, India, @charleegoesveg

The Corner Store, New York

The Corner Store’s inventive fare became the talk of the town four days after opening. As the first launch in 13 years from Catch Hospitality – known for its steakhouses and seafood spots from Miami to Los Angeles – the SoHo restaurant, housed in the former Dos Caminos space, certainly knows how to have a good time. Designed by the Rockwell Group, the interiors pay homage to old-school New York dining rooms. The menu, conceptualised by culinary director Michael Vignola and executive chef Paul Castro (formerly of Catch New York and Nobu), delivers playful takes on NYC staples. At the bar, martinis reign supreme, with a tableside menu featuring timeless classics and outlandish variations like tomato or sour cream.

The Corner Store is located at 475 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012, United States, thecornerstoresoho.com

DaDa, Marrakech

If Marrakech’s Jemaa el Fna square is the city’s pulse, then DaDa, a new multilevel art-and-dining hub in the Medina, provides an extra jolt –bursting with colour, sound, and flavour. The venue is the brainchild of restaurateur Kamal Laftimi, known for ventures like the Pétanque Social Club. DaDa reimagines itself as a dynamic ‘hybrid space,’ inviting guests to eat, drink, dance, and explore art from local and international creatives. Designed by Anne Favier, a longtime collaborator of Laftimi, the concept takes rich inspiration from the energy and vibrancy of the Jemaa el Fna square and marketplace below.

DaDa is located at 2 place Jemaa El Fna, 40000, Morocco, dadamarrakech.com

The Dover, London

Located on Mayfair’s Dover Street, The Dover is a riot of golden-age glamour and dining decadence. The eatery evokes the splendour of old-school New York paired with classic Italian charm – an ode to ‘Sophia Loren in 1970s Brooklyn’, according to former Soho House group COO Martin Kuczmarski, whose debut restaurant this is. Architect and design firm Quincoces-Dragò & Partners infused the space with understated sophistication. Under the guidance of head chef Valentino Pepe, who trained with Alan Yau and Gennaro Vitto, the menu pays homage to timeless classics such as prawn cocktail, beef tartare and lobster ravioli. Drinks-wise, there’s an enticing array of martini options, New York and Italian classics.

The Dover is located at 33 Dover St, London W1S 4NF, thedoverrestaurant.com

Elastika, Miami

Architecture buffs can now check dining under a Zaha Hadid sculpture off their bucket list at Elastika, a restaurant nestled inside The Moore, a landmark building in the Miami Design District. The 433 sq m pliant web by Zaha Hadid that the restaurant takes its name from, sits above the restaurant’s main dining room, which features an expansive 18-seat bar, elegant velvet banquette seating, a semi-private dining room and a lounge area for coffee and cocktails – a beautiful harmony conceived by Icrave studio. Helmed by executive chef Joe Anthony, Elastika offers a range of modern American dishes rooted in thoughtfully sourced ingredients from local farmers.

Elastika is located at 191 NE 40th St, Miami, FL 33137, United States, elastikamiami.com

Trattoria del Ciumbia, Milan

Milan’s Trattoria del Ciumbia sees the Italian hospitality group Triple Sea Food continue its mission of enhancing the gastronomic offer in the city’s Brera district. The interiors by Dimorestudio channel the spirit of the 1960s artistic avant-garde, with creatives such as Piero Manzoni and Nanda Vigo influencing its aesthetic. As for the menu, the restaurant stays true to its Italian roots with a tempting selection of antipasti, primi piatti, and secondi piatti. From marinated sardines to Milanese-style risotto, each dish celebrates the region’s favourites.

Trattoria del Ciumbia is located at Via Fiori Chiari, 32, 20121 Milano, Italy, trattoriadelciumbia.com

Diagnosis? Extreme contemporary art saturation. Cure? Fine artisanal tequila. It’s a prescription the organisers of Art Basel Miami Beach understand well, the fair being a hotspot for the condition, and which Official Agave Spirits Partner Casa Dragones has stepped up to fulfil for the past four years. At the 2024 edition it returned with its largest intervention to date, with a Tasting Room in the Collectors Lounge, a spectacular 500-bottle chandelier, and an exclusive Art Basel Collector’s Cup.

An oasis for those seeking a moment’s respite from the high-octane booth-hopping, reveals and deals happening on the expansive conference centre floors, the Quiote Bar was designed by renowned Mexican designer Gloria Cortina and inspired by Casa Dragones’ award-winning Tasting Room in the historic heart of San Miguel de Allende. Integrating organic elements drawn from Casa Dragones’ agave fields into an eco-conscious, museum-like space, the bar referenced the flowering stalk of the agave plant. Adorned with sculptural elements inspired by the quiote, display cases around the space showcased Casa Dragones’ Joven Artist Collection of special limited-edition bottles, collaborations including works by artists such as Gabriel Orozco, Danh Vo, Pedro Reyes, and Petrit Halilaj.

Casa Dragones' Quiote Bar

Renowned for her designs that blend modernity, myth, and a deep respect for place, Gloria Cortina was the ideal choice for this commission. Her work often draws on inspirations ranging from Mayan artefacts to Cubism and México’s unique Arts and Crafts heritage. 'Gloria has an extraordinary ability to bring together art, architectural form, and culture to create extremely place-sensitive atmospheres and aesthetics,' explains González Nieves, Casa Dragones’ CEO and the first female Maestra Tequilera. 'Through her design of the Quiote Bar, she brings to life elements that evoke the essence of our agave fields and terroir.'

For Cortina’s part, she found beauty in the sculptural forms of the plant’s flowering stalks, using them as a poetic backdrop to showcase the Artist Edition Collection, giving it a platform that felt both organic and intentional. Having collaborated with Casa Dragones on their Obsidian Tasting Room at Art Basel 2023, Cortina sees this year’s project as a natural evolution of their shared vision. 'When passionate individuals align their vision, incredible things unfold,' she says. 'Collaborating with Casa Dragones has been a seamless experience – our shared commitment to craftsmanship and our obsessive attention to detail are always evident.'

Beneath a breathtaking 300-bottle chandelier designed by Mexican architect Tatiana Bilbao, the Quiote Bar also plays host to Casa Dragones’ celebrated Art-Tender series. For the first time, this interactive programme art world invites art world luminaries —including Tavares Strachan, Mario Garcia Torres, Leilah Babirye, and Wilfredo Prieto—to create cocktails inspired by their artistic practices.

Adding another layer of creativity, Casa Dragones debuted an exclusive Collector’s Cup designed by Petrit Halilaj, whose work is also featured in the Artist Edition series. The cup, available throughout the fair, was paired with the Art Basel Margarita, a signature cocktail blending Casa Dragones Blanco, yuzu, fresh lemon, and salt. Proceeds from the cup benefit the Hajde Foundation, which supports art and culture initiatives.

A welcome respite from fair fatigue it may be, but for Nieves, the Quiote Bar commission is bigger than that – it’s about building a bridge between México’s artisanal heritage and the global stage of contemporary art. 'The biggest evolution in our collaboration has been the opportunity to bring Gloria’s site-specific work from México to the US,' she reflects. 'We’re thrilled to showcase her artistry in Miami for the second consecutive year, and we can’t wait to see how the audience responds to this continuation of our partnership.'

casadragones.com

One hundred migrating elephants, a highly divisive Jaguar, a swirly Pucci funfair and a gigantic blue strawberry tree. Not an artworld version of the 12 Days of Christmas but a strong way to kick off December nonetheless. The city-wide takeover that is Miami Art Week did not disappoint this year, with big brands, brazen activations and an expanded global footprint. At its heart, in its spacious tent by the Convention Centre and Art Basel Miami Beach, Design Miami 2024 put on one of its best shows since its launch almost two decades ago.

What went on at Design Miami 2024: our review

Under curator Glenn Adamson’s curatorial theme, Blue Sky, for 2024 the collectable design fair was a celebration of big thinking and optimism. The signature yellow branding turned sky blue, and through a programme of galleries, curios, special projects and collaborations, it offered an energising, experimental and highly investible proposition.

Certainly, we’ve reached a point where the lines between art, design and fashion are now so blurry as to be hard to make out at all. Take the aforementioned ‘The Strawberry Tree’ (by the Haas Brothers and co-presented by R & Company and Marianne Boesky) as a case in point; it is no longer enough to say a piece is ‘functional’ – previously one of Design Miami’s criteria for inclusion – although this fabulous piece is, arguably, a light.

To Adamson’s mind, the definition has evolved: 'What makes design different from fine art – or even poetry, music, other disciplines – is that designers need to not only imagine the future, but they need to build it,' he says. In some cases, then, the only function necessary is to inspire and/or delight.

This, then, means the Design Miami committee could be freer to include works such as the ‘Paradise Cabinet’, by Mathieu Lehanneur, the doors of which open to reveal no cupboard space whatsoever, but a vista of infinite blue sky instead.

'Ultimately I think it comes down to elevation,' says Adamson. 'This is a concentrated platform for the international design avant garde, which provides unparalleled visibility to people and their projects. Lehanneur’s cabinet, a magic trick in material form, is the perfect metaphor for this expansiveness.'

With much to take in across the tent, attention-grabbing exhibits included Zanotta’s characterful beanbags commissioned by Matthieu Blazy for Bottega Veneta’s October 2024 fashion show; and the ‘Galaxy’ collection, a collaboration between Gufram and A$AP Rocky's brand Hommemade with a space-age multimedia console as its centrepiece.

The truly inspiring works, however, were of a quieter kind – showstoppers due to their impeccable craftsmanship and extraordinary creative expertise. Most notably these were found at Blunk Space, with London-based designer Rio Kobayashi’s salvaged redwood shelves; at Atelier Courbet’s beautiful ‘Sculpt’ installation, a group show exploring organic forms using diverse materials and time-honoured techniques; and at The Future Perfect, where New Delhi-based artist Vikram Goyal made his US debut with his remarkable narrative-driven metalwork. Through a series of ambitious bronze reliefs, sconces, chandeliers and furniture, Goyal presents a contemporary reimagining of Indian master craftsmanship.

Also rooted in Indian craftsmanship, traditional techniques and raw materials, Mumbai-based gallery Æquo presented ‘Rub In’, a collaboration between Sudheer Rajbhar and Camille Bastien. Through his brand Chamar, Sudheer reclaims a slur against the Dalit community, empowering artisans and preserving their craft using rubber as a sustainable alternative to leather. The work highlights resilience, activism, and social justice.

Continuing around the world now to Colombia, London-based Lamb Gallery’s 'Magnetic Midnight Maison' by Lucia Echavarria brought her collection of one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces including chairs, sofas, lamps and a backgammon board made using traditional Colombian crafting styles and techniques and showcasing the work of over 80 artisans across ten regions in Colombia.

Winning the Best In Show award, Friedman Benda’s booth also presented an exhibition that spanned geography, disciplines and generations, featuring pieces by Estúdio Campana (Brazil), Rashid Johnson (US), Ettore Sottsass (Italy), Barbora Žilinksait (Belgium), Raphael Navot (Israel / France), and Javier Senosiain (Mexico) in a vibrant display. At its centre, a furry bar cabinet by Fernando Laposse, who often works with traditional Mexican crafts, is wrapped in a layer of yarn made from agave plants.

Aiming for a 'visionary exhibit under a singular sky', Design Miami has set the bar high, with one year to go until its 20th edition – likely to be its most ambitious yet. Until then, we’ll be dreaming of a beautifully crafted, globally harmonious future, ideally from beneath the branches of a gigantic blue Strawberry Tree. See you there.

designmiami.com

Transcending the neon-lit nights and pastel postcards that once defined it, Miami has cemented its place as an ever-evolving canvas for creatives – brought into keen focus during international events such as Design Miami 2024 and Art Basel Miami Beach 2024, but remaining an irresistible draw year round. Beneath a layered and colourful past, this city’s commitment to the arts pulses steadily from its urban confines all the way to the shoreline.

An eclectic assortment of renowned museums, galleries and cultural affairs plays out across the urban landscape, with each neighbourhood contributing to a vibrant narrative. South Beach draws in the crowds with its lustrous hotels and aquamarine waves, while in South of Fifth (SoFi), inventive restaurants tucked away in restored art deco gems are reshaping the culinary scene. The Design District’s swish retail spaces and tidy streets melt into Wynwood’s hip bars and graffiti murals.

Over in Brickell, glittering towers house world-class art collections. Meanwhile, in Coconut Grove, the city’s oldest enclave, a good dose of bohemian charm plays out under a canopy of century-old banyans, where independent cafés and ateliers offer a respite from the tropical heat. Little Havana conceals speakeasies and contemporary art galleries that capture Cuban spirit, and Little Haiti channels Caribbean energy.

At the crossroads of the Americas, Miami speaks a distinctive language; that of a maximalist metropolis where ivory beaches and umbrella-clad caipirinhas share the stage with gallery openings, and Lamborghinis cruise past contemporary installations. There’s always a bold statement to be made or a party to attend, and few cities pull off this tapestry of contrasts with quite such verve.

What to do in Miami

Where to stay

The Hotel at The Moore

It’s a smooth entrance for this new Design District gem: hidden away inside The Moore, a private members’ club with the stylish Elastika restaurant and an immense Zaha Hadid sculpture at its core. The building was overhauled by Woodhouse, while the hotel suites were overseen by Studio Collective and ICrave. Although you won’t find a pool, spa or gym here, the cosy workspace, gallery and speakeasy have a subtler charm. Just 13 suites make for an intimate experience, and the perfect tonic to a day spent browsing boutiques in this chic part of town.

The Hotel at The Moore is located at 4040 NE 2nd Ave, FL 33137, mooremiami.com

Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club

Sophisticated coastal style makes Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club a legendary pick for an escape right on the luminous shores between Bal Harbour and Miami Beach. Transformed into its current state by Richard Meier with interiors designed by Joseph Dirand, this hotel is a classy affair with a calming ambience, three swimming pools, a spa, a Michelin-starred restaurant – and a champagne bar coveted by visitors and locals alike.

Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club is located at 9011 Collins Ave, Surfside, FL 33154, fourseasons.com

Find more of the best Miami hotels in our dedicated guide.

Where to eat

Sereia

Located in Coconut Grove, Sereia is the first American venture from two-Michelin-starred Portuguese chef Henrique Sa Pessoa, in collaboration with Sault Hospitality. The restaurant was designed by Miami- and Dubai-based Bishop Design, and reflects its ocean-inspired name with an Atlantic palette, natural wood and rippling textures. Seafood with a modern twist is served in a dining room that flows from intimate indoor nooks to a sun-dappled terrace, and there’s a sleek omakase-style crudo bar too.

Sereia is located at 3540 Main Hwy, FL 33133, sereia.miami

Mother Wolf

In the Design District, Mother Wolf is a Roman-inspired partnership between Ten Dive Hospitality and chef Evan Funke – known for his much-loved outposts in Los Angeles. Echoing its culinary philosophy in style, Rome meets Miami with a dramatic water feature, terrazzo floors, gold marble tables and Murano glass chandeliers. The menu calls upon old-school culinary techniques and covers everything from handcrafted pastas to woodfired pizzas and seasonal antipasti.

Mother Wolf is located at 3841 NE 2nd Ave, FL 33137, motherwolfmiami.com

Where to drink

Monterrey Bar at The Standard, Miami

This intimate drinking den draws its name from the property’s 1953 incarnation as the Monterrey Hotel. Designer Shawn Hausman orchestrated an attention-grabbing space that honours its midcentury roots, with a T-shaped bar clad in luxuriant Amazonite under a Murano chandelier, thick patterned carpets emulating waves underfoot and Afromosia wall panelling for a tactile finish. It’s a sultry spot to sidle into at dusk for martini happy hour, while eyeing up a collection of 1980s pop art by Geoffrey Rose.

Monterrey Bar is located at The Standard, Miami, 40 Island Ave, FL 33139, monterreybar.com

Klaw

Housed in what was once the Miami Woman’s Club, this Spanish Renaissance pearl has been given new life through Martin Brudnizki Design Studio’s thoughtful restoration. Unfurling across multiple levels, Klaw has some impressive dining options, but the rooftop is the place to be for a sunset aperitif with a view. While the classics are impeccably rendered, it’s the innovative house signatures that shine – served against a backdrop of Biscayne Bay and the twinkling skyline.

Klaw is located at 1737 N Bayshore Dr, klawrestaurant.com

What to do

Locust Projects

In a former warehouse in Little River, just north of the Design District, Locust Projects is Miami’s longest-running alternative art space. With a focus on delivering opportunities for emerging artists both locally and internationally. The gallery also offers established artists a platform for experimentation on a large-scale. Making art accessible stands as one of the core values here; expect to find thought-provoking installations in a raw, industrial space.

Locust Projects is located at 297 NE 67th St, FL 33138, locustprojects.org

Rubell Museum

The Rubell Museum brings boundary-pushing contemporary art to the Miami community from its Allapattah locale. Founded by collectors Don and Mera Rubell, this immersive gallery space, designed by Selldorf Architects, spans 100,000 sq ft. Inside, a rotating selection from the founders’ renowned collection is displayed, from multimedia works and large sculptures to installations. Both newer voices and household names can be found – such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Cindy Sherman and Jeff Koons.

Rubell Museum is located at 100 NW 23rd St, FL 33127, rubellmuseum.org

Where to shop

Curio at Faena Bazaar

Set within a historic art deco building designed by OMA and Rem Koolhaas, Curio at Faena Bazaar takes up 20,000 sq ft across four storeys, bringing together fashion, food, jewellery and art. Beyond its gleaming white façade, the concept store unfolds like a cabinet of curiosities, with a rotating collection of known brands sharing the stage with new designers and pop-up installations – topped off with a roof terrace overlooking the ocean.

Curio at Faena Bazaar is located at 3400 Collins Ave, FL 33140, shopatcurio.com

The Webster

Despite The Webster’s rapid growth, both in Miami and beyond, nothing quite beats its original Collins Avenue location. Housed in a pastel-toned former boutique hotel, this flagship captures the essence of Miami style with a selection of luxury labels, capsule collections and pop-up exhibits attracting high-fashion aficionados. Whether it’s the clothes, the French pastry shop, or the rooftop lounge that draws you in, The Webster is a staple in Miami’s luxury retail space.

The Webster is located at 1220 Collins Ave, FL 33139, thewebster.com

As the year races to a close, the art world is looking ahead to the last major moment of the season with a week of fairs, glamorous parties, and pop-up exhibitions anchored by Art Basel Miami Beach (ABMB). While the storied fair opens to the public Friday 6 December and runs through Sunday, VIPs are afforded with two days of previews to sample the most coveted artworks on offer beginning Wednesday the 4th. This year’s selection promises to be as robust as ever with presentations from 286 premier international galleries.

Joining ABMB are several other fairs across the city, from industry leader Untitled Art on the sands of Miami Beach to the New Art Dealers Alliance across Biscayne Bay. With curator and collectors flocking to Miami, many are taking advantage of the enthusiasm of the week and staging pop-ups across town. Just a short walk from ABMB is Moroccan photographer Hassan Hajjaj’s exhibition in collaboration with The Cultivist and Capital One. Taking inspiration from the bustling souk of Marrakech, the vibrant space will be activated in a series of dinners curated by MICHELIN-starred restaurateur Rose Previte, as well as tea services and performances.

Inside the Convention Center, ABMB’s distinct sectors offer a diverse mix of curated and thematic presentations, with the Galleries sector featuring seasoned dealers and leaders of the industry. This year, David Nolan Gallery stands out as an exhibitor to look for. Nolan has participated in Art Basel fairs for over 25 years and looks forward to the Miami Beach edition for its enthusiastic buyers who are “curious and eager to learn,” he says. Hoping to catch their eye, Nolan is bringing historic works by figures like Giorgio Morandi and Brice Marden, as well as newer pieces, including renowned artist Chakaia Booker’s sculpture made of rubber tires and wood that demonstrate the creative potential of industrial materials.

In the Meridians sector–curated by Yasmil Raymond, former Director of Portikus and Rector of the Hochschule für Bildende Künste-Städelschule–the fair offers a platform for artworks that are large-scale and immersive. Featuring some of the most exciting works on view, both in their size and in their ambitious materials, this year’s Meridians presentations include conceptual artist Sarah Meyohas’s monumental multipanel hologram of magnified plant imagery layered with representations of the female form presented by Marianne Boesky Gallery. Joining this are large-scale, abstract tapestries from the 1980s drawing inspiration from the ephemerality of light and the natural world by Korean fibre artist Lee ShinJa with Tina Kim Gallery.

Celebrating rising stars of contemporary art is the Nova sector, which features work made by up to three artists within the last three years. A highlight is Charles Moffett making its ABMB debut with a duo-presentation centreing placemaking and self-determination with felt portraits by Melissa Joseph and recycled-tire sculptures Kim Dacres. "Both artists’ careers are entering a vital inflection point and now feels like a strong moment to showcase their art on the kind of stage that Art Basel offers,” Moffett says.

Elsewhere, the Survey sector offers a historic counterpoint to Nova’s fresh faces with works made prior to 2000, including Portland-based ILY2’s selection of mixed-media pieces by Bonnie Lucas that question notions of femininity and incorporate craft and consumer objects, such as dolls and toys. “We are thrilled to exhibit at the fair for the first time,” says gallery senior director Jeanine Jablonski. “Bonnie’s unwavering, steadfast, decidedly feminist practice is precisely the type of work we champion.” Though working for over four decades, Lucas has only recently received widespread regard, an exciting moment to collect an industry pioneer on the rise.

Rounding out the fair are the Kabinett sector’s thematically curated presentations, including hand-embroidered textiles by Palestinian-American artist Jordan Nassar that explore language, heritage, and concepts of homeland, presented by Anat Ebgi, as well as the Positions sector featuring solo presentations of emerging artists or galleries. A highlight in Positions is an assortment of shrine-like installations of photographs and relics by interdisciplinary artist Agosto Machado presented by Gordon Robichaux. Exploring the artist’s life and the rich legacy of creatives in downtown Manhattan, these works offer a snapshot of pivotal moments in recent history, including the AIDS crisis and the queer activism of Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson.

Art Basel Miami Beach runs 6-8 December 2024

artbasel.com

As 2024 hurtles towards a close, the final major design event of the year is almost upon us. Design Miami will open the doors to its 20th edition from 4-8 December with a preview day on 3 December. What started as a modest gathering in 2005 during Art Basel Miami Beach has grown into a leading global fair with annual editions in Miami, Basel, Paris and, for the first time this year, Los Angeles.

The Miami iteration has helped to revitalise the city’s design district and continues to attract designers, collectors, and curators from around the world, all in search of high design with a side of winter sun.

What to see: Design Miami 2024 highlights

Curated by American curator and author Glenn Adamson, this year’s fair is centred around the theme Blue Sky, exploring bold and imaginative design that exceeds expectations. ‘Design is inherently a speculative venture,’ says Adamson, ‘and also a collective one – a shared framework of reference at a time of global interconnection. The theme presents an opportunity to celebrate Design Miami’s role as a platform for the 21st-century avant-garde – showcasing the very best in contemporary and historic design for two decades.’

Among the names in this year’s line-up are Design Miami stalwarts like bi-coastal US gallery The Future Perfect, alongside debutants such as London’s Lamb Gallery. Exhibited works run the gamut in terms of scale and origin, from bold sculptures that resemble oversized Ndebele jewellery to intricate Werregue side tables from Colombia. Here are the exhibitors on our hit list.

1. The Future Perfect

In its largest booth to date, The Future Perfect will present nearly 100 new works from more than 20 emerging and established artists, including Chris Wolston, Lindsey Adelman (both among 50 top American creatives photographed by Inez & Vinoodh for Wallpaper* earlier in 2024), and Cody Hoyt. The exhibition also features six new artists making their Design Miami debut, including Anina Major, Laurids Gallée, and Olivia Cognet. Additionally, Indian designer Vikram Goyal will showcase his intricate metalwork for the first time in the US, bringing India’s rich artisanal history to South Beach.

Dates: 3-8 December 2024
Location: Design Miami, Miami Beach

2. The 2024 Annual Design Commission: Nicole Nomsa Moyo

The Miami Design District, in collaboration with the Design Miami Curatorial Lab, has announced Nicole Nomsa Moyo as the recipient of the 2024 Design Commission. Moyo’s vibrant installation, Pearl Jam, is inspired by the intricate patterns of South Africa's Ndebele tribe and will include interactive sculptures throughout the neighbourhood, including oversized pearls, deconstructable necklaces, and radiant earrings. The installation also honours the craftsmanship of Ndebele women who will handcraft over 1,000 ‘earrings’ using locally sourced materials.

Dates: 1-9 December 2024
Location: Miami Design District

3. Lasvit: ‘Herbarium Radiant’

Made from hundreds of suspended glass droplets, each featuring the form of a delicate plant, Herbarium Radiant is an immersive lighting installation by Czech glass company Lasvit, which will provide a little theatre at the fair. It is made from a new type of glass that incorporates repurposed waste, and users can adjust the colour of the light to create an ever-changing experience. Additionally, Lasvit will show ‘Magma’, a new series of by the brand's art director Maxim Velčovský, inspired by the transformative power of molten rock.

Dates: 3-8 December 2024
Location: Design Miami, Miami Beach

4. Ralph Pucci: ‘Primal Mysteries’

Last year saw Ralph Pucci open a 10,000 sq ft gallery in Miami’s Wynwood. This year, he follows up with ‘Primal Mysteries’, his eponymous gallery’s first in-house collection in over a decade. The collection, which includes new lighting and tables, is inspired by figures from sculpture and painting, including Alberto Giacometti and Constantin Brâncuși, and is handcrafted from clay and plaster at Ralph Pucci’s Manhattan studio. The gallery will also showcase Marjorie Salvaterra’s surreal photographic work Sheila in Technicolor and new pieces by longtime collaborator, French designer Patrick Naggar.

Dates: 3-9 December 2024
Location: Ralph Pucci (Miami), 550 NW 28th St Miami, FL 33127

5. Southern Guild

Southern Guild will showcase the work of 12 leading African ceramic artists, presenting an exploration of the medium’s historical roots and its modern resurgence. The works on display include sculptures, vessels, and furniture by artists such as Andile Dyalvane, Michal Korycki, and Jabulile Nala, among others. These pieces highlight the intersection of tradition, technique, and symbolism within African culture and provide a compelling narrative on the evolving nature of ceramics in contemporary art.

Dates: 3-8 December 2024
Location: Convention Centre Drive and 19th Street, Miami Beach, Booth G28

6. Lexus and Crafting Plastics: ‘Liminal Cycles’

Located in the sculpture garden at Miami’s Institute of Contemporary Art, Liminal Cycles is an interactive installation by Lexus in collaboration with design and research studio Crafting Plastics. At its heart, are four environmentally responsive bioplastic sculptures that engage with viewers through sight, sound, smell, and touch, including a central sculpture inspired by the Lexus LF-ZC concept car that changes colour in response to UV levels. To accompany the installation, Lexus will debut a capsule collection of 26 limited-edition collectible design objects developed in collaboration with clean fragrance brand dilo.

Dates: 3-8 December, 2024
Location: ICA Miami Sculpture Garden, 61 NE 41st Street, Miami, Florida 33137

7. æquõ

Following its 2023 debut, India’s collectible design gallery æquõ returns to Design Miami with a curated collection that merges traditional Indian craftsmanship with contemporary design. Featuring designers like Mumbai-based Chamar Studio and Belgian Linde Freya Tangelder, æquo’s pieces embody the concept of balance, where designer and artisan are given equal status. This year’s show places particular focus on practices from Maharashtra, where materials are as much a part of the story as the design itself.

Dates: 3-8 December 2024
Location: Design Miami, Miami Beach

8. Sarah Myerscough Gallery: ‘Rest and Reflection’

The intimate relationship between humans and their bedrooms will be explored in Sarah Myerscough Gallery’s presentation at Design Miami. Featuring new works by Marc Fish, Tadeas Podracky, and others, the collection demonstrates how the design of personal spaces can foster emotional wellbeing and invites visitors to reconsider the role of the bedroom as a sanctuary for rest and solitude.

Dates: 3-8 December 2024
Location: Design Miami, Miami Beach

9. Theoreme Editions

Making its Design Miami debut, French gallery Theoreme Editions will showcase a collection that meditates on the emotive power of colour and material. Featuring works crafted from alluring and tactile materials, such as onyx, mohair, and translucent blue resin, the pieces examine how colour and texture can elicit emotional responses that transcend visual aesthetics.

Dates: December 3-8, 2024
Location: Design Miami, Miami Beach

10. Lamb Gallery: ‘Magnetic Midnight Maison’

Part of Curios – a platform dedicated to immersive exhibitions – London’s Lamb Gallery makes its Design Miami debut with ‘Magnetic Midnight Maison’, a collection of work by French Colombian designer Lucía Echavarría that blends Colombian artistry with Miami’s art deco palette.

Dates: 3-8 December 2024
Location: Design Miami, Miami Beach

11. Meritalia: Le Edizioni del Pesce

Meritalia returns to Design Miami with ‘Le Edizioni del Pesce’, a tribute to the late and great Italian designer Gaetano Pesce, who died earlier in 2024 at the age of 84. Displayed as part of the fair’s Curio platform, Meritalia’s selection will include everything from umbrella racks and coat hangers, to mirrors and lamps that showcase Pesce’s unmistakable sculptural style and inventive approach to materials.

Dates: 3-8 December 2024
Location: Design Miami, Miami Beach

12. Mindy Soloman Gallery: Jaime Hayon, ‘Bestial’

Spanish designer Jaime Hayon will reveal a previously unseen aspect of his oeuvre at Mindy Soloman Gallery – a series of fantastical large-scale paintings and sculptures. Featuring surreal creatures and strange flora realised in fibreglass, acrylic on canvas and Murano glass, the works explore the complex relationship between humankind and nature. ‘Bestial is an exploration of the wild side in all of us,’ says Hayon. ‘Each creature I’ve crafted is a piece of that raw, untamed spirit within us.’

Dates: 30 November 2024 - 18 January 2025
Location: Mindy Solomon Gallery, 848 NW 22nd Street, Miami, Florida

13. Alcova Miami

Alcova Miami returns for its second edition taking over the city's pastel-hued River Inn hotel. Among the venue's palms and vegetation, visitors will discover work by a host of international designers and collectives. Highlights include ‘Something Last’, an immersive show of monochromatic pieces, including handcrafted wood furniture, porcelain lighting, architectural ceramics and metal fixtures, curated by Los Angeles designer Jialun Xiong. LcD Textile will present ‘Metallic Ocean’, a textile installation crafted from semi-precious metal mesh handmade in Belgium, while Ukrainian brand Furn Object will showcase nature-inspired furniture and objects.

Dates: 3-8 December 2024
Location: River Inn, 118 SW South River Drive, Miami, Florida 33130

14. Nuova: ‘Time Travel’

Blending scent, music, and design, Los Angeles design studio Nuova’s show promises to take visitors on a nostalgic journey back to 1971 through its own interpretation of a time travel portal. By integrating diverse sensory elements – including furniture (the new ‘1971’ collection), bespoke garments, fragrance, music, gastronomy, and theatre – Nuova promises visitors ‘momentary escapism’ within the context of Miami’s rich design history.

Dates: 4-8 December, 2024
Location: Design Miami, Miami Beach

designmiami.com

Summer is in full swing – which means you’re either on holiday or coveting the posts of friends who are. The latest crop of design-driven new hotels is tailor-made for escapism – from Fouquet’s opening a Cycladic sanctuary to reset in between (or instead of) partying hard on the island of Mykonos to a fresh-faced boutique stay with unmistakable New England charm on Cape Cod. Also on our radar this month: Annua Signature expands its glorious grip on Mallorca, a storied Montréal stay debuts a decadent new look and a San Sebastian landmark stars in a cinematic next act.

The world’s best new hotel openings

July 2026

Fouquet’s Mykonos, Greece

Fouquet’s Mykonos expands the brand’s reach beyond its exclusive addresses in Paris, New York City, Courchevel, and Saint-Barthélemy to a Grecian jetset hotspot. Set on Paraga Beach, on the southern coast of Mykonos, the sanctuary, designed by Divercity Architects, trades clubbing for calm. Embracing a contemporary take on traditional Cycladic aesthetics, it offers sweeping views of sparkling azure waters of the Aegean Sea from its 61 breezy suites and three villas, imbued with the serenity of sun-faded neutrals, clean lines and natural materials like stone. Embracing restoration, the wellness-focused amenities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa sanctuary in partnership with Dr Barbara Sturm (think hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a flotation tank and an ice bath) and a basketball court carved directly into the rock.

Fouquet’s Mykonos is located at Paraga 0, Mykonos 846 00, Greece

Gran Hotel Margalida, Banyalbufar, Spain

Annua Signature builds on its Spanish presence with the debut of Gran Hotel Margalida, located in the village of Banyalbufar on the quieter western coast of Mallorca. Madrid-based architect Álvaro Onieva and interior designer Virginia Nieto reinvented a historic building into a contemporary escape that captures the elemental beauty and ease of the Balearics. Local materials – notably stone references the Tramuntana mountain range – hues inspired by the Mallorcan glow and vast water views set the tone for an unhurried Mediterranean holiday. Guests can float between the terraces planted with indigenous wild olive and 29 sea-facing rooms, warmed with sunny yellow accents. For an added dose of relaxation, the wellness area has an indoor pool and a light-washed wood gym that may be the chicest of all.

Gran Hotel Margalida is located at Carrer Major, 49, 07191 Banyalbufar, Illes Balears, Spain

Hoshinoya Nara Prison

Working with longtime collaborator and architect Rie Azuma, Hoshinoya Resorts has transformed the former Nara Prison – the sole survivor of architect Keijiro Yamashita's Five Great Meiji Prisons, built in 1908 by inmates – into 48 soigné suites. Each merges nine to eleven former cells, contrasting century-old red-brick masonry with contemporary finishes. The hotel’s layout mimics a hand: five cell wings radiate from a central watchtower where guards once surveyed prisoners. The former detention block now houses a Japanese-French restaurant, whilst an adjoining museum, provocatively titled ‘An Eternal Question Posed by an Iconic Prison’, asks visitors to meditate on liberty inside spaces built to deny it.

Hoshinoya Nara Prison is located at 18 Hannyajicho, Nara, 630-8102, Japan

Hôtel Nelligan, Montréal, Canada

Following a comprehensive transformation led by Corner Collection, a Montreal-based family-owned independent hospitality group, in collaboration with Atelier Zébulon Perron, the luxe redux of Hôtel Nelligan honours the heritage of existing architectural elements – including original stonework and exposed brick – while integrating refined materials to create a cohesive, elevated environment in lockstep with the past and present identity of Old Montréal. Fostering a deeper sense of place are partnerships with local artists and makers such as Lambert & Fils and St-Damase. The use of rich velvet sofas in elegantly curved shapes, deeply veined marble and warm wood infuses the interiors with character, from the 102 guest rooms to the atmospheric modern Greek restaurant and cocktail bar/music salon nestled within the old stone vaults.

Hôtel Nelligan is located at 106 Rue St-Paul Ouest, Montréal, QC H2Y 1Z3, Canada

Hotel Palacio Bellas Artes, Curio Collection by Hilton, San Sebastián, Spain

One of Spain’s earliest grand movie theatres just entered a second act as a striking hotel. Isabel López Vilalta recast the 1914 Beaux-Arts cinema as Hotel Palacio Bellas Artes, Curio Collection by Hilton, reawakening the building’s spirit and inviting an international audience to experience it anew. An audacious destination for design and gastronomy, the landmark hotel weaves rich colour, texture and subtle cinematic references into a tapestry of early film glamour and San Sebastián’s cultural heritage. The 81 rooms and suites are dressed in sumptuous shades of rose, with heavy drapery and velvet walls that nod to a theatrical past. This sense of drama carries through to the lobby bar and the highly anticipated Basque-influenced restaurant.

Hotel Palacio Bellas Artes, Curio Collection by Hilton is located at Urbieta Kalea, 61, 20006 Donostia / San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain

Shore Haven Inn, Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA

Cape Cod is one of New England’s most quintessential summer colonies, with an elite pedigree that spans the Kennedy clan and present-day polo-clad elites. But a younger, cooler, more accessible undercurrent is sweeping in. Riding this wave, Lark Hotels continues its commitment to reinvigorating tired stateside digs into hip haunts for modern-minded travellers. At the old Victorian hotel, formerly known as the Beach Breeze Inn, hydrangea-framed gardens, freshly cut lawns, white Adirondack chairs and a classic shingled exterior look like a postcard from the Cape. Boston-based Rachel Reider Interiors gave the hotel a fresh new look, anchored by a coastal palette of watery blues, soft greens and sand, complemented by textured wallcoverings, light wood and rattan accents.

Shore Haven Inn is located at 321 Shore St, Falmouth, MA 02540, United States

The Dean Munich

Irish lifestyle brand The Dean has arrived in Munich’s Westend. Set between the main station and Theresienwiese, the site of the annual Oktoberfest, the historic quarter trades its former factory past for creative studios and indie Java joints with Google and Apple offices nearby. Designer Tatjana von Stein, a Munich native, has reworked a 1970s hotel block into 281 rooms, fusing the city’s Art Nouveau roots with 1980s club culture. Glossy lacquer clashes with burr wood, velvet against polished chrome, whilst the lobby features an oversized eye motif channelling new-wave iconography. For sustenance, Ibasho opens with yellowtail hiramasa, slow-cooked pork shoulder temaco and Wagyu ribeye, and post-prandial treats are served up in four bars, including a hidden speakeasy.

The Dean Munich is located at Landsberger Str. 68, 80339 Munich, Germany

June 2026

Casa Cedo, Porto, Portugal

Porto is known for Port wine and the bridges across the Douro River, but it’s underrated when it comes to its boutique hotel scene. Casa Cedo has the potential to put the city on the design-driven hospitality map for a cohort of travellers who prioritise intimacy and curation over spectacle and scale. Daniela Franceschini, founder of Lisbon-based Quiet Studios, worked closely with local artisans and creatives – including Ayala Braidman, a ceramist based in Porto, and Portuguese visual artist Juliana Julieta – to imbue the property with character. The rich details carry from the eight rooms to the common areas: a lounge area, rooftop, private rear garden and a living/dining room that hosts special events with buzzed-about local chefs, as well as a hybrid reception and retail cabinet with ceramics, coffee, fresh flowers and Byredo fragrances.

Casa Cedo is located at R. de Cedofeita n. 334, 4050-174 Porto, Portugal

La Darbia, Chianti, Italy

A peaceful escape with access to wineries in Chianti and Florence (just a 25-minute drive away), La Darbia sits on a hilltop estate spanning 15 hectares of olive groves, meadows, and lavender fields. Restored by Studio Primatesta, the intimate retreat is the result of a meticulous renovation that preserves the 11th-century site’s original character and heritage. A contemporary spark comes through local materials – pietra serena, terracotta, travertine, and wood – and traditional craftsmanship techniques, such as intricate woodwork by Flavio Bettio, which ground its sense of place. Tucked into a trio of historic farmhouses, each of the 17 light-filled suites (four of which cater to families) is individually decorated with layered textures, while the windows frame the rolling countryside. The restaurant, led by Chef Sebastiano Pagliaro, serves seasonal Tuscan cuisine. All guests have access to two panoramic swimming pools.

La Darbia is located at Via Case Sparse (Greve), 16, 50022 Greve in Chianti, Italy

Eréma, Milos, Greece

Empiria Group arrived in Milos with the opening of Erema, a member of Design Hotels, located on the southeastern coast of the island near Provatas Beach. While the moon-like landscape may be hard to pull your gaze away from, the architecture and interiors by Athens-based ID Laboratorium, led by Stamos Hondrodimos, are equally arresting without pulling focus. The volcanic terrain lays the foundation for its sensibility and environmental consciousness. Minerals such as stone and marble, alongside sun-faded earth tones, contribute to a grounded feel. From the 41 suites, each with a private pool and panoramic terraces overlooking the Aegean Sea, to the two restaurants, the indoor and outdoor spaces flow together, an expression of the Cycladic lifestyle. The third location of Anthologist, a boutique curated by Andria Mitsakos, stocks global finds, Greek ceramics and vintage treasures.

Eréma is located at Cape Chalaka, Plaka 848 00, Greece

Faraway Sag Harbor, New York

Faraway, the hip, heritage-tinged brand from Blue Flag, with outposts in Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, has expanded its reach out East. For Faraway Sag Harbor, Jenny Bukovec Studio, in collaboration with the in-house design team, gave the old Baron’s Cove a full facelift, reimagining the iconic hotel, located just a short walk from Havens Beach and Main Street, into a fresh-faced bolthole that draws on maritime history, merging a coastal palette and oceanic revival motifs. The 67 rooms and suites are clad in saturated hues and warm wood. The lobby lounge is envisioned as a hangout when not enjoying the outdoor spaces, including the covered porch, lush patio – conceived as the heart of the social scene – and outdoor pool. Guests also have access to Amalfi Coast–inspired dining at Zagara, a ground-floor bar and lounge and a gym.

Faraway Sag Harbor is located at 31 W. Water Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963, United States

Kitirua Plains Lodge, Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Abercrombie & Kent’s return to Kenya, with the opening of Kitirua Plains Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary in Amboseli National Park, marks a full-circle moment informed by the legacy of having defined luxury safari travel in the 1960s and a clear vision for the future. Pivoting from archetypal tented camps to something more permanent, Luxury Frontiers created structures from quarried stone with sculptural roofs that nod to traditional mud-building forms and timber screening. Interiors draw directly from the surrounding dust, grasslands and wetlands. Earth tones come to life in textured clay plaster walls, green stucco, green onyx accents, locally sourced Mazeras stone and handwoven sisal ceilings. Kenyan-made furniture crafted from mango wood and African teak is complemented by woven grass artwork and raffia accessories. The sculptural spiral staircase in the main lodge, open-air boma for storytelling and meals under the stars and yoga deck are also calibrated to the landscape.

Kitirua Plains Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary is located at Amboseli National Park, Ol Tukai, Kenya

May 2026

The Baby Grand, Coronado, USA

For its second hotel venture, The Baby Grand, San Diego-based hospitality group CH Projects (the team behind the power-clash cult-favorite Lafayette Hotel in North Park) snapped up a prime perch along Orange Avenue. Once an asphalt parking lot, the 31-key boutique is poised to become Coronado’s coolest stay, steering away from the dulcet tones synonymous with SoCal style. Brooklyn studio Post Company crafted a lush aesthetic that toes the line between overgrown jungle and fantastical underwater oasis. The lobby roars with sculpted rock formations, swaying palms and private lagoons. The under-the-sea themes play out vividly in the rooms, with iridescent clamshell headboards and oversized mirrored minibars mashed up against custom leaf wallpaper and bold leopard prints. The flashy, sensorial feast carries over into dining concepts: an oyster-and-champagne bar with an ornate mosaic of sea creatures and a craggy, Greek-inspired taverna.

The Baby Grand is located at 1315 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118, United States

Hotel Corduroy, Montauk, USA

Montauk, the easternmost point of Long Island and the furthest of the Hamptons towns from New York City, retains a more laid-back appeal than the buttoned-up, busier East Hampton. Hotel Corduroy – the latest venture from Blue Flag Capital, which also includes The Beachside on Nantucket – takes over the former Sunset Montauk. To convert the old motor court into a cool summer weekend escape, Ward + Gray drew on the area’s surfing heritage and its Atlantic coastal setting, grounding the project in a palette of deep green, sun-faded red and light oak. Conceived with mingling in mind, the 29-key hotel will feature outdoor gathering spaces for golden-hour cocktails and firepit stargazing, while the rooms act as sanctuaries with grasscloth wallpaper, reeded bamboo bedside tables and rattan-wrapped consoles.

Hotel Corduroy is located at 437 West Lake Drive, Montauk, NY 11954, United States

Nômade Temple Madrid, Spain

Mexican-owned Nômade brings its breezy, wellness-centric bohemian ethos to Spain’s largest city with Nômade Temple Madrid, a creativity-driven urban destination for design, culture and healing. Housed within the restored Las Letras building on Gran Vía, the hotel’s layered aesthetic, the work of Oneness, is a visual expression of its eclectic vibe – sun-faded reds, geometric prints, modular seating, bold lighting. There's a deeply entrenched spirituality, yet it’s still very socialable. The 93 rooms and two penthouses are tailored for rest; likewise, GÖN House of Healing focuses on restoration. The scene beyond the guests' quarters and wellness wing is far more happening: a 112-seat restaurant draped in natural stone, aged brass and dramatic drapery; a communal cafe softly lit with vintage-style lamps; a speakeasy and nightclub for vinyl and vivid photo opps and a lush, romantic rooftop.

Nômade Temple Madrid is located at Calle Gran Vía, 11, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Sublime Sand, Comporta, Portugal

Following the well-laid roadmap of its destination-defining older sibling, Sublime Sand captures the wild, natural ethos of Portugal’s chicest coastal enclave. The architecture by Lisbon-based Fragmentos in collaboration with Sublime Comporta’s original architect, José Charrua, harmonises with the rugged, windswept landscape of Alentejo, where umbrella pines and cork trees perfume the air and rice paddies stretch as far as the eye can see. The indoor-outdoor spaces, created by Andringa Studio, take a similar approach – drawing from the sun-faded palette of the surrounding landscape and incorporating minimalist textures, local materials like wood and stone and sculptural forms. These elements come together across the multi-bedroom villas, Beefbar, Davvero – the crowd-pleasing Italian restaurant from Sublime Lisboa – as well as the wellness facility and kids’ club.

Sublime Sand is located at Estrada Nacional (EN) 261-1, 7570-337 Muda, CCI 3954 Grândola, Portugal

Tierras Villas, Crete, Greece

A quiet departure from the thumping beats of Mykonos and the hordes swarming Santorini, Crete’s newest refuge, part of the family-owned Omicron Hotels group, focuses on heritage and halcyon. Designed by Manos Kipritidis, Tierras Villas embraces a peacefulness that’s both visual and visceral, signalling a shift in how the island is being discovered – slower, more intentionally, with a stronger orientation toward nature and an eye for aesthetics. Set against the sweeping backdrop of the Mediterranean, each of the five minimally designed villas features calming hues and organic materials such as stone and wood, along with a private pool and expansive terraces for sipping a crisp, chilled glass of Vidiano while soaking in sweeping views of the sparkling sea and blue sky.

Tierras Villas is located at Mononaftis, Ag.Pelagia, 715 00 Crete, Heraklion 715 00, Greece

April 2026

Airelles Palladio, Venezia, Italy

The first project outside France for Airelles reaffirms the French hotel group’s knack for transforming historic landmarks into richly appointed luxury retreats. Spread across impeccably restored buildings – including the church of Santa Maria della Presentazione – the property occupies the site of the late-16th-century Bauer Palladio. Architect and interior designer Christophe Tollemer conjures a Venetian fantasy, steeped in heritage and the serenity of Giudecca. A warm palette of ambers, mahogany and deep blues, along with terrazzo and marble floors, custom Fortuny chandeliers, delicate Murano glass pieces, Rubelli wall coverings and hand-selected antiques gives the impression of staying at a noble villa. The elegant effect carries through the 45 rooms and suites, three restaurants, five bars, a spa and wellness area and swimming pools.

Airelles Palladio, Venezia is located at Fondamenta Zitelle, 33, 30133 Venice, Italy

Conrad Athens The Ilisian, Greece

Like the phoenix, the regenerative bird that rises from the ashes in Greek mythology, Conrad Athens The Ilisian emerges from the remains of its predecessor: the former Hilton Athens. Occupying the redeveloped mid-century modernist landmark on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, the 307-key hotel commemorates the building’s legacy, incorporating the original 620-square-meter marble façades by 20th-century Greek artist Yannis Moralis and exterior illumination by Eleftheria Deko, the Emmy Award-winning lighting designer behind the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. The interiors by AvroKO pay tribute to the past through original furnishings pulled from the archives, which contrast with the sleek finishes and pop art of its modern revival. There are tonal rooms and suites with skyline views, nine restaurants and bars – including Athens’s first rooftop bar, reborn as Galaxy Dispensary – a spa and the largest outdoor pool in the city.

Conrad Athens The Ilisian is located at Vasilissis Sofias 46, Athina 115 28, Greece

Delano Miami Beach, USA

Delano Miami Beach isn’t a new build – the landmark property dates back to 1948, when its 14‑story tower was the tallest on the strip. Yet if you weren’t aware of its past, the slick surfaces and gleaming fixtures might belie its age. The transformation, led by Elastic, celebrates the spirit and sun-dappled lifestyle of Miami, while honouring the hotel’s legacy. The glossy pool area is flanked by umbrellas, accented with playful fringe. Rooms are bright and airy with crisp linens, light chevron wood flooring, rugs that evoke the soft sands below and large, ocean-facing windows. Gigi Rigolatto, the first-floor Italian concept designed by Hugo Toro, is a soaring oasis of striped plaster walls, intricately carved wooden panels and yellow Sienna marble.

Delano Miami Beach is located at 1685 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States

Read our full hotel review of Delano Miami Beach

Four Seasons Cartagena, Colombia

Located in Getsemaní, a vibrant neighbourhood steps from the Walled City, Four Seasons Cartagena captures the rhythm, romance and Caribbean charisma of Colombia’s most seductive city while also offering a sense of tranquillity and resort-style amenities. WATG breathed new life into a collection of historic buildings, restoring the Cloister of Saint Francis, timeworn façades, courtyards and the original Club Cartagena grand staircase. French designer François Catroux, in collaboration with Wimberly Interiors and AvroKO, shaped the interiors, which unfold in a warm embrace of old-world charm: intricate woodwork, sun-baked hues, and furnishings and textiles created by Colombian artisan Poli Mallarino. Guests can choose between colonial-style or contemporary rooms, each infused with timeless character. French studio SBM Interior Design extends the visual identity across the eight food and beverage venues, including the cocktail bar dedicated to architect Gastón Lelarge.

Four Seasons Cartagena is located at Calle 30 Media Luna 8B #8B-44, Getsemani, Cartagena 130001, Colombia

Read our full hotel review of Four Seasons Cartagena

Vestige Binidufà, Menorca, Spain

The buzz of Ibiza (thankfully) hasn’t yet reached Menorca. Nestled within an 800-hectare private estate on the island’s unspoiled northern coast, where native Minorcan cattle roam the untouched countryside, Vestige Binidufà preserves the bucolic side of the Balearics, sharing its sprawling grounds and amenities – including two restaurants, swimming pools and wellness facilities – with its hilltop sister, Vestige Son Ermità, which opened in June 2025. Shaped by the land and its history as a working farm, the in-house design studio, Vestige Estudio, restored a red-colored finca into an 11-bedroom, valley-ringed hideout that harmonises rustic farmhouse charm and serene sophistication, expressed through earthy hues, exposed wood beam ceilings, terracotta tile flooring, stone soaking tubs and antiques from the family’s collection.

Vestige Binidufà is located at Diseminado Binideufa, 18, 07750 Ferreries, Illes Balears, Spain

March 2026

1 Hotel Tokyo, Japan

Adding to Tokyo’s striking skyline, 1 Hotel Tokyo, the brand’s first seedling in Japan, is a masterclass in sustainable luxury within an urban setting, rising atop Akasaka Trust Tower. To create a biophilic oasis in one of Asia’s largest cities, Creme, in collaboration with 1 Hotel’s in-house design team, turned to nature, bringing the outdoors in through the thoughtful use of natural materials, a practice deeply rooted in both 1 Hotels’ philosophy and Japanese design. A vertical botanical installation, Oya stone and recycled timber panels greet guests in the 38th-floor lobby. Rooms are adorned with muted earthy hues, abundant greenery and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood in sunlight. The spaces feel like a breath of fresh air: a visual reset, a place to unwind above the bustle of the city.

1 Hotel Tokyo is located at 2 Chome-17-22 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan

Read our full hotel review of 1 Hotel Tokyo

Fairmont Hanoi, Vietnam

Fairmont Hanoi, the brand’s first debut in Vietnam, adds a splash of modern luxury to the city’s Old Quarter. Glimmering gold and dripping in glamour, the 241-key hotel is a contemporary take on the opulence of Vietnamese tradition, poised to become a landmark in its own right. Influenced by French Colonial and Indochinese architecture, the sculpted, articulated façade, with collonaded podiums and balconies, punctuates the ever-changing cityscape. The interiors by Aston Design extend the aesthetic, while layering in elements that echo Vietnamese symbolism and the surrounding landscape, from a large-scale floral installation in the lobby to the vertical tapestry of vegetation in the courtyard. The clutch restaurants, bars and lounges serve as the social hubs, while the 3,500-square-meter spa and light wood-accented rooms channel artistry into relaxation.

Fairmont Hanoi is located at 10 Tran Nguyen Han Street, Hanoi, Vietnam

Read our full hotel review of Fairmont Hanoi

The Huntington Hotel, San Francisco, USA

San Francisco is in the midst of a renaissance, driven by new culinary and hospitality happenings, most notably the return of the Huntington Hotel. Once frequented by luminaries like Truman Capote, the storied Georgian estate helped put the city on the map. The redux – now part of Leading Hotels of the World – seeks to reclaim its cultural legacy. For hometown designer Ken Fulk, returning Nob Hill’s crown jewel to its ivy-clad glory required a grand reimagining of its accommodations, restaurant and wellness facilities, alongside a careful polishing of original plasterwork ceilings and boiserie panels. The 143 rooms and suites capture the elegance of the hotel’s heyday, enhanced by the allure of warm, muted hues and bold art. The Big Four benefited from a gracious upgrade without compromising its character, while the emblematic Nob Hill Spa once again beckons with an atrium crowned by Moorish fretwork and a heated indoor swimming pool.

The Huntington Hotel is located at 1075 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108, United States

The Lake Como Edition, Italy

Situated on Lake Como’s western shore in Cadenabbia, The Lake Como Edition balances heritage and hip, standing out among the historic landmarks of Italy’s most legendary lakeside destination. The Edition’s creative directors, Kirstin Bailey and Paul Haslhofer, in collaboration with Neri&Hu and architectural partner De.Tales, transformed a 19th-century palazzo into a modern interpretation of Italian glamour, translating the landscape – lush flora, turquoise water, pink sunsets – into a colour palette complemented by marble-faced archways and terrazzo floors. The lobby lounge is punctuated by a celadon green Sekoya marble bar and a custom Neri + Hu bauble chandelier, while the lakefront pool deck, dotted with striped umbrellas, looks ready to splash across postcards. Walnut furnishings and arched windows add character to the 148 rooms. True to the hotel’s forward-thinking ethos, there’s a state-of-the-art longevity spa for high-tech biohacking treatments and cryotherapy.

The Lake Como Edition is located at Via Regina, 41, 22011 Cadenabbia, Italy

Read our full hotel review of The Lake Como Edition

Six Senses London, UK

While most of London’s luxury hotels cluster around Mayfair and Belgravia, Six Senses London plants its flag in the heart of Bayswater. Taking cues from the building’s origins as the city’s first major department store, AvroKO looked to the heritage façade, the Great Exhibition and the streamliners of that era, weaving in modern, streamlined thinking and a soft palette that shifts the mood from retail to retreat. The residential-style rooms and suites unfold in a serene sweep of rounded forms, inky blues and warm woods. Some feature soaking tubs or glass stall showers that resemble old-school phone booths. Works by contemporary British artists complement a sculptural green bar, curved velvet seating and orb-like lighting in Whiteley’s Bar. Follow the restored circular staircase down to the basement spa, replete with a handmade porcelain petal sculpture by Ula Saniawa, a vaulted swimming pool and a biohacking recovery lounge.

Six Senses London is located at 1 Redan Pl, London W2 4SA, United Kingdom

Read our full hotel review of Six Senses London

February 2026

Alila Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Far removed from nightclubs and co-eds in Cancun, Alila Mayakoba shows off a more tranquil, down-to-earth side of the Riviera Maya. Huber Design Studio took a biophilic approach, celebrating the ecological beauty and deep cultural roots of the Yucatán Peninsula. Situated at the intersection of nature and culture, the five-star, adult-centric resort unfolds across mangrove-framed waterways, cenotes and the Caribbean coastline. Native, locally sourced materials – including tropical hardwoods such as tzalam, parota and rosa morada, along with stone ranging from hand-chiselled Mérida limestone to travertine – ground the design. Furniture, ceramics and henequén textiles handcrafted by Mexican artisans reinforce a sense of proximity and purpose, resulting in a retreat that feels deeply rooted in place while thoughtfully reducing its environmental footprint.

Alila Mayakoba is located at Carretera Federal Cancún-Playa del Carmen KM 298, Mexico

Ayan Zalaat, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Set on a 34-acre estate just outside Ulaanbaatar, Ayan Zalaat gives visitors a visually stunning and immersive introduction to Mongolian heritage. The combination of architecture led by the Mabetex Group and interior design by Fabio Friso reflect the country’s rich roots, while introducing a new echelon of glamour and grandeur to contrast its rugged surroundings. From the opulent double staircase and chandelier-studded reception to the 10 dazzling F&B concepts, it’s lavish on a considerably large-scale – but its sumptuous scene never overshadows its spirituality. The 32 rooms and suites show off bespoke furnishings, premium Mongolian wool carpets, marble bathrooms and expansive windows for soaking in the panoramic views. The property is also home to the Soma Temple and an ornately decorated Mongolian theatre, adorned with bright colours and intricate motifs, that hosts traditional throat singing (khöömii).

Ayan Zalaat is located at BZD - 11 khoroo, Ulaanbaatar 13241, Mongolia

The Newman, London, UK

Designed by the London-based studio Lind + Almond, The Newman is a new independent hotel that strikes a balance between a modern creative vision and nods to Fitzrovia's decades-long bohemian and literary heritage. Drawing inspiration from Art Deco design and the vibrant, creative spirit of the neighbourhood itself, the 81 rooms, including 16 suites, mix a soft yet warm neutral palette and geometric shapes with scene-setting art and a curated selection of books. Guests will also notice references to iconic figures such as the curves of the wood on the headboards, which recall the oversized bangles worn by British writer, heiress and political activist Nancy Cunard. Bathrooms feature bespoke tiling that echoes the façade of Gem Langham Court Hotel and sinks influenced by Shropshire House.

The Newman is located at 50 Newman St, London W1T 3EB, UK

Read our full hotel review of The Newman

The Vineta Hotel, Palm Beach, USA

The newest entrant to the posh Palm Beach scene, The Vineta Hotel, marks the first US opening for Oetker Hotels (the luxury hospitality brand behind Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc and Eden Rock - St Barths). Set on Cocoanut Row, just two blocks from Worth Avenue shopping, the elegant property revives what was previously The Chesterfield, a beloved Palm Beach hotel. Paris-based interior designer Tino Zervudachi headed the top-to-bottom renovation of the 1926 landmark, restoring iconic elements such as the distinctive Mediterranean Revival façade and leaning into its 100-year-old legacy with signature Palm Beach pastels and details like scalloped pendant lights that ooze coastal glamour. Snowbirds can expect 41 light-filled rooms, a flower-framed courtyard restaurant called Coco’s, a cocktail bar and a pool flanked by sun loungers.

The Vineta Hotel is located at 363 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach, FL 33480, United States

White Elephant Aspen, USA

Colorado’s chicest winter hotspot welcomes a new stay aimed at the well-dressed coteries. White Elephant Aspen – the brand’s first Western outpost, joining properties in Nantucket and Palm Beach – introduces a contemporary, alpine-chic aesthetic to Aspen. The brainchild of Boston-based architectural firm EMBARC, the 54-key hotel showcases a mountainside colourway of white, cognac and charcoal, complemented by the natural textures of leather, wood and stone. Rooms and suites (some of which have crackling fireplaces) are kitted with porcelain tile, embossed headboards and oil-rubbed bronze light fixtures. The art collection boasts 125 original works, including landscapes by Alex Katz and rotating photography of nearby Maroon Bells by Bob Tabor. Guests familiar with the portfolio will appreciate the playful details, such as elephant door knockers.

White Elephant Aspen is located at 110 W Main St, Aspen, CO 81611, United States

January 2026

Andaz One Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand

For Andaz One Bangkok, a new lifestyle hotel on historic Wireless Road, Thailand interior design firm PIA drew inspiration from the pulse of the city, from the motorbike-jammed bustling streets to the hidden alleys. Envisioned as a base for ‘curious urban travellers,’ the design and energy aim to match the exuberance of the Thai capital. Colour and texture play an important role in expressing a sense of evolution. Arches – in mirrors, hallways and windows – nod to the curved lines of the Thai mid-century movement, while pops of sunny yellow and orange, bold works by Thai female artists and traditional window grills inject character and personality. As much a place to unwind as to sip cocktails at the swank lounge or swim in the outdoor infinity pool overlooking Lumphini Park, the 244 rooms are quiet with peaceful, leafy views.

Andaz One Bangkok is located at 201 Wireless Road, Lumphini, Patumwan, 10330 Bangkok, Thailand

Chesa Marchetta, Engadin Valley, Switzerland

In 2014, Iwan and Manuela Wirth, co-founders of the international gallery Hauser & Wirth, expanded into hospitality with the creation of Artfarm and, four years later, opened The Fife Arms in Scotland. The creative powerhouse couple has done it again with Chesa Marchetta, a cosy 13-bedroom retreat in Sils Maria, a small village in Switzerland’s Engadin Valley. Reimagined by the design-oriented duo and frequent collaborator Luis Laplace, of the Paris-based interior architecture firm Laplace, the seasonal refuge comprises four historic buildings dating back to the 16th century, decorated with arven wood panelling, traditional Engadin furniture and blankets from a nearby weaving collective. As to be expected, the art collection is exceptional: a mix of works by Old Masters and local artists, alongside murals by Corin Sands. There’s also a former barn turned 46-seat restaurant, adorned with stone and an exposed wood-beam ceiling.

Chesa Marchetta is located at Via da Marias 88, 7514 Sils im Engadin/Segl, Switzerland

Read our full hotel review of Chesa Marchetta

Oculto, Mexico City, Mexico

Oculto, the latest venture from Vida Lenta – the hospitality group behind Hotel Dama in Condesa and Hotel Parián in Roma Norte – is an intimate boutique gem in Mexico City’s trendy Juárez neighbourhood. Fernanda Diaz, of Mexico City-based interior design studio Eran, conceived the hotel as both an intentional hideaway for travellers and a tribute to Mexican craftsmanship and creativity. Tucked behind an unassuming façade on Calle Versailles, the 21-room bolthole veers toward minimalism with polished concrete floors and clean lines, yet the interiors are anything but sterile. The palpable warmth comes from the thoughtful layering of locally sourced antiques and contemporary art, creating an authentic atmosphere that encourages slowing down while remaining unmistakably spirited, like CDMX itself.

Oculto is located at Calle Versalles 80, 06600 Mexico City, Mexico

Soori Penang, George Town, Malaysia

​For Soo K. Chan, ​the founder of award-winning firm​ SCDA Architects, Soori Penang​ – the follow-up to the flagship Soori Bali – is deeply personal. ​Situated in the oldest part​ of George Town, the UNESCO-designated historic heart of Penang, ​the extraordinary undertaking reinvents a​ collection of Khoo clan​ shophouses​, where the architect was born and raised, into an intimate 15-key ​luxury boutique hotel. Centuries-old craftsmanship shines, reflecting an unwavering reverence for the past, thoughtfully reinterpreted through a contemporary mindset. The generously proportioned one- to three-bedroom ​suites are imbued with heritage details, from motifs inspired by the ornate Khoo Kongsi temple to carved stone and onyx lanterns, complemented by custom-designed furniture and latticed shutters. Inner courtyards, with reflective pools and bespoke stone fountains, provide a tranquil place to unwind between excursions.

Soori Penang is located at 48 Lebuh Aceh, George Town, Penang, 10300, Malaysia

Read our full hotel review of Soori Penang

V Villas Maldives at Mirihi

International architecture and design firm Studio Gronda transformed an older resort in the South Ari Atoll into a stylish vacation paradise where tropical escapism is elevated with sun-dappled sophistication. The newly unveiled V Villas Maldives at Mirihi, debuting as part of Accor’s MGallery Collection, echoes the barefoot luxury essence of Maldivian holidays. In tune with the rhythms of island living, each of the 42 villas showcases contemporary open-air architecture, seamlessly integrating indoor and outdoor spaces. Throughout the property, guest sanctuaries are accented with timber floors, vaulted ceilings, natural textures and handcrafted furnishings. Accommodations range from overwater villas with private sun decks suspended above the lagoon to beachfront abodes shrouded by lush greenery, as well as multi-bedroom suites complete with private pools.

V Villas Maldives at Mirihi - MGallery Collection is located at Mirihi Island, 00190, Maldives

In early November, the automotive press was invited to Jaguar’s design studio in Gaydon, Warwickshire, for a sneak preview of the brand’s long-awaited reinvention. Ushered into a series of dimly lit corridors, soundtracked by a whooshing, spa-like New Age ambience, we were shown a small but crucial fraction of the fruits of the studio’s labour – an all-new graphic identity.

This imagery is the first creative work from a company that has been holed up in the studio for well over two years, refining its vision of what luxury means in the modern world. Based on the imagery released today, the British brand is reinventing itself as a paragon of ‘exuberant modernist philosophy’. With the taglines ‘break moulds’, ‘copy nothing’, ‘live vivid’, ‘delete ordinary’ and ‘create exuberant’, Jaguar is hoping to leap a generation and enter the 2030s as a fully fledged global luxury player.

In terms of product, Jaguar’s rebirth will begin with a bold new concept car, due to be unveiled early next month at Miami Art Week 2024. It’ll be followed by up to three production cars, each using a specially developed EV platform that places a focus on space, pace and grace. Forgive us, because that was an old Jaguar slogan, one now deemed surplus to requirement in an image-obsessed era where the brand has to come before the horse.

Jaguar has undertaken all this work in-house, ripping up the branding rulebook by discarding almost all the equity and associations that have accreted since the company was founded in 1935. That’s not to say that nothing remains, however, for the famous leaping cat symbol has been burnished and rethought as the ‘Makers Mark’, along with an all-new typeface for the Device Mark, plus a dedicated Monogram and a signature graphic pattern, which Jaguar is calling its Strikethrough.

These ‘four key symbols of change’ will all find their way onto the new concept in some form or another, starting with a ‘Jaguar’ logo that’s been reborn as a mix of upper and lowercase characters. No austere minimalism, or midcentury throwbacks here, just a very straightforward graphic font that emphasises geometry and symmetry in each letter form. Then there’s the new leaper graphic, silhouetted against the Strikethrough pattern. One of the best-recognised auto identities of all time, it’s understandable why the company hasn’t abandoned it completely, but it does heavy lifting here as the only direct link to Jaguar’s past.

The Strikethrough graphic is part Donald Judd installation, part Paul Rand’s IBM logo, and forms a stylised auto grille in an era when such devices are no longer required. It’s joined by a Monogram, two intertwined and stylised ‘J’s in a circular pattern, the kind of thing you might see on a steering wheel or wheel nut.

All this ‘Exuberant Modernism’ is filtered through a shifting palette of red, yellow and blue, used not as flat colours but as ‘tonal building blocks’ that blur together in a Rothko-esque smudge of contemporary ambience. We were also shown new material applications for the graphic set, especially brass, chosen for its ability to patinate over time.

‘We are creating Jaguar for the future, restoring its status as a brand that enriches the lives of our clients and the Jaguar community,’ says Professor Gerry McGovern OBE, JLR’s chief creative officer and the man responsible for overseeing the transformation. McGovern is an unabashed admirer of modernist thinking, but for Jaguar 2.0 he and his team have also drawn on the avant-garde, especially the worlds of fashion and fine art.

The latter explains the decision to launch in Miami, where the new concept car will be shown alongside ‘new and groundbreaking emerging artists who share its ethos of Copy Nothing’.

‘To bring back such a globally renowned brand we had to be fearless,’ says Rawdon Glover, Jaguar’s MD, ‘Jaguar was always at its best when challenging convention. This is a complete reset. Jaguar is transformed to reclaim its originality and inspire a new generation.

Jaguar.co.uk, @Jaguar

Architecture buffs can now check dining under a Zaha Hadid sculpture off their bucket list with the opening of Elastika, a new restaurant nestled inside The Moore, a landmark building in the Miami Design District. First brought to life by architect, entrepreneur and financier David P. Davis during the 1920s Florida Land Boom, the property will soon begin a new era as a hub for fashion, design, art, architecture and dining, following an extensive renovation by WoodHouse.

Step inside Elastika

Elastika, the 433 sq m pliant web by Zaha Hadid that the restaurant takes its name from, spans The Moore’s four-story atrium and was commissioned by Robins for the inaugural Design Miami exhibition in 2005. Beneath the white amorphous sculpture now sits an inviting dining space, which combines contemporary design with the building’s original historic architectural elements through the collaboration between WoodHouse and hospitality design firm Icrave.

The main dining room, which sees a collection of contemporary art curated by Miami-based art advisor Monica Kalpakian, features an expansive 18-seat bar, elegant velvet banquette seating, a semi-private dining room and a lounge area for coffee and cocktails, with much of the furniture designed by Brazil-based furniture maker Sossego using sustainably harvested wood. The renovation of the building also included the addition of a new skylight for ample natural light and a sidewalk patio with lush greenery for covered seating.

Helmed by executive chef Joe Anthony, Elastika offers a range of modern American dishes rooted in thoughtfully sourced ingredients from local farmers. The menu features an eclectic range of flavours, including highlights such as Citrus Cured Kingfish Crudo with fermented farro, local kohlrabi and cucumber aguachile, Eggplant and Sheep’s Milk Ravioli Serviettes with spring fricassee, local mushrooms and pine nut froth and Grilled Heritage Pork Ribeye with tiny farm’s turnips, grilled broccoli rabe and red verjus-cardamom sauce.

Elastika is located at 4040 NE 2nd Ave in Miami, elastikamiami.com

This Sunset Islands residence in Miami Beach was created for none other than legendary former Formula One driver Eddie Irvine – a fitting base from which to enjoy the sun and the race that is about to take place in the Florida city (the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, 3-5 May). 

Explore Sunset Islands residence by Strang Design

Originally from Northern Ireland, Irvine competed in Formula One from 1993-2002 for the likes of Ferrari and Jaguar. More recently spending time in Miami, he has been developing luxurious single-family homes in South Florida. It was his property collaborator, Luis Bosch, that introduced Irvine to Max Strang – the head of established Miami architecture studio Strang Design, who is behind this new, contemporary residence.

There was a synergy between Strang and Irvine's approach and architectural passions – they both are passionate about Miami life and F1 racing, and they both have a home in the Bahamas (on neighbouring islands). 

The result of their collaboration is this modern five-bedroom, 6,550 sq ft home, Sunset Island Residence. 'It captures the spirit of Miami Beach living. It demonstrates why so many people desire to live on these islands surrounding Biscayne Bay,' says Strang. 

Strang worked his magic on the site, drawing on his expertly honed approach which blends tropical modernism with a regional, environmental take. His expert touch can be experienced in Miami houses and Florida residences beyond, including Wildwood Residence and Tarpon Bend Residence. 

Here, the design team worked with the architecture studio's signature low-slung, modernist-inspired volumes and clean aesthetics. Coral stone and wood accents craft a calming palette in this single-storey home. Isabel Aguayo of Casa Allure Designs helped with the interior design. 

The indoor/outdoor relationships are particularly strong in the design – another Strang signature. The home is elevated from the ground to adhere to the region's floor and hurricane regulations, but it still cascades out to expansive decked terraces and a swimming pool and includes a rooftop lounge. The entire structure is engulfed in a green garden by landscape architect Christopher Cawley, lush with native Florida foliage. 

His client is happy: 'She’s a beauty,' says Irvine. 'Luis and I are involved in every detail of the house and each house [I develop] is done as if I’m going to move in.' 

 The Formula One Miami Grand Prix runs 3-5 May 2024

strang.design

It’s been a long road to Aston Martin's new Miami residences, the 66-storey tower rising above the shoreline where the Miami River meets Biscayne Bay. Officially opening today, the 800ft-plus tower contains 391 apartments, 99 per cent of which have now been sold. Like other car companies branching out into real estate, Aston Martin kicked off this project – developed in collaboration with G&G Business Developments – with the hope of bringing its design values to architecture, capturing the imagination of East Coast owners.

Discussing Aston Martin’s Miami residences

We spoke to Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s executive vice president and chief creative officer, about the genesis of the project, the extent of the car maker’s involvement and the next steps for the Aston Martin brand. Back in 2021 we talked to Reichman and G&G’s CEO, Germán Coto, about a project that had just topped out. Two and a half years later, how has it all turned out? 

‘We signed on to this project a decade ago,’ Reichman says from Shanghai, where he’s about to attend the Chinese Grand Prix. ‘Every aspect of the scheme was very important to us, from the 390 apartments to the lobby, the garaging, the amenities.’ Pointing out that every apartment from the swimming pool level upwards gets an Aston thrown in, he also notes that one in eight buyers were already owners.

Reichman and the rest of the Aston Martin design team worked hand in hand with Rodolfo Miani of Miami, Santiago de Chile and Buenos Aires firm Bodas Miani Anger (BMA) and Seville’s Revuelta Architecture. ‘It’s been very intense, a wonderful project on an extremely spectacular site,’ Reichman says, adding that although Covid put a spike in the original timetable, G&G were nothing but supportive, ensuring that specs remaining sky high throughout.

Unlike other branded towers, it was deemed essential that the Aston Martin Residences had a presence on the skyline that befitted a maker of svelte, proportionally perfect luxury sports cars. The sail-like profile of the tower is certainly distinctive, standing out from the surrounding cluster with flowing lines and a distinctive notch on the 55th floor. Here, you’ll find an infinity pool with a view, surrounded by Jacuzzis and cabanas, as well as the Aston Martin-design sky bar and lounge, ballroom and private dining areas.

All that remains to be sold is the 20,000 square feet triplex penthouse, one of the penthouses in the development. This has its own private pool deck, over 7,000 sq ft of wraparound balconies and a price tag of around $59 million. Every occupant has the option to engage the ‘Q by Aston Martin’ bespoke division to enhance their apartment specification (three interior design styles are available, Timeless, Covert and Indulgent), but there’s also a massive focus on the shared amenity areas.

‘This is your home, so the main entrance lobby and concierge desk are very important,’ Reichman says. ‘From the marble to the artworks, the desk itself and even the scent, everything has been overseen.’ That extends to individualised lift cars, the use of automotive-quality leather on the door handles and specially developed keyless locks. ‘We’ve even designed the reader you hold your phone to,’ Reichman says.

Detailed designs were also prepared for the club and pool areas that extend from the 52nd to 55th floor. This ‘sky gallery’ is united by a central glass staircase. ‘You arrive at this hanging lobby, four storeys high,’ says Reichman, ‘with grey Italian marble floors throughout. Every detail is considered, from the way the exercise bikes and gym machines are countersunk into the floor to appear flush with the building. We’ve even designed the seats in the private cinema.’

‘We’ve really created an Aston Martin living space,’ Reichman concludes. Other architectural projects from the company include the No.001 Minami Aoyama house in Tokyo, and the Sylvan Rock private house in upstate New York. Commenting on the difference between architecture and automotive, Reichman notes that ‘you never really see everything until the very end of a project – 90 per cent of the time you’re in a hard hat and things are swathed in scaffolding.’ 

Architecture, furniture design, watches, a speedboat and even a helicopter have all helped Aston Martin broaden its reach deeper into the superluxury sector. And it’s not stopping there. ‘Our criteria is one very special building per city,’ Reichman says when asked about future architectural projects. As for 300 Biscayne Boulevard Way, it’ll remain a rare monument to a singular and very driven design vision. ‘More than anything, it was about being the first automotive brand to do this,' says Reichman. 'It’s changed the skyline of Miami with its silhouette.’ You can’t ask for a much bigger brand statement than that. 

 AstonMartinResidences.com 

AstonMartin.com

BMAestudio.com.ar

Revuelta.com

GandGbd.com

Jumping across the pond for their first edition outside of Milan, Alcova smartly chose Miami. For founders Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima, this crossroad of diversity and unconventional lifestyle made it the perfect location. For the locals, it offered a taste of better things to come for the ever-evolving Miami Art Week. Known for showing in unexpected derelict spaces during Salone, the collective of young designers, studios, and innovators, checked-in at the Selena Gold Dust Motel— a funky 50s iconic restoration and one of many that are becoming more popular along Biscayne Boulevard.

Inside Alcova Miami debut

Alcova naturally embodied the Miami mix of chill and speed that makes it such a fun place to have nowhere to be. The long poolside corridors accompanied by the gentle hum of wall unit ACs were a nice backdrop for the throngs of lost sweaty souls drawn into random rooms, moving to the tune of the designers’ siren call, all in search of unexpected treasure.

Leonard Bessemer’s LA based studio Objects for Objects deserves a prize for the wild and wonderful 'Trophy Room’. Using otherwise discarded trophy parts, taste-maker Bessemer, skillfully repurposed them into quirky and elegant chairs, tables, mirrors, floor lamps, sconces and a statement bookshelf with trophy toppers as detailed jewels. 

Alcova Project Space’s theme of ‘Digital Ornamentalism’ hammered that virtual aesthetic back into the physical world with meticulously designed objects crafted with long-enduring techniques of old, merging the tangible and intangible.

China born designer Jialun Xiong’s first solo space, ‘Before the Eclipse’, made a statement with her signature dark moody gradient, bathing the space with meditative vibes, blurring the lines between stunning light compositions and beautifully abstracted devices floating in negative space.

‘Uncharted’ - made up of Forma Rosa Studio, Caleb Ferris, NJ Roseti, Studio Sam Klemick, Tristan Louis Marsh, and Wallpaper Projects - presented strangely familiar and firmly functional objects cohabiting harmoniously in one, moody, psychedelic den. 

Lastly, former Wallpaper* Designers of the Year Objects of Common Interest delighted with Dry Garden. A resin-based sculptural seating collection reminiscent of candy coloured faceted gems or pigmented glycerin rocks glowing through the light and celebrating the vibrant city and its timeless colours.

Selina Gold Dust Motel
7700 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL 33138

alcova.xyz

As Design Miami 2023 continues through the weekend, we explore the best design beyond the fair's borders, from temporary and permanent installations across the Miami Design District to the new, must-see disruptive fair in town. Explore our highlights below.

Miami Design District: installations

Multidisciplinary artists and designers left their mark across the Miami Design District, creating moments of wonder and reflection around the area. These include digital artist Andrés Reisinger's first IRL takeover, the distinctive pink draping of his virtual images brought to life over a building in the district (178 NE 39th St).

Everywhere in the district, visitors can pause to discover Lara Bohinc's Utopia series of cork furniture and sculptures. Part of the Design District's annual commission and on view for a year, the installation includes outdoor seating, such as stools and armchairs connecting into sofas, as well as tables and oversized light sculptures (equipped with solar panels). Bohinc also created 900 egg-shaped birdhouses, and an egg-like centrepiece that she imagines as a sculptural refuge for animals and children.

Now a permanent fixture of the Miami Design District is Samuel Ross' ‘Expression.Service.Essence’ project, comprising 12 bench designs that will help shape the ever-evolving neighbourhood. 'It is a forum of experimentation that takes shape as an optimistic, expressive, accessible form,' he told Wallpaper*. 'Channelling and contorting the behaviours of what it is to fundamentally operate as a British sculptor or artist through seating, the public forum and explicit gestures of optimism are at the core of all 12 functional sculptures.'

Also in the district is Gaetano Pesce's 'Again Miami With Multidisciplinary Works', a solo exhibition at MDD (30-40 NE 40th St), a 'time-machine show' exploring Pesce's experimental approach to objects, and featuring both new and archive works. 

Design Showrooms: new openings and more

New openings in the Design District this year include Cassina (3901 NE 2nd Ave) and B&B Italia, the latter unveiling its Studio concept with a two-storey, 1,950 sq m space designed by Lissoni & Partners (4141 NE 2nd Ave). 

At Molteni&C (4100 NE 2nd Ave), artist Roberto Ruspoli offered guests a live drawing session earlier this week, transforming the showroom's interior with his distinctive, Roman-inspired trait. 

Nearby, Minotti (3801 NE 2nd Avenue) presents its latest collaboration with GamFratesi, explored through a conversation with Istituto Marangoni's Thelma Lazo-Flores, dean of Interior Design. 

Wynwood: things to see

This week marked the unveiling of Vincent Van Duysen's Gravitas for Mexican stone and surface specialist Arca. The stone furniture is presented in an immersive installation at the company's Wynwood showroom (260 NW 27th St). 

New in the area is also a new Ralph Pucci showroom, a new large home for the gallery's eclectic offering (550 NW 28th Street). The gallery features 'Strange Vegetation', a new body of work by Elizabeth Garouste taking over the façade, while inside new collections by India Mahdavi for Ralph Pucci make their debut. 

New in the area is also Hoops Tree, a new permanent waterfront installation by artist Cj Hendry (at 1745 Bayshore Drive) created with the support of the city of Miami. A 6m-high palm tree-like structure featuring 20 blue hoops, the sculpture is part nod to popular culture, part elevated, chandelier-like addition to the area. 'This concept is my first foray into a permanent public concept,' says the artist. 

'Designing Hoops Tree has been interesting because its scale is enormous and it's so much heavier than I anticipated. The engineering team helped with the specs to make it safe and sturdy. All these components make for a fascinating combination of practicality and creativity. Having an artwork that will live on in a public space indefinitely is a real honour and I am so excited to see it come.'

The Miami debut of Alcova

It is truly a fantastic experience to drive the length of Biscayne Boulevard, dotted with 1950s motels, to reach Alcova, set within the iconic Gold Dust Motel (7700 Biscayne Boulevard). A piece of Miami history, the space was taken over by the Milanese design fair to present emerging designers and brands, from Objects of Common Interest's resin furniture to Jialun Xiong's new lighting designs. 

Miami Art Week 2023 is upon us. Every year the world’s art and design enthusiasts flock down to the magic city, eccentric migratory birds looking for a sunny warm enclave to end their season. White halls and metaverse worlds overflow with creative expression, dark high-octane lounge rooms blast with excess. So we say, get your AI gear ready, party shoes polished and discerning eyes sharpened, Miami Art Week is not for the faint of heart, but an unmissable feeding ground rich with diverse culture and premier art. Here are our eight highlights, sure to keep you mesmerised all week long. 

Miami Art Week 2023: what to see

THE BASS – Anne Duk Hee Jordan’s ‘I Will Always Weather With You’

With her first solo show in the United States, Anne Duk See Jordan’s multisensory exhibition ‘I will always weather with you’ opens at The Bass on 4 December, as part of the museum’s 60th-anniversary season. Titled after what sounds like a turbulent love letter, Jordan’s large-scale interactive space addresses climate change induced by technology, and the increasingly challenging life on Earth. 

The immersive installation will consist of three terrestrial zones – land, water, and air – each exploring meteorological adversities endured by the spectrum of living creatures. A sensorial banquet of video projections, sounds, edible landscapes, and odd robotic characters simulates atmospheric conditions, ranging from a gentle breeze to turbulent winds. 

Aptly showing in Miami Beach, these spouts of temperamental weather are something the inhabitants of South Florida know all too well. Through humour and playful devices, Jordan reminds us of the power planet Earth has over us, but also of our hand in tipping the balance against our fragile world. A complex and entangled affair increasingly imminent and increasingly explored in this year’s Miami Art Week. 

On view through 23 June 2024, thebass.org

FAENA ART – Kelly Breez’s ‘Dirt’s Dive’ 

In its solid offering, Faena Art will also be presenting an immersive installation by local Floridian artist Kelly Breez. Set at Faena Art’s Project Room, a permanent space for innovative interventions in Miami Beach, Breez’s ‘Dirt’s Dive’ is a nostalgic journey through dive bars. Playing with scale and popular bar motifs, the artist pays homage to the infamous South Florida dive bars with thoughtfully crafted life-sized figures, sculptures, and illustrations often seen in historic bar settings. 

‘Creating an installation like Dirt’s is as much about story-telling as it is about art-making,’ says Breez. It is of concern that these ill-famed stomping grounds where people socialise while they drink, share tales, and experience chance encounters are being rapidly replaced by flashy manicured rivals, like fast fashion. Through fantasy and playfulness, the exhibition narrates the importance of these bar spaces in both the artist’s personal memory and as crucial threads in our community and its social history.

faenaart.org

PAMM – Gary Simmons’ ‘Public Enemy’

We can always depend on the PAMM (Pérez Art Museum Miami) for delivering exceptional programming during Miami Art Week and one to mark on the calendar is Gary Simmons: ‘Public Enemy’, previewing 5 December. Covering for the first time over three decades of Simmons’ artistic career, the show will feature an expansive collection of sculptures, dynamic installations, plus large scale drawings created at the space. 

Predominant in Simmon’s work, are themes of institutional racism and class inequality in popular American culture, particularly cinema, architecture, and urban music. The regular use of pedagogical motifs, such as smeared or partly-erased chalk drawings on blackboards, are quintessential to his approach. An expression of racially-charged stereotypical icons that incite painful memories, as a history that can be blurred and rewritten, but can’t be erased.

Until 28 April 2024, pamm.org

SUPERBLUE – SFER IK Award 

At Superblue on 5 December, Antoine Bertin was announced winner of the SFER IK Award 2023 –  an AI artwork competition. The artist will receive a two-month residency in SFER IK’s innovative campus in the Mayan jungle. The brief was to create an AI-generated artwork addressing themes of biodiversity, interspecies collaboration, technology, and nature, and Bertin’s winning work, The Bat Cloud, will be showcased at SFER IK’s upcoming open-air museum in Tulum. 

In this self-sustained creative centre, named Azulik Uh May, Bertin will have access to local artisans, digital fabrication facility FabLab, and a hefty $100k budget to work with. Also known as ‘The City of the Arts’, the ten-acre estate, founded by architect, ecologist and entrepreneur Roth, is also home to an architecture and interior design studio, a media production company, and a cluster of workshop pods, all built from locally sourced and sustainable materials. It’s a unique context Roth believes will allow the artist to marry traditional tools with avant-garde design to understand and better serve our natural world. 

instagram.com/sferik.art/
superblue.com

ICA Miami – Sasha Gordon 

Tucked between rows of couture window displays in the Miami Design District (where you might admire installations such as Samuel Ross’ new benches, and Lara Bohinc’s ‘Utopia’), the ICA Miami is another must on the list. Its Miami Art Week programme includes up-and-comer artist Sasha Gordon, whose new series of hyperreal paintings, mostly self-portraits, depict dark fantastical scenes, exploring the complexities of feminine identity through unconventional transformations of the artist’s own body. As a queer Asian-American woman, Gordon dissects societal preconceptions of gender and race, with personal experiences, and portrays emotions of vulnerability, prejudice, and empowerment in a humorous and exquisitely surreal setting. 

Also debuting is Anne Collier’s Unraveling (Are You Out Of Your Mind), a large-scale photographic installation of an unspooled cassette player, which takes over the museum’s central staircase. 

‘Sasha Gordon: Surrogate Self’, until 10 March 2024. Anne Collier, Unraveling (Are You Out Of Your Mind), until 16 October 2024, icamiami.org

Art Basel Miami Beach 2023 – Positions

Coming up to its 21st year edition, Art Basel Miami Beach (8 – 10 December 2023) will host 277 outstanding international galleries, with 25 newcomers joining this prime list. The Positions section of the fair will showcase a superb roster of young Latin American talents. 

Amongst the 16 individual presentations are: 

– Allan Weber, a Brazilian artist, displays new sculptural objects and Tamo junto não é gorjeta, a photo-series referencing class inequalities, developed whilst the artist was delivering food during the pandemic.

– Mexican artist Andrew Roberts debuts four works, including a video piece on aquatic humanoid creatures. Roberts explores topics of war technology and the ocean as a geopolitical space of violence through fantastical installations.

– Esaí Alfredo, from Puerto Rico, exhibits Noches Que Nunca Acaban / Nights That Never Ended, a collection of cinematic, dream-like paintings portraying mysterious predominantly male rural scenes of nocturnal life in the tropical oasis.   

artbasel.com

Art Basel Miami Beach – Meridians

Also not to be missed are the 19 large-scale heavy-hitters featured in the Meridians sector of Art Basel Miami Beach, focusing this year on themes ‘that speak to nature, to the land, and to various cultural and spiritual geographies in a world of changing boundaries and shifting identities’, says Meridians’ curator, Magalí Arriola, director of Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporaneo in Mexico City. 

As highlights:

– Paula Cooper will be representing Ja’Tovia Gary’s debut installation and film collage Quiet As It’s Kept. Drawing on Toni Morrison’s 1970 novel The Bluest Eye as a starting thread, Gary challenges objectivity in nonfiction genres and reinserts her own visual memory to repair often-skewed representations of Black life. 

– Private Collection, by Libyan-Yurok artist Saif Azzuz comments on land boundaries determined by privilege and colonisation, with a 16ft x 16ft fenced yard installation housing sculptures and paintings only visible through small gaps in the enclosure. 

– Finally, the site-specific 60-minute music composition, The Keys, performed by Stefan Tcherepnin, embodies through electric cartographic tracks the perilous geography of Key Largo, where the artist’s grandmother lived.  

artbasel.com

2023 has been a particularly auspicious year for British polymath Dr Samuel Ross. Among a raft of blockbuster brand collaborations, experimental fashion campaigns, and groundbreaking design exhibits, the multifaceted talent developed a paradigm-shifting faucet for American bathroom giant Kohler and debuted the culturally responsive ‘Coarse’ furniture collection with New York gallery Friedman Benda. 

Regardless of what he’s working on, Ross always imbues his projects with an equal measure of decipherability and conceptual reasoning. The ‘Expression.Service.Essence’ project – developed for the Miami Design District (MDD) and revealed for Miami Design Week 2023 – is no different. 

Samuel Ross’ Miami Design District benches: ‘Expression.Service.Essence’

Permanently placed in different locations throughout the burgeoning 6.5-hectare mix-used neighbourhood, 12 emphatically ‘Ross’ benches bring his human-centric sensibility and sculptural aesthetic into the public sphere. For Ross, this commission is a study into the importance of such spaces.

'It is a forum of experimentation that takes shape as an optimistic, expressive, accessible form,' he says. 'Channelling and contorting the behaviours of what it is to fundamentally operate as a British sculptor or artist through seating, the public forum and explicit gestures of optimism are at the core of all 12 functional sculptures.'

Conceived under the moniker of his industrial design studio and creative agency SR_A, the iterative designs reflect the same visual language and formal vocabulary as some of his other concepts: the deft juxtapositioning of organic and rectilinear lines; smooth and rough textures. Ross realised the designs by drawing with charcoal, Indian ink and pencil. The chalk shapes were brought to life by CNC-milling and powder-coating highly durable steel.

'The ambiguity of sculpture and furniture across this particular time, the dual properties presented, is a grey area filled with elasticity,' says Ross. 'At its core, we are discussing servitude, elation, and access, whilst counterbalancing the lightness required to ensure each form invites the viewer to become an end user.' It’s rare that such esoteric ideation can reach such a broad group of people.

The project adds to the district’s already robust offering of interactive furnishings and striking artworks – large, playfully coloured stones and kinetic swings amongst them, alongside the bulbous forms of Lara Bohinc’s ‘Utopia’, recently unveiled for a year-long stint.

'Samuel Ross is one of the most important creatives, artists and critical thinkers working today,' says Craig Robins, president & CEO of Dacra and the force behind much of MDD’s evolution over the years. 'I have followed his work for many years, and personally collect his pieces. I truly admire his ability to meld raw creativity with profound cultural insight to design pieces that inspire viewers to question. His upcoming installation in the heart of the [neighbourhood] promises to be a testament to his visionary prowess and will serve as an immersive, interactive introduction to a new audience.'

samuel-ross.com
miamidesigndistrict.com

Lara Bohinc has just unveiled Utopia, a new installation created for the Miami Design District. Part of the neighbourhood’s annual design commission, selected in collaboration with the Design Miami curatorial lab, the installation will take over the district’s pedestrian areas for a year, as well as welcome visitors to the fair. 

‘Utopia’ by Lara Bohinc at Miami Design District

Utopia marks the first US commission of the London-based Slovenian creative,
who started her career as a jewellery designer before moving to furniture and objects, through collaborations with brands such as Driade, Roll & Hill and Kasthall, as well as ongoing self-produced limited-edition series.

Nature has always been present in Bohinc’s geometric yet soft compositions: among her latest projects is ‘Peaches’, a series of curvaceous furniture pieces, as well as
a collection of vases for Driade shaped like abstract female bodies, or the ‘Planetaria’ collection of furniture, where spherical and tubular shapes come together to form seating inspired by celestial bodies. 

For this new installation, Bohinc once again looks to nature, using living organisms as starting points for her exploration of repeating organic forms. ‘I wanted to explore how we might live in synchronicity with nature,’ she explains. ‘I wanted to create something that’s based on the idea of the cell, exploring how things grow and move, organisms, eggs, mushrooms and mycelium, the development of life.’ The designs also references Buckminster Fuller, whose Fly’s Eye dome is part of the Design District’s permanent installations and a strong influence on Bohinc’s creative thinking.

The resulting installation features outdoor seating, including stools and armchairs connecting into sofas, as well as tables and oversized light sculptures (equipped with solar panels). Bohinc also created 900 egg-shaped birdhouses, and an egg-like centrepiece that she imagines as a sculptural refuge for animals and children. ‘The design process was like, let’s just throw some things around and see what happens, in the same way the natural world creates itself,’ she says. ‘It’s almost like letting the eye wander in a way, and then just really observing when is the right moment to capture the final effect.’

Now in its ninth year, the annual design commission is part of the Miami Design District’s ongoing mission to enrich the local community while supporting creatives from a variety of fields. Bohinc’s installation follows commissions by Germane Barnes, Fernando Laposse, Philippe Malouin and Dozie Kanu, among others. ‘With the exceptional talent of Lara Bohinc, our installation this year promises to be nothing short of mesmerising,’ says Craig Robins, president and CEO of Dacra, the real estate innovator behind the district’s development. ‘By offering a dynamic platform for artists to reshape our landscape, we continue to elevate our community and strengthen Miami’s ever-evolving art scene.’

The pieces will be arranged across the district to create vignettes that encourage interaction, in a nod to ancient rituals of people gathering in circles, and to offer a practical moment of pause for visitors. ‘Miami faces many ongoing environmental issues, including the rising sea level, so I wanted to create something that’s really about coming back to life and protecting life,’ says Bohinc. For this reason, she chose to work in cork, a tactile material known for its sustainability credentials and natural waterproof properties. Working closely with a specialist workshop in Portugal, she created forms that start from the initial egg-shaped idea, ‘mushrooming and ballooning like growing cells’. The pieces were milled from cork blocks using 5D robotic milling machines, before being finished and painted by hand.

To connect the installation with the city, Bohinc curated a colour palette referencing classic Miami hues, with pastels inspired by Miami Beach art deco, the turquoise of the sea, and the glass from contemporary architecture around the Design District. The palette includes shades of pink, lilac, blue and green, with the material’s presence defining the final shade on the surface.

For Bohinc, this project is a continuation on the trajectory of organic, soft forms that have defined her work in recent years. ‘For a while, my work was very geometric, but the beauty of being creative is that you can allow yourself the freedom to change,’ she says, explaining how after spending more time indoors during the pandemic, she started veering toward a softer aesthetic.

Such a major commission as this will bring her work to the biggest audience yet. ‘I’m really interested in developing a language that contributes to the visual landscape,’ she says. ‘I hope that this will be the beginning of something that sprouts from that.’

Utopia will be installed 22 November 2023, and will be on view in the Design District for a year

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A version of this story appears in the December 2023 Entertaining Issue of Wallpaper*, available in print, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today!

Welcome to our Entertaining issue. It can feel frivolous and indulgent to talk of entertaining at a time such as this. However, the abiding message of bringing people together with love, warmth and generosity is something that we can hold on to, while still sharing our thoughts and wishes for a peaceful resolution to current events in the world.

I was reminded of this dichotomy on a recent trip to Rome, firstly with a magical dinner with friends at Villa d’Este, a Unesco World Heritage Site in Tivoli. The overwhelming outtake of the evening was of love and generosity, of bringing people together, of making time for each other, and creating unforgettable memories in the process.

The next morning I was privileged to be given an exclusive preview of the Don McCullin retrospective at Palazzo Esposizioni Roma, with the great man himself, as well as curator Simon Baker, and the Palazzo’s president, Marco Delogu. Sir Don McCullin is one of the most important photographers of the 20th century, and the show covers key themes of his work: Early Work in London and Berlin; Documentary Practice in the UK; International Documentary and Travel; British Landscapes and Still Life; and the Roman Empire.

The still life shown above, Plants Table, and Mushrooms, seen in our article on the exhibition, resonate with human emotion – they are so rich, calm and exquisite that they took my breath away. McCullin hand-developed all the works in his darkroom – an old shed in the garden at his home in Somerset. He describes his practice as ‘always searching for a new voice in my soul, new ways of expressing myself photographically’ and that ‘occasionally, I should be associated with peace’.

Elsewhere in the issue, we present four Design Miami previews – Vincent Van Duysen’s new furniture collection for stone specialist ARCA; Fendi’s fascinating collaboration with enigmatic duo Bless Studio, titled ‘Backfrontal’; Samuel Ross’ rethink of the bathroom tap for Kohler; and Lara Bohinc’s pastel-coloured organic forms, titled Utopia, for the Miami Design District. 

We showcase Dior’s Joaillerie’s ‘Bois de Rose’ jewellery collection, which pays homage to the classic flower, visit Casa Dragones’ tequila bar in Mexico, and indulge in the world’s most expensive chocolate, from Ecuador. Then we head over to San Francisco for Lindsay Gerber’s sensitive refurbishment of Camino House, an extraordinary house designed in 1969 by Goodwin Steinberg, once a student of Mies van der Rohe, before finishing off with 12 pages of bountiful cocktails and canapés for every performance.

I hope you enjoy the issue and find time over the coming weeks to spend time with your loved ones. 

Sarah Douglas
Editor-in-Chief

The December 2023 issue of Wallpaper* is available in print from 9 November, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today

On the cover: From left, glasses, from £145, by Miranda Keyes. ‘Sky’ cocktail sticks, £48 for six, by Aurélien Barbry, for Georg Jensen. ‘Abyss’ vase, $13,810, by Jan Plecháč, for Moser ‘Dinner Service’ cup; plate, both price on request, by Donald Judd, for Puiforcat. ‘Poppea’ goblet, €125, by Sebastian Menschhorn, for Lobmeyr. ‘Amoir Fou’ fabric in 027, £158 per m, by Dedar. Paint in Carte Blanche: Au Lait, £93 for 5 litres, by Christopher John Rogers, for Farrow & Ball

A new Miami office by Clive Lonstein has been unveiled, highlighting the designer's knack for creating a fine balance between luxury and rawness; the texture of an industrial space and the warmth and richness of a high end, domestic environment. The commercial office space for a private client is located on prestigious Miami Beach, and Lonstein and his team crafted it with swathes of rich, natural materials, such as wood paneling, stone and brick. A distinctive water feature and green foliage within the lobby's lounge area further highlight this connection to the earth that anchors the entire workspace project. 

Miami office: in the words of Clive Lonstein

'Our client was interested in an office space that felt warm and textural and is a departure from the traditional sterile design we often see in corporate spaces. The solution was to incorporate natural, unexpected materials that gave the space a sense of rusticity while remaining elevated and contemporary,' Lonstein said. 'I was most inspired by natural, comfortable materials that ground the space and add a sense of warmth and atmosphere. Natural elements such as wood, stone, and water remained an inspiration throughout the entire process. You can see this in the design, notably in the reclaimed wood and falling water.'

Grays and rich brown colour tones throughout bring cohesion to the whole, uniting a variety of spaces and uses, including individual desk and study areas, meeting rooms, and communal spaces. Carefully selected furniture, such as a coffee table by John Lewis Glass and Black Table Studio next to a vintage lounge chair from the 1970s, add further character to the interior.

'This is one of the largest and most all-encompassing commercial projects we've worked on, which feels special given we were able to work on the broad range of elements making up this office across many spaces. The client has great taste, which made the collaborative experience feel productive and rewarding,' Lonstein concluded. 

clivelonstein.com 

The Coconut Grove Gatehouse by Rene Gonzalez was conceived as a structure that would not only act as a home for services relating to entering a residential estate in Florida's much-loved neighbourhood facing Biscayne Bay – but one that would also signal entrance to the site, and serve as a beautiful, textured pavilion that blends well within its tropical surroundings. The result does all that and more, designed as a host for security, reception and the management of concierge logistics for the property’s multiple residents, but ultimately becoming the gatehouse for a private Miami house beyond, following the land's sale and acquisition by a single owner and resident. 

The Coconut Grove Gatehouse by Rene Gonzalez

The Coconut Grove Gatehouse was crafted as a light, tactile structure, placed among rich foliage of the outstanding natural site it sits on. Miami-based architect Gonzalez and his team at RGA (Rene Gonzalez Architects) plotted the design across 1,300 sq ft. The composition comprises the property's entry wall, gatehouse and concierge pavilion, which ‘are designed specifically to both disappear and yet still retain a stately presence within the landscape’, explain the team. 

The architects worked closely with the landscape specialist developing the site's gardens, Raymond Jungles, making sure the structure 'intertwines effortlessly into the lush tropical foliage'. Cladding in silver travertine and rusted Cor-ten steel lends textures that invite the touch and feel harmonious within the greenery. 

'The Cor-ten steel defines each programmatic space,' the architects write. 'The use of vertical Cor-ten steel louvres creates a continuous relationship between all elements and allows the façade to become an integral part of the landscape. The silver travertine stone walls encapsulate the various elements of the entry feature. The imaginative combination of these disparate elements provides for lasting impressions of commanding protection and integrated connection within the natural beauty of South Florida.'

renegonzalezarchitects.com 

Alcova Miami was announced as the first international edition of annual design exhibition Alcova, set to make its debut between 6-10 December 2023 to coincide with Design Miami and Art Basel Miami Beach.

Based on a concept of highlighting and transforming historically rich, abandoned spaces, Alcova was launched as a curated exhibition by curators Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima, and locations in Milan so far have included a former military hospital, a slaughterhouse and panettone factory.

For this inaugural edition in Miami, the event will take over two spaces at the Biscayne Boulevard Historic District locations, namely the Selina Gold Dust Motel and the former Emancipator Boatyard.

Alcova Miami: the locations

The first Miami edition of Alcova marks a new era for the design event, which aims to connect with a new international audience and highlight the city's unique architectural heritage.

The event will take place in two locations, including the Selina Gold Dust Motel, dating back to the 1950s and a fine example of Biscayne Boulevard motel, a typology, the organisers explain, that is deeply ingrained in Miami's cultural fabric.

The Emancipator Boatyard, meanwhile, was set up in the 1940s by Samuel Mortimer Auerbach, and it is here that legendary 'Emancipator' wooden racing boats were made.

Alcova Miami: what to expect

'We are excited to bring Alcova to Miami, a city renowned as one of the most important international platforms for art and design,' said Ciuffi and Grima in a note introducing the new edition. 'We are convinced that Miami’s unique urban fabric, rich in traces of a vibrant architectural history, is the perfect place to create a dynamic platform that fosters meaningful connections and interactions between exhibitors and visitors.'

As with the Milan editions of the show, Alcova Miami will offer a panoramic view over emerging creatives and new design thinking, with experimental manufacturing approaches and imaginative solutions to today's pressing issues. The exhibition will showcase emerging and established designers and brands, serving as a platform for collaboration and engagement.

Conclude the curators: 'Alcova Miami will offer a fresh perspective and an opportunity to present new forms of practice in a city that has always embraced a freethinking approach to design.'

Alcova Miami will take place from 6-10 December 2023

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Wildwood Residence by Strang Design takes ‘living among the trees’ to a new level with a design that creates a seamless blend between the house and the pre-existing landscape. Nestled within the gated community of Camp Biscayne, the residence provides a welcome moment of respite from the nearby bustling sidewalks of Coconut Grove, Miami’s oldest neighbourhood.  

‘Living among the trees’: where preservation meets design

‘A large oak tree was preserved within the arrival courtyard and the massing of the house bends around this feature,’ explains Max Strang, of the process of designing with preservation in mind. Carved out of a site where tropical treetops form a dense ‘jungle-like’ canopy, ‘sun-seeking design strategies’ were employed to create a balance between immersing the house among the trees while allowing it space to breathe.  

Immersion and inversion

On creating an experience of ‘living among the trees’, Strang reflects, ‘Instead of the customary design layout of the home’s public spaces being on the ground floor with private bedrooms above, that formula was inverted.’ These inversions naturally cocoon private spaces below, allowing public amenities above, such as the swimming pool and terrace, to have constant access to the sky.

Within the house, walls of glass showcase the dense network of surrounding nature, creating window portals that nod to a ‘treehouse’ experience. This narrative continues upstairs, with expansive views framed by deep vertical architectural fins. These distinctive dark aluminium elements were selected to ‘mimic the effect of tree trunks’, while also providing structure, privacy and solar control. 

Grounding through materials

Well-versed in incorporating locally sourced materials into its designs, Strang has made use of local stones such as Oolitic limestone, Caribbean Coral stone and split-face Florida Keystone. ‘The appearance of fossilised corals and shells anchor the home to the surrounding geology of the region,’ thus enhancing the home’s consistent blend and sense of belonging within the landscape.

While there is an enduring sense of coalescence between the house and the original landscape, contrasts between the white roof and dark metal material help ‘sharply define how the house meets the sky’. There are also the typical benefits of a white roof in a subtropical climate (reflecting the sun, and protecting the interior from overheating). 

The dialogues created within and outside this home, make it an exemplary case of designing in harmony with the existing conditions; crafting locally sourced materials to create an enhanced experience of ‘living among the trees’.

strang.design

The Museum of Sex has announced plans to open its first and largest outpost in Miami in spring 2023. The expansion builds on the museum’s flagship space in New York City, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. 

The institution’s most ambitious undertaking yet, the museum will be housed in a 32,000-sq-ft converted warehouse in the Allapattah district of Miami. The building has been designed in collaboration with Oslo-based architecture studio Snøhetta, and will comprise three extensive exhibition galleries, retail space, and a bar. 

The inaugural Miami exhibition programme will include Hajime Sorayama’s ‘Desire Machines’, which marks the Japanese artist’s first major solo museum exhibition in the United States. Known for hyperreal sculptures and illustrations that blur the line between humanity and machines, the artist will exhibit four of his nine-feet-tall ‘sexy robot’ sculptures, which have reached recent acclaim through partnerships with the likes of Dior and The Weeknd.

Also on the opening programme is the historical survey ‘Modern Sex: 100 Years of Design and Decency’; and a large reinterpretation of immersive experience, ‘Super Funland: Journey into the Erotic Carnival’. 

Founded in 2002 in NYC, the Museum of Sex has staged more than 40 exhibitions, which have sought to preserve and celebrate the cultural significance and vibrant complexity of human sexuality. Its exhibitions aim to bridge past and future and strike a balance between sincerity and playfulness, encouraging scholarship, public awareness, discourse, and engagement around sex-related subjects. 

Daniel Gluck, executive director and founder of the Museum of Sex, commented: ‘We are excited to reach this major milestone in our history and to bring our vision to the vibrant cultural landscape of Miami. Our inaugural programming perfectly embodies our ambitions to be a thought-provoking forum around sex and sexuality, and to bring forth a unique, publicly loved, and critically acclaimed cultural offering to Miami.’

museumofsex.com.

With the last few years of unsettlement in the world, there’s a craving for optimism: cue Design Miami 2022 and the theme ‘The Golden Age: Looking to the Future'. Where better to explore this than in sunny South Beach and its surrounds. But, amongst the swirling champagne and glittering crowds, there is an important message, 'it is now urgent to act', says creative director of the 18th edition of Design Miami, Maria Cristina Didero of the design emergency we’re in. 'The Golden Age indicates the best possible status of happiness and harmony,' she continues. 

While Design Miami Basel 2022 in June looked to the past, the undercurrent of the Miami edition’s positivity was one with purpose: 'The world post-Covid needs to rethink itself,' says Didero. 'We need to reboot the roots of our relationship with nature and collective structures, ecospheres, and urban contexts.' But how? 'By embracing advanced technologies, greater inclusivity, and integrity in all we do, by any means possible fostering the potential to become The Golden Age of today’s humanity,' she states.

With exhibits exploring spirituality, the metaphysical, merging cultures, craft and more, Didero hopes audiences will feel 'optimistic, free and responsible'.

Explore our highlights below. 

DESIGN MIAMI 2022: BEST FROM THE FAIR

'Shroom Cactus' by A$AP Rocky and Gufram

Some may know A$AP Rocky for his musical talents, but most recently, he’s been turning his creative attention to design with a new studio HOMMEMADE. Launching at the fair as a Curio with radical design brand Gufram, the collaboration sees Rocky realise the Shroom Cactus – a version of the brand’s Cactus, designed by Guido Drocco and Franco Mello which is celebrating it 50th anniversary. For the Curio, the booth will be set up like a ‘utopian forest’ for visitors to indulge in the whimsical designs.

Triclinium by Lukas Gschwandtner and Fendi

The fashion brand returns with its annual experimental project, this time with Austrian artist Lukas Gschwandtner, a move away from its usual designer collaboration. This year’s commission – Triclinium by Lukas Gschwandtner and Fendi – brings the fashion house’s home city of Rome to Miami beach with the Vienna-based artist creating canvas sculptures inspired by female figures. 

'Inkundla' by Southern Guild

Handcrafted objects come together in a domestic setting for the South African gallery’s showcase. Including ceramic works by Zizipho Poswa and a hand-painted server by design duo Dokter and Misses, the set-up aims to reflect the meaning of the Xhosa term ‘Inkundla’ – described by the gallery as 'a communal space for the sacred and mundane, for the exchanging of ideas, the unpacking of the day-to-day and the welcoming of all people'.

'Next Level’ by The Future Perfect

'It is, of course, about scale in the literal sense, but also the common drive we feel to lift ourselves up and move beyond paths already trodden,' says Laura Young of The Future Perfect’s exhibition title this year. With nearly 30 new pieces, highlights include an abstract mirror by Floris Wubben, and a collaboration between Chen Chen & Kai Williams and Cody Hoyt that sees a melding of experimentation and craftsmanship – see stone offcuts transformed into mirrors that look like artworks.

'Stroll Garden' by Lily Clark

The power of nature’s elements is also explored in Los Angles-based artist Lily Clark’s Curio. Creating an atmosphere of reflection, architectural fountains formed from stones from nearby Palm Springs are coupled with woodwork by furniture studio Prísma to present a serene landscape that mimics Southern Californian gardens to stroll around.

'Extreme Surfaces' by Ippodo Gallery

A newcomer to the fair, New York’s Ippodo Gallery is presenting a deep dive of kogei: contemporary Japanese art and craft. The booth will include Shigeru Uchida’s 1993 ‘Ji’An’ teahouse, a space for spirituality and ‘an invitation to experience Japanese sensibility’. The design sees an innovative melding of bamboo and Hinoki to form an architectural cube that plays with shadow and light.

‘Transcendence’ by Nada Debs and Kohler

Offering a moment of meditation in the design fair environment is a modern hammam by Beirut-based designer Nada Debs, made using sustainable tiles from Wisconsin-based brand Kohler’s WasteLab. Tapping into the idea of rebirth and rejuvenation via materials, the immersive experience links to the idea of the ‘Golden Age’ for humanity. 'Debs has a great sensibility in realising a new tile with the WasteLab of Kohler, underlining once again the commitment of both designer and company regarding sustainability,' says Didero.

'Chronos' by Objects of Common Interest

From Greek, chronos translates to 'time'. This Curio by Wallpaper* Design Awards winners Objects of Common Interest, and curated by Milano-based creative factory Mr.Lawrence, looks at the time dedicated to an object. The project kicked off in 2019, but finally comes to fruition in Miami after a long period of contemplation during the pandemic. ‘Aristotle treated time as a measure of motion. Motions of things, motions of human beings,’ the team muse. ‘Chronos’ will examine the existence of an object through the time it takes to make and use it, and will feature three lamps made in resin in vivid hues.

'Mexican Golden Age' by Maestro Dobel Artpothecary

The 1970s universe of pioneering architect Ricardo Legorreta is being celebrated at tequila brand Maestro Dobel’s Artpothecary installation. Curated by Mexico City-based design studio Clásicos Mexicano, the display will feature original designs from Legorreta's ‘Vallarta’ collection from Hotel Camino Real – a modernist structure with contemporary ideals. 

'Altis Ornamentum' by Moniomi Design

Where did athletes in ancient times used to hang out? This is the inspiration for this Curio. A collage of tapestries, rugs and wall coverings make up an environment that creates a contemporary vision of sports fashion, featuring ping-pong tables and mini hoops in a graphic and playful set-up.

‘Reflecting Women’ by Emma Scully Gallery

Nine women designers working in mediums including plaster, lighting and ceramics feature in Manhattan-based Emma Scully Gallery’s Curio. Championing female empowerment, the works by Bec Brittain, Simone Bodmer-Turner, Rooms Studio, Jane Atfield, Ibiyanε, Jaye Kim, Kaja Upelj, Nel Verbeke, and Jenny Min ask visitors to take time to reflect. 'Emma challenged me to tackle scale for this exhibition,' says Bodmer-Turner of her sculptural plaster mirror. 'It’s something I've been able to achieve in site-specific plaster workaround mantles and shelving, but never before in a freestanding object.'

'Planted Air' by Garance Vallée and Maison Perrier-Jouët

Our connection with nature is again a theme with this year’s Maison Perrier-Jouët commission. ‘Planted Air’ reframes the ecosystem of the champagne vineyard through an interactive journey through sculpted vines that aims to trigger the audience to consider their symbiotic relationship with the living.

‘Through and Through’ by Tuleste Factory

The history of the colour blue is in the spotlight at Tuleste Factory’s showcase. From Yves Klein’s infamous tone to the Ancient Egyptians’ associations, the serenity of the palette, from the sky to the sea, is explored through works including a blue resin table by Ian Alistair Cochran.

AROUND TOWN: MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT, WYNWOOD AND MORE

'Rock | Roll' by Germane Barnes 

An ode to the polyethnic culture of Miami, this year’s neighbourhood commission in the Miami Design District will be created by Miami-based architect Germane Barnes. The interactive piece will see swinging capsules activated by the public – all in vibrant colours. ‘Rock | Roll’ will be a gathering area for talks which have been curated with University of Miami’s Center for Global Black Studies and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami.

'Come Stai?' A chair by Gaetano Pesce with Matthieu Blazy for Bottega Veneta

This is the first time the Italian fashion house is partnering with Design Miami, and it comes on the back of the colourful Bottega Veneta S/S 2023 show set in Milan, which creative director Matthieu Blazy appointed design pioneer Gaetano Pesce to realise. In the multicoloured haven, guests sat on resin chairs, including the ‘Come Stai?’ (Italian for ‘How are you?’), which is a signifier of Pesce’s individual aesthetic. There’s a chance to purchase these bold and candy-coloured chairs both at the fair and at the brand’s Design District store. 

153 NE 40th St, Miami

‘Nudo’ collection by Kelly Wearstler at Grupo Arca

Over in Wynwood, American designer Kelly Wearstler is taking on the beauty of natural stone in an installation with Arca. The ‘Nudo’ collection utilises sculptural pieces of stones including Calcite Blue, Rainbow Onyx, Rosso Verona and Verde Tikal. ‘A nuanced and sensual interplay of suppleness and strength’ is how Wearstler describes her new range.

260 NW 27th St, Miami

'Tapajós' by Espasso and Arthur Casas

Inspired by the Amazon rainforest, this new line of furniture sees the architect’s research of the rich culture of the rainforest referenced in a wooden coffee table, desk, sideboard and dining table. ‘This collection is deeply influenced by my time spent in the Amazon and highlights the cosmopolitan aesthetic of Brazilian design,’ says Casas. In the Miami gallery, in addition to the collection, there will be a preview of the new book Arthur Casas: Architecture.

7010 NE 4th Ct, Miami

More design in Miami: events and installations

A canopy of light and sound, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Pulse Topology is composed of 3,000 lightbulbs suspended at different heights, powered by the continuous beat of human hearts. The installation, the latest in the Mexican-Canadian artist’s Pulse series, illuminates the Superblue space at Art Basel Miami Beach 2022 in a unique collaboration with BMW i.

Custom-made pulse sensors capture the individual heartbeats of visitors. Each then powers a spectacular light display and a sonic landscape that constantly evolves as people enter and leave the space. It’s an intimate and deeply personal experience that aims to foster human connection, highlighting both the fragility and the joy of living.

Lozano-Hemmer, whose participatory works have previously harnessed artificial intelligence and robotics, has also collaborated with BMW’s engineers and scientists to bring the installation to life within the first-ever fully-electric BMW i7 sedan. 

On view during Miami Art Week 2022, Pulse Topology is part of a series of biometric pieces that Lozano-Hemmer has been making since 2006. The original works featured up to 500 incandescent light bulbs arranged as chandeliers or room arrays. Since then the artist has been experimenting with LED filament technology, making it possible to light thousands of bulbs with very little power.  

‘I decided to create a full landscape with crests and valleys that the visitors would be invited to traverse,’ says Lozano-Hemmer.  ‘The topology is similar to the original inspiration for the piece: a scene in the film Macario (1960), where the protagonist enters the Cacahuamilpa Caves in Mexico and sees every person on the planet represented by a frail flickering candle.’

When he was growing up in Mexico City, Lozano-Hemmer’s parents operated a nightclub, an ongoing influence on his practice. ‘I always say that my work is incomplete. As an artist (or a nightclub owner) you can create the platform, the context, and the ambience, but your effort is only really successful when the public takes it over and self-represents. I think some people in Miami will see my work as a continuation of nightlife's flashy aesthetics of spectacle; I'm really fine with that. But I do hope that more people see it as a reflective work, one that makes tangible the intimate rhythms that keep us alive, underlining the fragility of it all, and at the same time, the feeling of being included, even if it is just in a temporary womb-like choir.’

Seeing visitors react to the installation has been both revelatory and uplifting. ‘Originally I thought the project would be quite mournful, like a memento mori that reminds you that your heartbeat will only complete a relatively small amount of cycles. But we are seeing many other reactions: some find it romantic to add their heartbeat next to their loved one, others meditate to slow down their pulse and calm the whole environment, and others feel unease as their arrhythmia becomes shared in light and sound. The project is open to interpretation and I am happy not to be able to predict public reactions.’

At the heart of it all, Lozano-Hemmer wants to create a sense of community and meaningful connection. ’The great American composer Frederic Rzewski said that people “coming together” was the most important objective of art,’ he says. ‘After social distancing and Zoom fatigue, it is critical to re-embody our social space.’

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's Pulse Topology runs until 4 December 2022 bmw.co.uk;superblue.com

A deft hand when it comes to blending modernist architecture and Florida's tropical climate, Miami architecture studio Strang Design has just completed a Brazil-inspired house that bears all the hallmarks of its author's style of ‘environmental modernism'. Called upon by a couple from Brazil who wanted to commission a new Miami home, Max Strang and his team blended a wealth of Brazilian influences in a house that both feels comfortable in its location but also evokes images of the owners' South American home country through materials, composition, art and furniture. 

‘We met [the client] through word-of-mouth. Our firm has been active in Miami for over 20 years and we have completed several other homes in this neighbourhood. It was a wonderful collaboration with the clients and they definitely brought an open mind and a lot of style and sophistication to the project,' Strang recalls. ‘Miami has proven itself as the stylistic and commercial capital of Latin America. When you take that perception and merge it with South Florida’s subtropical climate… It was very easy to incorporate Brazilian influences into the design of this residence.'

Landscape architecture studio La Casona Garden helped create the lush outdoor concept that engulfs the house in tropical greenery, protecting it from prying eyes while creating the feeling of serenity and seclusion when inside. Strang worked with these and the wider surroundings to mould his architectural approach.

‘The home is located in a densely landscaped suburban area just a few miles from the heart of downtown Miami,' says Strang. ‘This neighbourhood is known for generous estate-sized properties and a mature tree canopy. At the onset of this project, we strived to integrate the existing oak trees into the overall design. The house itself is organised into an “H-shape” which allows all spaces to be flooded with natural light and views of the natural surroundings. Additionally, the home adopts a series of planted roofs and the second floor was designed with vertical trellises to encourage climbing vines. These features further blur the boundaries between house and landscape.' 

INFORMATION
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Returning to its usual June slot, Design Miami/Basel presents some of the best contemporary and historical design through a new edition led by Wallpaper* Milan editor Maria Cristina Didero, serving as curatorial director. With over 20 new international galleries presenting across the Gallery, Curio and Podium showcases, the 2022 edition reaffirms the fair’s global approach. 

‘We are delighted to return to Basel this year with a particularly exciting line-up of galleries, curios, special projects and partners,’ says Design Miami’s VP of fairs, Grela Orihuela. ‘Through the breadth and depth of their presentations, we look forward to prompting timely discussion around this year’s theme, The Golden Age.’

Commenting on her choice for the fair's theme, Didero adds: ‘Even during the hardest of struggles, as a society we should always focus and strive to be better. We must remember that challenges have always driven humanity forward. Human beings have come up with answers to the world’s most pressing questions, often during moments in which the very roots of our life are being tested by external forces, over which it seems we have no control.'

Design Miami/Basel 2022: highlights

Design Miami/Basel 2022 theme: The Golden Age

Exploring the theme of The Golden Age, Design Miami/Basel 2022 sets the tone for the fair’s other editions this year, in Paris and Miami, looking at the concept across different cultures through time and space, from utopian future to idealised history. In Basel, the theme focuses on the past, with historical objects celebrating 20th-century icons. 

For the first time, the fair’s Podium (a curated selling exhibition) comes to the Basel fair, with a special display inspired by the theme. ‘The exhibition offers the opportunity to explore a large range of presentations of amazing pieces from different contexts, times and geographies,’ says Didero. ‘Podium becomes a platform to reflect on how these pieces can ignite discussions around today’s design scene.’

‘The Golden Age is not the age we are living now, but it’s an idyllic future, a possible place where animals, plants, human beings can live in harmony,’ says Didero. ‘We wanted a positive spin after the unprecedented times of the pandemic: we have put together a selection of pieces that represent the beauty and spirit of design, and give justice to its history.’

The exhibition includes historical pieces such as Vladimir Kagan’s ‘Capricorn’ chair, the ‘Eros’ marble table by Angelo Mangiarotti, the ‘Water Lilies Bowl’ by Pierre Paulin and Carlo Mollino’s ‘Stackable’ beds, from Casa del Sole. Among the contemporary pieces are a trio of vessels by Diego Cibelli, created during the pandemic using found objects, a lamp by Misha Kahn, and a lighting piece by Faye Toogood. ‘The selection of pieces is much about the emotions they can tell, they are not related to one another, but they are here because each of them is very important and outspoken,’ continues Didero. ‘I see a lot of emotion involved and sensibility within these objects.’

Installations at Design Miami/Basel: Special Satellite Projects

For their second time in Basel, Superblue presents a takeover of the 2,500 sq ft ground floor space with Pulse Topology, an interactive installation by Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Comprising 6,000 light bulbs suspended at different heights, creating a series of ‘intimate landscapes’ that invite visitors to walk through. Pulse sensors record visitor heartbeats; every time a new participant interacts with the artwork, their pulse is added to the light’s rhythm above. 

Also part of the Satellite Projects is a display of works by Joseph Walsh Studio, featuring furniture whose fluid forms are inspired by nature, and a further display of Diego Cibelli's porcelain works, titled ‘Meditation in an Emergency’ and presented by Galleria Antonella Villanova.

Design Miami/Basel Curio Displays

As always an integral part of the fair, the Curio programme features 17 presentations pushing the boundaries of design, interpreting traditional ideas in innovative ways. For Design Miami/Basel 2022, the Curios include work by Ukrainian designer Victoria Yakusha's Faina Gallery, presenting a display ‘centered around the primal connection of every Ukrainian to their earth.’

Also on display within the Curio section are pieces by Philippe Starck from the 1980s and 1990s, presented by Paul Bourdet Fine Furniture and featuring pieces originally designed for 3 Suisses and Driade; and Dutch designer Kiki Van Eijk's ‘Altar of Imagination’, brought to the fair by Rademakers Gallery, bringing to the fair a sample of the Dutch designer's mix of whimsical creativity and skilled craftsmanship. 

Elsewhere in the Curio section, WKND Lab showcases traditional Korean crafts with a contemporary spin, highlighting the avant-garde nature of Korean artisanal techniques. The displays feature Jagar, a traditional Korean lacquer technique using a biodegradable wood resin, applied to objects whose contemporary aesthetics are intended to introduce the historical method to younger generations 

Responding to the fair's theme, the displays throughout the Messe Basel showcase a richness of ideas, both past and future. ‘[We explore how] the perseverance, flexibility, resilience and adaptability of humanity has led us to innovation and hope,’ concludes Didero. ‘We must continue this now more than ever.’ 

INFORMATION
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