LIFE BEYOND FIRST CLASS
DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
TROPICAL WAVE
The Tropical Modern wave has taken over elite Miami Beach neighborhoods, including this Di Lido residence designed by the award-winning architects of Choeff Levy Fischman.
Architecture: Choeff Levy Fischman
Interiors: Ingrao Inc.
The origins of the architectural and design movement, Tropical Modern, dates back to the late ‘50s in Africa, Asia, Brazil, the Caribbean, and South Florida. Known for breathing warmth into somewhat cold modernism, the style popularized by internationally-known architects such as Oscar Niemeyer, Gio Ponti, Geoffrey Bawa, and Isay Weinfeld is still in high demand in South Florida. This newly completed two-story masterpiece in Miami Beach’s playground for the elite, the Venetian Islands, proves that no one does Tropical Modern quite like the famed architectural firm Choeff Levy Fischman.
Masterfully fusing mid-century motifs with tropical elements including sustainably harvested Ipe wood, exotic stones, white stucco, board-formed concrete, and aquatic features, this sprawling 7,628-square-foot, four-bedroom, eight-bathroom residence illustrates the ultimate in indoor-outdoor living. One travels through a Zen space featuring mature tropical plants and plant species with a natural limestone and grass driveway that leads to a cascading wall feature that flows into a reflecting pond and under floating stairs to reach the expansive Ipe wood pivot door encased in a high-density glass frame that gives you a glimpse of the estate’s dazzling water and downtown Miami views.
Inside, a formal living and kitchen area with exquisite walnut wood flooring meets expansive, floor-to-ceiling pocketing glass doors that further blur the line between indoors and out. Adjacent to the dining room, a reflecting pool connects to the outdoor pool and lounge area while a gym, high-tech office, and media room complete the first-floor layout. It all seamlessly comes together with designer furnishings with vivid accents surrounded by striking art curated by the acclaimed New York-based Ingrao Inc..
“The owners of the home are art enthusiasts, so we created museum-like walls with black crown and base reveals in order for their bold art pieces to stand out and make a statement,” said Paul Fischman, Principal, Choeff Levy Fischman. A cantilevered wood staircase surrounded by poured-in-place concrete walls guides you to the upper level. Here you’ll find a memorable primary suite with dual walk-in closets and baths replete with glass-enclosed book-matched panda marble, both complete with expansive terraces framed with glass railing for those unobstructed, tranquil views of the water. Also on this level are three additional bedrooms and bathrooms.
Outside, the strategically placed Italian mosaic infinity pool and sunken hot tub face the breathtaking Miami – Biscayne Bay views and vignettes of the surrounding islands and the city skyline. The covered garden kitchen include top-of-the-line Kalamazoo appliances and Ipe wood, concrete, and white stucco patio seating. The 1,100 square-foot rooftop deck with lounge seating and glass railing offers another ideal backdrop to take in the spectacular island sunsets that crown this sun-drenched, sigh-worthy retreat.
Built five feet higher than required to address sea-level concerns with Low-E glazing to minimize solar heat gain and glare and a green roofing system to keep the home cool, this estate is a prime example of Tropical Modern. “The style respects the environment in which it exists – in this case the tropics, which is a hallmark of all good architecture,” concludes Choeff.