Miami Modern

What a difference a decade makes. When IRDC last convened in Miami Beach in 2004, Bal Harbour Shops was the undisputed epicenter for luxury retail in the region. Brands such as Pottery Barn and Banana Republic were establishing flagship stores in the historic art deco buildings along Lincoln Road. And the city was preparing to host its third annual Art Basel fair, an offshoot of the Swiss-based fair introduced in 1970, bringing contemporary art lovers and collectors from around the world to Miami for a week of exhibits, performances, parties – and shopping.

All of which inspired real estate developer Craig Robins, the force behind the rebirth of South Beach in the 80s and 90s, and a contributor to the renewal of the Lincoln Road retail corridor, to dive headlong into his next venture: remaking Miami’s once vibrant Design District into an urban center for contemporary art and design, architecture, fashion and luxury retail.

A 50-50 partnership with L Real Estate, whose investors include luxury stalwart LVMH, got the ball rolling on the $300+ million project. Soon, retailers such as Cartier, Hermès and Louis Vuitton (a LVMH label) began leaving Bal Harbour for the Design District. At least a dozen more, including Fendi, Giorgio Armani and Harry Winston have signed leases or have stores under construction there now – many of them flagships with multiple levels or larger footprints.

By the time IRDC 2014 kicks off at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach in September, some 150 additional stores, galleries, studios and restaurants are expected to open in the 21-block Design District. Boutique hotels, department stores, condos, public plazas, art installations, event spaces and parking garages will follow – sealing the District’s position as unofficial headquarters for both Art Basel and DesignMiami, an annual, concurrent fair launched by Robins in 2005.

 IRDC attendees will tour Miami’s Design District on Thursday, September 4, before heading to nearby Wynwood Kitchen & Bar for the IRDC Party.

Lincoln Road Takes a Futuristic Turn
Though change is constant on Miami Beach’s pedestrian-friendly retail promenade, the opening of mixed-use parking structure 1111 Lincoln Road (1111lincolnroad.com) two years ago signaled a departure from the rounded forms and familiar brands that define the historic art deco district.

Designed by Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron, the six-level, concrete and glass structure sits opposite the colorful Lincoln Cinema Complex designed by Zyscovich Architects, forming a dramatic gateway into the district.

On the penthouse level, 10,000-square-foot Asian/Peruvian restaurant Juvia (juviamiami.com) dazzles guests with a back-lit, amethyst gemstone-topped bar inside, while the space outside includes a DJ station, water features and a 22-foot-high garden wall designed by acclaimed French botanist Patrick Blanc.

One level down, a dramatic glass-and-steel space is home to menswear boutique Alchemist (shopalchemist.com). Designed by Miami-based architect Rene Gonzalez, the high-energy store connects the retail space to the Lincoln Road scene at ground level with ribbons of kinetic, mirrored ceiling panels that move in response to customer movement within the store – and capture the attention of pedestrians on the sidewalk below.

An altogether different vibe pervades the Alchemist store for women, on the first level. White melamine foam covers the ceiling and sawtooth walls throughout, as hidden LED light bands produce a soft, rhythmic progression of color behind the surface. A sculptural, Zaha Hadid-designed bench at the entrance lends to the cocoon-like feel of the space, a quiet escape from the noise and energy just outside.

Two of the stores on ground level are dedicated to high-style Adidas collaboration brands – Y-3 (y-3.com), one of only four U.S. locations, featuring lines developed with Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto; and Adidas by Stella McCartney (stellamccartney.com), which debuted here in January, the brand’s first and only standalone U.S. store.

Tucked into a breezeway is Babalu (ilovebabalu.com), a decidedly upscale kiosk-style boutique designed by John Rawlins, former creative director for retail design at Bergdorf Goodman. Described by Luxury Travel magazine as “a glamorous conceptual twist on the ubiquitous hotel sundries shop,” Babalu sells everything from Comme des Garcons perfume to Missoni bathrobes and Ray Ban Wayfarers for kids. Read more about Babalu on page 26 of VMSD's August issue.

Another must-see retailer is Artsee Eyewear (artseemiami.com), one of just two locations in the U.S. Designed by Adam Hayes and Mark Kroeckel of New York-based Openshop, this jewel box is customized from floor to ceiling to reflect the brand’s full-service approach. Two-way mirrors on the walls keep racks of frames out of view until a customer walks past, minimizing distractions during the selection process.

Finally, duck into the intimate Taschen (taschen.com) bookstore to see large, exquisitely designed books on art, architecture, photography, music and more – many in XL collector’s editions you have to see (and lift) to believe.

Learn more about VMSD’s International Retail Design Conference at irdconline.com.

Taste Of Lincoln Road
Try these James Beard-nominated restaurant/bar concepts by design-centric culinary and hospitality firm 50 Eggs, each just one block off Lincoln.

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar
1600 Lenox Avenue (at 16th St.)
runchickenrun.com
Upscale Southern fare served family style in a fun-to-explore space that artfully incorporates authentic details like chicken wire, tractor seats, peach baskets and Mason jars – and cleverly conceals the restrooms.

Khong River House / Patpong Road
1661 Meridian Avenue
khongriver.com
Southeast Asian cuisine inspired by the cultures along the Mekong River, in a setting that transports you to Northern Thailand. Patpong Road is the Bangkok-inspired lounge upstairs, named for a street in Thailand’s Red Light District, interpreted beautifully in the design.

More retail highlights along Lincoln Road

Gap
1001 Lincoln Road
gap.com
Gap completely rebuilt its one-level Lincoln Road store on the same site, reopening as a two-story, 19,000-square-foot flagship in June. Miami architects Carlos and Jacqueline Touzet, Touzet Studio, stayed true to the old building’s forms, but used floor-to-ceiling glass walls and white and reflective materials inside to absorb light and allow sweeping views from inside and out.

Base Superstore
927 Lincoln Road
baseworld.com
One of the original lifestyle retail concepts, Base opened in 1989 and gained notoriety for its unique twist on the hotel sundries shop at the Delano, Miami Beach, among others. Earlier this year, the Base Superstore on Lincoln Road moved into a gallery-like space formerly occupied by Design Within Reach, with a carefully curated mix of men’s clothing, art, music, books and more. Every fixture in the store is on wheels, with an “illustrated forest” theme realized with raw wood, spruce tree-inspired fitting rooms, camouflage chairs, a small-grain pebble floor and a custom, freeze-dried moss wall behind the cashwrap.

John Varvatos
1020 Lincoln Road
johnvarvatos.com
New York-based menswear designer John Varvatos opened this richly detailed, 2200-square-foot Bowery boutique in 2013, channeling the punk chic ethos of his iconic Manhattan flagship. Thirty black crystal chandeliers hang at varying heights from the tall, mirrored ceiling, while 50 limited-edition art prints chosen by Varvatos adorn the walls. Vintage furniture and found objects from Paris flea markets complete the space, along with Varvatos-designed custom fixtures for the clothing and accessories.