As resilient design becomes more in demand in South Florida, architects, builders, and engineers are recognizing their role in the changing landscape by designing stronger, smarter structures that can combat and withstand the elements.
At the forefront of the evolving landscape, a new waterfront development—dubbed Monad Terrace and designed by Pritzker Prize–winning Ateliers Jean Nouvel in collaboration with Miami-based firm Kobi Karp and Interior Design, Inc.—aims to raise the bar for South Beach with a floor plan that exceeds building codes and engineers innovative climate resilience into the building’s architecture.
The luxury condo development is elevated 11.5 feet above ground and places all of the building’s interior spaces and mechanicals above the floodplain, eliminating the need to dig down to the water table—which is one of Miami’s most pervasive construction challenges. The project, which is being developed by JDS Development, has secured $62.5 million in construction financing and broke ground earlier this month.
“Monad Terrace innovates while integrating seamlessly into the context of Miami Beach,” says Michael Stern, founder of JDS Development. “Its thoughtful design serves as an exemplar for how we should be building and developing coastal cities. Without compromising aesthetics, this project brings the ingenuity and design that is entirely appropriate to this environment.”
The structure features a “honeycomb” screened façade that provides unobstructed views, privacy, and natural light while also reducing glare, solar heat gain, and the carbon footprint of operating the building. Making up the project’s signature "water garden," a central lagoon, swimming pools, and reflecting pools bounce light deep into the living spaces and create a sense of continuity with Biscayne Bay.
Vertical green gardens provide energy-saving shade, improve air quality, break up the building’s reflectiveness, and reduce the urban heat island effect. The gardens combine with the pools, landscaping, and glass-and-steel façade to create what Nouvel calls “the reflection machine.”
The condo building—featuring 59 residences, including four penthouses ranging from two to five bedrooms and offering 2,027 to 13,922 square feet of living space—will be Nouvel’s first built work in Miami. Expansive amenities include an in-house concierge, a sun deck with a 116-foot swimming pool and hot tub overlooking Biscayne Bay, valet parking, a café and juice bar, a wellness center, and a bicycle and water sports storage room. Penthouse residences include private pools on roof decks.
The project is expected to be complete in the third quarter of 2019. Pricing starts at $1.7 million.
