Montclair Lofts, located in the heart of Miami Beach's famous South Beach, is a fusion of old and new. The original building was a post-war apartment structure, but it was transformed into a larger condominium complex by local architectural firm Oppenheim Architecture + Design, which surrounded it with three new buildings.
Even with its updated design, Montclair Lofts hasn't lost much of its chic South Beach flavor. Oppenheim had to both comply with municipal zoning constraints and maximize the site's sellable area. Its award-winning design turned the historic building into the entry zone for the rest of the complex. When residents pass through the original main doors, they enter the building's main lobby on the second floor via a ramped portal.
Montclair Lofts' modern features include aluminum exterior screens that surround the outdoor circulation corridors, 11-foot ceilings, stained concrete or wood floors, floor-to-ceiling windows and doors, private rooftop spa decks and gardens, stainless steel and glass kitchens, and high-speed Internet wiring in every unit. The 41-unit complex offers lofts ranging in size from 1,100 square feet to 2,200 square feet.
–Abby Garcia Telleria is a freelance writer in Costa Mesa, Calif.
