For architect Dame Zaha Hadid, one of the world’s most celebrated architects, Miami was a place to relax and to share with friends. Zaha Hadid, whose buildings are in London, Rome, Copenhagen, Glasgow, Singapore, Seoul, Beijing, Guangzhou, Baku, and Abu Dhabi, was the first woman to be awarded the Pritzker Prize. Forbes named Zaha one of “The World’s Most Powerful Women”. Time featured her as one of the “100 People Who Most Affect Our World.” Zaha was warm and approachable, supporting Miami causes, shopping, dining, and enjoying life in our city. Her recent death at a relatively early age was a shock. She is mourned and remembered. Zaha cared about Miami and she wanted to contribute to our city. Although her plan for Museum Park was not chosen, nor was the parking garage in Miami Beach built, Zaha has left her legacy in Miami, 1000 Museum at 1000 Biscayne Blvd.
1000 Museum is a world-class residential skyscraper. Wealth-X News included 1000 Museum in the Top Ten Billionaire Skyscraper Homes. Comparing the price per square foot of the residences in the other cities, among them, London, Hong Kong, New York, and Monaco, Miami is surprisingly “affordable”. I was negotiating a contract recently that was priced at less than $1300 a square foot.
1000 Museum is a work of art: It appears as continuous sculpture, a white exoskeleton with a recessed glass façade. This is not art for art’s sake, although in sunlight the reflections from the corner glazing appear as cut jewels. That exoskeleton supports the structure so that there are no interior columns. Look at other buildings and notice the columns in the common areas and in the residences. The challenge is to make the columns discreet, or interesting, rather than obtrusive. I was recently in a not quite comparable building, previewing a residence that was nearing completion. The ocean views from the master bedroom were spectacular, yet having experienced Zaha’s design for 1000 Museum, the column in the corner near the terrace was an unfortunate distraction.
1000 Museum is an exceptionally private residential tower with only 83 residences, a six-star lifestyle, concierge services, and world-class security. It is not hyperbole to describe 1000 Museum by Zaha Hadid as iconic. There really will be nothing else like it in Miami.