Page 101 - ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL 2022

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL
escape
REMARKABLE
VIEWS
SLS Brickell takes its Miami
standards of style, luxury
and service to transform
Downtown Miami’s skyline.
Star City

BOASTING AN EXTRAORDINARY

COLLECTION OF MUSEUMS AND ART

SPACES IN ADDITION TO PROMINENT

ARCHITECTS, CHEFS AND DESIGNERS, MIAMI

IS GOING THROUGH A CULTURAL REBIRTH.

M iami has been redefining itself as a destination in would become a fashion Mecca. Its evolution was further boosted when

Robins’ company, Dacra, joined forces with L Real Estate, an investment
recent decades. Its one-dimensional ‘90s image of the
summer and endless parties is long gone. Of course, en-
company owned by LVMH Group. Christian Louboutin, Marni, Mar-
giela, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Céline and Tom
tertainment remains a defining aspect of Miami’s char-
acter, but for every party around one of its charming
District, right next to installations and sculptures by Urs Fischer, Xavier
pools there is also a museum or an interesting gourmet
Veilhan, Zaha Hadid, John Baldessari and art spaces such as the Institute
restaurant. A lively community of artists, designers and chefs as well as Ford all operate architecturally interesting flagship stores in the Design
visionary entrepreneurs are elevating the city to a multidimensional des- of Contemporary Art, Miami, with its characteristic futuristic facade
tination of international caliber. made of glass and metal.
The start of Miami’s new path came in 2002 with Art Basel, then direct- At the other end of the spectrum is Wynwood, transformed by entre-
ed by Sam Keller, which brought together art from 160 galleries from preneur and art patron Tony Goldman from a mass of industrial ware-
23 countries, attracting 30,000 visitors to the city. The initiative evolved houses to an open-air street art museum, attracting retailers, restaurants
from a “private party” to a contemporary art institution with global ap- and, of course, housing developers. The “Wynwood Walls” are walls full
peal and in 2015, under Noah Horowitz, it featured 267 galleries from of colorful graffiti created in 2009 and co-curated by Goldman and art
32 countries, welcoming more than 77,000 visitors – collectors, curators, dealer Jeffrey Deich. Wynwood boasts the biggest concentration of street
trustees and patrons from more than 200 museums and institutions from art in the United States, with more than 50 artists from 16 countries hav-
all over the world. Today, the once two-day celebration of art lasts a full ing covered 7,500 square meters of wall. At the same time, the area hosts
week, stretching across the city. It takes place every December, as does galleries, artists’ studios and private collections such as the Rubell Family
Design Miami – the forum started in 2005 by visionary entrepreneur Collection, which features pieces by Basquiat, Haring, Koons and Kus-
and real estate developer Craig Robins and design consultant (of Greek ama. Wynwood’s creative energy attracts startups as well as established
origin) Ambra Medda. It is the most important event on the collectible companies like a magnet. It’s also blossomed into a foodie destination with
PRIVATE JOURNAL NO2 from the 20th and 21st centuries that are fit for a museum. Robins was Lewis, as well as cult eateries Zak the Baker, Coyo Taco, Fireman Derek’s
design calendar, with furniture, light fixture and design object exhibitions
restaurants like Joey’s, Wynwood Kitchen & Bar, Asian KYU by Michael
Pies and Salty Donut.
also the man who shaped the Miami Design District about 15 years ago
– and who also contributed in the improvement of Art Deco District in
Brickell is markedly different but equally stimulating. Miami’s financial
center is one of the largest of its kind in the US. Known as the Manhattan
the early ‘90s – through buying and renewing properties in the area that

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