Gigantic Mall Coming to Downtown Miami: Brickell CitiCentre

A massive new mega mall is planned for downtown Miami. Brickell CitiCentre consisting of more than five towers will rise from the land bordered by Brickell on the East, Southwest 1st Ave. to the west and between Southwest 8th and Southwest 6th St.

The complex will be bigger than the Dolphin Mall's 1.4 million square feet of retail space, bigger that Sawgrass Mills Mall -- in fact about double the size of Sawgrass -- at 4 million square feet.

"This is the biggest private work project in the U.S. this year", said Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff. "It's going to bring Miami into the epicenter of retail shopping and that includes Coral Gables and even Aventura."

The project will create 1,700 construction jobs every year for the four years it will take to complete construction. When it's finished there will be 3,800 permanent full time jobs.

The CityCentre will house not only retail shopping but office space, apartments or condos, and a hotel.

"This is the biggest thing to happen in Miami in about 12 years," Sarnoff said. 

Model of the project

Malibu Dream Home: The Segel Residence

22426 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu CA

The Segel Residence

A few years ago, while walking on Malibu beach, we discovered a very special house, maybe one of the most interesting homes we have ever seen. We were curious to know who was leaving there and thought of the great life these people must have, waking up every day facing the Pacific ocean and being able to walk on the beach any time of the day. "These people" were actually Courtney Cox and David Arquette. And the special house was designed by a pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright. After doing some research to learn more about it, this is what we found: 

The Segel Residence, sold by Courtney Cox and David Arquette in 2007 to Dodgers owners Frank and Jamie McCourt for 33.5 Million dollars (it is believed Cox and Arquette originally purchased the home for $10 million in 2001), is a stunning home built in 1979 by John Lautner, a famed architect who studied with Frank Lloyd Wright. It is on Carbon Beach, and is considered one of the most beautiful homes on the Malibu coastline. The four-bedroom, 5,500 square foot house has ocean views from almost every room and sits on a double lot with 80 feet of beach frontage.

If you are in the neighborhood, we strongly recommend that you stop by Paradise Cove for brunch or lunch and then start a digestive walk  on the beach where you'll be able to see this beautiful house as well as many others!

The living room

Dream Home Resort - Indian Creek - Miami Beach

Price: 60,000,000$

It has been very hard to find something as inspiring as Burano with its small but  unique homes, so for this week's posting we decided to look for the complete opposite - a BIG house,  an over the top residence, literally a dream home by its location, views and price:

3 Indian Creek Drive, Miami Beach

Asking price: $60,000,000

Located on the exclusive island of Indian Creek, this is the most expensive home in Miami history. Features include: 10 bedrooms, 5 kitchens, private beach with sand imported from the Bahamas, wine cellar secured by fingerprint key pad, chromotherapy spa and massage room.

As the developer says in the ABC news video below, more than selling a house, you are selling a "feeling".

Burano - Phillippe Starck's Inspiration Haven

 Burano is a charming little island in the Venetian Lagoon known for its lacework but also for its small colorful houses. A couple of months ago we spent a lovely day on the island, enjoying an exquisite lunch - 3 hour long!!! - at Il Gatto Nero, followed by a much needed walk through the canals, little bridges, and brightly colored houses. During our walk we discovered that designer Philippe Starck owns four houses on the island, a bigger one for him and his family (the redish/coral one in the pictures, about 3,800 sq.ft or 400 sq.m), and three smaller ones for his guests.

Philippe Starck Primary Residence

I guess the colorful scenery and the magical atmosphere make it the ideal place to relax and get inspired for an artist such as Starck. We actually thought of buying one ourselves, but ah too far from Miami. Well maybe one day :-)
For those of you interested, the small blue house below is about 800 Sq.ft (75 sq.m) on 3 levels and cost between 250,000 and 275,000 Euros ($355,000 - $390,000). Venice Airport is 10 minutes away by speed boat.

Il Gatto Nero - Crab and Pomodoro Salad