Miami Design District + Miami Design Residences at Fouquet’s — My Take
Miami Design District + Miami Design Residences at Fouquet’s — My Take
Joe and I were literally the first two people to sleep in Midtown Miami.
December 2007.
We were working for Midtown Equities.
And as soon as our condo was ready… we didn’t wait.
We bought an air mattress, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, I was 26…
and we camped out in Midtown.
That was the beginning.
Back then? Different world.
The only retailer open was Target.
Food options were basically Enriqueta’s… and if you wanted something elevated, you walked over to the Design District for Michael’s Genuine.
And the Design District itself wasn’t what people think of today.
It wasn’t “luxury” yet.
It was actually a design district — furniture showrooms, design firms, creative studios. Real, raw, and industry-driven.
The Shift: From Design Hub to Global Luxury
Then came Art Basel and Design Miami/.
That’s when things started to change.
Every year, you’d see activations pop up — Marc by Marc Jacobs, Christian Louboutin — temporary at first, testing the market.
And then 2010 changed everything.
L Catterton (backed by LVMH) partnered with Dacra.
That was the inflection point.
They didn’t just bring brands — they brought a strategy:
Curated luxury retail
Architectural consistency
Global positioning
Fast forward to today…
The Miami Design District is one of the most successful retail neighborhoods in the world.
Rents here are driven by real foot traffic — and that foot traffic now rivals, and in many ways exceeds, Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
What It Is Today
This is no longer just retail.
It’s a cultural and luxury epicenter:
Tom Ford, Hermès, LVMH maisons
ICA Miami (museum-level programming)
The Moore (revived as a social + cultural hub)
Michelin-recognized dining: Le Jardinier, COTE, Itamae
It’s where design, fashion, food, and culture all intersect.
What Was Missing
For years, there was one obvious gap:
No true residential product with views.
You could visit. You could shop. You could dine.
But you couldn’t live in it — at least not at a level that matched the environment.
Miami Design Residences at Fouquet’s — Why I’m Obsessed
This is the missing piece.
And they did it right.
Designed by David Chipperfield — which immediately signals architectural credibility
Positioned directly within the Design District ecosystem
Branded with Fouquet’s, which brings a very specific, almost cinematic hospitality energy
It’s refined, but not stiff.
Luxury, but with personality.
Why It Works
For me, it’s about three things:
1. Location
You are in the Design District — not adjacent, not “close to.”
2. Design
This isn’t overdone glass-box Miami.
It’s thoughtful, architectural, European in restraint.
3. Brand Energy
Fouquet’s is a little unexpected… and that’s exactly why it works.
It’s playful, it has attitude — it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Honestly… I can already hear people saying:
“Let’s go to Fouquet’s…”
or… “Let’s go to F** It’s*.” 😄
And that kind of cultural stickiness?
You can’t manufacture that.
Final Take
From an air mattress and a bottle of Veuve in 2007…
to one of the most important luxury districts in the world.
I’ve watched this transformation firsthand.
The Design District built the luxury ecosystem first.
Now it’s finally getting the residential component to match.
And that’s what makes this moment — and this project — so important.
Inquire → Connect with the Alex + Joe Team at Compass for floor plans, pricing, and early access opportunities.
📞 305.712.6522 📧 [email protected]
