1. Konstantin Grcic’s Netscape
The Munich-based Grcic—whose disciplined, architectural, and
boundary-expanding approach to industrial design continues to set his
work apart—will be honored as designer of the year at Design Miami,
which runs December 1 to 5. To mark the occasion, Grcic has created
Netscape, an outdoor installation of hammock-like seats made from
polypropylene netting. Suspended at the fair’s entrance,
they provide
prime people-watching opportunities.
2. Les Lalanne at Fairchild
Whimsical art by Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne
will be on view at
the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (November 30 to May 31, 2011). Set
among some of the rarest plants in the world will be more than 20
sculptures, including works never before publicly exhibited in the U.S.
3. Jim Drain’s Small Reprieve
Drain collaborated with students from Miami’s Design Architecture Senior
High to transform a vacant lot in the Design District into a public
artwork. By wrapping the perimeter fence in a vinyl scrim, he evokes
majestic stained glass. Head to the corner of N.E. 41st Street and N.E.
First Avenue to take a look.
4. Soho Beach House
This new club, on the site of the historic Sovereign Hotel
in Miami
Beach, has an amazing view of the water
and is sure to be the next cool
hangout in town.
5. Stiltsville
A collection of wooden houses a mile out in Biscayne Bay, these
structures stand on concrete pilings 10 feet above
the water and were
built beginning in the Thirties. The
area is reachable only by boat but
is worth the trip.
6. Frank Gehry’s New World Symphony Building
The arrival of this starchitect-designed music hall, set to open on
January 25, cements Miami’s status as a 21st-century cultural
destination.
7. Historic Miami Beach
The Art Deco area in South Beach is chockablock with
great little
architectural gems from Miami’s heyday. I particularly like Meridian
Avenue, which abuts Flamingo
Park and is lined with big, beautiful
trees.
8. The Wolfsonian Museum
With a focus on decorative arts, material culture, and design, the
Wolfsonian stages thought-provoking exhibitions throughout the year.
Check out “Seduce Me,” a video installation by Isabella Rossellini, Andy
Byers, and Rick Gilbert, on view December 1 to 5 in the lobby and
auditorium; or just sip coffee and read in the excellent museum
shop–café.
9. Royere at Patrick Seguin
Designed by India Mahdavi, dealer Patrick Seguin’s
booth at this year’s
Design Miami will feature the work
of the legendary Jean Royère. My
favorites include a to-die-for 1949 sofa set with two armchairs and a
1939
iron and marble table.
