Brown Jordan Flagship

2018 AIA Florida Merit Award for use of Masonry in Design
This flagship retail project’s concept and materiality were inspired by the Dade County pine forest and coral-rock bluffs that once blanketed the project site. Less than 2 percent of this endangered pine rockland still survives.

The building is composed of volumes that appear to rise from the park green at its southern edge. The first plate is clad in locally sourced Florida keystone, the same material oolitic limestone quarried locally from the coral bluffs that marked this coastal area. The taller, alternating plates are clad in panels that recall the dappling of daylight through the pine branches. These panels are fabricated from high strength, fiber-reinforced concrete. The interior paneling, stair treads, and cabinetry are made of reclaimed Dade County pine, salvaged from a nearby building during the process of demolition.

As the flagship for an outdoor furniture line, it was especially important to showcase indoor/outdoor living for our subtropical climate. The design features a rooftop garden and exhibit areas that are open to the sky, with views of Downtown Miami, the Design District, and Biscayne Bay. The ground floor includes a modern take on a “Florida Room” that opens to a nearby park. All the spaces are day-lit and use local materials for a truly Floridian store.