PROJECT: RALEIGH HOTEL Every December visitors flock to Miami Beach for its annual whirlwind of fairs and festivities. And every year those people leave asking the same question: Why don’t we visit more often? Though this coastal community can be chaos during Art Basel, it’s a refreshing splash of culture any other weekend, with world-class…
The challenge was to design a flagship retail building on that site that respected and honored the past but still looked forward. The building we designed was an evolution of the original Streamline Moderne structure; it kept the historic elements and incorporated them into the overall design.
PROJECT: MIAMI INNOVATION DISTRICT Miami architect Touzet Studio said last week they are starting to design a project for Miami’s urban core that they promise will be “transformative.” In an Instagram post, the firm said the new project would cover four city blocks, without elaborating. Street markings in the study appear to place it adjacent to…
Touzet Studio drew inspiration from nature- the tropical hammock of Corlal Gables and Biscayne Bay beyond.
The House transitions from two engaged stone-clad volumes on the street to a primarily crystalline façade on the Bayside.
The interiors balance a warm and neutral palette with moments of intense color, utilizing terrazzo floors and natural wood to give the house a very Florida tropical feeling.
The blues and grey of the carpets and custom light fixtures pick up on the shades of the ocean. The bright bursts of color recall the vibrant colors found in the gardens of the Tropical landscapes.
The Furniture layout takes full advantage of the crystalline façade and beautiful bay views while also meeting the Clients programmatic needs.
“Miami is a young city, but it definitely has a beautiful culture and has a wonderful climate that we should embrace and celebrate in our architecture.” – Jacqueline Gonzalez Touzet, AIA LEED AP, Founding Principal, Touzet Studio Source
2021 AIA Florida Award of Excellence for Renovation and Addition
Built in 1936 and designed by Robert Law Reed, 800 Lincoln Road was originally home to the Burdines Department Store. It featured a streamlined steel and concrete frame structure which was originally intended to serve as a pedestal for the future addition of five more stories. After Burdines moved to a new, larger space, the building was occupied by Richard’s Department Store and several other commercial businesses before finally becoming home to Art Center/South Florida.
The design aims to bring back the original character of the building by restoring the cast concrete panels that made up the façade skin and the polished aluminum trim that established discrete bands of diverse surface treatments. It also establishes a clear demarcation between the original building and any new additions. The newer portion of 800 Lincoln Road retains the use of concrete as a surface material while differentiating itself by using board-formed concrete, which has a rough texture that contrasts sharply to the smooth surface of the original panels. The volume of the addition is set back from the plane of the original building and is separated from the historic structure by a continuous band of glass that runs from the entry to the addition at the southern edge of the historic volume up to the rooftop restaurant.
With Miami serving as a popular housing destination for celebrities—whether it be as a primary place of residence or as a second, third, or even fourth option—we thought it’d be fun to take a look back at 2017’s juiciest homes to hit and/or depart the market. Apologies to Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters, who landed a…
Building Area: 1,735 SF
Building Status: Completed
This private residence for an inventor and engineer couple with a love of design began as an interior remodeling of the kitchen and great room. It grew over time to include the children’s bathrooms. The custom kitchen was designed by Touzet Studio and built by Frohbose & Beers. It features an 8-foot-long, custom designed island with an absolute granite velvet finish top.
The appliances are tucked out of sight in a custom “appliance garage” clad in a walnut volume that also conceals the refrigerators. The ovens were set in a coral rock wall with a custom-designed bronze hood.
The design was inspired by the kitchens of early French chateaus, with their oversized fireplaces for cooking. The powder room, inspired by vintage train compartments, was tucked into the walnut volume that defines the great room.
Susan S. Szenasy, director of design innovation, Metropolis (SSS): We’re in Miami. Let’s start with talking about the unique subtropical conditions that exist here. How do architects design for a place like this? Jacqueline Gonzalez Touzet, AIA LEED AP, founding principal, Touzet Studio (JGT): Miami is a young city, but it definitely has a beautiful culture and…
This is the concept design for an adaptive re-use building in the Miami downtown area of Brickell.
