April 15, 2025
Luxury Brands Are Reshaping the Miami Skyline With Alluring and Stylish Lifestyles
American city skylines in the 20th century were largely defined by business and commercial properties, often skyscrapers and high-rise towers. Many prominent buildings were attached to established brands through ownership or marketing deals. The Sears Tower in Chicago, for example, was owned and operated by the retail chain; this was the same business arrangement of the iconic Chrysler building in New York City, which was commissioned by the automaker for its headquarters office.
In Miami, the skyline was dominated for years by the 47-story CenTrust Tower in the Downtown District. After the scandalous collapse of that bank in 1990, the building was renamed to Bank of America and later to Miami Tower. These days, some of the tallest towers of the Miami skyline are high-rise condominiums that offer a branded luxury lifestyle for residents. They go beyond the established hospitality brands like Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, or Trump; they operate in the worlds of fashion, high-performance automotive engineering, and fine crystal works.
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The current Miami branded residences trend kicked off in 2017 with the Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles Beach, a coastal city with a well-established branding streak that began with Trump and Ritz-Carlton condominiums in the 1980s. The German luxury automaker had previously entered the architectural space with the Porsche Design Tower Stuttgart, a stylish mixed-use building zoned for office and hospitality spaces. Although Porsche Design has been a lifestyle brand since the 1970s, it did not explore architecture until a decade ago, and the Sunny Isles condominium is the company's residential flagship.
It is safe to say that the Porsche Design Tower set a high bar for branded residences in Miami. The project developed by Dezer Development surpassed all expectations of what a branded luxury lifestyle experience should be. The 60-story oceanfront tower features a distinctive cylindrical form that evokes the cylinders of Porsche's internal combustion engines. The architectural style can be described as modern, futuristic, luxurious, and highly functional. The most iconic feature is the robotic "Dezervator" vehicle elevator system, a prime example of harmonizing technical innovation with design. Essentially, the unique Dezervator gives residents the ability to park cars directly in "sky garages" adjacent to the units, including the rooftop penthouses. Another elite feature available to penthouse residents is a "plunge pool" in the balconies of more than 100 units; this opulent amenity allows cooling off while overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and without going to the pool deck.
After the considerable success of the Porsche Design Tower, real estate market analysts speculated on whether other luxury automotive brands would follow suit. Lamborghini did it in Dubai and Spain; however, those projects are villas with large acreage in a country club setting. Imposing high-rise towers are more suitable to the new Miami luxury lifestyle, thus motivating the Aston Martin, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, and Pagani brands to compete directly with the Porsche Design Tower.
The Aston Martin Residences are located on the north section of the Brickell District, across from the Miami River and Brickell Key at the prestigious 300 Biscayne Boulevard address. The automotive design inspiration of this 66-story condominium tower is unmistakable; you can see it in the outline of the building, which resembles the curved contours of Aston Martin models such as the Vantage twin-turbo V8. There are three residence levels and two penthouse series for a total of 391 units. The River, Panoramic, and Sky Residences occupy levels from 3 to 51; their floor plans range from studios to four-bedroom units. The penthouse levels feature units between 8,977 to 10,463 square feet, including triple penthouses with direct access to the Sky Amenities.
When the G and G Business Developments firm was contracted for the Aston Martin Residences project, there was an understanding about exceeding expectations in terms of amenities, which are the strongest selling points for modern boutique condominiums. The Aston Martin Sky Amenities begin on level 52, where residents and guests can enjoy an art gallery, business center, conference suite, and activities centers for children and teenagers. The next level offers fitness and wellness amenities such as a gym, yoga studio, spa, barbershop, beauty salon, and meditation hall. A larger fitness center on level 54 includes a virtual golf simulation and two movie theaters. Two swimming pools with sundecks and cabanas are on level 55, which also features a rooftop lounge, clubhouse, chef's kitchen, and private dining sections. Beyond the Sky Amenities, residents can also access a marina with 900-ft docking spaces for luxury yachts.
Bentley Motors is another luxury automaker that has joined the branded residences revolution in Miami. Dezer Development's experience with the Porsche Design Tower prompted Bentley to retain the firm and execute the brand's vision of extraordinary luxury in Sunny Isles Beach. The prestigious Miami architectural firm Sieger Suarez designed the 62-story tower inspired by the iconic interiors of Bentley vehicles, which feature diamond-shaped quilted upholstery. When completed, the Bentley Residences project will be the tallest oceanfront condominium in the United States. Like in the Porsche Tower, the Dezervator will allow residents to elevate their cars from the street level to their units, but the garage spaces of the Bentley Residences can store up to four vehicles, thus making the penthouses ideal for car collectors.
Select Bentley units will feature heated plunge pools in the panoramic balconies; plus, some of the outdoor terrace spaces also offer summer kitchens and outdoor showers. Of the new automotive-branded Miami residences described thus far, the Bentley project offers the largest living spaces; for example, a three-bedroom unit on the 24th floor includes a three-car garage measuring 1,145 square feet, and the sunset terrace of 967 square feet is separated by the family room from the lanai with a plunge pool. The luxury design extends to the floor-to-ceiling windows that provide sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and Upper Biscayne Bay; there are also Gaggenau Vario appliances, Italian kitchen cabinetry, heated bathroom floors, Toto Neorest toilets with bidet features, and custom door handles with the new diamond Bentley logo.
Porsche and Mercedes-Benz have a long history of competing in the luxury automotive segment, so it is not surprising that both now have branded residences in Miami. Located in the heart of the Brickell Financial District, Mercedes-Benz Places is the first North American residential project undertaken by the legendary German automaker. The JDS Development Group is leading an ambitious project to build a 67-story condominium that looks like six giant Jenga blocks reminiscent of classic Mercedes-Benz automotive interior trim elements. A gap dividing two square and rectangle-shaped sections faces the South Channel to provide dramatic views of Miami sunsets.
For many fans of urban architectural design, the Mercedes-Benz Places project will be one of the crown jewels of the Miami skyline. The uneven towers are strikingly stylish from every angle; they feature a touch of retro-futurism with residences envisioned by the Australian firm Woods Bagot, which has designed luxury lounges at the Los Angeles International Airport, the Sydney Central Station, and the Harvey Milk Terminal Boarding Area in San Francisco.
A more exclusive and exotic automaker riding the wave of Miami branded residences is Pagani Automobili, an Italian hypercar brand known for ultra-limited production runs. The Pagani Residences project in North Bay Village is a 28-story condominium with three prominent structures. The ground level is shaped like a Pagani front grill, and the twin towers look like chromed engine components. As you can expect from a designer of Italian luxury cars, the Pagani Residences are ultra-stylish; they are guided by the artistic and scientific principles espoused by Leonardo da Vinci, and they include indoor swimming pools for some penthouses.
Luxury automakers are not the only brands reshaping the Miami skyline. French luxury house Baccarat has been producing some of the world's most elaborate glassworks since King Louis XV of France commissioned it in the 18th century. Naturally, the Baccarat Residences 75-story tower in the Brickell District is an opulent glass tower that features ultra-refined interior design. The ambiance is reminiscent of the Maison Baccarat in Paris, a showroom and fine-dining restaurant considered to be among the most stylish commercial spaces in Europe. When completed, the Baccarat Residences will host art exhibitions loaned from museums; plus, residents will get Parisian-style concierge service.
The Dezer Development portfolio includes more than luxury automotive brands. Residences by Armani/Casa is another Sunny Isles Beach condominium that oozes style and luxury. Like the Bentley and Porsche towers, the 60-story Armani/Casa building is an oceanfront tower with 308 units ranging from cozy studios to six-bedroom layouts. The influence of the Giorgio Armani is evident in the architectural style and interior design. The furnished units with Armani decorations were strong selling points when this project opened a few years ago. The most prominent amenities include a cigar lounge, a fine-dining restaurant, an art gallery, and a trendy Armani Prive social club.
Other fashion brands competing with Armani in Miami include Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana, and Fendi. The Diesel Wynwood building is not an imposing tower; it is a mid-rise condominium with 159 units. The architecture and interior design reflect the stylish Diesel approach to pret-a-porter and streetwear garments. This project combines bold architecture with playful design; some of its features include brushed-steel pillars that outline a public piazza, neon beams, and exposed textures.
While Diesel wisely selected the artistic Wynwood District for its branded residence project, Dolce & Gabbana went for a more upscale effect by choosing 888 Brickell as the address for its breathtaking project in the Financial District. Of all the condominiums listed herein, the Dolce & Gabbana Residences is the most representative of its brand. The 90-story tower will feature a gilded crown with streamlined gargoyles crafted in a classic D&G pattern for cocktail dresses. Many elements of classic Roman architecture will adorn this building, which will offer upscale amenities such as an arthouse movie theater, an indoor paddle court, a wine cellar, and a chauffeured Rolls Royce experience.
Finally, the Fendi Château Residences projects in Surfside, not far from the exclusive Bal Harbour shopping district, is a mid-rise condominium with abundant style and character. This beachfront pyramid offers 58 luxurious units with floor plans that start with 3,400 square feet of interior. All residents enjoy private elevator access to their units, which flow from east to west in a layout that maximizes natural light. The Fendi Château Residences cater to individuals who appreciate white-glove concierge services. Like the pampering that exclusive Fendi stores are known for, this condominium offers private spa suites with aromatherapy, poolside cabanas with service, billiard rooms with wine cellars, and discrete access to an exclusive beach section.