Kengo Kuma unveils colourful structure for Miami Design District

Japanese architecture studio Kengo Kuma and Associates is set to create a sculptural block of buildings that will serve as retail locations for the Miami Design District.

Called Mirai – Japanese for “distant future” – renders of the development show a series of colourful fluted pillars wrapped around a retail building on a corner in the north of the city.

The Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA) design is meant to combine elements of both Japanese and Floridian architecture, with colourful facades meeting minimalist retail environments.

It will include several modular retail units on the ground floor that renters can combine or separate based on their needs.

The angle and setbacks of the building will allow for each store to have “corner conditions”, according to the team of developers, which includes Lionheart Capital, Leviathan Development, and Well Duo.

Building informed by Miami’s “energy and natural beauty”

The second and third floors will be used as office space and the structure will include a green roof topped with solar panels.

Several planted pathways are planned for where the building meets the street and the building will include a central garden, with landscape design by Miami-based studio Island Planning Corporation.

“Inspired by the energy and natural beauty of Miami, Mirai embodies the harmonious blend of Japanese traditions and the intricate tapestry of old-world architecture,” said KKAA founder Kengo Kuma.

“The purpose of Mirai is to fashion a space that not only frames the natural tropical elements of Miami but also harmonizes seamlessly with its surroundings,” he added.

“It’s about providing a haven that exudes tranquility and comfort, inviting all who visit and inhabit to partake in the essence of the vibrant city – a sanctuary where dreams can take flight amid the lush beauty of Miami.”

Mirai to be completed by 2025

The team plans on breaking ground on Mirai in 2024, with plans to finish it by 2025.

Since 2010, the Miami Design District has become a hub for fashion and design brands. Marcel Wanders created a Louis Vuitton store for the area, while architect Rafael de Cárdenas created an outlet for Nodaleto.

The initiative of developer and gallerist Craig Robbins and his firm Dacra, the area has also attracted branches of important local art institutions such as the Institute for Contemporary Art.

Several programs and installations are also put on in the area during the city’s art week. Dezeen has put together a guide for the upcoming 2023 iteration here.