Miami's Iconic Residential Buildings | Architectural Legacy

Miami has hundreds of luxury condo towers across Miami Beach, Downtown Miami, Brickell, and Coconut Grove. But only a handful become landmarks—buildings that set pricing records, attract global collectors, and remain culturally relevant decades after delivery.

We've sold luxury real estate in Manhattan and Miami for over 15 years. Across both markets, the same pattern emerges: buildings designed by world-class architects trade differently than standard luxury inventory. They attract different buyers, command different pricing, and maintain relevance long after trends fade.

This is our guide to the residential buildings that have already earned—and those positioned to earn—iconic status across Miami's most prestigious neighborhoods.

(Last updated: November 2025)

What Makes a Building Iconic?

Before we get to the buildings themselves, let's define what separates a landmark from luxury inventory:

Architectural Significance

Buildings designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects or internationally recognized "starchitects"—Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster, Renzo Piano, Herzog & de Meuron. These aren't just nice buildings; they're part of architectural discourse.

Market Impact

The building must establish a new category or set new benchmarks. Porsche Design Tower's sky garages created an entirely new luxury concept. Apogee defined South of Fifth ultra-exclusivity.

Distinctive Identity

Instant visual recognition. One Thousand Museum's exoskeleton. Grove at Grand Bay's twisting towers. These are sculptural statements, not just tall buildings.

Lasting Relevance

Iconic buildings age gracefully. Continuum has maintained premium pricing for 20+ years. Apogee still commands Miami's highest per-square-foot sales. Timeless design outlasts trends.

Cultural Resonance

These buildings transcend real estate—they become part of Miami's identity. They attract celebrity buyers, appear in architecture publications, and become shorthand for a certain vision of luxury.

Current Iconic Buildings: Miami's Established Landmarks

These ten buildings have already proven themselves as Miami's most significant residential addresses:

Building	Location	Architect / Developer	What Makes It Iconic
Faena House	Miami Beach	Norman Foster	Anchors the Faena Art District. Foster's aerodynamic glass tower with $60M+ penthouse sales.
One Thousand Museum	Downtown Miami	Zaha Hadid	Hadid's only residential tower in the Western Hemisphere. Dramatic curved exoskeleton, consistent $1,750+ PSF resales.
Apogee	South of Fifth	Revuelta Architecture	Boutique ultra-exclusivity that sits at the head of Government Cut with 67 residences total. Recent sale at $4,631 PSF—among Miami's highest.
Porsche Design Tower	Sunny Isles Beach	Sieger Suarez	Revolutionary Dezervator car elevator system. Sky garages changed luxury living concepts.
Eighty Seven Park	Miami Beach	Renzo Piano	Piano's U.S. residential debut. Only 66 residences integrated with public park.
Jade Signature	Sunny Isles Beach	Herzog & de Meuron	Faceted glass minimalism by Pritzker Prize winners. Elevated Sunny Isles architectural standards.
Surf Club Four Seasons	Surfside	Richard Meier	Meier's white modernism integrated with 1930s Surf Club heritage. Recent penthouse sales topping $86M. (Also offers Four Seasons branded services)
Grove at Grand Bay	Coconut Grove	Bjarke Ingels Group	Bold twisting towers. BIG's sculptural approach redefined Coconut Grove luxury.
Aston Martin Residences	Downtown Miami	Revuelta Architecture	Sail-shaped tower with automotive luxury integration. Prominent downtown anchor.
Continuum South Beach	South of Fifth	Arquitectonica	Original gated oceanfront resort concept. 20+ years of consistent performance.

Future Iconic Buildings: The Next Generation

These ten developments—under construction or in advanced planning—have the architectural credentials, developer track records, and positioning to become Miami's next landmarks. We've updated statuses based on the latest 2025 construction progress:

The Raleigh (Rosewood Residences) — Miami Beach

Peter Marino's first residential tower. Marino has designed flagships for Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton for 40 years—this is his residential architecture debut. Only 40 oceanfront units restoring the legendary 1940 Raleigh Hotel with its iconic fleur-de-lis pool. The $150M+ penthouse and Langosteria beach club confirm its status on Billionaire's Beach.

Completion: 2027 | Developer: DDG + Menin Hospitality | Status: Residential construction milestones achieved in 2025

The Delmore — Surfside

Zaha Hadid Architects carrying forward Hadid's vision with only 37 residences averaging 7,000+ square feet. One Thousand Museum proved Hadid's work succeeds in Miami—The Delmore refines it in boutique oceanfront format on Surfside's Billionaires' Triangle.

Completion: 2029 | Developer: Fortune International Group | Status: Groundbreaking Q4 2025

Waldorf Astoria Miami — Downtown

Miami's tallest residential tower at 1,049 feet. This curved supertall brings five-star hotel services and a new height record to Downtown Miami's skyline. When it tops out, it will be impossible to miss from Biscayne Boulevard.

Completion: 2027 | Developer: PMG + Greybrook Realty Partners | Status: Construction underway, topping out late 2026/early 2027

Note: Combines supertall architecture with Waldorf Astoria brand services

Mandarin Oriental Residences — Brickell Key

First standalone Mandarin Oriental residences in Miami. KPF's 850-foot tower with interiors by Tristan Auer. $1 billion+ in pre-sales demonstrates market demand for legendary service on a private island setting.

Completion: 2030 | Developer: Swire Properties | Status: Construction actively progressing

Note: Architectural significance meets Mandarin Oriental brand services

St. Regis Residences — Sunny Isles Beach

Twin 62-story Arquitectonica towers with 70,000 square feet of amenities. This scale of development signals Sunny Isles' evolution into ultra-luxury territory beyond its branded tower origins.

Completion: 2027-2028 | Developer: Fortune International Group + Château Group | Status: Construction underway

Note: St. Regis brand integration with Arquitectonica design

Villa Miami — Edgewater

Terra Group (Eighty Seven Park) + One Thousand Group (One Thousand Museum) + Major Food Group (Carbone). When three entities with proven iconic track records collaborate, it's worth attention. Cast bronze exoskeleton with full Carbone hospitality integration across only 72 residences.

Completion: Q2 2028 | Developer: Terra + One Thousand Group | Status: Sales gallery open, foundation work progressing

Bentley Residences — Sunny Isles Beach

Dezer Development refining the car elevator concept they pioneered with Porsche Design Tower. The Bentley brand brings different aesthetic sensibility—more refined British luxury versus Porsche's German performance.

Completion: 2026-2027 | Developer: Dezer Development | Status: Construction progressing toward 2026 delivery

St. Regis Bahia Mar — Fort Lauderdale

$2 billion transformation creating Monaco-inspired yachting destination. 245-slip mega-yacht marina accommodating vessels up to 350 feet. This isn't just residential—it's destination-scale development that elevates Fort Lauderdale's positioning.

Completion: Phased 2027-2030 | Developer: Related Group | Status: Phase 1 underway

Note: Combines Related Group's urban design expertise with St. Regis brand services

Faena Downtown Miami — Brickell

Alan Faena extending his art-forward luxury brand from Miami Beach to Brickell's urban core. Faena House proved his vision works—this tests whether it translates from beachfront to city setting. The two towers will be connected by an elevated skybridge—an unprecedented feature in Miami luxury residential that creates a resort-like compound in the sky. This architectural gesture alone sets Faena Downtown apart as genuinely iconic.

Completion: TBD | Developer: Faena Group | Status: Advanced planning stage

Vita at Grove Isle — Coconut Grove

Ugo Colombo's CMC Group developing Coconut Grove's only private island residential. 65 residences across 20 acres with Grove Isle Club membership and private marina. Topped off September 2024, completion Winter 2025/Spring 2026.

Completion: 2025-2026 | Developer: CMC Group | Status: Topped off, interior finishes underway

Geographic Distribution: Where Icons Cluster

Map embed alt text: "Map of Miami's 20 most iconic residential buildings 2025 - current landmarks and future icons across Miami Beach, Surfside, Downtown Miami, Sunny Isles Beach, Coconut Grove, and Brickell"

Miami Beach, Surfside & Bal Harbour: Highest concentration of architectural significance along Collins Avenue's oceanfront corridor. Faena House, Eighty Seven Park, Surf Club Four Seasons, The Raleigh, The Delmore all within walking distance. Adjacent Bal Harbour offers additional ultra-luxury opportunities with exclusive oceanfront living.

Downtown Miami & Brickell: Vertical ambition along Biscayne Boulevard. One Thousand Museum, Aston Martin Residences, Waldorf Astoria pushing height and architectural boundaries in the urban core. Mandarin Oriental Residences and Faena Downtown represent Brickell's transformation into an architectural destination.

Sunny Isles Beach: Innovation and branded luxury capital. Porsche Design Tower, Jade Signature, Bentley Residences, St. Regis Residences creating a concentration of automotive luxury and starchitecture along the beach.

Coconut Grove: Intimate waterfront elegance. Grove at Grand Bay, Vita at Grove Isle offering boutique scale and residential privacy on the water.

The Starchitect Effect: Why Architect Credentials Matter

In Manhattan, we've watched this pattern consistently: buildings by Robert A.M. Stern, Richard Meier, and Herzog & de Meuron maintained pricing premiums over comparable luxury developments without architectural pedigree.

The same dynamic exists in Miami.

One Thousand Museum (Zaha Hadid) resales consistently around $1,750-$2,100 PSF while comparable downtown Miami luxury trades at $1,200-$1,400 PSF. The difference isn't amenities or finishes—it's architectural significance.

Eighty Seven Park (Renzo Piano) maintains 45-60 day market velocity while comparable Miami Beach luxury sits 90-120 days. Piano's name attracts a different buyer pool.

Surf Club Four Seasons (Richard Meier) achieved $86M+ penthouse sales because Meier's white modernism is instantly recognizable. Buyers aren't just purchasing ocean views—they're buying into Meier's architectural legacy.

Why does this happen?

Global recognition creates global demand. Buyers in Hong Kong, London, São Paulo recognize these architect names. They're not browsing the MLS—they're targeting buildings specifically because of who designed them.

Scarcity by definition. Miami has one Zaha Hadid residential tower. One Renzo Piano building. One Norman Foster beachfront tower. Limited supply creates pricing power.

Cultural capital alongside financial value. Sophisticated buyers view these residences as cultural assets, similar to art collections. They understand owning a Hadid apartment is like owning significant contemporary art—there's financial value, but also cultural significance that can't be replicated.

Cross-Market Perspective: Manhattan's Iconic Buildings

Our experience selling luxury real estate in Manhattan before expanding to Miami gives us unique insight into how iconic buildings behave across different markets. The same principles that make buildings iconic in New York apply in Miami.

Central Park Tower (Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, 2021)
At 1,550 feet, the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere. Smith + Gordon Gill (architects of Burj Khalifa) created a slender supertall with limestone and glass that references classic New York while being contemporary. The height draws attention, but the architectural pedigree creates lasting value.

The Flatiron Building (Daniel Burnham, 1902)
Daniel Burnham's Beaux-Arts solution to a triangular lot created instant recognition that hasn't faded in 120+ years. Timeless architecture outlasts trends.

15 Central Park West (Robert A.M. Stern, 2008)
Stern's limestone tower defined modern luxury by connecting to pre-war elegance. Not the fanciest amenities, but architectural significance that collectors immediately understood.

56 Leonard (Herzog & de Meuron, 2016)
The "Jenga Tower" with cantilevered stacked boxes. Structural innovation that created unique terraces on every floor—this is architecture solving spatial problems, not decoration.

The Manhattan Lesson:

Buildings by significant architects—Stern, Herzog & de Meuron, Adrian Smith—maintain pricing premiums and velocity over comparable luxury without architectural pedigree. The same dynamic exists in Miami with Hadid, Piano, Foster, and Meier.

Global collectors recognize these architect names regardless of whether the building is in Manhattan, Miami Beach, or Surfside. This is why starchitect buildings attract different buyers and command different pricing.

See our complete guide to NYC's iconic residential buildings →

A Note on Branded Residences vs. Iconic Architecture

Some buildings are both architecturally iconic AND branded residences. Surf Club Four Seasons is a perfect example:

As an iconic building: Richard Meier's white modernist architecture integrated with 1930s heritage makes this architecturally significant.

As a branded residence: Four Seasons service, hotel amenities, and global brand recognition provide operational excellence.

The best buildings combine both: architectural pedigree PLUS brand service. But they're distinct value propositions:

Iconic = cultural significance and timeless design
Branded = hotel-level service and brand prestige

For a complete guide to Miami's hotel-branded luxury residences (Four Seasons, St. Regis, Mandarin Oriental, Waldorf Astoria, Ritz-Carlton), see our Branded Residences Guide.

Buildings like Surf Club Four Seasons, Waldorf Astoria Miami, Mandarin Oriental Residences, and St. Regis properties offer both architectural significance AND branded hotel services—the best of both worlds.

How We Work With Iconic Buildings

At Manhattan Miami Real Estate, we maintain direct relationships with sales teams at every significant starchitect development in Miami and NYC. This includes:

In Miami:

Priority access to pre-construction releases at The Raleigh, The Delmore, and Villa Miami
Off-market resale opportunities in One Thousand Museum, Eighty Seven Park, and Faena House
First look at listings before they hit the MLS in all iconic buildings

In Manhattan:

Direct access to 15 Central Park West, 220 Central Park South, 56 Leonard, Central Park Tower
Pre-construction opportunities at 800 Fifth Avenue, 80 Clarkson, and other future landmarks
Off-market inventory across all major starchitect buildings

Our multi-market perspective — selling luxury in Manhattan and Miami for years gives us context other Miami-only brokers don't have. We've watched how Central Park Tower, 15 Central Park West, 220 Central Park South, and 56 Leonard trade differently than standard luxury. We understand what makes buildings iconic across markets, not just in one city.

Whether you're:

Evaluating resales in established iconic buildings
Considering pre-construction in future landmarks
Relocating from another luxury market
Building a portfolio across multiple cities

We can walk you through exactly how these buildings operate differently from standard luxury inventory.

Licensed in New York, Florida & California | Manhattan Miami Real Estate LLC

Exploring Iconic Buildings in Miami?

We track every significant development and maintain direct relationships with sales teams at these properties. Whether you're evaluating current landmarks or pre-construction opportunities, let's discuss your strategy.

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Frequently Asked Questions — Miami's Iconic Buildings (2025)

What is the most iconic condo building in Miami right now?

One Thousand Museum by Zaha Hadid. It's the only Hadid residential tower in the Western Hemisphere, instantly recognizable by its curved exoskeleton along Biscayne Boulevard, and attracts global collectors specifically seeking her architectural work. The Beckhams paid $20M for their unit—that's the kind of buyer these buildings attract.

Which Miami building has the highest price per square foot in 2025?

Apogee in South of Fifth still holds the record with a sale at $4,631 PSF in 2023. Surf Club Four Seasons in Surfside is now competing at the top with an $86M penthouse closing in 2025. Both buildings demonstrate how boutique exclusivity (Apogee has only 67 residences total) and starchitect pedigree (Richard Meier's Surf Club) command unprecedented pricing.

Why do buildings by famous architects cost more?

Buildings by Pritzker Prize-winning architects—Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster, Renzo Piano—attract global collectors who view them as cultural assets, not just real estate. This international demand pool creates pricing power that typical luxury towers don't have.

When you own a Hadid or Piano building, you're selling to buyers in Hong Kong, London, and São Paulo who specifically seek these architects' work. You're not just selling square footage; you're selling architectural significance that can't be replicated.

In Manhattan, we've seen this with Central Park Tower (Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill) and 56 Leonard (Herzog & de Meuron)—they command premiums because of architectural pedigree.

What is the next Zaha Hadid building in Miami?

The Delmore in Surfside—only 37 residences averaging over 7,000 square feet each, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. Groundbreaking happened Q4 2025, with delivery expected in 2029. This is Hadid's office carrying forward her vision in Miami's most exclusive oceanfront corridor.

Which new Miami building will be the tallest?

Waldorf Astoria Residences at 1,049 feet (100 stories) will become Florida's tallest building when it tops out in late 2026/early 2027. The curved supertall will be visible across all of Downtown Miami and redefine the skyline's height benchmark.

For comparison, Manhattan's Central Park Tower (Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill) is 1,550 feet—the tallest residential in the Western Hemisphere.

Is Porsche Design Tower still the most expensive in Sunny Isles?

Porsche Design Tower remains the proven benchmark—its revolutionary Dezervator car elevator system created an entirely new luxury category in 2016. However, Bentley Residences (delivery 2026-2027) and the St. Regis twin towers (2027-2028) are now trading at higher pre-construction pricing. We'll see which proves most valuable once Bentley delivers.

Should I buy an existing iconic building or wait for pre-construction?

Here's how we think about it with clients:

Established icons (One Thousand Museum, Eighty Seven Park, Faena House):

You can see, touch, and tour the actual residence today
Proven resale market already exists
Immediate or near-term occupancy
Known building culture, management, and resident profile
No construction timeline risk

Pre-construction icons (The Raleigh, The Delmore, Villa Miami):

Access before the resale market proves value
Newer building systems, technology, and finishes
Ability to customize finishes and layouts during construction
Usually better floorplate design (developers learn from previous buildings)
Lower pricing than resale will likely command once proven
Construction timeline risk (delays happen)

In Manhattan, we watched buyers pass on 56 Leonard and 220 Central Park South during construction because they seemed expensive or risky. Today, those same buyers can't find inventory at any price.

We help clients evaluate both options based on their specific situation—timeline, desire for customization, and whether they prefer certainty or opportunity.

How do I know if a pre-construction building will actually become iconic?

Three indicators we look for:

1. Architect pedigree: Has this architect delivered icons before? Peter Marino (The Raleigh) has created the world's most luxurious retail environments for 40 years. This is his first residential—that's significant. In Manhattan, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill's Central Park Tower became an instant landmark because of their global reputation.

2. Developer track record: Terra Group delivered Eighty Seven Park (Renzo Piano). One Thousand Group created One Thousand Museum (Zaha Hadid). When Villa Miami brings both together, that's two proven iconic developers collaborating.

3. Genuine scarcity: Is the positioning truly unreplicable? The Raleigh's oceanfront heritage site with the 1940 Art Deco hotel can never be duplicated. Vita at Grove Isle is Coconut Grove's only private island residential. Faena Downtown's elevated skybridge is unprecedented in Miami luxury residential.

If a building checks all three, it has genuine iconic potential beyond marketing hype.

Which neighborhood has the most iconic buildings?

The Mid-Beach/Surfside corridor between 29th Street and 96th Street along Collins Avenue: Faena House, Eighty Seven Park, Surf Club Four Seasons, The Raleigh (under construction), and The Delmore (breaking ground).

Five buildings by Norman Foster, Renzo Piano, Richard Meier, Peter Marino, and Zaha Hadid Architects—all within a 15-minute walk along the ocean. Nowhere else in America has this concentration of Pritzker-level residential architecture on the water.

In Manhattan, the equivalent would be Central Park South and Billionaires' Row with 220 CPS (Robert A.M. Stern), 15 Central Park West (also Stern), and Central Park Tower creating a similar concentration of starchitect buildings.

Can I see these buildings before buying?

For established buildings: Yes—we arrange private tours regularly at One Thousand Museum, Faena House, Eighty Seven Park, Surf Club Four Seasons, and all other delivered icons. We can walk units, experience the buildings, and often meet current residents.

For pre-construction buildings: We tour sales galleries, review detailed architectural plans and renderings, examine material samples, and visit comparable completed buildings by the same architects/developers. For The Raleigh, we can show you the actual 1940 hotel site. For Villa Miami, we can tour Eighty Seven Park (Terra's previous icon) and One Thousand Museum (One Thousand Group's track record).

Do these buildings allow rentals?

Rental policies vary significantly, and this is critical if rental income is part of your strategy:

Restrictive buildings: Eighty Seven Park, Faena House, and Surf Club Four Seasons have strict rental limitations—often minimum 6-12 month leases, limited rental days per year, or outright prohibitions during initial years.

More flexible buildings: Porsche Design Tower, One Thousand Museum, and most Sunny Isles properties allow shorter-term rentals with fewer restrictions.

Why it matters: If you plan to rent your residence part of the year, we need to evaluate rental policies before you commit to pre-construction or purchase a resale. Some buildings prioritize owner-occupancy and residential character over rental flexibility.

This is one of the first things we verify when evaluating buildings for clients.

What's the difference between a "luxury condo" and an "iconic building"?

Luxury condos have:

High-end finishes (Italian marble, Sub-Zero appliances)
Extensive amenities (rooftop pools, wine rooms, golf simulators)
Professional service and concierge
Premium locations

Iconic buildings have all of that plus:

Architectural significance by world-renowned architects
Instant visual recognition (One Thousand Museum's exoskeleton, Grove at Grand Bay's twisting towers)
Cultural relevance beyond real estate (featured in architecture publications, museum exhibitions)
Global collector demand, not just local luxury buyers
Timeless design that transcends trends

Miami has hundreds of excellent luxury buildings. It has fewer than 20 genuine icons.

In Manhattan, the difference is clear: Central Park Tower and 56 Leonard are iconic. There are dozens of luxury towers that aren't.

What about branded residences vs. iconic buildings?

Some buildings are both. Surf Club Four Seasons combines Richard Meier's iconic architecture with Four Seasons brand services. Waldorf Astoria Miami will offer supertall architectural significance plus Waldorf brand hospitality.

Iconic buildings emphasize: Architectural pedigree, cultural significance, timeless design
Branded residences emphasize: Hotel services, brand prestige, turnkey luxury

The best buildings offer both. For more on how branded luxury works, see our Branded Residences Guide.

Are you taking on new clients for iconic building searches?

Yes. We work with buyers across all price ranges in iconic buildings—from $2M residences in established buildings to $20M+ opportunities in Four Seasons, Villa Miami, etc.

Our approach: we don't push inventory. We are educators, helping our clients make the best decision possible for them. Soon you will understand which buildings qualify as architecturally significant, why they trade differently, and how to evaluate current resales versus pre-construction opportunities based on your specific timeline and preferences.

Our multi-market experience (Manhattan, Miami) gives us perspective on how iconic buildings behave across different cities—from Central Park Tower to One Thousand Museum to emerging projects further afield.

[Schedule a consultation to discuss your search →]

Have a question that isn't covered here? Email us directly or schedule a call—we answer everything.

Miami's Most Iconic Residential Buildings: Where Architecture Becomes Legacy