It's time to hit the beach. Well, sort of: December means concurrent new editions of Art Basel and Design Miami/, with the Floridian city briefly transformed into a global hub of cutting edge creativity.
To tie in with this year's fairs, local architect Rene Gonzalez Architect has created RGA Rocket, a platform for design conceived to expand on the practice's work and interests in materiality, cultural/environmental concerns and the making of boundary-blurring, multi-sensory experiences. It's a neat concept, and one his firm is physically manifesting in a newly built private residence by Gonzalez on Prairie Avenue near the fairs' ocean-side epicentres. The elevated building is designed as a series of separate pavilions on stilts – it is is the first in a series Gonzalez's firm will be completing in reponse to Miami's rising sea levels – created from floating concrete planes (even the pool is raised from the ground). It's a unique venue, quite different in scope to the fairs and a singular destination in which to display furniture and accessories.
Germans Ermičs has collaborated with RGA to create a series drawing on the light and colour of Miami's sea and sky
A number of exhibitors have been confirmed for RGA Rocket. French-born Emmanuel Babled is an industrial designer concerned with the importance of the physical presence of materials in their authentic surroundings, creating robust and abstract products with traditional methods of production (and obtaining innovative, meaningful results in the process). Italian architect Vincenzo de Cotiis, meanwhile, amalgamates salvaged matter – textiles, wood, metal, stone wood or leather – with the new, creating objects that find 'beauty in the patina of life', explains the firm.
An expansive sculptural installation will be created on site by Mauricio del Valle, a landscape designer who has already worked on the Prairie Avenue house, and who has repurposed submerged cypress wood to start a dialog on the issue of rising sea levels. Emerging designer Nina Gonzalez has fashioned a range of silver cutlery for the house and, finally, experimental Latvian design Germans Ermičs has created a range of works especially for the project. His colour-shifting mirrors and furniture are beguiling in their realisation; here, he has collaborated with RGA to create a series drawing on the light and colour of Miami's sea and sky.
With a sensitively varied curation and a venue that's a destination in itself, RGA Rocket is a fascinating new apotheosis for an architect already credited with profoundly impacting on the quality of Miami's architectural identity.
The house's lap pool, which acts as a central spine for the structure's floating pavilions.
Installation view of the inaugural RGA Rocket exhibition inside Prairie House, featuring pieces by Vincenzo De Cotiis, Emmanuel Babled and more.
From top, chandelier by Vincenzo De Cotiis; and table by Germans Ermičs.
De Cotiis creates pieces that find 'beauty in the patina of life'.
'Origin' table, by Emmanuel Babled.
'Red Dawn Misty Mirror', by Germans Ermičs.
Nina Gonzalez has fashioned a range of silver cutlery for the house
Detail of Gonzalez's cutlery
'Quark' table in Plexiglass, by Emmanuel Babled.
INFORMATION
'RGA Rocket' is on view from 30 November – 4 December. For more information, visit the Rene Gonzalez Architect website
ADDRESS
2038 Prairie Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
-
Rio Kobayashi’s new furniture bridges eras, shown alongside Fritz Rauh’s midcentury paintings at Blunk SpaceFurniture designer Rio Kobayashi unveils a new series, informed by the paintings of midcentury artist Fritz Rauh, at California’s Blunk Space
-
New York restaurant Locanda Verde’s second outpost will transport you to a different time and placeLocanda Verde’s expansive new Hudson Yards osteria exudes a sophisticated yet intimate atmosphere overflowing with art treasures
-
LVMH watch week 2025: everything we know so farOur guide to LVMH Watch Week 2025, taking place in New York and Paris, starting 21 January; keep an eye out for our updates
-
Design Miami 2024 is alive with possibility: here are 14 things to seeDesign Miami 2024 opens 4-8 December – let Wallpaper* guide you to the highlights, from dazzling installations to plump sofas and anthropomorphic sculptures
-
Design Miami 2022: highlights from the fair and around townDesign Miami 2022 (30 November – 4 December) aims at ‘rebooting the roots of our relationship with nature and collective structures, ecospheres, and urban contexts’
-
Nendo’s collaborations with Kyoto artisans go on view in New York‘Nendo sees Kyoto’ is on view at Friedman Benda (until 15 October 2022), showcasing the design studio's collaboration with six artisans specialised in ancient Japanese crafts
-
Italian craftsmanship comes to Los Angeles in this eclectic Venice Canals apartmentBoffi Los Angeles celebrates a juxtaposition of texture throughout a waterside bolthole
-
Design Miami/Basel 2022 explores the Golden AgeDesign Miami/Basel 2022, led by curatorial director Maria Cristina Didero, offers a positive spin after the unprecedented times of the pandemic, and looks at the history and spirit of design
-
Kvadrat’s flagship New York showrooms encompass colourful design codesIndustrial designer Jonathan Olivares and architect Vincent Van Duysen have worked with Danish textile brand Kvadrat on the vast new space, also featuring furniture by Moroso
-
What to see at New York Design Week 2022Discover Wallpaper’s highlights from New York Design Week 2022 (10 – 20 May 2022): the fairs, exhibitions and design openings to discover
-
Colour defines LA ceramics studio and showroom of Bari ZipersteinStep inside the multifunctional ceramics studio, office and showroom of designer and artist Bari Ziperstein, designed by local firm Foss Hildreth
