The Miami Design District is so much fun to explore and there are exciting discoveries around every…read morecorner. Nestled in between high end stores like Christian Louboutin and Louis Vuitton are exciting pieces of public art. It is impossible to miss this large scale art piece holding court in the center of the Palms Court. The unusual name of this art piece comes from its creator Buckminster Fuller who was an architect, systems theorist, author, designer, inventor, and futurist. In 1965 Fuller patented his design called the Fly's Eye Dome which he called "autonomous dwelling machines." The geodesic bubbles were comprised of a series of transparent domed windows across a fiberglass partial sphere. Fuller was a forerunner of the green living movement and he intended the domes to be affordable and portable housing for people in the future. He envisioned the openings to hold solar panels and water collection systems in some of its openings, making for a self-sufficient residence. Unfortunately Fuller passed away in 1983 after only three prototypes had made been handmade. In 2011 Craig Robbins, co-founder and co-owner of the Miami Design District, obtained one of Fuller's prototypes 24 foot prototypes and planned to use it for an element of the Design District. The Buckminter Fuller Design institute was commissioned to produce this 24 foot piece in 2014 and it is now on the ground floor of the Palm Court. They were able to create the dome with materials that were not available when Fuller was making them in 1970's. The inspiration for the shape was from the compound eye's of flies but it looks like a hamster ball to me. I get a futuristic vibe from it. The dome is surrounded by a fountain and you can actually go inside and there are stairs that take you down to parking. The Fly's Eye Dome is a favorite spot for Instagram photos and selfies.

Super cool location with surrounding restaurants and sleek architectural buildings. You have to…read morevisit here when in the design district. In 1965 Buckminster Fuller designed and patented the Fly's Eye Dome, which he called an "autonomous dwelling machine". Prototypes began to be built by hand in 1977, and by 1983 three of the fiberglass spheres in various sizes (12-foot, 24-foot, 50-foot) had been produced. Fuller died before he was able to realize his vision for the structure. However, almost 50 years later, the design, a Monohex variation of the geodesic dome, can clearly be seen as a forerunner of today's green building movement. In 2011, collector Craig Robins acquired the 24-foot prototype to exhibit it and use it as inspiration for a key element of the Miami Design District. The following year, The Buckminster Fuller Institute, in partnership with Goetz Composites, ConformLab, and DRDesign, began the development of a program to complete Fuller's vision, using advanced technologies and materials not available to Fuller in the 1970s. BFI was then commissioned to produce a Fly's Eye Dome utilizing state-of-the-art materials, intelligence, and techniques, to be prominently incorporated in the Miami Design District.

Super cute and a nice photo op too. This 120 year old Banyan tree is a central inside the cute and…read morelush Upper Buena Vista, a sanctuary that offers local independent shops, and cute restaurants. This tree is known as is "the Bodhi Wish tree." Adorned in colourful ribbons. This tree is reputed to have special magnetic and spiritual values. An ancestral Asian tradition suggests that writing a wish on a ribbon and tying it to the tree could lead to eternal blessings. If you look closely at the ribbons, you'll find that each one carries a special wish! Upper Buena Vista partners with non-profit One Tree Planted, which plants trees in North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Pacific to support reforestation and preservation of nature. So, purchase a ribbon, write your wish and there will be a tree planted in your honour.

I love a historic tree so much that I even have a collection on Yelp. I discovered the Bodhi…read moreWishtree on a recent visit to Upper Buena Vista. The Bodhi Wishtree is a 120 year old banyan tree located in Upper Buena Vista retail and dining development which was actually designed around it. The tree is said to have spiritual and magnetic properties. According to Asian tradition you can write a wish on a ribbon, tie it to the tree, and receive eternal blessings. Ribbons used to be sold by the The House of Findings for a $1 donation given to the non profit One Tree Planted foundation that seeks to support reforestation in four continents. The House of Findings is currently closed except for appointments so I'm not sure how they are handling ribbon sales now. The tree is the centerpiece of the Upper Buena Vista complex providing shade, shelter, and positive energy to visitors. Beneath the tree is a giant colorful Pinocchio sculpture. Tons of people were getting their picture taken in front of the tree and it is the perfect backdrop for an Instagram shot of one of the amazing drinks from Amazonica.. Upper Buena Vista is such a cool place and the Bodhi Wishtree is front and center of all of the fun.

The Design District has some of the best public art in Miami and this blue glass building façade is…read moreno exception. Completed in 2014 and spanning 17,000 square-feet, it is located over two floors in Palm Court, linking the storefronts with the courtyard in the southern part of the Miami Design District. It was designed by noted award winning Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto who takes his inspiration from nature such as forests, nests, and caves. He seeks to combine nature with architecture. For this piece he was inspired by waterfalls and Miami's torrential rainstorms which is represented by a series of glass fins. I love the blue color and how it cascades over the front of the buildings transforming ordinary store fronts into art. It is one of my favorite pieces to photograph in the Design District. It is so much fun to play with when taking pictures. You can shoot it at different angles and even through it to make creative photos. It is also a great backdrop for portraits and selfies.

This is a pop up garden inspired by the Baroque gardens of the 17th century with a twist. It was…read morecreated in the Jungle Plaza by the Swiss watch maker OMEGA in the Miami Design District. OMEGA has made medical watches, kick started trends, launched watch technology, and reimagined the classics of the past. Last summer they did a tribute to time keeping in the Olympics pop up. The garden opened on July 31st and it is open until August 14th. The garden was designed as a tribute to women and the brands jewelry watches of the early 20th century. There is subtle history around every corner. For instance when you enter the garden there is a display of vintage posters. Rooms are set up so you can take Instagram pictures. The backdrop of one has walls covered in Toile de Jouy: the same French inspired pattern that is on the straps of OMEGA's De Ville Mini Trésor watches. I love that mirrors set up inside make you look thinner than you actually are. LOL Throughout the garden you will find fountains, rooms, mirrors, benches with pillows, tables and chairs, topiaries, and other props so you can take your best photo. It is worth getting dressed up for. At the exit to the garden you will find a golden gazebo with images and quotes from all seven current OMEGA ambassadors: Nicole Kidman, Zoë Kravitz, Allyson Felix, So-hee Han, Dongyu Zhou, Kaia Gerber and Kiko Mizuhara. Overlooking the garden is a giant mural featuring four of the ladies. I love the interactive feature of this installation which exudes an Alice in Wonderland English garden vibe. Gather your friends and family for a photo shoot at this must see pop up in the Design District.

I love discovering all of the public art in the Miami Design District. Sometimes it even brings to…read morelight an important issue like this piece created by artist Paula Crown in 2018. Jokester 2 is a giant 10 foot high crushed red solo cup lying on the ground. You can find the art piece in a courtyard at the Museum Parking Garage. The subject of the art piece is a common red solo cup which is an object we take for granted. You pour a drink in the disposable cup and toss it out when you are finished. The cup often often evokes a fond memory like attending a party. Paula Crown uses this everyday object as a call to the end of single use plastic. She wants the red of the cup to be a stop sign. Garbage is killing our planet and we are throwing far too much away. Crown has said ""Our insatiable appetite for plastic continues to threaten our environment and our existence. We must be engaged both individually and collectively in caring for the planet." Crown partnered with the Surfrider Foundation to support its "Rise Above Plastics" campaign. The foundation worked to clean plastic off of Miami's beaches. In 2022 I am making the pledge to stop using plastic silverware, straws, and water bottles. Although this piece inspires a lot of people to take a selfie or post to Instagram I hope they take a moment to read the sign and learn the real meaning of this cup inspiring others to ditch the plastic too.

Anything arty, I like to check out. Anything to help the environment I like to check out. So what…read moreis this piece of art In the Design District? "On December 4, Cultured Magazine celebrated with artist Paula Crown for the unveiling of JOKESTER 2, a public sculpture installed in the heart of Miami's Design District at 95 NE 40th Street. More than just an artwork, Crown's larger-than-life SOLO Cup has a mission--one much larger than itself. For every photo of JOKESTER 2 shared on Instagram during the week of Art Basel, PAHC / studio*lab will work with @surfridermiami to clean 1 lb. of plastic waste off Miami's beaches as part of their "Rise Above Plastics" campaign. Snap a photo of yourself and JOKESTER 2 or regram a photo of the piece! Remember to tag @paulacrown_art, #JOKESTER and #SOLOTOGETHER on social media, and help us reach the goal of clearing 2,500 lbs. of plastic."

"Living the Dream" is a permanent public art installation by artist Alteronce Gumby in the Miami…read moreDesign District's Jade Alley, a vibrant mural that incorporates gemstones, stained glass, and mosaic tiles. The work is a large-scale, site-specific piece inspired by astrophysics, geology, and art history, and it was a major project for the artist, who aimed to create a contemplative space that encourages viewers to connect with the natural beauty of the world.

The Miami Design District is so much fun to explore and there are exciting discoveries around every…read morecorner. Nestled in between high end stores like Christian Louboutin and Louis Vuitton are exciting pieces of public art like Dollar A Gallon III. Dollar A Gallon III is a sculpture that looks like a rusty Sunoco gas sign sinking into the ground. Actually compared to today, the prices aren't so bad on it. If I ran across this gas station I would definitely stop and fill the tank. At night the gas prices are illuminated. In 2019, artist Virgil Abloh was inspired to create the sculpture by his thoughts on the effects of advertising on the public. He created this piece specifically for the Design District to provoke thought on shopping and brands. Not only is Abloh an artist but he is also an architect, engineer, creative director, and fashion designer. His art work has been shown at the Museum of Contemporary art in Chicago. Abloh is the Chief Creative Director and founder of Off-White and the Men's Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton. It was so nice to find a piece by such a prominent artists. I enjoyed learning more about the artist and the sculpture. The Design District is like a free art museum. You can go on an outdoor treasure hunt to find all of the pieces.

Wacky art? you bet? typical Miami? you beat, what? where? why? see below for info I found on the…read morenet - (be your own judge) Love or hate it, come take a peak! Where? Paseo Ponti, 168 NE 41st Street, Miami, FL 33137 What? Dollar A Gallon III is a sculpture by artist Virgil Abloh presenting a window into the artist's study and research of the effect of advertising on the impressionable. The work serves as a comprehensive lighthouse of mixed media. The framework is reminiscent of a gasoline sign relaying information about various types of gasoline and the respective pricing, while also being the commodity of an advertised sponsor. The series of global occurrences of this work was considered specifically for the Miami Design District, where its final positioning implies the concept of commerce and necessity re-packaged as a brand -- while underscoring the relevancy via location. Ultimately the work is a signature of Abloh's multi-lauded artistic logic emanating in a physical form not limited to any specific medium. Why? - Born in Rockford, Illinois, Virgil Abloh was an artist, architect, engineer, creative director, and fashion designer. After earning a degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he completed a master's degree in architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago. At IIT, while studying a design curriculum devised by Mies van der Rohe, Abloh began to craft the principles of his art practice. The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago presented a major traveling survey of Abloh's work in summer 2019--one of the highest attended exhibitions in the museum's history. the late Virgil Abloh was the Chief Creative Director and founder of Off-White™ and Men's Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton.

The Miami Design District is so much fun to explore and there are exciting discoveries around every…read morecorner. Nestled in between high end stores like Christian Louboutin and Louis Vuitton are exciting pieces of public art like Le Corbusier located on the second floor of Palms Court. Le Corbusier is the work of French artist Xavier Veilhan who lives in Paris. He created this larger than life fiberglass piece of architect Le Corbusier who was a designer, painter, and city planner. He was especially well known for his modern architecture design. Le Corbusier orked for 50 years until his death in 1965. This piece has him wearing his signature round glasses. Le Corbusier used to sit on top of one of the architects most famous buildings, the Cité radieuse de Marseille in France. The building is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Now this art piece overlooks Buckmeister Fulles Fly's Eye Dome with Sou Fujimoto's blue glass installation serving as a backdrop. France's loss is Miami's gain. The large scale of this piece makes it popular for selfies and social media. Le Corbusier is an iconic piece in the Design District. i really enjoyed learning more about both Veilhan and his subject Le Corbuiser. After finding this piece, going to France to see Cité radieuse is now on my bucket list. You too can go on a treasure hunt and explore all of the amazing art in the Design District.

wow, such a cool sculpture and surrounded by the gorgeous blue glass structures and overlooking the…read moreeye dome. Instagram, get ready. Here is some info regarding this unusual piece. In this formidable fiberglass sculpture, French artist Xavier Veilhan renders the larger than life architect Le Corbusier in a scale befitting of his stature. During his lifetime the multi-talented architect, designer, painter and city planner, Le Corbusier, was an impressive force in pioneering what would eventually define modern architecture. His career, spanning five decades, has left an indelible mark on art and architecture since his death in 1965. To create "Le Corbusier", the artist employed modern techniques that may have impressed the forward thinking architect. The bust began as a drawing before being translated into Veilhan's signature polygonal style with the help of a computer and digital scanner. Originally installed atop the Cité radieuse (Radiant City), one of Le Corbusier's most famous and influential buildings, Veilhan puts himself in direct conversation with the architect and his buildings. Here, Le Corbusier, and his characteristic circular glasses, overlooks another modern master's work: the Fly's Eye Dome by Buckminster Fuller.

The Miami Design District is so much fun to explore and there are exciting discoveries around every…read morecorner. Nestled in between high end stores like Christian Louboutin and Louis Vuitton are exciting pieces of public art and sometimes they are even interactive like this cheery yellow, orange and teal swing set called Conscious Actions. Red slats spread like waves over the bright blue swings. Conscious Actions are playground inspired art pieces created by Santiago Chile design firm, gt2P, Great Things to People. The design, architecture, and art studio was founded in 2009 by Tamara Pérez, Sebastian Rozas, Victor Imperiale, and Guillermo Parada. In 2020 gt2P was awarded that years commission for the Miami Design District. This art piece encourages you to tap into your inner child as you use your body to gently move on one of the three swings. The movement is meant to symbolize that we all have a direct impact on our communities and environment. We both consume energy and reflect it back out into the world. As you swing on the bottom it is also moving the red slats above you. Sometimes we can't always see the results of our actions but they are still happening causing a rippling effect. I love how you can can use your body to make this art piece move. It is also just plain fun. Adults as well as kids in the Design District flock to Conscious Actions. This is another wonderful place to take a selfie or post to your Instagram.

This piece of art/ swing kinda belongs here, and it is nestled between all the designer shops that…read morethe Miami Design District is good at and what they offer in abundance. So? the guy who patiently waits for his wife, mother, kid to finish shopping - you might find him here! It is an adult arty farty swing for sure. I tried it, it was comfortable, solid and you see all the mechanics, working to provide an art movement for everyone near you to see. A perfect blend of aesthetics, movement and blend into the background Miami style (ie i just happened to see...) Here is some more info I found out about it on the net - The swings and the remaining structure is made of powder-coated steel. All the elements were laser-cut and included "little notches" to make assembly easier. Key elements, such as the columns, beams and suspension system, were all welded together, but GT2P said it will still be possible to disassemble the structure and build it elsewhere.

Free and Gucci are not two words you would normally put together but right now for no cost you can…read moreview the Gucci Holiday Snow Globe display in Sweet Bird North Plaza in the Miami Design District. It's installation was in conjunction with Miami Art Week. The snow globe is in the plaza next to the Museum Garage. The large snow globe pays tribute to the storied past o Gucci. At the center of the snow globe is a scene dedicated to Gucci founder, Guccio Gucci who was inspired to create elegant luggage from his time as a porter at London's Savoy Hotel. Gucci went on to open his own shop in Florence in 1921. Set among reproductions of Gucci luggage are miniature buildings and scenes that were pivotal in the history of the company. These include Palazzo Gucci in Florence, the Wooster Street boutique in New York City, and the flagship stores on Avenue Montaigne in Paris and New Bond Street in London, and the beaches and palm trees of Miami. In addition to the snow globe Gucci has also commissioned three murals from American artist Corydon Cowansage that are located between Sweet Bird North Plaza and the Gucci's boutique. The snow globe will be on display until January 7th.

Came here Christmas Eve and it was covered in black curtains. According to one of the maintenance…read moreguys, it was closed due to damage and does not know when it will reopen. Very disappointed since it was the main reason we went to the Miami Design District to begin with.