DOLCE & GABBANA UNVEILS ITS FIRST EVER RESIDENTIAL SUPERTOWER, A BLACK AND GOLD MARVEL IN THE MAGIC CITY’S BOOMING FINANCIAL DISTRICT
BY EVAN MONROE
To classify the greater Miami real estate scene as red hot could be considered the understatement of the decade. The Magic City’s luxury residential market leads the nation in growth (it rose 6.5% in 2023 alone, topping off a 64% surge over the last five years, by far and away the heftiest price swell in any American city), averaging $5.37 million per luxury home in the super-premium category. When the royal Italian house of Dolce & Gabbana set out to choose an address for its debut residences, few were surprised the honor went to Brickell, Miami’s ever-booming empire of excess.
D&G teamed up with Manhattan-based industry titan JDS Development Group to conceptualize 888 Brickell, a hybrid hotel-plus-residences high rise in the heart of Miami’s financial center. The project, announced last year and scheduled for a 2027 completion, is slated to become the city’s tallest building when it tops out at 1,049 feet in the sky. The 90-story skyscraper, which will house a five-star hotel and 259 ultra luxury homes, will be the first in a global initiative that includes a residential tower in the coastal Spanish city of Marbella and a hospitality venue in the Maldives.
“We are proud to keep the value of Italian Fatto a Mano as the defining ethos within all our projects: after the launch of our Casa Collection, it was natural to think of a residential project developed in accordance with the very best in Italian hospitality,” noted Dolce & Gabbana’s CEO, Alfonso Dolce.
Designed by Studio Sofield in partnership with ODP Architecture & Design, the supertower’s facade is a tapestry of ivory travertine offset by glossy black steel beams for a splash of haute noir amid a sea of glass and steel. (“Miami is a place to see and be seen, even in the home,” noted Sofield’s lead, William Sofield.) A beaded gold “necklace” rests at the street level, while the building’s apex dons a bronze “crown.” This gilded black-and-gold color palette continues throughout the interiors, too, mixed with dashes of burgundy. It’s a tricky dance to blend modern minimalism with Italian opulence, but it’s one Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana know well, and the brand tapped Milan’s M2Atelier Studio to bring its vision to life. Think massive Venetian chandeliers, rich velvet couches, and black-and-white marble floors. D&G’s signature animal print is also generously used throughout.
The D&G style aesthetic is unabashedly glamorous, marked by miles of Italian lace, sultry cuts, and wild prints, thus 888 Brickell’s homes are every bit as extravagant and romantic as brand devotees would expect. Residences range from one- to four-bedrooms, and are turnkey styled by the house’s principals. Ceilings rise up to 11 feet, anchored by gleaming floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the thriving district. Buyers can customize their finishes from a catalog of decadent materials. Do you fancy black, naturally striated Italian marble f loors, or open-pore wood? Even the millwork was designed by Dolce and Gabbana themselves.
All residences are fully connected smart homes, controllable by the building’s custom app. Expansive living rooms open up to private al fresco terraces in the sky, while cavernous master bathrooms are available in three different marble options that cover the floors, walls, and even the freestanding bathtubs. (The tubs overlook the city through a full glass wall, of course.) T hose with the funds and good fortune to nab a Grand Private Residence will also enjoy a classic loggia with a built-in, outdoor chef’s kitchen.
Just over 90,000 square feet will be dedicated to white-glove amenities, spread out over the ground level and sky-piercing rooftop. Highlights include a palatial double-height residential lobby decked out in black marble (exclusively for the use of homeowners), a signature fine-dining restaurant, velvet-draped cocktail lounge, state-of-the-art meeting space, a plush screening room, a golf simulator, wine cellar, and billiards room. There will also be a 44-foot lap pool amid a glamorous, palm tree-dotted pool deck, replete with in-water loungers, private cabanas, and a thundering waterfall wall. A sprawling fitness and wellness center features a full-service spa, beauty salon, barber shop, and indoor paddle court.
“For us, Dolce & Gabbana is the perfect partner to realize this new chapter and future vision for our iconic tower,” noted Michael Stern, founder and CEO of JDS Development group. “The global fashion house’s pursuit of quality and detail in design together with their ability to create a beautiful world of authentic lifestyle filled with incredible hospitality ensures we are absolutely embarking on a successful, creative journey for our future residents and visitors alike.”
Residences will start at $3,500,000 and top out around $35 million.
888 Brickell by Dolce & Gabbana