OVER A DECADE HAS PASSED SINCE THIS MARQUEE DEVELOPMENT GROUP SCORED ONE OF MIAMI’S LAST VACANT WATERFRONT SITES, BUT PATIENCE OFTEN PAYS OFF, AND TODAY THE COUNTRY’S TALLEST DUAL-TOWER RESIDENTIAL HIGH-RISE IS NEARLY COMPLETE ALONG THE SHIMMERING WATERS OF BISCAYNE BAY
BY EMMA FLOYD
Miami’s skyline is in constant motion, but few projects shape it as decisively as Aria Reserve. Rising directly on Biscayne Bay in Edgewater (a swanky residential nabe cradled by the Design District and Downtown), the twin 62-story towers hold the title as the tallest waterfront residential pair in the country. Just as noteworthy is the site itself; stretching across more than five acres of prime bayfront real estate, one of the last undeveloped stretches of Miami’s coastline, this high-life development places the bay at its center.
The project is led by The Melo Group with a design team deeply tied to Miami’s architectural identity. Arquitectonica is behind the towers’ profile, Morada Haute Design is responsible for interiors, and ARQ Geo is shaping the grounds. Their combined approach emphasizes scale, clarity, and a direct relationship with light and water rather than spectacle.
The Melo Group acquired the waterfront parcel in 2013, waiting for the right moment to break ground on a dizzying new development. “Our philosophy has always been to build for what the market demands,” said Carlos Melo, co-principal of The Melo Group, in 2021 when development of Aria Reserve officially kicked off. “Over the past 20 years, our firm has acquired land in and around Miami’s Downtown waterfront and as long-term owners and operators of real estate, our investments have allowed us to develop the right product at the right time to meet demand for locals and residents around the world wanting to live in Miami.”
Residences are designed as true f low-through layouts, running east to west so every unit enjoys views of both the bay and the skyline. Floor-to-ceiling glass amplifies those exposures, while terraces as deep as eleven feet extend the living space outdoors. The homes range from one to four bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bath. Many units offer flexible spaces that can be outfitted as a home office or deluxe media room. On the upper floors, ceilings soar in height, and the penthouse and mansion collections add five-star features like sun-flooded, double-height living rooms and private garage “vaults,” granting residents their own private, climate-controlled, three-car garage.
The waterfront is itself a defining amenity. A private marina with kayak and paddleboard service, a café and restaurant, f ire pits, and landscaped gardens activate the shoreline. An observatory points directly to the horizon. Families are well accommodated in the plan with children’s play areas, a lively splash pad, and a teen lounge.
Amenities extend vertically, creating a sense of a neighborhood stacked in glass. Recreation and wellness are central: a semi-Olympic lap pool, tennis and basketball courts, yoga decks, and meditation gardens. Indoors, the spa includes saunas, steam rooms, and massage suites, while the fitness center connects to landscaped grounds. For social and work life, there are coworking suites, a theater, and a party room with a catering kitchen and terrace. The distribution of amenities reflects how residents actually live today, with work, wellness, and community woven together.
Arquitectonica’s design gives the towers their presence, while ARQ Geo softens the base with plants and shaded walkways. Interiors by Morada Haute Design emphasize light and proportion over embellishment, allowing the views to dominate. The effect is consistent: restrained but expansive, with each layer of the project reinforcing the primacy of its bayfront setting. Location is another asset. The property sits minutes from the energetic buzz of Downtown Miami and the Design District, with direct access to I-95, yet the bayfront placement separates it from the intensity of the city’s core. That combination connected but not consumed by urban density is rare in Miami and defines the project’s character.
Residences begin at approximately $800,000, with penthouses commanding north of $40 million. The South Tower is complete with delivery officially underway, while its sibling tower is eyeing an early 2026 finale. Its price point situates Aria Reserve in the heart of Miami’s ultra-luxury market, but as one of the last major bayfront parcels, the project carries a built-in exclusivity that simply can’t be replicated. Aria Reserve represents more than height or record-setting figures; it is a project designed with structural clarity and an unconventional focus on how a property can frame its relationship to water. Every residence, every amenity, and every open space is organized around that principle. For a city defined by growth and reinvention, it stands as a rare architectural statement: one that secures a piece of Biscayne Bay and builds it directly into the lives of its residents.
Aria Reserve