We explore how, across 18 blocks north of Wynwood, American entrepreneur and art collector Craig Robins transformed a former industrial zone into the Miami Design District — a destination defined by high-end architecture, design, and contemporary art.

The story of the district begins in Buena Vista, which in the late 19th century was home to farmland and pineapple plantations. In the 1920s, Theodor Moore built the Moore Furniture Building—one of the first furniture stores in the United States, now a historic landmark of the area. Despite early growth, the neighborhood slipped into decline by the 1990s. Robins began its ambitious revitalization in the early 2000s, and by the 2010s the Miami Design District had evolved into an international hub for art and design.

“I didn’t like that Miami was perceived mainly as a city of entertainment. It brings people here, but it doesn’t define the identity of the city. I always wanted Miami to become an international cultural center,” Robins said.

Contemporary architecture and pedestrian-friendly urban planning have shaped the district into an open-air cultural environment. Flagship boutiques such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, and Gucci became integral to the architectural landscape, each building asserting its own identity. Tom Ford occupies a striking geometric structure by Aranda/Lasch; Louis Vuitton features an expressive aluminum façade created by Japanese architects Jun Aoki and Mirei Uchibe; and Sou Fujimoto designed a light two-story glass-rib building that seamlessly links pedestrian routes with retail spaces.

Many brands actively collaborate with artists. The Tiffany & Co. façade is adorned with Cherry Blossom by Damien Hirst, while Gucci frequently commissions new monumental artworks for the exterior of its store. According to Robins, the district has become a “creative laboratory” where fashion, architecture, and art intersect.

The interplay of architecture, urban design, and contemporary art has significantly increased the area’s commercial appeal. Following major luxury houses, youth-driven brands such as Off-White, AMIRI, and KITH have also opened boutiques here. According to a JLL report, retail rents in the district have risen by 200 percent since 2019—the most dramatic increase in the North American market during that period. This commercial success allows Robins to bring culturally significant projects to life, from installations by Urs Fischer, Virgil Abloh, and Buckminster Fuller to functional urban elements such as Samuel Ross’s sculptural benches.

Among the notable projects is Elastika by Zaha Hadid, created for the inaugural Design Miami fair in 2005 and installed in the atrium of the Moore Building. Above the pedestrian Paseo Ponti runs a glass-and-metal pergola designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, while the sculptural fence of the DASH design school was created by Marc Newson.

In 2021, the Miami Design District received the prestigious LEED for Neighborhood Development (v4) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, recognizing its contribution to sustainable development, thoughtful urban planning, and successful integration of cultural and commercial models.
The Miami Design District stands as one of Miami’s most innovative urban transformations—demonstrating the power of creative thinking and setting new standards of cultural entrepreneurship not only in Florida, but globally.