When Marek Reichman talks about the design of the Aston Martin Residences tower rising amid the Miami skyline, it’s clear he’s noticing the building’s intricate details in much the same way he examines a sleek car, from the alignment of panels and surfaces to how each piece of the exterior’s custom glass joins its frame.
“I have pushed to make everything almost automotive in its fit and finish,” explains Reichman, the executive vice president and chief creative officer of the legendary British automaker. “A car or an iPhone works on half a millimeter of flush and gap, but on a building sometimes it’s 15 millimeters. I pushed them to think not like architects, but like car designers and engineers. I told them up front, ‘I’m going to be a real pain in the ass,’ but it says something that we’re still friends. I know people were frustrated at first, but they came back and said, ‘We agree with you.’”
German Coto, CEO of G&G Business Developments at the Aston Martin residences
Featuring 391 condominiums across 66 stories and slated for completion in 2022, the luxury tower situated on Miami’s Biscayne Bay indeed represents Aston Martin’s first architectural collaboration; the carmaker has partnered in the past with other brands on motorcycles, a single-malt Scotch whisky, even a submarine, but never a residential project. Miami-based G&G Business Developments – the renowned developer and real-estate arm of the Coto family, which owns Argentina’s largest supermarket chain – was integral to the reason Aston Martin signed on in 2017, according to Reichman.
“It took a long time to convince myself and the business that it was the right thing to do,” he says. “We did a lot of due diligence, but they have been faultless, and the negotiations have always been with the highest regard for our brand. The whole process sits as a benchmark as to why you would partner with someone. It’s a brilliant business family that’s highly successful, and I feel like part of that family now.”
Reichman worked with G&G CEO German Coto, Rodolfo Miani of Bodas Miani Anger Architects, and Revuelta Architecture to conceptualize the building’s design and luxury-driven details. With its buzzworthy exterior that evokes thoughts of a sailboat, the result, he says, promises to make Aston Martin Residences Miami a gamechanger on the Miami skyline. “Nothing stands out in the profile of Miami right now, but this building will stand out in Miami in much the same way that Norman Foster’s Gherkin stands out in the profile of London,” adds Reichman, who is based at Aston Martin’s headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, located two and a half hours northwest of London. “I believe it will be an important building in that respect.
“We’ve translated precision engineering and design innovation into a residential property that tells a story of beauty and heritage.”
“Aston Martin is an internationally known and loved brand that has defined handcrafted luxury within the automotive world for over a century,” German Coto says. “We’ve translated its precision engineering and design innovation into a residential property that tells a story of beauty and heritage. Working with a partner that shares our vision and adds value with its insight into the ultra-luxury world is incredibly satisfying.”
The 66-story tower will be Miami’s tallest all-residential building, which is highlighted by eight penthouses, including a one-of-a-kind triplex penthouse located on levels 63 through 65 and priced at $50 million.
A Sky Amenities area for residents, meanwhile, sits on levels 52 through 55 and features such splashy offerings as an outdoor infinity pool that overlooks the Miami skyline, a curated art gallery, a bar, lounge, and private dining room, a two-floor fitness center, virtual golf, full-service spa, and a pair of movie theaters. The building also will offer 24/7 personal butler service, 24-hour parking valet, electric-vehicle charging stations, and a 900-foot private marina on Biscayne Bay.
Any Aston Martin fan also should recognize how Reichman and Miani worked together to translate some of the automaker’s most iconic design details in the building’s design, from the Carrera marble walls and travertine flooring, each a staple of the brand’s corporate identity, to the leather accents on a door handle or the overall airy vibe throughout each unit. “We race in 24-hour races, so driver comfort and vision are always important,” Reichman points out.
The purchase price of select units also includes the receipt of an Aston Martin, with eight that would draw the envy of James Bond.
If that’s not enough sizzle, the purchase price of select units also includes the receipt of an Aston Martin, with eight that would draw the envy of James Bond. Seven penthouses, with prices starting at $16 million, come with either a DB11 coupe or the DBX, Aston Martin’s sports-style SUV, while the triplex penthouse is accompanied by a rare Vulcan, with its 800-horsepower, V.12 engine, a top speed of over 200 mph, and Aston Martin’s iconic rear wing (because it’s a track-only vehicle, the Vulcan also comes with driving lessons and membership to a private track club).
“Only 24 Vulcans were made, and we will make 300 Valhallas, so they’re both very limited cars,” Reichman notes. “For me it’s like buying a piece of art that’s going to grow in value. We also created unique garaging experiences for these two cars, allowing the owner to feel like they’re keeping it in a gallery.” The ramps and turns in the parking garage, meanwhile, have been designed with the models’ low ground clearance in mind. An additional 46 residences also come with either a DB11 coupe or the DBX, Aston Martin’s sports-style SUV; of those 46 units, more than 50 percent have pre-sold, while building sales overall currently top 60 percent.
The pre-opening success of the project, coupled with how it promises to further elevate Aston Martin’s brand profile in Miami, has caused the automaker to explore residential projects in other cities. “It has given us the confidence to realize that we can do this,” Reichman says. “But we also agreed that we wouldn’t just do this with anyone, or anywhere, so we’ll probably never do more than a handful. To wear the wing, it has to be very special.”
