In the market for a crash pad after late nights during Art Basel Miami Beach? Look no further: units in a yet-to-be built, Frida Kahlo-branded luxury condominium development in Miami went up for sale this week. The two sleek towers planned for the site are “inspired by Frida Kahlo’s expressive spirit” according to promotional materials.
Renderings of the Frida Kahlo Wynwood Residences show a massive image of Kahlo on the side of the 14-storey tower designed by architect Carlos Ott, who also designed the Opéra Bastille in Paris. Another eight-storey tower will also be built as part of the project. The renderings also show interiors outfitted with neutral tones.
The project is scheduled to be completed in 2028, according to co-developers PMG Real Estate Associates and Lndmrk Development. The 244 fully-furnished units, ranging from studios to three bedrooms, will run buyers between around $500,000 and $1.6m. That is a bargain compared to some of Kahlo’s paintings—the artist’s El sueño (La cama) (1940) sold at Sotheby’s New York last year for a record $54.7m, with fees.
The luxury amenities and muted interiors of the Frida Kahlo Wynwood Residences are a far cry from Kahlo’s colourful and comparatively humble digs at La Casa Azul in Mexico City. The new Miami building will feature an outdoor pool with lounge areas and a bar, a fitness centre, a sauna and spa treatment rooms. A space on the first floor will be occupied by a concierge primary care provider, according to developers.
The project is moving forward with the blessing of the Frida Kahlo Corporation, the firm founded by Kahlo’s niece Isolda Pinedo Kahlo, her daughter, Maria Cristina Romeo Pinedo and the Venezuelan businessman Carlos Dorado. The company handles licensing of the artist’s name and image and is notoriously litigious. The Frida Kahlo Corporation will oversee a curated art collection at the development, a food and beverage component and the pool deck, according to Mansion Global…