Aqua: The Ultimate Designed Community

Miami developer Craig Robins' high-end Aqua community is a milestone forNew Urbanist precepts; for one thing, it's actually (almost) urban.

1 minute read

January 20, 2005, 5:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"What will establish Aqua's place in the design firmament of Miami Beach--and master-planned resort communities in general--is the absolute thoroughness of its planning and execution, in conjunction with a devotion to design excellence that's evident at every turn.

Aqua, the new, 151-dwelling, 8.5-acre secure community on Alison Island in North Miami Beach has taken shape. Its first residents, a gay couple, have moved into the complexs anchor building, a former hospital where Aqua developer Craig Robins was born.

...DPZ master-planned the community, whose security-conscious, wealthy inhabitants are likely to be mostly part-timers; they will have to go off-island for anything other than what the one small high-end convenience/gourmet retailer on-site can provide."

Thanks to Peter Slatin

Read the full story: Chilly Design, Hot Aqua

Wednesday, January 19, 2005 in The Slatin Report

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