A dream come true for enthusiasts of prestige auteur architecture ( if they can afford it). A penthouse in the iconic One Thousand Museum, the residential tower overlooking Miami's Museum Park and one of the last works directly designed by Zaha Hadid (starting in 2012) before her untimely death in 2016, is for sale, according to a New York Post report, for $24 million.

The fairy-tale dwelling in search of a buyer, presented to the market by HL Real Estate Group, occupies the entire 51st floor of the tower, spans 910 square metres (it is the largest residence available in the building) and includes a 110-square-metre patio, five bedrooms, six and a half bathrooms, a cinema, a wine cellar and customised audiovisual systems. It is easy to imagine the excitement resulting from the breathtaking view of Biscayne Bay, the Miami skyline and the Atlantic Ocean, and from feeling oneself a tenant inside a piece of architectural history and the thinking of its celebrated creator. 

The design of the tower, within the stream of research that Zaha was conducting on the theme of the skyscraper, emphasises a strong symbiosis between architectural and engineering configuration.

A concrete “exoskeleton” composes a network of fluid lines that integrates the lateral reinforcements with the structural support. Conceived as a single, continuous structure, the columns at the base fan out upwards, forming a rigid tube that is highly resistant to wind pressure, while the curved supports create hurricane-resistant diagonal brackets. Behind the exoskeleton, the facetted façade contrasts with the solidity of the structure and evokes an ethereal crystal. Thanks to the perimeter structure, the interior has almost no intermediate supports, fostering radiant, interconnected and dynamic environments.

For those who want to, let the negotiations begin.

Opening image: Photo Hufton+Crow