Construction of Aria on the Bay, Melo Group’s new Arquitectonica-designed luxury condominium in Downtown Miami, now is complete with more than 90 percent of its 648 units already sold and under hard contract.
The 53-story waterfront tower, located at 1770 N. Bayshore Dr. along Biscayne Bay, becomes the latest condominium to deliver in Downtown Mami’s growing Arts and Entertainment District. The news prompts the start of closings as residents take ownership of their units, begin interior build-outs, and prepare to move into the building over the coming days.
Since arriving in Miami from Argentina in 2001, Melo Group’s father-and-sons team, led by Jose Luis Melo and his two sons Carlos Melo and Martin Melo, has been a driving force behind the city’s real estate resurgence. Aria on the Bay marks the developer’s 14th residential tower delivered over the past decade and a half, with a total of more than 5,000 units completed and in development throughout the greater Downtown Miami area.
“When we broke ground on Aria on the Bay three years ago, we envisioned a tower that not only offered first-rate amenities in an ideal location but one whose design would convey elegance and sophistication,” said Carlos Melo, principal of the Melo Group. “We are confident that Aria will take its place among Miami’s most iconic landmarks.”
Aria on the Bay’s innovative architecture and interior design are the creation of internationally acclaimed design firm Arquitectonica in concert with landscape design by ArquitectonicaGEO. The project’s opera-inspired name serves as a nod to its Downtown location, surrounded by Miami’s cultural and arts institutions. The glass structure’s smooth architectural design and scalloped façade was influenced by the shapes of the wave crests in Biscayne Bay, combined with a series of curving balconies found in some of the world’s greatest opera houses.
“Two blocks north of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Aria on the Bay’s semi-circular balconies make reference to those inside the classic opera houses,” said architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia, founding principal of Arquitectonica. “They playfully stagger creating a series of cylinders in performance. The arrangement could also be interpreted as a musical score, or a series of curves dancing to a tune.”
Aria on the Bay launched sales and construction in 2015 and became an instant favorite among international and domestic buyers in the market for spectacular design, panoramic water views and luxury amenities in a walkable, urban setting. Since then, more than 90 percent of the development’s 648 units have been purchased by buyers from over 42 countries around the world. Currently, local/domestic buyers from within the United States make up approximately 15 percent of the project’s total sales thus far, with U.S. buyers ranking third-highest among foreign buyers from countries across Latin America and Europe.
“Beyond its prime waterfront location, magnificent bay views, and high-quality design features, Aria on the Bay benefits from the expertise of one of Miami’s strongest developers,” said Alicia Cervera Lamadrid, managing partner of Cervera Real Estate, the project’s exclusive sales and marketing brokerage.
“Melo Group’s success is the result of more than sixty years of experience in the real estate industry and the firm’s track record for uncovering and investing in emerging neighborhoods. We are proud to be a part of their achievements in the U.S. and know that their keen and efficient business sense will ensure they continue to develop in Miami for many more years to come,” she added.
Aria on the Bay’s sold-out collection of triplex penthouses, which captured prices from $1.8 to over $6 million, span the building’s top three stories and feature interior living areas measuring between 2,600 and 4,800 square feet. The expansive residences also offer secluded rooftop terraces with private pools, open-air summer kitchens and 12-foot-deep wrap-around balconies that provide up to 3,000 square feet of additional outdoor living space.
Remaining units currently available for sale include a range of one- to four-bedroom condos priced from the $400,000s up to $1.8 million — prices unrivaled among the area’s concentration of new-construction luxury condominiums.
Residences feature floor-to-ceiling glass, private elevator access, open-plan living areas, designer finishes and fixtures, European-style kitchens, modern custom-designed cabinetry, and oversized terraces with panoramic views of Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach and the city skyline.
Building amenities include a 14th floor resort amenity deck with two sunrise/sunset-facing swimming pools, a jacuzzi, and barbecue grills and lounge areas. Additional perks include a private spa with massage treatment rooms, a state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga studio, indoor/outdoor bar and entertainment lounge, theater-style screening room, game room and library, teen lounge and kid’s playroom, and a business center with offices and meeting facilities.
The project also includes 10,000 square feet of available commercial space on the lower floors, including office, retail and ground-level restaurant space facing the park.
