MIAMI: In the heart of Miami, among the towering skyscrapers that rise above Biscayne Bay, the eye-catching new luxury condo building by late star architect Zaha Hadid dominates the skyline.

The unique curved “exoskeleton” design of the One Thousand Museum building has created buzz. The futuristic structure is the only residential space in downtown Miami with a helipad.

The high-rise also honors the legacy of the Iraqi-British architect, who died in Miami in 2016 at age 65, when the 62-story tower was built up to about the eighth floor.

“We felt a big obligation to make sure we got this particular project right because Miami was her second home,” said Chris Lepine, who took over as director of the $300 million project after her death.

“She spent a lot of time here, had a lot of friends.” Hadid — sometimes dubbed “Queen of the Curve” for her love of the form — was the first woman to win the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize, and also won two Stirling Prizes, Britain’s highest honor for architecture. Forbes once named her one of the most influential women in the world.

Among her acclaimed projects are Beijing Daxing International Airport and the London Aquatic Centre for the 2012 Olympics.

About six months ago residents began moving into the Miami building — which has been in the works since 2012.

“We wanted to make sure that we left this landmark of her achievements,” Lepine said.

One Thousand Museum — Hadid’s first tower in the Western Hemisphere — is now the crown jewel of her design firm, which is based in London.

It has 84 units, two pools, a juice bar and the helipad, among other high-end amenities. It is 709 feet (216 meters) tall. In the gym, a swirling tornado spiral staircase snakes up to the spa.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2020