French architect Jean Nouvel has designed a condominium for Miami beach that comes with its own artificial lagoon.
The Monad Terrace development comprises two towers, one 14 and the other seven stories high, housing 54 properties. Each will be clad in translucent metal panels, and will have transparent floors and terrace gardens. Some will also have private pools.
The design, which Nouvel calls a "reflection machine", will use the lagoon to host plants such as giant ferns, spider plants, mondo grass and palms.
As its Biscayne Bay site is also prone to flooding, the lagoon will absorb excess water. In addition, the condos’ underground car park is designed to flood and drain without suffering permanent damage.
Nouvel told the Miami Herald: "My ‘personal vision’ comes from the very needs of communities, the climate, the history and the culture of a city or of a neighborhood.
"All these elements belong to a specific context. This context guides all the decisions I took in Miami as it guides all the projects I build."
The client for the scheme is New York-based JDS Developments. Properties will be on sale from autumn this year.
Image via JDS Development