Design & Real Estate

Shoreline Masterpiece

Ugo Colombo’s successful track record and commitment to timeless style, breathtaking luxury and meticulous detail has been a constant in the sea of change that has come to define Miami real estate over the past three decades. Vita at Grove Isle is his most luxurious project to date and the exclusive location is one of a kind.
Words by Sandy Lindsey | January 25, 2023 | Design & Real Estate

Waterfront property in Miami, especially new construction, is a rarity, making Vita at Grove Isle an unprecedented endeavor. Located on one of the last available parcels of land on the water in Coconut Grove, every residence will offer unobstructed views of the water — something that is virtually unheard of. Coupled with the expansive floorplans to make every home feel like a mansion in the sky, the project offers an estate-like lifestyle, but with all the amenities of condo living for ease of maintenance. With two full-sized elevators for every 10 units, and just 65 homes, there’s ample space for social distancing, while still offering a tight-knit community feel. Being a boutique condominium on an exclusive island, privacy and security are just a few of the many other distinguishable, sought-after features available to residents.

“Vita at Grove Isle was concepted, above all, to feel like a home,” says Christine Martinez de Castro, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for CMC Group. “When people think of boutique condominiums, they don’t typically associate them with unobstructed water views. At Vita at Grove Isle, we’ve accomplished a unique combination of large, functional condos with expansive bay views.” As such, each residence has a balcony that is at least 13 feet deep to promote year-round al fresco living. Impeccable attention to detail was paid throughout to ensure an unparalleled level of quality, resulting in residences made for everyday luxury living, with features such as 10-foot ceilings and private garages. This is taken up a notch via a collection of 12 exclusive penthouse residences ranging from 3,400 to 6,600 sq. ft. Each features a private rooftop terrace with its own swimming pool, full bathroom and summer kitchen, yielding a lifestyle that is like living in a single-family luxury home, but with top-of the line amenities.

Regarding the interior design, Ugo Colombo wanted to ensure that even without décor, every home would be exquisite in its original state. Italian-designed kitchens will feature concealed top-of-the-line appliances for a sleek look, while book matched marble and Italian stonework, handpicked by Ugo himself, will adorn the bathrooms, all for a unique, memorable touch. “As we see more buyers purchase residences for year-round living, there has been a flight to quality,” says de Castro. “This is synonymous with real estate developed by Ugo Colombo, who has a successful track record of success emphasizing the highest degree of quality and detail that has retained market value over time. Even though buyers don’t see it, I have seen him handpick the best, high-quality materials that withstand the test of time. Every detail counts, down to the centimeter. I’ve seen him redo a whole room just to ensure that the most minimal detail is perfect.”

As for the location, Coconut Grove is the most sought-after residential market for high-net-worth families moving to Miami due to its central location and proximity to many of the city’s top schools and best restaurants and retail. Residents will live a life that’s akin to an all-inclusive luxury resort. “We’re excited to debut the reimagined club, where island residents can purchase a membership as an added amenity for all,” she says. A club membership will provide access to a variety of outdoor amenities including children’s playgrounds, tennis, padel ball and pickleball courts and a private marina for boat lovers looking for additional fun in the sun — all along the water. There will also be a variety of indoor wellness amenities via a clubhouse in the building that will feature a pool, bar, lounge and a residents-only gym and spa, along with a restaurant that will be open to the public.

Ugo Colombo partnered with global architecture and design firm CallisonRTKL and with master Italian designers Carlo & Paolo Colombo of A++ Human Sustainable Architecture to create one-of-a-kind interiors and amenity spaces. Enveloped by lush, native landscaping, the building’s architectural design mirrors its unique Grove Isle location, inspired by the natural contours of the island in its elegant, curved shape while maximizing views of sparkling Biscayne Bay.

The arrival of Vita will bring back the grandeur of Grove Isle, once regarded as the pinnacle of luxury living, adding not only a premier, waterfront condominium to the locale, but elevating the surrounding areas through renovations to the gatehouse, and updates to the landscape and hardscape. The developer, CMC Group, has a successful track record of developing luxury residential products that sustain the test of time while possessing the highest quality of design and materials used. “At CMC, we are a tight-knit family where many of us have worked together for more than 30 years,” says de Castro. “The CMC team has some of the best in the industry, as the company track record shows. This, and being led by Ugo Colombo, has been instrumental in the firm’s staying power.”

Mr. Colombo began investing in Brickell in the early-1990s, starting with Bristol Tower and Santa Maria — the first luxury towers to rise in Downtown’s Brickell Financial District. At the time, Downtown Miami was yet to be established as an urban neighborhood. CMC viewed Brickell and Downtown as a “blank canvas” that would one day come to life as a vibrant residential and commercial district where streets were alive 24 hours a day. Today, those dreams are a reality. In the more than 20 years that have passed, Brickell has become synonymous with luxury living, premium dining and retail, and international tourism and business. CMC Group has always developed at its own pace, typically building only one or two developments at a time. Some firms race to build the most product in the shortest amount of time, but CMC’s philosophy is that there is value in being deliberate when it comes to planning, designing, constructing and selling a project.

Vita at Grove Isle offers buyers the commodity of a single-family home with the ease of a condo lifestyle; with unmatched exclusivity in one of Miami’s most sought-after neighborhoods. Its boutique nature and location on the area’s last waterfront parcel make it a true rarity; VitaGroveIsle.com.