Deforma Studio, a Miami-based architecture and design practice, has announced its plans to transform the Wynwood District by creating a deeper connection between its neighborhoods. The firm's vision is to stitch the city together by introducing new explorations of space and creative problem-solving that offers a positive, elevated human experience within the surrounding natural spaces.
The company is of the view that even if the Wynwood District is a favorite destination for travelers, due to its rich mural culture and art galleries, the city of Miami as a whole lacks a sense of unity and connectivity. Deforma Studio aims to change this by designing spaces that serve as a space for connection and promote communal living for professionals, bohemian artistic residents, and young families in the area.
The studio is working on four different projects in the Wynwood District, transforming an entire block of the city. The projects vary in size and purpose, but all aim to create a deeper connection between the neighborhoods and promote communal living. With the addition of a shaded walkway connecting the buildings incorporated into Javier Barrera’s designs, residents will have more opportunity to reach out to their neighbors, visit a nearby cafe, and easily maintain relationships.
Located between the threshold to The Wynwood District and a commercial residential area of Midtown Miami, the pedestrian landscaped passage aims to foster more pedestrian usage to enable the two areas to connect. The large interior bike room with colorful and high-end designs placed adjacent to the pedestrian path will similarly encourage residents to choose a bike over traveling by car.
"Communal spaces have become very important, and that's what we're trying to achieve with this project. We want to create open public spaces, where people can walk in and feel welcome. It's about creating a sense of community," Javier Barrera says. As a result, the open plan, outdoor, and communal spaces, including retail restaurants, have no boundaries and are open to the entire Wynwood community to enjoy.
The firm's approach to design is grounded in site-specific exploration that ultimately manifests in a grounded connection to its surroundings and the natural environment. When creating his designs, Javier considers whether he would be attracted to the space and want to spend time in it. He creates easily accessible public spaces with shade, seating, and mural art indicative of the Wynwood District, to encourage social interaction and community building.
According to Deforma, the color, scale, and the tactile state of the materials encourage a more pedestrian experience. Their use of naturally-aged steel, and reclaimed bricks from buildings in New York, along with impactful lighting create spaces in which people want to linger for longer. With their unique approach to design and commitment to creating spaces that serve to develop connections, Deforma Studio is poised to make a significant impact on the city's architecture and design landscape.
“We are proud to be part of this transformation and are committed to bringing innovative architectural concepts into the city. Our aim is to make it unique by using different textures in our designs, incorporating steel and historically-used brown brick to encourage interaction with the space. We are also developing communal areas that encourage residents to bond while watching films in our in-house cinema, studying together in the communal desk space, or during outdoor screenings,” says Javier Barrera.
Media contact
Name: Jessica Barrera
Email: [email protected]
