Art, Ocean Vistas, and an Art Deco Legacy: Ximena Caminos Relists Her Miami Beach Penthouse for $6.9 Million
Main Facts
Art curator, cultural entrepreneur, and former Faena Group creative director and partner Ximena Caminos is making a fresh play for the South Florida luxury real estate market. Caminos has relisted her striking Miami Beach penthouse located within the historic Caribbean building on Collins Avenue. Originally brought to the market in 2024 with an ambitious $7.7 million price tag, the residence failed to secure a buyer during its initial run. Now, in a strategic market correction, the property returns with a reduced asking price of $6.9 million.
The offering is represented by luxury real estate specialists Carl Gambino and Andrew Kardonski of Compass. Spanning a total footprint that merges interior sophistication with exceptional outdoor square footage, the property is a masterclass in creative placemaking. The interior apartment measures 3,357 square feet and houses four well-appointed bedrooms, while the crown jewel of the residence—a sprawling private rooftop terrace—adds another 3,500 square feet of open-air living space. Surpassing the footprint of the apartment itself, the rooftop offers uninterrupted, panoramic vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, complete with a pergola-shaded dining pavilion, a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, and a custom stone bar.
Chronology
1941: The Architectural Roots
The story of the property begins long before its contemporary artistic transformation. The Caribbean building on Collins Avenue was originally designed and constructed in 1941 by celebrated architect L. Murray Dixon. As one of the foundational figures of Miami Beach’s architectural identity, Dixon helped pioneer the distinct, glamorous Art Deco aesthetic that continues to define the city’s historic districts. Over the decades, the classic hotel underwent adaptive reuse, transitioning from a beachfront hospitality destination into a luxury residential enclave combined with a newer, modern tower.
2022: Acquisition and Merging of Units
Ximena Caminos stepped into the property’s narrative in 2022, acquiring two adjacent units within the building for a combined $4.25 million. Recognizing the potential to create a singular, grand residence, Caminos orchestrated a comprehensive architectural and interior overhaul. By combining the two neighboring spaces, she laid the foundation for a sprawling, double-wide floor plan capable of capturing multi-directional ocean views and providing a voluminous canvas for her curatorial vision.
2024: The Initial Market Debut
Armed with an impressive background in global art, design, and high-end hospitality—most notably as a driving creative force behind Miami’s iconic Faena District and the Faena Forum—Caminos infused the residence with an eclectic, gallery-like ambiance. In 2024, she officially introduced the property to the high-end real estate market for $7.7 million. Despite generating considerable buzz for its unconventional, highly curated interiors—frequently dubbed a "miniature Faena Hotel"—the penthouse ultimately did not find a buyer during this initial cycle.
Present Day: The Second Act at $6.9 Million
Refusing to let market friction halt her plans, Caminos has initiated a second act for the property. Re-listing the penthouse through Compass agents Carl Gambino and Andrew Kardonski, the asking price has been adjusted to $6.9 million. This recalibration positions the residence more competitively within the luxury coastal sector, offering prospective buyers an opportunity to acquire a turnkey piece of Miami cultural history.
Supporting Data
To truly understand the value proposition of the Collins Avenue penthouse, one must examine the specific metrics and design features that separate it from standard South Florida luxury inventory:
- Interior Living Space: 3,357 square feet featuring an open-concept layout, four bedrooms, and continuous sightlines of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Rooftop Terrace: 3,500 square feet of private outdoor space—exceeding the square footage of the interior apartment—equipped with a pergola-covered dining area, an outdoor kitchen, and a stone bar.
- Acquisition Cost (2022): $4.25 million for the original two separate units.
- Initial Listing Price (2024): $7.7 million.
- Current Asking Price: $6.9 million.
- Interior Accents & Materials:
- Living room featuring a champagne-toned mirrored ceiling and vintage sculptural furniture.
- Kitchen designed with striking pink onyx countertops, open shelving, and rich wood cabinetry.
- Hallways and bedrooms enhanced by site-specific, hand-painted murals created by acclaimed Argentine artist Augusto Falopapas.
- Architectural Heritage: Designed in 1941 by L. Murray Dixon, a master of Miami Beach Art Deco architecture.
Official Responses and Representation
The transition of the property back to the market has been managed closely by its listing team at Compass. Carl Gambino and Andrew Kardonski have emphasized that the home is not merely a high-end condominium, but a fully realized work of habitable art.
While formal commentary from Caminos herself remains focused on the property’s artistic integrity, the brokerage points out that the price adjustment reflects a realistic approach to current macroeconomic shifts in South Florida’s luxury sector. High-end buyers are increasingly seeking properties that offer immediate character, privacy, and outdoor utility—three boxes that this listing checks with authority. The inclusion of top-tier outdoor amenities, such as the massive rooftop entertainment deck, serves as a primary selling point for brokers pitching the property to international elites and local tastemakers alike.
Implications
The relisting of Ximena Caminos’s Miami Beach penthouse carries several notable implications for both the local real estate market and the broader intersection of luxury housing and contemporary art.
1. The Maturation of South Florida’s Design Market
For decades, luxury real estate in Miami was synonymous with minimalist white interiors, ultra-sleek glass, and uniform monochromatic palettes designed to appeal to the widest possible demographic. Caminos’s penthouse represents a distinct counter-movement. By incorporating rich pink onyx, vintage elements, botanical imagery, and custom hand-painted murals by Augusto Falopapas, the property proves that high-net-worth buyers are increasingly drawn to personality, historical homage, and eclectic maximalism. It signals that a home can function simultaneously as a private sanctuary and a dynamic art gallery.
2. Pricing Realism in the Luxury Sector
The adjustment from $7.7 million down to $6.9 million highlights a broader trend within the upper echelons of the real estate market. Even in premier locations like Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, properties with highly specialized, idiosyncratic designs require precise pricing to attract the right buyer pool. While a standard white-box condo can rely on generic appeal, a heavily curated designer home must find a buyer whose aesthetic sensibilities align directly with the creator’s vision. The price drop lowers the barrier of entry for collectors looking for a turnkey asset with built-in cultural pedigree.
3. The Preservation of Art Deco Heritage
As Miami Beach continues to evolve through modern vertical development, historic preservation remains a contentious and vital topic. The Caribbean building stands as a testament to L. Murray Dixon’s 1941 architectural vision. By blending a historically significant structure with a thoroughly modern interior and rooftop expansion, properties like this demonstrate how classic South Florida real estate can be successfully adapted for contemporary luxury living without erasing the architectural past that put Miami on the global map.
