As more New Yorkers migrate to Miami, developers are designing their Sunshine State buildings to appeal to Manhattan sensibilities.
More than 100 members of the New York City real estate community gathered at Artefacto’s flagship Madison Avenue showroom on November 18th to hear pioneering developer David Martin talk about the deepening ties between Miami and NYC.
Martin started by telling the audience how he met Artefacto CEO Paulo Bacchi, who hosted the event with his son Pietro, co-CEO of Artefacto Manhattan.
“We had this penthouse that was not moving,” recalled Martin. “I met Paulo for the first time. It was my first entry into doing model units, and we sold it so quickly that we developed a very close friendship.”
Nearly two decades later, Terra Group continues to partner with Artefacto to stage units for sale, relying on the Brazilian furniture leader to bring their model homes to life.
“David has been a friend of mine for more than twenty years,” said Paulo Bacchi. “David’s one of the few guys I know that will deliver.”
Terra Group’s projects cater to residents who want a sense of community, both within a building and in the surrounding neighborhood.
“People aren’t just moving to Miami for weather anymore. They’re moving for purpose,” said Martin, who explained that New Yorkers are heading south in search of “space, beauty, quality and community, without sacrificing sophistication, culture and global connectivity.”
By partnering with visionary architects like Bjarke Ingels and Renzo Piano, Terra Group has not only reshaped the Miami skyline but improved the city neighborhood by neighborhood, from Coconut Grove to Little River.
“Our firm really believes in making our communities better,” said Martin. “Clients want something that feels special, something that elevates their lifestyle, emotionally, not just physically.”
After Martin’s remarks, attendees enjoyed passed apps, a selection of wines and scintillating conversation in the well-appointed showroom’s upstairs gallery.
“A lot of what David was saying resonated with what I’ve seen in South Florida in the last twenty years,” said Rena Kliot, Founder of Pulse International Realty. “People who move from New York to Miami have an expectation that there will be a community of like-minded individuals within their building.”
The evening marked the one-year anniversary of Artefacto’s Madison Avenue showroom. As the event wound down, Pietro Bacchi, who leads the company’s Manhattan operation, reflected on Martin’s talk.
“He gave us good insight into Miami’s present and future,” said Pietro. “It was great to give this crowd the opportunity to show Miami real estate to their New York clients.”
Watch TRD’s video series with Artefacto here, and keep an eye out for more events with Artefacto in 2026.