It has been deemed the era of excess – of big hair, Aqua Net and mohawks; leg warmers, spandex and high-tops; the Material Girl, the Brat Pack and the Two Coreys. Yes, nothing quite compares to the ‘80s! Considered by many (including this writer) to be the best decade, Medium recently declared 1980-1989 “a glorious time to be alive” – a neon-lit age that gifted the world “some of the best movies, music, TV shows, and toys of all time.” And there’s really no denying that “Back to the Future,” “Thriller,” “The Golden Girls,” and Teddy Ruxpin are at the absolute apex of their respective genres.
The era was also an abundant source of colorful architecture and design, introducing the world to such tubular décor elements as Memphis Group furnishings, Laura Ashley wallpaper and, of course, the transparent phone. As the Houzz website summarized, “Pomo, jumbo, faux: No matter where you stand on the 1980s’ postmodernism, McMansions and decorative paint finishes, you have to admit that design in the decade didn’t play it safe. Whether it was with their hair, shoulder pads or homes — which expanded 12% as lot sizes decreased 4% — Americans took it to the max.”
And now, a fabulously retro Coral Gables property that remains virtually untouched from the time it was initially erected by local Miami-area architect Alberto Otero in 1987 has come up for sale. Outfitted with boldly colored furniture, abstract pop art and glass blocks as far as the eye can see, the residence is a veritable relic. A true ‘80s icon, the place even once cameoed on “Miami Vice,” a series so prolific that People magazine acknowledged, “Even if you didn’t watch a frame of this tropical crime hit, you felt its influence in fashion, music, men’s grooming and South Beach style.”
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Image Credit: Lenny Kagan, Miami Real Estate Photographers An architectural wonder from top to bottom, the dwelling, located at 4994 Hammock Lake Dr. in the guard-gated Hammock Lakes community, is being offered by Lisa Fox of Coldwell Banker Realty for a cool $4.2 million. (Please remember this is a private home. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way.)
Boasting a dynamic asymmetrical three-story façade fronted by a vibrant red triangular portico, the five-bedroom, six-bath, 4,884-square-foot pad is unique from the jump!
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Image Credit: Lenny Kagan, Miami Real Estate Photographers The bright, open and artistically modern interior is awash with sharp geometric accents, gently sloping walls, floor-to-ceiling windows and custom-built furniture, giving the place a vibe reminiscent of The Max diner from the classic Saturday morning TV show “Saved by the Bell.” Authentically retro living spaces lining the lower level include a sunken living room, a formal dining room, a rounded family room and a bar space that sits adjacent to the patio.
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Image Credit: Lenny Kagan, Miami Real Estate Photographers Just off the family room, the contemporary eat-in kitchen features a large island that sits propped on thick red legs, double ovens, a mix of sleek white and glass-fronted cabinetry and an oversized refrigerator.
A sauna, dedicated laundry room and two ensuite bedrooms can also be found on the main level.
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Image Credit: Lenny Kagan, Miami Real Estate Photographers The second floor comprises two additional guest rooms (again, both ensuite) plus the owners’ suite. The latter comes complete with an oversized balcony overlooking the pool, a loft-like den situated up a set of stairs and a 350-square-foot bathroom with two separate vanity areas, a soaking tub and a walk-in shower.
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Image Credit: Lenny Kagan, Miami Real Estate Photographers Outside, the foliage-flooded 0.9-acre lot is outfitted with a plethora of native tropical hardwood hammock trees and towering palms lining a sizable half-moon-shaped pool, surrounding patio and grassy expanse. There is also a two-car garage on the premises with plenty of space to house any Ferrari Daytona Spyders, Testarossas or Cadillac Coupe de Villes you may have on hand.
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Image Credit: Lenny Kagan, Miami Real Estate Photographers Though the property’s aesthetic is decidedly retro, as realtor Lisa Fox points out, many elements, such as the high ceilings, open floor plan, white flat kitchen cabinets and floor-to-ceiling windows fashioned with impact glass, remain en vogue. Of architect Otero’s concept, she says, “Many of the things he did in this home must have been pretty cutting edge in contemporary design at the time because they are still being done today. In fact, the home needs minimal updating.”
As such, the place is a shoo-in to appear on Vin Diesel’s new “Miami Vice” reboot, should the much-hyped series ever actually come to pass. In the meantime, reruns of the original show can be streamed on Amazon Prime.
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Image Credit: Lenny Kagan, Miami Real Estate Photographers It is at the residence that ruthless cop killer Frank Hackman (Guy Boyd) stages a home invasion, killing the entire family inside, in season four’s “Deliver Us from Evil.” The episode proved one of the most significant in “Miami Vice’s” run as it deals with the murder of Detective James Crockett’s (Don Johnson) pregnant wife, pop singer Caitlin (Sheena Easton), as well as the subsequent fallout in which he develops amnesia and takes on the persona of his drug-dealing vice alter-ego, Sonny Burnett, a storyline that plays through to the following season.
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Image Credit: Lenny Kagan, Miami Real Estate Photographers Shot in 1988, just one year after the residence was built, “Deliver Us from Evil” gives us an excellent window into what the home looked like at the time of its completion. As evidenced by the current MLS images, aside from a switch from pastel accent coloring to more vibrant hues, little of the property has been altered in the three decades since.
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Image Credit: Lenny Kagan, Miami Real Estate Photographers With its rounded glass block walls and leather furniture, the interior aesthetic closely matches that of the Miami-Dade Organized Crime Bureau offices, where Crockett and his partner Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) reported to work each day on the series, giving future buyers the perfect backdrop to live out all of their “Miami Vice” fantasies!