When a pair of New York doctors moved to Coral Gables with their 5-year-old son, they wanted a fresh start, but without letting go of the sophistication they loved up north. The answer? A complete gut renovation of a lakefront home, transformed by boutique design studio Andreea Franca into a serene retreat that fuses coastal ease with timeless modern elegance.

Traveling to Miami soon, but not sure what's really worth exploring? Today's Archinect City Guide is hosted by Germane Barnes, award-winning founder of research and design practice Studio Barnes. Besides receiving Harvard GSD's 2021 Wheelwright Prize, a 2021-22 Rome Prize, a 2022 USA Fellowship, the 2022 Miami Design District Annual Neighborhood Commission, and more recently, Exhibit Columbus' Miller Prize, he is a member of the Black Reconstruction Collective, as well as an Associate Professor and the Director of the Master of Architecture Graduate Program at the University of Miami School of Architecture. In this City Guide, Barnes reveals his favorite Miami spots for dining, relaxing, and discovering new design and architecture.  Are you a Miami local with your own go-to spots? Or have a city you think we should cover next? Share your thoughts, suggestions, and favorite places in the comments.

Snow Peak Cafe, designed by KiKi ARCHi, is set inside a former red-brick warehouse in Suzhou, China. Once part of a cluster of industrial buildings from the 1950s, the structure has been reworked into a modern space for coffee, retail, and quiet conversation. Guided by Snow Peak’s “Embrace Your Nature” philosophy, the design keeps what’s essential, pares back what’s not, and lets the building’s character speak through thoughtful materials and a minimal layout.

Don’t put faith in awards, publications, or PR firms to generate the next project. Instead, demonstrate your value in every completed building.