The Story Behind
A Rare Waterfront Compound of Architectural Consequence in Sunset Islands
There are properties that satisfy, and then there are properties that arrest — that demand attention before a single door is opened. Sunset Estates belongs firmly to the latter category. From the moment the gated motor court comes into view, the compound announces itself with quiet authority: raw concrete cantilevering over warm Brazilian Ipe wood cladding, vertical wood-slat privacy screens filtering the tropical light, and lush landscaping softening every bold geometric line. It is architecture that arrives with conviction.
The vision belongs to Kobi Karp, one of Miami's most celebrated architects, realized in collaboration with developer Todd Michael Glaser — a pairing that has consistently produced some of South Florida's most significant residential work. Completed in 2025, Sunset Estates represents the full expression of their shared design philosophy: that a home of this caliber should feel both monumental and deeply livable, that grandeur and warmth are not opposing forces.
Inside the primary residence, twelve-foot ceilings stretch across open-concept living and dining spaces anchored by floor-to-ceiling glass walls that dissolve entirely into the exterior. The transition from interior to covered terrace to Olympic-length lap pool and integrated spa is so seamless as to feel inevitable — a single, continuous experience of space and light. Light wood flooring runs throughout, grounding the interiors with warmth, while a stone waterfall-edge kitchen island, integrated cooktop, and stainless steel range hood bring precision and elegance to the heart of the home. A handsome wet bar, wood-paneled family room, private office with built-in shelving, and smart home automation complete the principal level's offering.
The primary suite is a study in considered luxury. Dual walk-in closets fitted with custom cabinetry flank a spa-caliber bathroom featuring a freestanding soaking tub, glass-enclosed shower with dual heads, and a private terrace with an outdoor shower — a detail that speaks to the compound's understanding that the finest amenities are those that feel personal rather than performative. Five additional bedrooms, each thoughtfully appointed, accommodate family and guests with equal generosity.
The detached guest residence, completed in 2025, is a destination in its own right. Its two bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms are complemented by a full kitchen, a waterfront gym with floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the canal, a conference lounge, laundry facilities, and a private double-height garage — an autonomous retreat that elevates the compound's versatility far beyond what a conventional guest suite could offer.
Beyond the architecture, the grounds speak their own language. A private wooden dock extends into the canal, offering direct water access. The Olympic-length pool runs parallel to the waterway, its wood deck furnished with lounge chairs and white umbrellas. An outdoor kitchen with a stainless steel grill anchors the covered patio. Mature palms and manicured tropical landscaping frame every view, ensuring that no sightline is anything less than curated.
With 187 feet of combined water frontage across 32,000 square feet of land, Sunset Estates is not merely a home. It is an institution — a compound of architectural consequence that, by every measure of scale, craft, and vision, stands apart.
To understand Sunset Estates is to understand Sunset Islands — and to understand Sunset Islands is to understand something essential about Miami Beach itself: that its most coveted addresses are not defined by height or density, but by water, privacy, and the kind of quiet that money alone cannot manufacture.
The Sunset Islands are a collection of four man-made islands situated between Miami Beach and the mainland, connected to the city by a single causeway and separated from the ordinary by a guard-gated entry. Developed in the 1920s and 1930s during Miami Beach's formative era of land creation and real estate ambition, the islands were conceived from the outset as an exclusive residential enclave — a place apart from the hotels and the commerce and the spectacle of the broader city. Nearly a century later, that founding intention remains fully intact. Sunset Islands III, where Sunset Estates is positioned, is one of the most sought-after parcels within the community, prized for its generous lot sizes, its mature tropical landscaping, and the caliber of its architectural fabric.
The location places residents in an enviable position: removed enough from Miami Beach's busiest corridors to ensure genuine tranquility, yet close enough to participate fully in one of the world's great urban experiences. Sunset Harbour, the neighborhood immediately adjacent to the islands' causeway, has emerged over the past decade as one of Miami Beach's most desirable mixed-use districts — a walkable enclave of acclaimed restaurants, specialty boutiques, fitness studios, and waterfront cafés that feels more like a curated European neighborhood than a South Florida commercial strip. Establishments such as Pubbelly, Spris Artisan Pizza, and a rotating cast of culinary destinations have made Sunset Harbour a destination in its own right.
Beyond the immediate neighborhood, the full breadth of Miami Beach's cultural and recreational life is within easy reach. The Bass Museum of Art, the New World Symphony's Frank Gehry-designed campus, and the Pérez Art Museum Miami across the causeway represent the city's serious engagement with the arts. The Design District, Wynwood, and Brickell — each a distinct expression of Miami's creative and financial energy — are all accessible within minutes by car or boat.
For those oriented toward the water, the compound's private dock provides direct access to Biscayne Bay and the broader South Florida waterway system — a network that connects residents to the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and beyond. It is a dimension of lifestyle that cannot be overstated: the ability to depart from one's own property by water, at will, is among the rarest and most meaningful privileges that South Florida living can offer.
The immediate community of Sunset Islands III is characterized by its discretion. There are no commercial intrusions, no transient populations, no compromises to the residential character that has defined these streets for generations. Neighbors include some of Miami's most prominent figures in business, culture, and the arts — a community that values privacy as highly as it values the remarkable beauty of its surroundings.
In every respect, the location of Sunset Estates reflects the same philosophy as the compound itself: that the highest form of luxury is not abundance for its own sake, but the precise, deliberate arrangement of the very best things.
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Curated Content • Presented by Ana Teresa Rodriguez





















































