Inside The Future Perfect Miami

A 2,000-square-foot landmark manse in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood, Villa Paula now houses the fourth permanent location of The Future Perfect. Designed by Havana-based architect Cayetano Freira and built by the Cuban government in 1926, the storied space initially acted as both a consulate and private residence for Domingo Milord and his wife, the opera singer Paula Milord. The neoclassical villa, now accessible by appointment, is the latest example of the ways in which The Future Perfect establishes environments that, according to founder David Alhadeff, “transcend traditional gallery models.”

Amidst original doors, windows, floors, and tiles, The Future Perfect set pieces by many of its acclaimed artists and designers in advance of Miami Art Week. “What I love about the works at Villa Paula is how naturally they interact with the house itself,” Laura Young, the managing director of all four The Future Perfect locations, tells Surface. “The pieces feel in dialogue with one another and with the villa’s patina and intricate tilework, which really reflects our belief that collectible design is at its best when you take time with it.”

“The rooms allow each work to feel personal, almost like you’ve stumbled upon it, and the history of the house adds a depth that shapes how the work is experienced,” she adds. The roster of esteemed talent on display includes Lindsey Adelman, Ian Collings, Piet Hein Eek, Vikram Goyal, Volker Haug, Faye Toogood, Chris Wolston, and Jane Yang D’Haene, as well as works by Arflex, Bocci, Boon Editions, Dimoremilano, In Common With, and Roll & Hill.

Villa Paula will continue to evolve over time. “Having a permanent space allows us to think more long term, from extended installations to deeper relationships with artists, and projects that respond directly to the architecture and history of the house, as well as to Miami itself,” Young adds. “We’re excited to let the gallery grow naturally, with each presentation building on what’s come before.”