A French Shopping-Center Heir Asks $33 Million for Miami Beach Mansion
Nicolas Chambon demolished an older home on the Venetian Islands property and built a roughly 6,000-square-foot modern residence in its place
When French shopping-center heir Nicolas Chambon set out to build a waterfront house in Miami Beach, Fla., six years ago, he paid particular attention to the rooftop terrace. When such spaces have “turf and no shade,” he said, “you don’t want to go.”
Instead, Chambon planted a dozen mature trees and other plants on his 3,000-square-foot rooftop, adding a pergola and dining and seating areas for enjoying sunset views. “For me, it’s the best place in the home to go have a drink,” he said.
Now, planning to spend more time in Europe than he expected, Chambon is listing the Venetian Islands home for $33 million.
Chambon is president of the France-based commercial real-estate firm Socri. He is also a partner in two franchise locations of Galeries Lafayette, the famed Parisian department store.
He fell in love with Miami during a visit for New Year’s Eve in 2018, he said, and paid $5.85 million that year for a ¼-acre property with 60 feet of frontage on Biscayne Bay. After razing an older home, he spent six years designing and building a roughly 6,000-square-foot modern residence, planning to live there permanently.
To bring a European sensibility to the home, Chambon enlisted French architects and designers to work with a local team. “We made the most of the square footage,” he said. “That’s what we do in Europe because we don’t have the space.”
The residence has five bedroom suites, each with its own terrace, en suite bath and walk-in closet. The 1,400-square-foot primary suite has two walk-in closets and two bathrooms. The house also has a wood-and-glass elevator, a home theater and an office.
Chambon said his design team spent a lot of time working on the floor plan to make it as efficient as possible, and used a lot of light wood and glass to keep things airy. He said 70% of the home’s facade is glass. “What I noticed here in Miami is everything goes fast,” he said. “I really wanted to make it beautiful and not rush.”
A focal point of the property is the landscaping. Chambon worked with a European landscape architect and planted dozens of full-height trees for privacy. Outside, there is an 80-foot infinity-edge pool and a hot tub facing the bay. A water feature contains a sculpture by the artist Jean Martin.
Chambon said putting full-height trees on the roof was challenging. “We have very big planters because they need soil,” he said. The trees are secured by cables affixed to the structure of the house.
Chambon declined to say how much he spent on design and construction, but said he didn’t cut corners because he intended to live there. When the house was completed recently, however, Chambon never moved in. “For now, I have too much on my plate in Europe,” he said. “There will be more houses. Maybe I can keep the next one for me. That’s the plan.”
Listing agent Dina Goldentayer of Douglas Elliman said the Venetian Islands aren’t known for large homes, but Chambon’s residence, with multiple terraces and a rooftop lounge, has estate-like qualities.
Prices in the Venetian Islands have been strong, with several home sales over $30 million. Overall, Miami’s luxury market didn’t have the pre-election jitters experienced in other places, Goldentayer said, citing a recent $72 million sale on North Bay Road in Miami Beach. “The sentiment has been that Florida is going to continue to rock ’n’ roll,” she said.
