Italian architect Antonio Citterio has been tapped to conceive a luxury residential building in Miami Beach, marking his first architectural project in America and the latest in a string of residential developments in the area.

Called Arte by Antonio Citterio, the 12-storey apartment building is slated to rise on a vacant, one-acre (0.4-hectare) parcel in Surfside, an exclusive beach community situated between South Beach and Bal Harbour.

The oceanfront tower will contain 16 "ultra-luxury condominium residences", with Citterio-Viel and Partners – founded by Citterio and Patricia Viel – designing both the architecture and interiors. Units will measure 5,500 square feet (510 square metres) and larger, and will be delivered "furniture ready", according to reports.

Renderings show a glass-clad, rectilinear building with protruding floor plates that form deep eaves and balconies. The beach-facing elevation appears to taper upward.

Interior materials will include Italian travertine with bronze accents, according to the team.

Based in Italy, Citterio has designed a number of hospitality projects around the world, including a series of Bulgari Hotels in Dubai, London, Milan and Bali. His residential work includes Salaino 10, a condo complex in Milan.

He also is a well-known product designer and has worked with B&B Italia, Kartell and Vitra, among other brands.

Encompassing 150,000 square feet (13,935 square metres), the Miami development will offer amenities such as a spa, fitness centre, and indoor and outdoor pools. Each residence will be allotted three parking spots in an air-conditioned garage.

The developer plans to construct an amenity building across the street that will contain a golf simulator, club room, cigar room and rooftop tennis courts.

The landscape will be designed by Enzo Enea, who has a Miami studio and two offices in Switzerland. The grounds will feature an aluminium sculpture by artist Robert Indiana, as part of his ART series conceived in 1972.

Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design, a local firm with studios in the Middle East, will serve as architect of record.

Completion is scheduled for late 2018. The project is backed by ASRR, a luxury real estate firm based in Israel and New York, and Istanbul's Süzer Group.

The tower joins several other high-end projects cropping up in the area, including Eighty Seven Park by Renzo Piano, which is located just down the street.

"America never had a real Riviera, and this is becoming the Riviera," the Arte developer told The Real Deal. "All the wealthy people of the world are coming to Surfside."