W South Beach
-- Hotels, 7/6/2009 12:10:00 PM
MIAMI BEACH W South Beach and The Residences at W South Beach usher in a new generation of innovative design and sophisticated style.
A team of designers and artists, including design firm Yabu Pushelberg, architects Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates in collaboration with New York-based Costas Kondylis and Partners, Anna Busta of Studio B Design, landscape designer Paula Hayes and photographer Danny Clinch have created a collage of whimsical elements and innovative design. Twenty stories high, with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean from all rooms, the property features 408 stylish W-branded residences, of which 312 will be made available as hotel guestrooms. W South Beach boasts celebrity dining hotspot Mr. Chow as well as Solea, featuring Mediterranean cuisine; Wall nightclub; Bliss spa; more than 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space; and W Hotels The Store.
W South Beach pays homage to the area’s art deco heritage by blending cutting-edge design with classic elements. Owner and developer David Edelstein of Tristar Capital developed the hotel’s distinct style aesthetic with the help of Busta. Design highlights include floors inlaid with bronze and wood with a terrazzo border, while a row of white quartzite columns set against a soaring marble wall welcomes guests into the Living Room.
The Living Room Bar features sofas imported from Italy and tufted leather ottomans. Light is diffused by tall, velvet curtains in eggplant purple, and modern white and gray sofas are complemented by oversized, inlaid horn tables. Additional furnishings include armchairs covered in white pony or slate velvet, white alpaca Mongolian-fur chairs and white pony rugs splashed with gold paint. Bronze-and-gold pendant light fixtures by design firm Studio Atelier OI are suspended like wind chimes. Shimmering beaded curtains are set off by glass walls, offering a glimpse of the hotel’s garden, The Grove.
Inspired by the garden in Nîmes, France, The Grove is a lush outdoor space designed by Hayes in collaboration with Busta. Hayes incorporated winding paths, 1880s lanterns, sheets of poetry suspended from trees and 1920s-era objects discovered in French flea markets, while Busta strategically placed authentic French pieces throughout the garden. Hayes hand-picked sea grape trees, swamp lily and flowering grasses according to aesthetics and ecological soundness. This eco-friendly garden is designed to conserve water, support indigenous flora and preserve the habitat of the nocturnal sea turtles.
Guestrooms designed by Yabu Pushelberg start at 574 sq. ft. and range from the signature Wonderful room to the Extreme Wow Suite with multiple balconies and a plunge pool. Kondylis positioned each room at a 25-degree angle toward the sea with clear glass balconies for uninterrupted views. At night, a panel of spandrel glass reflects the lights of downtown Miami or the moonlit waters of the bay.
From balcony to bathroom, guestrooms are united by slats of white ceramic flooring with a wood grain finish. Living and sleeping areas are delineated by a floor-to-ceiling screen with suspended squares of opaque-and-clear acrylic. Artwork by rock-and-roll photographer Clinch hangs above the Italian steel grey sofa, which is modern yet extra deep. Over each bed is a textured mirror, framed and up-lit from behind the white, crocodile-skin headboard.
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