Project: Miami Beach Apartment
Architecture: SheltonMindel
Location: Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Area: 1700 ft2 + 1400 ft2 balcony space
Year: 2023
Photo Credits: Michael Moran / Otto
Text by SheltonMindel
To integrate the indoor and outdoor spaces of a Miami Beach tropical ocean front apartment residence in an elegant and rigorously designed curvilinear building by Renzo Piano. The goal is to seamlessly integrate the very generous outdoor and indoor space through architecture and interior design.
The spaces are an homage to the delicate play of light and shadow created by the building with its continuous balconies and overhangs where the outdoor space is two-thirds the square footage of the indoor space. The overhead projections function more than mere balconies; they act as a brise-soleil that protects the space from the sunrise in the east to the sunset in the west. The interior partitions are intentionally kept off the free flowing curtain wall so the expanse and continuity of the outdoor spaces can be experienced without interruption.
In order to contextualize the indoor and outdoor spaces, we conceived a vibrant bioluminescent palette that expresses the joyous colors, textures, and patterns of its surrounding conditions. The uniqueness of Miami beach and its tropical sensibility is expressed through this palette that alludes to the trees, the fish and the reflection of light on water. The ocean side is treated with a palette of a blue, responding to the ocean exposure and the intercoastal facing deck chairs reflect the gardens and distant views of the sun setting on downtown Miami.
Circular architectural ceiling details, furnishings and art become a part of the architecture, almost emerging out of the building’s cylindrical organic form. The kitchen disc wall sculpture by Domingos Totora and the living room coffee table by Francois Bauchet similarly have a dialogue with this Architectural gesture. The bioluminescent dynamic sculpture by Gisela Colon (in collaboration with Nasa) expresses the changing light and views of the water beyond.
The light and the ocean are never the same and Ms. Colon’s work embodies infinite combinations, both day and night. The back-painted floor to ceiling glass wall panels by Max Ingrand in the primary bedroom respond to the coastal greens and gardens while the light blue circular sculpture by Rupert Deese above the guest bed responds to the palette of the ocean.
At the entry, the three dimensional bioluminescent shaped canvas by Charles Hinman foreshadows the vibrant two tone Misha Kahn chair in the living room. The architectural Sottsass bookcase is a formal backdrop for books and objects from the sea.
