This luxury hotel is located in Miami Beach in what used to be the historic Roney Palace resort. The project occupies one million square feet – the northern half of a large, U-shaped building. The entire building encompasses 2 million square feet. The ground floor lobby and mezzanine are hotel spaces, with hotel guest rooms on the 3rd 6th floors. The 7th and 8th floors are hotel condominiums, and the 9th through 17th floors, including the penthouse, are residential condominiums with a separate lobby and entrance.
The building, originally constructed in the late 1960s in the classic Art Deco style, has been redesigned around a tri-level private beach club that anchors the development. On the main level, a 40,000 square- foot semi-circular oceanfront pool-deck with a bar and restaurant overlook an infinity-edge pool trimmed in glass tiles. To complete the setting, there is a partially shaded Jacuzzi and sumptuous circular lounges. Dcor is done in white, royal blue, and chocolate brown to create a serene atmosphere.
The biggest challenge posed by this project has been the updating and modernization of the building. The existing terraces had been condemned due to deterioration of the concrete over a 30-year period. They have been replaced with white aluminum and blue glass railings, giving the exterior a more streamlined, tropical appearance.
The concept for the interiors is defined by the hotels location, starting with its stunning lobby, where textiles, lighting and upholstery are used to create a tropical effect. Hot, Caribbean colors pinks, limes, yellows, oranges are set against cool neutrals and a custom-designed, aubergine carpet in an abstract palm frond pattern. A 53-foot shark tank also helps to establish setting.
Throughout the property, the interiors utilize the latest in contemporary design, filtered through the context of South Florida. A soft, neutral palette is punctuated with splashes of fuchsia, yellow and plum to reflect the sunlight and brightness of Miami Beach. Color is anchored and contrasted against charcoal grey. There is a fuchsia theme and an ultramarine theme. Guestrooms are enormous, more like mini-suites than a typical hotel room, to give guests a sense of ultimate luxury. The stylized, original photographs on the walls are inspired by todays Miami with nods to the city in the 1950s. Most rooms have balconies and an ocean or pool view, with beds oriented towards the best views. The bathrooms are done in charcoal grey tile accented with bold, white horizontal stripes, accenting the sense of spaciousness. They also include oversized glass showers with rainfall showerheads and hand-held wands. The interiors of the vanities have a flash of color, ultramarine and fuchsia as a link to the guestrooms. Continuing this theme of color, the backsplashes of the kitchenettes in the hotel-condominium units and the mini bars are lined with painted glass. At the top of the hotel is a spectacular rooftop environment, a tropical haven dotted with coco palm trees and luxurious cabanas. The 19,000-square-foot space features a 110-foot outdoor swimming pool, a stylish bar and lounge and uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean and downtown Miami.