St. Regis Bal Habour Resort

Yabu Pushelberg's latest hotel project resets the notion of modern luxury

Set to open 19 January 2012, the St. Regis Bal Habour Resort brings the supremely luxurious service and accommodations the brand is known for to the worldwide destination of South Florida. Designed by Seiger Suarez Architectual Partnership with interiors by renowned studio Yabu Pushelberg, the property sets a new standard for the St. Regis brand. Previewing the property last month I found a brilliant combination of materials and patterns; the aesthetic continuity is maintained from restaurants and reception to guest rooms and spa, yet the spaces are also clearly differentiated. My test for evaluating the effectiveness of a hotel brand's design language is to imagine waking up in any of the spaces—a guest room, a chair by the pool, the spa or even a restaurant booth or the lobby floor—if there's no doubt where you are, the design is well executed. In this case, I'd wake up feeling right at home and never wanting to leave.

 

  Boasting 27 stories, housing 243 guest rooms and suites and 307 residences, the resort, built from the ground up on the site of the old Sheraton Bal Harbour, features extravagant detailing throughout. Just a few steps into the main hall Yabu Pushelberg's consuming style transports you to a world of Deco-inspired modern luxury. Highlighting the extravagance are floors of Chinese God's Flower marble sourced from a private quarry opened exclusively for the project, mirror-laden walls and chandeliers made of hand-hung crystals.

To further set the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort apart from the other destination resorts in the Miami area, the hotel is defined by its extensive collection of contemporary art from both local and internationally known artists—including works by Japanese artists Hirotoshi Sawada, Kohel Nawa, Miami-based graffiti artist Santiago Rubino and French photographer Jean Francois Rauzier.

 To pay homage to legendary architect Morris Lapidus—creator of the iconic neo-baroque modern hotel style synonymous with Miami—guestrooms echo a contemporary Art Deco aesthetic. With warm yellow and whites and mirrored surfaces, the interior design nod can be seen in the subtle details throughout the hotel.