compliant. The result is a brand that seems tobehitting
themarkwithbuyers:Eightypercentof theproperty’s 156
privateresidencesarealreadycommittedtoeagerinvestors.
However, there are still opportunities to own in the
building. “We’ve just put ourpenthousesup for sale,” says
Hyers, “andwe’vebeen able toholdonto some choice in-
ventory.Realestateherehasbeenawildride, sowe’vebeen
carefulabouthowmanyunitstoreleasetothepublicatany
given time. It’sagameofstrategy.”
Successhasmeant alsobeing able to givebackby sup-
portinglocalbusinessesandartisans.Whenguestsenterthe
lobby, forexample, theyaregreetedbya largeterrariumbar
designedby theMiamiArtDistrict landscaping institution
PlanttheFuture.“It’sacuratedgalleryspace,but insteadof
typicalartwork,we’rehighlightingnatureandplants,”says
Rose. “We’vepartneredwithPlant theFuture, and they’re
going tobe creating thesenatural sculptures in live time
fromrocks, soil, sandandsucculents,andourguestswillbe
able to interactwith themwhile theywork. It’s theperfect
exampleofwhatwe’retryingtodo:blendinginnovativestyle
withenvironmental smarts.”
m
iami’s tony South Beach
neighborhood is constantly
evolving, but the grand
opening of its latest mixed-use
residential hot spot, 1 Hotel &
Homes, brings a fresh twist to the
luxemarket. Occupying the 8.5-
acre waterfront siteof the former
1920s landmarkRoneyPlaza (and
morerecentlyTheGansevoort),itis
thefirstof itskind:agreen,LEED-
certified luxuryhospitalitybrand.
As the brainchild of Starwood
CapitalGroupChairmanandCEO
Barry Sternlicht—who helped
launch theW andSt. Regis chains
of hotels—1Hotel&Homes’mis-
sionrevolvesaroundthetwinpoles
ofhigh-enddesignand low impact
ontheenvironment.“Wewantedto
createanewbrandthatcelebratesa
sustainable,eco-consciouslifestyle
— something that would put na-
tureatthe forefront,”saysKemper
Hyers,Starwood’sheadofdesign.
Each of the hotel’s 426 guest
rooms has beendesignedwith an
emphasis on natural textures —
fromgrassclothandreclaimedwoodonthewallstoorganic
cottonbedding andmattresses constructedof super-soft
hemp.Apaletteofcrispwhitesandsoothinggraysandbeige
makessurethebiggestimpactintheroomsistheviewoutside
thefloor-to-ceilingwindows: “Our biggest concernwas to
makesureweselectedshadesthatwouldhighlighttheenvi-
ronmentoutside,”explainsLiubashaRose, leaddesigneron
theproject. “Allyouhave todo togetarushof intensecolor
is lookoutattheblueof theocean.”
The same philosophywas used in the constructionof
the adjoining condos. Designedby Starwood andBrazil-
ian interiordesignerDeboraAguiar, the interiors feel like
anextensionof thebeachwith smartlyappointedfinishes
inavarietyofsandyhues, likeontheupholsteredwallsinthe
bedroom, theYakartaBlancoporcelainbacksplashes inthe
kitchenand the travertine in thebathrooms.
The breezy chic style is a testament to the designers’
vision,provingyoudon’thavetocompromiseacommitment
to the environment inpursuit of good looks; for example,
all of the sliding glass doors and casement windows are
energyefficientandallofthefixturesthroughoutareLEED
real estate
s
UCCESS
HASMEANT
ALSO
BEINGABLE
TOGIVEBACK
BYSUPPORTING
LOCAL
BUSINESSES
AND
ARTISANS.
Going
Greenon
SouthBeach
Thenatural environment is
the star inanewhigh-end
Miami development
JOSHUAMCHUGH (2)
CELEBRATED LIVING • SPRING 2015
62
