The rear of the Faena Hotel with landscaping proposals by Raymond Jungles
Construction continues at the Faena District Miami Beach, that glorious and mysterious wonderland that Argentinian developer Alan Faena is building in Mid Beach. Wallpaper* Magazine tracked the developer down, somehow got some great new imagery of the project out of him (a mixture of old and new, actually) with new design details by Antwerp-based Studio Jobs and others, and was able to ask him a few (three) questions, to which he gave charming if not overly specific replies. Here is basically what he said, paraphrased of course:
1) Why Miami? “Often a place finds you, rather than you finding it.” He had a chance to buy the Saxony Hotel two years ago and it just kind of snowballed from there.
2) Why build on such a large scale? He loves to change an entire neighborhood.
3) Does Faena Miami Beach have a Latin flavor? Yes, in some ways, with the wrap-around balconies called aleros, and the lifestyle they’re going for. Oh, and “Faena Miami Beach is a country, with a flag, a coat of arms and heraldic symbols [all designed by Studio Job]. It will change Miami Beach forever.”
A fountain for the hotel’s pool as well as paving design, both by Antwerp-based design collective Studio Job. They are also designing a “special seal shaped fountain” for the hotel. The hotel is slated for completion in 2015.
Studio Job’s ‘Tree Of Life’ sculpture is “designed to capture the essence of the district’s vision” and will “crown the Faena Gardens.”
Intricate gates designed by Studio Job will adorn the hotel and arts center.
This set of gates designed by Studio Job is destined for the Arts Center.
The Claridge Hotel, the latest purchase by Alan Faena, will be known as the ‘Hotel by the Sea’ and “involve and nurture the work of local artists.”
The district’s robotic parking garage is being designed by Rem Koolhaas and OMA.
A working maquette of the “curated retail space” of the project, the Faena Bazaar. also by Rem Koolhaas/OMA.
The Faena Bazaar is under construction.
The Faena Marina, on Indian Creek, will provide dockage for the project’s residents and hotel guests.
The Faena District’s arts center, by Rem Koolhaas/OMA.
The ‘Faena Collaboratory’, also the sales center, is enveloped in murals by Argentinian painter Juan Gatti during the construction of the project around it.
The 1950s addition to the Versailles Hotel will be demolished to make room for a tower designed by Thomas Heatherwick, who will work on the original Versailles tower as well.
This is the side of the Versailles slated for demolition. Currently a painted mural covers the left half of the façade.
The residential tower by Lord Norman Foster, Faena House, is currently under construction. Only two units are still for sale.
The interior of the old Saxony Hotel is still a gutted shell but will be fancifully created by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin
Via CURBED –
Howard Chase Real Estate Blog 