Located in the heart of Miami is the East Miami, a 40-story complex that combines modern design with nature. While it stands as Swire Hotels’ first hotel in the country, the new structure at Brickell City Centre brings together an international mix of designers.
With the bustling financial district not far away, the hotel boasts such an attractive list of amenities that guests may find it difficult to tear themselves away for work. Apart from the 352 guest rooms and suites, the hotel also boasts two unique restaurants and bars, and an outdoor patio with four pools, conference and banquet rooms.
Those familiar with Parador La Huella in Uruguay will love its sister restaurant Quinto La Huella, one of two restaurants in the hotel designed by Los Angeles-based Studio Collective. With a wood-burning parrilla grill, the South American restaurant also boasts an impressive bar in the main dining room that commands one’s attention on the hotel’s fifth floor. Sitting many stories higher, on the 40th floor of the East Miami hotel, is Sugar, a rooftop bar and garden. Inspired by the tropics of Southeast Asia, the designers at Studio Collective landscaped the restaurant with plants that are native to Asia yet able to thrive in the Miami heat.
With the help of local architecture firm Arquitectonica, the hotel stands out for its use of geometry and patterns in its design. There are two triangular cutouts at key points of the tower that house the large pool and spacious deck from which guests can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city below. What makes the design even more unique, is how the architects have designed the building in such a way that the natural air flow creates cool areas around the pool and patios that are prefect for relaxing.
For the interiors of the hotel, Swire Hotel turned to Clodagh Designs who combined various textures, colors and lighting that help to break up the different sections of the hotel. “I want the guests to enjoy a necklace of beautiful experiences, while also feeling a sense that they have been here before. That warm feeling of nostalgia and harmony is the target,” said Clodagh, the internationally renowned designer responsible for the interiors at EAST, Miami. “To me, there is no such thing as an inanimate object, so including pieces and finishes with good energy was paramount.”
To decorate the hotel, Clodagh worked closely with art dealer Indiewalls to source for sculptures, paintings and photographs. From custom made pieces to creations that helped highlight Miami’s scenic locales, the hues of blue, yellow and white help to highlight the beauty of the hotel. On the fifth floor, sits a canopy that shades guests as they enjoy a meal at Qunity La Huella. Called the Climate Ribbon, its costs $30 million and spans 150,000 square feet. Consisting of steel , the structure hosts an elevated trellis that is set to collect nearly three million gallons of rainwater annually.