Page 27 - Reside Magazine Premier Central Florida

Reside — Central Florida Edition

A sunny outlook

Robert AM Stern has been heralded
as “architecture’s king of tradition”
for his firm’s skyscrapers that blend

admiration for the past with truly
contemporary luxury living. The
architect’s new project in Miami,
the St. Regis Residences on the South
Brickell coastline, is no exception.
The elegantly curved building takes
its design cues from the aesthetic
both agree that height isn’t of golden-age ocean liners, rooted
everything: “The main in the art deco spirit that defines

achievement of a tall timber so much of Miami’s glamour.
building is its much smaller Each residence commands
climate impact than a expansive views over the Biscayne
conventional tall building, Bay and Atlantic Ocean beyond,
the new possibilities for and has access to truly covetable
architectural expressions, amenities, from a fine-dining

and the quality of interior restaurant and bayside infinity pool,

spaces that timber [offers].” to a private marina and sky bar. Lush
Architect Andrew landscaped grounds and terraces
Waugh, who has pioneered are designed by Swiss designer Enzo
timber high-rises in east Enea, who expertly crafts livable
London where he grew up, outdoor spaces—a perfect way to
supports this: “Timber is enjoy Miami’s glorious weather.
good for people, providing
healthy environments that
reduce stress and increase
wellbeing. And timber
buildings just smell so good!”
Waugh’s design, the 10-story residential Dalston Works in London was the world’s largest
cross-laminated timber building on completion in 2017. He wonders, do we really need The St. Regis Residences, Miami
to build higher and higher? “I think super-tall buildings aren’t great for people or for Prices starting at $4m
cities—they create shadow and wind and alienate the young and elderly. I think we’ll sothebysrealty.com/new-developments/
project/st-regis-residences
find a sweet spot for timber buildings that suit the material and work better for all of us.” ONE Sotheby’s International Realty
Just like scenes from science fiction, it seems the
skyscraper of the future will be rising in all kinds of
directions and dimensions. At present, Duncan sees most
of the innovation happening “at the nano-scale.” SOM is
currently co-developing an algae-based concrete (aimed
at reducing its carbon footprint and soaking up CO from
2
the air) and embedding solar technology in ultra-thin layers
of glass to make this most skyscraper-friendly material
Courtesy of MVRDV, © Xia Zhi; Jonas Westling; Visit Skellefteå. Photos: © Steve Hall; Bettmann/Getty Images; © Nick Merrick/Hedrich Blessing; “groundscraper”—as long horizontally as the Shard
more energy productive. In London, Danish architect
Bjarke Ingels has teamed up with British designer Thomas
Heatherwick on plans for a new Google headquarters

is vertical (as London’s tallest building at just over
300m). Meanwhile, the Italian architect Carlo Ratti has
proposed an idea for the “farmscraper,” including a vertical
hydroponic farming system for a Chinese supermarket
chain. It seems as though the sky is no longer the limit. 0
Harriet Thorpe is a London-based author and
journalist, writing about architecture, urbanism,
art, design, and travel

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