HBA San Francisco completes Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay redesign
HBA San Francisco has completed the redesign of Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay, a 607-room hotel located at the intersection of Miami’s downtown art and design districts. Drawing inspiration from the Wynwood murals, Art Deco architecture and the sunrises and sunsets of Miami, HBA San Francisco designers have developed a new identity for the interiors that remains true to the locale, its history and its culture.
The design studio has opted to infuse hues of sunset orange, soft coral and teal blue across the property. Furnishings and materials, sourced from artisans across the US and beyond, are woven together in a cohesive narrative that spans throughout the Marriott hotel’s spaces.
Setting the tone for the experience found within, the lobby sees high ceilings invite natural light in, while soft curves create balance and warmth. Above the reception desk, an undulating focal screen made of natural wood has been placed to capture the eye, after which it is drawn down to the wall behind, where intricate tilework recalls Miami’s turquoise waters. Custom rug patterns at the convivial seating groups express bold geometry and, combined with backlit accent lighting, add another layer to the lobby lounge space.
“Walking around downtown Miami and the surrounding neighbourhoods of Wynwood and Brickell, we were reminded that art and inspiration are truly everywhere,” says Alecia Enriquez, Senior Designer at HBA San Francisco. “This essence of creativity and wonder is something we wanted the guest to feel from the moment they arrive. Seeing our vision come together has been incredibly rewarding.”
Guestrooms and suites have been elevated with fresh white at the walls, along with new furnishings and fixtures. Meanwhile, new bursts of colour have been freshly incorporated: a custom mural behind the headboard, and carpet patterns chosen to reflect the tones of the ocean.
The redesigned hotel now boasts a new coastal dining concept, Gold Coast Kitchen + Cocktails, as well as Marriott’s first downtown Miami M Club. Reconfigured to provide connectivity with the outdoors, the restaurant and bar open onto a waterfront deck. Inside the restaurant, the dining room’s design takes cues from Streamline Moderne style with a watercolour-like palette. A banquette serves as an additional playful diversion, punctuated by porthole-like openings in an affectionate nod to Miami’s cruise industry. Fluted blue tiling in the buffet area adds further texture, illuminated by rope-style lighting to create an understated theatricality.
Enriquez continues: “By relocating the bar and opening up walls, we were able to make the food and beverage experiences more amenable to the environment they’re in by giving them line of sight to the bay. In the bar area, we focused on deeper shades of teal with pops of murals to cultivate energy. The handmade Italian tiles at the bar front provide cohesiveness with the vernacular of the lobby, yet applied here in an original interpretation. Custom pendant lighting adds further dimension and visual interest.”
The hotel’s M Club showcases pastel tones, designed to usher in a more relaxing mood. At the entrance, an oversized lampshade suspends from the ceiling, while black metal accents, terrazzo stone-topped tables, ribbed tilework and geometric screening elements of natural wood continue the hotel’s storyline as rooted in Miami’s culture.
