Icon Bay / Arquitectónica

Curated by ArchDaily

Architects: Arquitectónica
Area: 754693 ft²
Year: 2015
Photographs:Robin Hill
Manufacturers: BANDALUX, Armstrong Ceilings
Landscape Architect: ArquitectonicaGEO
Interior Designer: ArquitectonicaINTERIORS
Structural Engineers: B&J Consulting Engineering Inc.
Civil Engineers: Consulting Engineering & Science Inc.
General Contractor: Plaza Construction Group Florida

Text description provided by the architects. This thin elongated tower floats over a new waterfront park. It is the first of a new generation of residential towers on Biscayne Bay in that it creates part of a public-private partnership to unlock the value of the bayfront.

Icon Bay opens a once landlocked neighborhood to Biscayne Bay. It also links other sites with a public walk that participates in the Biscayne Line initiative.

The experience is partially open to the sky and partially within a porch of monumental proportions. Following Florida tradition it frames the bay views and provides shelter from the sun and rain.

The building balconies fold playfully along the facades. They create a pattern of light and shadow, reflection and opacity. They appear to flutter in the wind or responding to the ripples of the bay waters. The textured façade breaks the tradition of vertical extrusions in high-rise design.

From within the balcony varying depth create dramatic vantage points at their tips, creating an experience as if standing on the prow of a ship. They also create deep areas for furnishable terraces and shallower verandas that allow light into the spaces beyond.