A TOWER IN THE SKY: One Acclaimed Design Team Turns A Penthouse In Miami’s Prestigious Four Seasons Tower Into A Sleek And Warm Residence

Published in Miami Home & Decor 2017 Spring/Summer Edition

Architect Kurt Dannwolf and Director of Interiors, Lachmee Chin, are all too familiar with the  Four Seasons Hotel and Residences in Miami, Fla. Not only is it luxurious and amenity rich, but it is also one of the tallest buildings in the state of Florida. Dannwolf, the lead architect on the 70-story skyscraper, and Chin, had worked together with the developer, Millennium Partners, to create over a dozen residential and commercial spaces inside the tower. So, when the owner of this 10,000-square-foot empty penthouse on the 67th floor was referred to the design team, they were ready to go to work.

The client wanted a place where he and his wife, and two teenage sons could stay and transition when traveling from their home in Brazil to places overseas. It was important for the space to be modern in design and comfortable, while meeting the owners’ desire to entertain, or simply, when only the two of them were in the residence.  After a thorough assessment of what would become the entertaining and private spaces, the design team set about adding color, texture and art to unify their creation.

With dramatic ocean views to the East and to the South, large picture windows were draped in silk - night lights can be glimpsed from the land; in the afternoon boats are passing by and in the morning, the rising sun is on view. “It couldn’t be more romantic and beautiful,” Chin says. The room is kept fresh and alive with textured materials such as a velvet and silk accent pillow that adorns a Fendi sofa, a patterned Hallgarten area rug from David Sutherland, and armchairs from Artefacto upholstered soft blend of silk and linen that appear different each time the light strikes them. Chin also selected gray veined marble flooring for the main living spaces. “This became a unifying factor between rooms and gave us a blank canvas on which to place other elements,” the designer says.

A thick, dark-stained wall clad in American walnut runs the length of the home. As you approach the dining room from the adjacent wine room, a glimpse through a round cutout in the wall reveals a Hellman-Chang dining table lined with elegant “Bogart” chairs from One of a Kind, in a shimmery gray Calvin Klein fabric.

Just off the dining room is the oversized kitchen which was designed to function for effortless seasonal living and elegant entertaining, with ample serving area.  Having such a spacious room gave Dannwolf the opportunity to create a large sculptural island - the quartzite rectangular prism, adorned with custom-stained walnut cabinetry, is supported on a steel frame that allows it to cantilever at both ends. Near a window with stunning ocean views, a glass shelf that suspends at bar height creates the perfect place for casual meals. “The owners wished for the home to seamlessly fit their lifestyle”  said Dannwolf.

Marble flooring gives way to custom, dark-stained walnut flooring in the game room. On poker night, while seated on silver-hued chairs from Artefacto clad in Edelman Dream Cow suede players gather around a lacquer gaming table complete with round-carved pockets to store chips.

Custom-designed white pedestals topped with glass-colored vases line a wall of textured silk panels in a nearby office. In the guest bath, another pedestal, one of deep blue soapstone set within white marble, supports a sculptural tub. “I wanted the tub to be more than just a utilitarian piece,” Chin says. “Here it becomes a focal point for the room,” she says.

Adjoining the master bedroom is the sleek master bath, where the architect created a 15-foot-by-19-foot opening to the sky above an oversized shower with square rain shower heads.

Since this was the last penthouse in the building, the design team knew they had to create something special. “We utilized a lot of the things we had learned from working on the other projects in the tower, plus we were able to explore new ideas to make this home unique,” Dannwolf says.

interior design: Lachmee Chin with Nicole Yousefi and Xiomara Munoz, ODP Architects, Hollywood, FL
architecture: Kurt Dannwolf, ODP Architects, Hollywood, FL
text: Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley
photography: Ken Hayden, Miami Beach, FL

ODP Architecture and Design Wins 2nd Place in South Florida Business Journal 2017 Coolest Offices Contest

On April 3, SFBJ asked companies across the tri-county area to send in photos of their offices for a chance at being named the coolest office in all of South Florida. On April 26, the Top 10 finalists were revealed and we were one of them. More than 30,000 online votes were registered at SouthFloridaBusinessJournal.com and our firm came in 2nd place with 8,680 votes, less than 2,000 shy from #1. We would like to thank all of you for your support!

Paramount At Miami World Center Progress

This is with a great deal of excitement that construction has begun on the fourth floor — only 55 levels to go!

The 58 story building will span almost 30 acres in the heart of downtown Miami and will be comprised of 513 condos, a magnificent skydeck and lounge with a sunrise pool, a fire pit, an Infinity edge pool, an observatory and a Tai Chi Deck.

ODP Architecture & Design Wins Award of Merit in the "Un-Built Residential" Category

The 2016 Design Awards Program recognizes excellence in design by the architectural profession and is presented by AIA Fort Lauderdale, a Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. These Awards are intended to promote public consciousness of the built environment through distinguished works of architecture by our local membership.

We were thrilled to be awarded the Award of Merit for our 1399 Southwest First Avenue Tower, a tower that is comprised of hotel rooms, amenity deck and residences.  

Paramount Miami World Center Construction Update

As we are contributing to the skyline of Miami, here are some fun facts about our construction progress:

• 12,000 – 13,000 cubic yards of cement are being poured into the main foundation
• 1,300 truck loads in total
• 6 concrete pumps running simultaneously for 30 hours straight! 

One Thousand Museum

“Whereas most construction is realtor or developer driven, OTM is artistically driven. The ideology of the way in which it is built is to expose the columns, rather than hide them behind a wall." Kurt Dannwolf, Principal at ODP

Paramount At Miami World Center Progress

The project began drilling pilings at the end of last year. As of today, all piles have been installed. Next, the site is geared to have the mat foundation, over 12,000 cubic yards of concrete, poured in October before the project goes vertical by year end. 

Paramount is part of the $1.7 billion Miami Worldcenter mixed-use development which is aiming toward an end-year 2018 completion date.

One Thousand Museum Progress

First GFRC permanent formwork panels in place (Level 15)

One Thousand Museum Progress

Pouring the 10th floor deck

Additional Interior Renderings Revealed of 1000 Museum →

Also see the One Thousand Museum construction progress and check back for frequent updates.