Inside the Bond on Brickell, Which Just Received its Temporary Certificate of Occupancy
The lobby
The Bond on Brickell, which used to be called the Bond ‘at’ Brickell until its developers MDR and the Rilea Group secured an address and entrance on Brickell Avenue itself for the building (the name change has become something of, shall we say, a conversation piece) recently received its temporary certificate of occupancy for most of the building, and has started closings while still putting on finishing touches. It is also almost completely sold out, with only about a dozen units remaining according to a building representative. Meanwhile, it was recently reported that the first unit closings took place earlier this week. Today the building was a beehive of activity as workers got the Bond showcase ready and brokers brought their clients/current owners/us for a looksie.
On the first floor, the building’s driveway can be entered via either Brickell Avenue or SE 1st Avenue, leading to a covered porte cochere which will have a waterfall feature, and the building’s signature London phone booth. Inside, the spacious lobby itself is divided into a few sitting areas, with a fireplace, overstuffed couches, and mod chairs, giving it a bit of a British vibe. Not really British-meets-the-tropics, or British colonial, just British. Walls throughout are paneled in a variety of interesting materials. In the lobby, surfaces alternate between gray suede and dark, blood red leather. Despite its location in the heart of Brickell, the building’s interiors are hushed, due to a layer of fiberglass behind all the walls.
Upstairs, on the amenity level, a club room, library, and fitness center all look out onto an amenity deck with a large T-shaped pool and outdoor fire pit. Also on the floor is a children’s playroom which is probably the most explicitly flag-flying, ‘God save the Queen’-ing part of the entire building, with wallpaper covered in British-isms like ‘Mind the Gap.’ Mens and women’s saunas and steam room, with accompanying locker rooms, are elsewhere on the floor, slightly oddly not attached to the gym, but on the opposite side. They are tiled in contrasting black and white rocks, to moody effect.
Finally, we checked out a few units with varying layouts. Balconies are generously deep, all kitchens come standard with Bosch appliances, designed to coordinate with the dark wood cabinetry, and some units come with dens. Interior doors feel solid wood, instead of hollow, which is often the case, and door handles and other hardware is nice.
One final note about the exterior. Although renderings gave the impression of dramatic exterior lighting, it appeared that this was not (or at least not yet?) part of the final design. Where there would have been long bands of light shooting up and across the facade as of now are just bands of decorative plaster, painted a dark gray.
Paco Martinez Has Appealed The Babylon Apartments’ Historic Designation
Photo via Flickr/ Phillip Pessar
Paco Martinez, short for Francisco “Paco” Martinez, the owner of the little red building on Brickell Bay Drive called the Babylon Apartments, is not happy about what’s happened to his plans to demolish. On July 5th the City of Miami Historic Preservation Board officially designated the Babylon in acknowledgement of its pioneering postmodernist design. Demolition was averted, almost. With only 15 days to appeal the decision before it became official, Martinez finally appealed yesterday, the day before the deadline, according to the Miami’s historic preservation office. Back in limbo, the appeal brings the Babylon in front of city commissioners, who will decide its destiny a few months from now.
Arquitectonica’s Iconic Babylon Apartments Wins Historic Designation With 6-0 Vote
Photo by Phillip Pessar.
This just in from today’s City of Miami Historic Preservation Board meeting! In a unanimous 6-0 vote, the board has voted in favor of historically designating the Babylon Apartments on Brickell Bay Drive, a seminal and very early work by architecture firm Arquitectonica which significantly influenced the firm’s later works as well as decades of modern and contemporary architecture in Miami. There is a 30-day appeals process, but the Babylon is closer than ever to being saved. To recap what has happened up until now, I wrote a nice summary over at the Architect’s Newspaper. Also, check back here for more info on what’s next for the Babylon after today’s HBP meeting as it becomes available.
Atton Miami Brickell Hotel to Open in the Simpson Park Triangle Tomorrow
Photo via Atton Miami Hotel.
That little triangular neighborhood west of Simpson Park in Brickell is on fire now that Le Parc has received its Temporary Certificate of Occupancy and the new Atton Brickell Miami Hotel is opening tomorrow. The first United States outpost of the Atton Hotels brand, the 12 story hotel is trying to position itself as a midrange hotel for Brickell, below the high-priced swank of the J.W. Marriott, the W Hotel, and the Four Seasons, and above Brickell’s more budget offerings like the Hampton Inn, which if you’ve been to the Brickell Hampton Inn, is like the fanciest Hampton Inn ever. The 275 guest rooms are being offered with introductory rates of $149 according to Real Deal.
Le Parc at Brickell Scores Temporary Certificate of Occupancy
Le Parc at Brickell. Photo courtesy Christopher Adeleke/Cervera.
West of Brickell’s Simpson Park, construction has just finished at Le Parc at Brickell, which has received its Temporary Certificate of Occupancy says Realtor Christopher Adeleke, Le Parc In House Agent. Le Parc is ‘officially’ done, and buyers are beginning to move in. Simultaneously, a brand new model show unit has been furnished and designed by Ligne Roset, highlighting the sales push for Le Parc’s remaining units. Pricing information is below.
The most important aspect of Le Parc is actually just right there in its name: the park, and its location in a relatively hidden corner of Brickell, which a long time ago a blogger once dubbed the Simpson Park Triangle. “The building really becomes alive with all the greenery of the Park in the East, and the dynamic city landscape in the West.” says Adeleke. Le Parc at Brickell is an urban infill linkage between the old growth hammock of Simpson Park, and the quiet urbanity of the Simpson triangle.
Le Parc at Brickell. Photo courtesy Christopher Adeleke/Cervera.
Brickell City Centre’s R&R Towers Hit $180 in Sales, With Rise Opening This Summer
Plus a Brickell City Centre Fly-Through, Via Drone-Cam
Courtesy Brickell City Centre.
Brickell City Centre’s two residential towers Reach & Rise have done a combined $180 million-plus in condo sales to date, say the megaproject’s public relations wonks, with Reach 90 percent sold out and Rise 45 percent. Reach opened to residents back in April, giving it a head start in sales, while Rise is scheduled to receive its Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (a.k.a. that’s move in day!) sometime this summer. Prices for remaining units have also been bumped up by 10% in response to strong sales despite a slowing market, although even things at City Centre are obviously tamer than they were a year ago.
Debate Over Arquitectonica’s Babylon Apartments Preservation Goes National
The Babylon Apartments. Photos courtesy Phillip Pessar.
The aesthetically pioneering Babylon Apartments has a date with the City of Miami Historic Preservation Board on July 5th, potentially resulting in historic designation status. Architecture firm Arquitectonica’s “first building that wasn’t a house,” as described by one of its heads and cofounders Bernardo Fort-Brescia, is also one of its most important, and a seminal piece of Miami’s architectural history. The debate over the Babylon’s fate has also become national news. Miami Condo Investments Editor Sean McCaughan’s report on uncertain future of the Babylon is over at the Architect’s Newspaper:
