Flanked by royal palms and bamboo, The Sacred Space Miami complex is nestled into an ordered landscape plan that is an extension of the interior environment and which will now serve as an entry oasis to a new restaurant, Plant Miami. The outdoor garden serves as an integral element, blending interior and exterior space with a series of indoor and outdoor “dining rooms.” Distinguishing the restaurant’s indoor seating area, a bamboo floor and ceiling will connect to two facing walls with vertical panels of the same material interspersed with reflective bronze mirror. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows open to fully merge this space with the outdoors, extending to a café with a deck of weathered ipe wood and a talipot palm tree, the largest of its species and with the largest leaf in the plant kingdom.
In addition to helming the Plant Miami restaurant, there exists on-site a cooking school, that will have as its focus instruction in the preparation of vegan, plant-based cuisine. Visually integrated with the dining area, both the main kitchen and teaching Academy will be visible through a series of glass partition windows.
In the exterior space, an elongated reflecting pool serves as a central element and connects two additional seating areas, one featuring the regular placement of potted guava trees and a diagonally-placed custom bench and the other an outdoor lounge space with a series of palm trees connected by lights. Each of these “rooms” possesses different elements that contribute to the multi-sensory experience of this series of indoor/outdoor spaces. A pocket sanctuary hidden among the industrial surroundings of the city’s burgeoning Wynwood area, The Sacred Space Miami was conceived as a warm environment, but with the flexibility to be transformed for a variety of uses.
What was the brief?
To develop a restaurant where people could observe and relate to the food that was being prepared and served. The connection to the outdoors was also very important to our client.
What were the key challenges?
To develop a project within a functioning business and within the expanding concepts of the owner. The project was transformed from her original headquarter offices and event space to a compound that not only houses the restaurant but wellness areas, garden spaces for yoga and meditation. In 2015, construction began on the expansion of the original event company and KARLA is now part of a larger series of buildings and garden comprising a new entity, The Sacred Space Miami. Flanked by royal palms and bamboo, the complex is nestled into an ordered, landscape plan that is an extension of the interior environment and which will now serve as an entry oasis to a new restaurant, Plant Miami. The outdoor garden serves as an integral element, blending interior and exterior space with a series of indoor and outdoor “dining rooms.”
What materials did you choose and why?
Distinguishing the restaurant’s indoor seating area, a tiger oak floor and ceiling will connect to two facing walls with vertical panels of the same material interspersed with reflective bronze mirror. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows open to fully merge this space with the outdoors, extending to a café with a deck of weathered ipe wood and a talipot palm tree, the largest of its species and with the largest flower in the plant kingdom. The StickBulb custom chandeliers were designed with a custom mameycolor and the furniture was carefully chosen to reflect the original concepts. We chose materials that were warm and connected to you the outdoors, the tropical Miami environment and the earth. The mirrors were key in connecting you directly to the outdoor environment while the dark wood elements nestled you.
Material Used :
DINING AREA:
1. Wood Floor, Ceiling, Bar – Plyboo
2. Custom Light Pendants – Stickbulb by RUX
3. Chairs – Raphia chair, Design: LucidiPevere, Manufacturer: Casamania
4. Barstools - walnut
5. Cushion Fabric – Steelcut Trio by Kvadrat for Maharam
6. Track Lighting and Fixtures – Litelab
7. Bronze Mirror – Luminous Glass Distributors
8. Marble Bar and Table Tops – Mystery White from Tuscany Stone
9. Scrim – Basket Weave gold vinyl, Manufacturer: Kova Textiles
OUTDOOR DECK:
1. Pool Tile – American Glass Mosaics
2. Dining Chairs – Teatime, Designer and Manufacturer: Paola Lenti
3. Umbrellas – Brambella
4. Planters – Urban Stoneworks
