There’s so much to say that I’ll have to do this in several posts, but let me start first by talking about the DESIGN of the Mondrian hotel in South Beach, Miami. Creator: the products and interiors designer, Marcel Wanders.
In short, it’s wacky. In a good way. Fresh, crazy, perspective-defying, and yes, a little bit indulgent, but it totally works, so who cares?
Today I’ll show you the public spaces of the hotel. The Mondrian’s website says Mr. Wanders was after a “design homage” to “Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.” Wish they hadn’t told me that.
This is the lobby as you walk in.
My crappy pictures really don’t do justice – although I’ll include them anyway – but professional pics really capture the lighting effects. Those gigantic turned table leg-like columns are everywhere. Lots of repeated elements, which contributes to the success of the design.
Behind that wall with the floating girl head – I know, just go with it – is the restaurant, Asia de Cuba.
Sort of between that and the entrance is the “floating staircase.”
- From concierge.com
Note the enormous gold bell lamps. More playing with scale. More Sleeping Beauty/Alice in Wonderland nuttiness.
Back to the front desk.
So we have:
– Oversize elements, like the chandeliers and the turned table leg-columns
– Repeated medallion elements (we’ll see more of that in the rooms)
– A repeated floral design, on the lobby floor, on the rugs, on the staircase banister, on the elevator walls (later), and, amazingly, etched into the pool deck.
Definitely unlike anyplace I’ve ever been. Check out Mr. Wanders’ much better, professional photographs on his website.
As for edginess, the Mondrian is so cool it thinks it doesn’t need a sign in the front. Or anywhere. Which would have been helpful. But whatever.
Have to check out right this very minute – more soon!