In the Miami Design District, where bons vivants linger amidst upscale shops and renowned restaurants and where art and design enthusiasts enjoy museums, exhibition galleries and iconic works of architecture (including Fly's Eye Dome, the prototype of the "autonomous living machine" designed by Buckminster Fuller in 1965 and recreated here in its entirety in 2012), a new destination adds fuel to the neighbourhood's vibrant energy: it is The Moore, a historic complex that over time has contributed to shaping the aesthetics and sophisticated character of the district.
The neoclassical building, built in the 1920s at the time of the real estate boom by the tycoon David P. Davis and located at the intersection of NE 40th Street and NE 2nd Avenue, was among the first in the United States to serve as a showroom and warehouse for household furnishings (by the firm Moore and Sons). Now operated by the Woodhouse hotel group, the owner commissioned the ICRAVE and Studio-Collective studios with the renovation project, with the aim of transforming the building into a highly attractive new multi-functional hub, open to the community by the autumn of 2024.
The approximately 8,360 square metre complex consists of two structures on four floors and comprises a variety of functions reflecting the area's vibrant character: a restaurant, a private club, a hotel, office and event spaces, a hotel and an art gallery.
The “Elastika” restaurant on the ground floor, designed by ICRAVE, welcomes the public in a flowing, radiant ambience, punctuated by green velvet furnishings that brighten up the ambience with a lively chromatic note. Here, hanging permanently above the full-height interior courtyard, stands "Elastika", the fluid sculpture by Zaha Hadid commissioned by Craig Robins (visionary co-founder of Design Miami), which gives the restaurant its name.
On the first level the private club spaces, designed by ICRAVE and Studio Collective, welcome guests into soft, refined atmospheres where art and design concur in paying homage to the history of the building and in re-proposing regional and Latin American warmth and materiality. Authentic traditional accessories, decorations and furniture combine with contemporary custom-made furniture elements: from the tables and rugs designed by Studio Collective, to the handmade teak chairs and oversized sofas in the lounge area; to the terrazzo floor (a tribute to Miami's historic Art Deco past) in dialogue with the large abstract mural that envelops the space filled with colourful artwork, luminous mirrors and neutral-toned furnishings, in the dining room; to the contemporary artwork inspired by the area's typical pineapple plantations, in the intimate La Piña room.
On the third floor, “The Workplace at The Moore”, designed by ICRAVE, offers private offices, coworking spaces and event rooms, where the rich textures and decorative motifs of the furniture and finishes give the space a warm, full-bodied Latin flavour.
On the fourth floor, visitors are welcomed to “The Gallery at The Moore”, a private exhibition and event space overlooking the central courtyard, and to “The Hotel at The Moore” designed by Studio Collective that offers an oasis of relaxation and comfort and an escape from the metropolitan hustle and bustle through its 15 suites, where the custom-made furniture designed by Studio Collective draws inspiration from the rich South American culture.
A multifaceted place where the pleasures of life are injected with intellectual nourishment.
