CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY ON THE BOTANICAL-SHEATHED, ULTRA-LUXE LIFESTYLE COMPLEX ONE BEVERLY HILLS, AND AT ITS HEART LIES AMAN’S FIRST WEST COAST INSTALLMENT, FEATURING A DAZZLING ALL-SUITE HOTEL, RECORD-BREAKING PRIVATE RESIDENCES, AND MASSIVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS CLUB

BY AMANDA McCOY

In July 2021, following an initial unveiling the previous summer, real estate development firms Alagem Capital Group and Cain International released plans for the newly green-lit One Beverly Hills, an ambitious 17.5-acre mega-project set to transform the site of a former Robinsons-May department store on Wilshire Boulevard into a dreamy urban sanctuary. It’s a $10 billion undertaking, touted as “one of the largest and most environmentally advanced private real estate development projects” in the country (per the developers), and the renderings painted the scene in stunning shades of shiny metal, raw stone, and verdant green. Anchored by a lush living terrarium designed by L.A.-based landscaping firm RIOS, the lavish lifestyle district will feature a collective of designer boutiques, buzzy restaurants, high-rolling residences, and swanky hotels. One of the most intriguing entries is Aman, making its West Coast debut with an all-suite, five-star hotel, private residences, and the hospitality luminary’s first standalone Aman Club.

Aman’s first resort debuted in Thailand in 1988, set along the lush western edge of the island of Phuket, and since then the ultra-luxe hospitality brand has grown its portfolio to 36 properties across 20 countries, with several more in the pipeline, including Dubai, Singapore, Mozambique, and the Maldives. It’s amassed a cult following among tycoons, socialites, and A-listers, from Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg to George Clooney and the Kardashians. Currently, stateside travelers with high taste can bask in the Aman experience at three U.S. properties Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, in the foothills of the Tetons in Wyoming, and under the desert sky in Utah and as of next year, both Beverly Hills and Miami will be joining the fold.

“Aman Group’s strategy is to bring the brand’s coveted resort experiences to urban destinations,” noted Vlad Doronin, Aman’s CEO. “The announcement of Aman Beverly Hills further demonstrates our commitment to this strategy and long-term vision. Staying true to our DNA and the revered Aman lifestyle, Aman Beverly Hills, nestled in its expansive botanical gardens, captures the legacy and heritage of Aman while connecting our guests with fascinating urban environments.”

Tucked into the vines of native flora, Aman Beverly Hills will feature 78 suites along with a limited collection of private residences spread across two towers. Kerry Hill Architects took the lead on design, crafting spaces that seamlessly mingle with the flourishing gardens. The facade, for instance, was modeled after Asian design principles with a California brushstroke, featuring a warm, sandy palette of limestone, timber, and stone. Terraces are sumptuous and spacious, perfect for lapping up Southern California breezes amid a canvas of organic greens, and finished with a private pool to take advantage of L.A.’s iconic sunshine. These terraces will also be dressed in live greenery, featuring a variety of tropical trees and overhanging plants that feel as though the development’s botanical gardens are climbing from the grounds up toward the sky.

The bright, open theme spills into the interiors as well, every inch drenched in views through floor-to-ceiling windows and doors. Raw, natural materials create texture and dimension, while the neutral color palette offers softness and serenity. Details on the size of the hotel suites have yet to be disclosed as of press time, but the residences will range from 3,100-square-foot dual-bedroom homes to massive 25,000-square-foot penthouses. Ownership will be hyper exclusive, as the starting price for a two-bed room unit rings in at a record-shattering $20 million, an average cost of $7,000 per square foot.

The concept will also include the Aman Club, a stunning 100,000-square-foot health and wellness destination with dining options, a spa, cultural experiences, fitness programming, and more.

The larger One Beverly Hills development will also offer a robust services menu for its uber high-net worth denizens, including climate controlled car vaults for their exotic toys along with a calendar of high profile cultural events, all while reducing environmental impact via a slate of sustainability initiatives like geothermal energy systems and greywater recycling for the botanical gardens. The complex is billed as a “green gateway” to the 90210 in both heart and hue, with its sights set on achieving LEED Platinum, WELL, and Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions certifications. In addition to the Aman trio, expect equally extolled neighboring brands that include the existing Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and The Beverly Hilton hotels, plus Dolce & Gabbana, Casa Tua Cucina, and the London-based Mexican-Japanese restaurant Los Mochis.

Aman Beverly Hills
One Beverly Hills
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