GLOBAL LUXURY SUPER-BRAND MANDARIN ORIENTAL’S LATEST RESIDENTIAL PROJECT REACHES FOR THE STARS IN MIAMI’S BRICKELL KEY ENCLAVE, CROWNED BY A DAZZLING JEWEL BOX PENTHOUSE THAT FEELS LIKE A CASTLE IN THE CLOUDS
BY AMANDA McCOY
In the late 1800s, oil magnate Henry Flagler dredged a channel into the Miami River to support his ships entering Miami Harbor, leaving a pair of islands that would later combine to form Brickell Key. Over a century later, this lush 44-acre waterfront neighborhood boasts one of the finest stretches of real estate in the city, with a line of luxury high-rises reaching toward the sky, offering staggering views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. The island’s southernmost tip, today a shady crop of palms and sea grape trees, will soon welcome the Key’s crown jewel property, a pair of flashy high-rises from Mandarin Oriental’s Residences collection.
The first property from the ultra-luxury hospitality group dates back to 1963, when The Mandarin rose in Hong Kong, the tallest building in the city at the time. (To date, Mandarin Oriental operates 41 hotels across 26 countries.) Its first residential endeavor landed in New York City in 2003, marking the brand’s entry into the high-end home market, and today 12 residential towers along with 26 freestanding estates reside in global power-cities, from Muscat to Macau and Bangkok to Barcelona.
In 2024, the group announced its plans for a North American expansion, planting footprints in Puerto Rico, Boca Raton, Mexico, and Grand Cayman. But first, its anchor and flagship offering will rise in Miami.
Developed by Swire Properties and set to break ground early next year with a 2029 completion in sight, the Mandarin Oriental Residences Miami will comprise two towers: North and South, connected by a leafy platform with 80,000 square feet of lavish amenities and community spaces. The South Tower will debut first, hosting 228 two-, three-, and four-bedroom super-homes, plus a pair of duplex penthouses dripping in depth and dazzle. Parisian design star Tristan Auer, a Maison & Object Designer of the Year winner, was tasked with conceptualizing the interiors, lending his eclectic art de vivre signature to the contemporary residences. Each home will be lined by floor-to-ceiling windows to bathe the interiors in the Florida sun, while spacious balconies offer private escapes amid the Miami bustle.
Auer’s vision is a masterstroke in crafting rich, vibrant living spaces that feel sleek and contemporary yet full of life. The palette is soft and neutral – a perfect complement to the blues and greens of the Miami landscape – and a range of stones, textiles, and woods mix and mingle for texture and depth.
Long-thread rugs, for instance, rest atop light-finish wood floors to create warmth, while hand-crafted stone vanities are juxtaposed by custom dark-wood cabinetry. Custom lighting by Speirs Major illuminates the stage.
“Materials such as silver traver tine, wood flooring, rare marbles, and woven leather speak to the values I try to bring to every project,” noted Auer of his inspiration behind the project. “The concept of living in Florida, with its indoor/outdoor lifestyle, was important to consider. I designed the spaces to connect visually and physically to the outdoors.”
Kitchens sparkle with bespoke Italian cabinetry by Molteni&C, Gaggenau appliances, and Dornbracht fixtures, and feature large center islands, separate breakfast nooks, wine storage, and espresso machines. Bathrooms are stunningly outfitted, boasting Duravit soaking tubs, glossy marble floors, backlit mirrors, and dedicated water closets.
Each unit is accessible via a private elevator, welcoming denizens home to their palace in the sky. All homes will feature private open-air terraces, while select addresses add luxuries like infrared saunas, outdoor bars, libraries, and plunge pools. At the crown of the tower sits the exclusive penthouse collection, with two duplexes that can be purchased as a single unit. The finish is immaculate; expect sprawling outdoor infinity pools, towering 30-foot double-height great rooms, curved stairwells crafted from exotic wood, and a sky cabana that can be converted into an additional bedroom.
The North Tower will house the group’s newest hotel along with 28 turnkey hotel residences, 64 private homes, and two penthouses, all designed by Laura Gonzalez. Residents of both towers will have access to the property’s massive 100,000-square-foot multi-tiered amenities podium, featuring a full-service wellness center, gardens and leafy pathways by Thai landscaping firm Shma, a tea pavilion, yoga lawn, hammock forest, golf simulator, and multiple pool decks for drinking in the Miami sunshine.
There will be a suite of culinary experiences, including a wine cellar, private dining room, sunny bar, and fine-dining pavilion all reserved exclusively for residents. Denizens can also feast in the hotel’s restaurants and bars, including a rooftop cocktail lounge and outdoor dining terrace, plus a cake shop and fresh herb garden.
Mandarin Oriental Residences Miami