As the economy recovers, Miami architect Chad Oppenheim is roaring back with his signature look: blue glass on white plaster rectangles. The blue on white thing is very Miamian in general of course, but if anybody really embraces that aesthetic, it's Chad. Others might like to use curves with that blue and white, but for Chad, it's always rectangular. As far as signature looks go, however, sometimes the Oppenheim aesthetic can look pretty good. He's at it again with 400 Sunny Isles, two identical 20 story residential towers on the Intracoastal Waterway with bay and ocean views, a marina, a spa, and a T-shaped infinity pool that just about wraps around both buildings. There are a few unique touches: the front entrance is a breezeway that looks right through the buildings to the bay, a dry boat storage facility is hidden behind a planted green wall, the penthouses have rooftop gardens, and there is a large sandbox next to the infinity pool (kind of like a beach... get it?). Some of the lower units have private back yards that actually look like (small) suburban back yards. Oh, and "impressive underground zen gardens of sand, stone, and crystal clear water are housed beneath a glass floor in each of the tower's private lobbies." We're not sure what that means exactly, but it could be pretty amazing, or overblown hype.
· 400 Sunny Isles [Key International]
· 400 Sunny Isles | Approved [exMiami]