Just six months since our last update, and work has now been completed at the site of SLS Brickell, the Arquitectonica-designed hotel and residence developed respectively by sbe Entertainment and The Related Group. Today a colourful new addition to the Miami skyline, the 450-unit residential tower is poised above a 132-room hotel. The 52-storey mixed-use development is ideally situated along South Miami Avenue, in the heart of the trendy Brickell district, just south of downtown and within easy reach of Miami Beach. 

SLS Brickell, with Markus Linnenbrink-designed public art component, image by Forum contributor PhillipPessar

Viewed above, the now complete Markus Linnenbrink-designed public art component, created as a large "drip painting," covers the bulk of the attached eight-storey hotel, the strikingly colourful 40,000-square-foot mural is a signature piece of the SLS Brickell's identity. Capped with a beautiful outdoor rooftop terrace complete with an infinity pool, cabanas, and full-service bar, the hotel component sets the tone for the larger residential tower. Residents of both will benefit from the upgraded amenities on offer, including access to valet parking, a fitness centre, lounge, and grand ballroom for special events. 

SLS Residences tower rising above the SLS Hotel, image by Forum contributor PhillipPessar

Featuring a diagonally descending series of balcony bump-outs designed to give residents a prime waterfront view while preserving a modicum of neighbourly privacy, the exterior of the tower portion has a distinctive look, echoing in many ways some of the architectural cues common during the bygone era of Miami Modern. Viewed below, public art installations have become a theme here, with the entrance to the SLS Residences adorned with a troupe of dancing stickmen. 

Dancing Stickmen, SLS Residences, image by Forum contributor PhillipPessar

The project is equipped with a lobby and restaurant created by French designer Philippe Starck. The latter offers a five-star dining experience compliments of internationally acclaimed chefs José Andrés, Katsuya Uechi, and Michael Schwartz. Below, yet another public art installation can be seen, the statue adorning the steps of the SLS Hotel.

Statue on the steps of the SLS Hotel, image by Forum contributor PhillipPessar

Now complete, the SLS Brickell Hotel and Residences have been selling fast, with the hotel reportedly taking reservations months in advance of its opening earlier this month. Part of the ongoing redevelopment of the Brickell district, the SLS Brickell is a welcome addition to the neighbourhood, and the distinctive development is now a staple showpiece of the Miami skyline.

For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.