The Mandarin Oriental by Safdie Architects Rises on Waterfront Site
Amy Duong — March 2, 2026 — Art & Design
References: greatgulf & mandarinoriental
The Mandarin Oriental is a mixed-use residential tower designed by Safdie Architects that is planned for a waterfront site in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. The project integrates high-end residential units with amenity spaces oriented toward ocean and bay views. The tower’s massing is expressed through a series of stacked and shifted volumes that create terraces and outdoor spaces for residents while allowing daylight to penetrate deep into interior common areas. The façade uses glass extensively to frame panoramic views and to reinforce a sense of connection between indoor and outdoor environments.
The residential layouts include a range of unit sizes with open living plans, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and private outdoor terraces. Shared amenities are distributed throughout the tower and include lounges, fitness areas, and landscaped terraces that take advantage of the site’s coastal climate. The design incorporates durable materials suited to the marine environment and structural planning to accommodate high wind loads typical of the region’s coastal conditions. The tower is configured to maximize views and capture prevailing breezes for natural ventilation opportunities.
Image Credit: Jorg, Great Gulf
The residential layouts include a range of unit sizes with open living plans, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and private outdoor terraces. Shared amenities are distributed throughout the tower and include lounges, fitness areas, and landscaped terraces that take advantage of the site’s coastal climate. The design incorporates durable materials suited to the marine environment and structural planning to accommodate high wind loads typical of the region’s coastal conditions. The tower is configured to maximize views and capture prevailing breezes for natural ventilation opportunities.
Image Credit: Jorg, Great Gulf
Trend Themes
1. Terraced Massing Design - A stacked-and-shifted volumetric approach that creates private terraces and deep daylight penetration, enabling novel structural systems and prefabricated terrace modules for high-rise living.
2. Panoramic Glass Façades - Extensive floor-to-ceiling glazing that frames uninterrupted ocean and bay views while demanding advanced glazing coatings and framing systems to meet marine corrosion and wind-load requirements.
3. Distributed Amenity Architecture - Amenity spaces dispersed vertically throughout the tower to enhance resident experience and prompt new service models and integrated hospitality-residential programing within a single structure.
Industry Implications
1. Coastal-resilient Materials - Materials and coatings engineered for salt-spray resistance and high-wind durability that open pathways for long-life façades and low-maintenance exterior systems in waterfront high-rises.
2. Smart Building Ventilation - Natural ventilation strategies combined with sensor-driven HVAC supplementation that create opportunities for adaptive systems optimizing energy use and indoor comfort in tall coastal towers.
3. Luxury Mixed-use Development - High-end residential projects integrated with hospitality-grade amenities that generate possibilities for blended ownership models and premium service ecosystems targeting affluent coastal markets.
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