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Earth-Minded: Green-Friendly Designs By OBR Clients

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Earth Day is celebrated yearly around the world on April 22. The event, which was first celebrated in 1970, supports initiatives aimed at protecting our environment. Architects and designers play a major role in creating built environments that honor and preserve our environment.

On this Earth Day, we’re highlighting our clients’ projects that take into consideration our environment when designing projects across the world.

Tenerife Cruise Terminal

Designed by Berenblum Busch Architects, the Tenerife Cruise Terminal in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, was designed to be a state-of-the art passenger terminal. An adaptive re-use project, the new terminal became the first building to obtain the European Class A Highest Energy Savings Classification in Tenerife. BBA’s design of the terminal reduced the CO2 emissions by 60 percent, and 100,000 Euros in annual electrical savings.

6480 Allison Road Residence

This waterfront Miami Beach residence is yet another stunner designed by Choeff Levy Fischman. One breathtaking feature of the design is the open atrium with two 20-foot living walls. The atrium allows direct views to the water and the living areas from the interior open kitchen. When all sliding walls are open, the kitchen has direct connection through the residence to the exterior features and views taking full advantage of South Florida’s tropical climate.

Midtown 29

The 309-unit Midtown 29 is designed by architecture and design firm, Stantec. The residential building was awarded LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for its sustainable design and environmental performance. Midtown 29 achieved this classification by including green features like Nest® thermostats, solar shades, LED lighting throughout, energy-efficient appliances, electric car charging stations, recycling in every floor, living green walls, low VOC paints and reclaimed wood.

Solitair Brickell

The latest luxury high-rise gracing Miami’s evolving skyline, Solitair Brickell was designed by Stantec. Solitair was created with environmental concerns in mind and has received Silver certification by the National Green Building Standard (NGBS). The design and orientation avoid direct sunlight and solar radiation. Interior materials, such as paint, carpets, adhesives and sealants are low emitting to maintain optimum indoor air. Green features, such as low VOC paints, recycled glass, wood and quartz were used throughout the interior of the building.

Aviation Resource Group

Designed by Miami Beach-based architecture and design firm, KoDA, the new headquarters for Aviation Resource Group brings nature into the workplace. The design of the 3,300 square foot office connects and enhances the abundance of existing sub-tropical landscape. A combination of Gumbo Limbo trees and century-old Oaks contrast the building’s rigid, steel structure.

Architect Wesley Kean of KoDA, Shares His Big Idea That Might Change The World With Authority Magazine

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Big ideas are hard to come by, especially ones that have the potential to change the world.

KoDA architects and designers are experts in connecting architecture with nature and finding radical solutions to sea-level rise and other environmental concerns. KoDA’s Principal and Founder Wesley Kean believes that the use of Metabolist principles can change the narrative on sea level rise from one of fear to one of opportunity. This design approach is the award-winning architect’s “Big Idea That Might Change The World In The Next Few Years.”

As a part of my series about “Big Ideas That Might Change The World In The Next Few Years” I had the pleasure of interviewing Wesley Kean. Wesley is an architect, Principal & Founder of Miami Beach-based KoDA.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I found my passion for architecture at a young age in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire where I grew up. I learned the tools of the trade from my father, a builder and carpenter, who remains a key influence in my work today. My father used to say, “measure twice, cut once!” and I apply the same philosophy to design today. I measure using analysis of site, program, and culture and evolve the ideas into architecture. In my opinion, skipping past the measuring phase would yield a completely meaningless architecture. While studying architecture, I learned that it was more than a construction and development industry, but that it can actually impact lives on a broader scale. I’ve understood the weight of responsibility that comes with design and its impact on our communities. The fact that ideas have the power to change the world, is what gets me up and excited to go to work every day.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

My firm KoDA was asked to design a project in a very controversial location in Miami. Controversial because of its location within a public park, which carried with it political, environmental, historical and cultural pressure. We approached the design first by evaluating the viewpoints of each of these individual stakeholders and then re-built the design concept up from there. The result became an iconic symbol for the city in which the Mayor came to the City Commission meeting to personally speak on behalf of the project calling it “iconic” for the City. It was very inspiring to see the profound positive impact an idea about a structure can have on a community.

Can you tell us about your “Big Idea That Might Change The World”?

There has been some recent momentum on the discussion of sea level rise in the world. More often than not, however, the conversation turns apocalyptic very quickly. After all, this is an overwhelming subject and one with myriad physical, emotional and political challenges that force many to avoid the topic altogether. Most of the discourse among architects, planners and stakeholders revolves around ideas about sustainability and resiliency. However, we need to also be thinking about transformation, adaptation and preservation.

Read the full interview on Authority Magazine.

Wesley Kean Tells Indulge The Story Behind His Latest KoDA Design, Apizza Brooklyn

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Photo By: Nick Garcia

Award-winning architecture and design firm, KoDA, practices design with ambition for its clients  and optimism for the world. Led by Principal and Founder Wesley Kean, he uses analysis and research to inform create the design of distinctive buildings, landscapes, interiors and experiences.

One of KoDA’s recent projects, the new Apizza Brooklyn restaurant in Coral Gables, is perhaps a perfect illustration of the firm’s research-based design process. Kean and his associates took on quite a bit of in-depth analysis, diving deep into the company’s brand and figuring out how the firm could communicate that vision through spatial configurations, materials and menu design. KoDA even read the restaurant’s online reviews.

“This process allowed us to distill the brand down to its essence, and build and evolve it back into the space,” Kean said.

Their findings led them straight to a familiar icon.

“The brand is very tied to New York, so we spent a lot of time evaluating the city,” Kean said. “The instinct is to jump to subway tile or brick, but we took a step back and asked ourselves, ‘What’s truly synonymous with New York?’ And we just knew we had to go with a scaffolding concept.”

To read more on Kean and his process of design, visit INDULGE Miami.

KoDA-Designed Armazem Showroom Celebrates Grand Opening

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Armazem Design, located in the DCOTA building in Dania Beach, celebrated the opening of their new showroom on January 17th.  Designed by architecture and design firm KoDA, the 6,000 square foot space leaves behind conventional showroom designs and creates an environment where customers feel at home. Armazem offers high-end home décor items, furniture and architectural products such as Bontempo, Itaca, Foscarini, Schuster and Adielle.

KoDA used subtle materials such as polished concrete and white museum-like walls to create a canvas for Armazem’s rich furniture and millwork. Texture was achieved through the use of light and shadow and pops of color highlight accents within the space. In addition to showcasing products, the new showroom also serves as an office space with glass-cubed conference rooms reserved for interactive and comprehensive design workshops.