When Joie de Vivre, the boutique lifestyle hotel brand from San Francisco-based Commune Hotels & Resorts, opens its first East Coast hotel – The Hall – late summer, it will introduce a distinctly fresh approach to South Beach hospitality. Hallmarked by playful design elements and experiences grounded in local discoveries, Joie de Vivre Hotels’ vision for The Hall is no exception. With its main entrance located at 15th Street and Collins, the 164-room boutique hotel is enviably nestled between the charming and historic Española Way and 16th Street – a stone’s throw from the beach, Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road, and the Miami Beach Convention Center.
The distinctly bohemian hotel features three buildings, including its namesake – the historic Art Deco landmark, Haddon Hall, designed by world-renowned architect L. Murray Dixon. The newly-renovated, three-story buildings are seamlessly connected via colorful pathways to create an inviting, beachside village, chock-full of unexpected places of discovery. Set on a lush and verdant 1.4-acre playground, The Hall features an Olympic-sized pool flanked by chic cabanas, and a backyard bar and outdoor lounge with a colossal banyan tree as its centerpiece.
To help bring The Hall’s lively and eclectic personality to life, Joie de Vivre Hotels has collaborated with multi-talented designer Robert McKinley (The Surf Lodge, Ruschmeyer’s) to create a hotel immersed in Tropical Modernism, reflective of the brand’s relaxed California roots. To convey this same spirit from a culinary perspective, the team has tapped star chef and restaurateur Spike Mendelsohn (Good Stuff Eatery, We, The Pizza, Béarnaise) to shape The Hall’s food and bar offerings.
“Robert and Spike are both avid surfers who share a deep appreciation for beach life, as well as a passion for Miami Beach and its rich history,” said Caroline Dyal, General Manager of The Hall. “While they are responsible for different aspects of the hotel experience, everything has come together so seamlessly; we couldn’t have asked for better creative partners to bring the spirit of The Hall to life.”
DESIGN THAT COMBINES AUTHENTIC HERITAGE WITH A CONTEMPORARY EDGE
For design inspiration, Robert McKinley immersed himself in the area’s 1960s beach culture, as well as that of other iconic beach destinations across the Caribbean and Latin America – including Rio, Montego Bay, and Havana – to source the hotel’s furnishings, fabrics, color palettes, design schemes, artwork, and more. He paired this inspired approach to the hotel’s design with edgy and more contemporary pieces to update and complement the classic 1940s retreat. The result is 164 newly-renovated guestrooms washed in refreshing shades of mint green and tropical orange, complete with original hardwood flooring. All rooms will feature custom and reclaimed furnishings, such as wire mesh night tables; lacquer case goods in pastel green; salmon-colored louvered doors; and vivid artwork of palm trees, surfers and beach waves by famed photographer Scott Rudin. Each room evokes the feel of a cozy beach bungalow.
“The Hall speaks to a youthful and bold generation that has a deep appreciation for the heritage and tradition of an older culture but that is equally passionate about contemporary experiences and design,” said Robert McKinley, Principal of Robert McKinley Creative Services. “This was our guiding vision for The Hall, and through this interesting juxtaposition of new and old – infused with all things beach – we have created an experience that is in a class of its own.”
For the common areas and dining spaces, Robert McKinley eschewed all formality and prescribed spaces, opting instead for a fluid layout, which beckons guests to partake in the hotel’s live-in-the-moment vibe. Each space is intended to evolve and blend with the current mood or time of day. For instance, at Campton Yard, the hotel’s backyard bar and outdoor lounge area, guests can kick back over a craft beer just as easily as they can play a game of bocce ball as the day transitions to night. The rough-hewn space – anchored by a larger-than-life banyan tree – will be casually outfitted with tree-hung string lights, social games, and picnic tables, offering patrons a backyard hangout-style environment with a tropical touch.
BIG ON TASTE, NOT ON PRETENSE
Classically-trained chef Spike Mendelsohn, of Top Chef acclaim, will not only open his first-ever outpost in Miami, but will also introduce a fresh concept to his portfolio. Sunny’s – named lovingly after Spike’s grandfather with a nod to Miami’s sun-drenched beaches – will be a casual courtyard eatery inspired by classic seaside cafes and beach bars from around the world. Designed by Robert McKinley, Sunny’s will blend rustic elements and the tropics with natural, hand-crafted wood tables, all-weather chairs made from reclaimed rebar, and a Florida keystone main countertop. Sunny’s is true to its South Beach location and casual vibe. The restaurant takes its inspiration from beach cultures experienced by Spike throughout his travels. It will welcome all guests to enjoy a delicious, relaxed meal however they please – whether in flip flops while returning from the beach, or dressed up for a night out.
The breakfast, all-day and dinner menus will feature Spike’s reinterpretations of classic favorites he’s enjoyed while traveling, featuring options such as Gulf Coast Grilled Grouper “Reuben” made with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, Thousand Island and Cajun seasoning on marble rye; the Lifeguard Focaccia Myrtos Beach-Style made with ripe cherry tomatoes, feta, dried oregano, Greek olive oil on sea-soaked bread; and the Jersey Shore Pork Roll Breakfast Sandwich created with ham, American cheese, a sunny-side up egg and root vegetables on a bulky roll. Spike has also created a menu that will be served at Campton Yard, premiering with made-to-order brick-oven pizzas. The menu will change seasonally to feature selections that reflect Spike’s current inspirations, travels and cravings.
“Some of the best meals I recall, both as a child and adult, were those devoured after a long day at the beach,” said Spike. “There is something about pulling up to a snack shack with wrinkled fingertips, salty hair, and a soggy beach towel and biting into a mouth-watering lobster roll that leaves you feeling absolutely sated and complete, as if your day has somehow come full circle. This is precisely the ethos behind all dining concepts at The Hall.”
The Hall is slated to open in late Summer 2015. For more information please visit www.jdvhotels.com.