Tour a Posh Miami Beach Penthouse That Feels Like a Beachside Bungalow

Once the headquarters of the Miami Heart Institute, the interconnected highrises that now house The Ritz-Carlton Miami Beach Residences (after a transformation by Italian architect Piero Lissoni) have earned a reputation as some of the sexiest luxury residences in Miami Beach. This spectacular penthouse spans over 9,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor space atop the former hospital and offers a new definition of luxurious waterfront living, thanks to designer-to-the-stars Catalina Echavarria of CEU Studio (an interior design and custom furniture firm with A-list clients like Cher, Shakira and Donna Karan).

How did Catalina turn businesslike concrete spaces into a tropical wonderland? “I think we homed in on how the Balinese design their homes,” she explains. “It’s a sensory experience with a total respect for space and the elements. The architecture of the building is by one of the best architects in the world, so we kept in line with that level of integrity and excellence inside the residence and focused on sight and touch. We ethically sourced one-of-a-kind pieces that were simply extraordinary, with natural textures and carved or woven by hand by the best artisans in the world. The furniture is bold and monumental yet warm and welcoming at the same time.”

Neutral, oversized seating provides instant all-weather luxury — and cultivates a spa-like sense of calm — in this plush gathering spot. “We chose our Cubo sofas for the exterior space because we wanted to create a moment that was inviting, comfortable and clean,” Catalina says. "This piece is ideal for adding to that narrative because of the level of comfort it offers — the moment you sit on [it] you feel like you are in a cloud and an immediate sense of relaxation flows through you. Combine that feeling with the breeze that flows through the space and the endless picturesque views and there’s a total moment of tranquility, serenity and pause.”

Catalina had a rough idea of how she would anchor this portion of the home, but the piece she ultimately deployed came her way through a stroke of serendipity. “When we were working on the initial design of the project, we always thought about including a long table in this space but the look and feel of it wasn’t yet determined,” she recalls. “Coincidentally (or not), an artisan that I have been working with for over 15 years called me to say she was finally going to sell a slab of wood that I had had my eye on for a very long time. In Indonesia slabs of wood are considered family heirlooms which they pass on from generation to generation and sell them only for a special reason — this was for her daughter’s wedding. I immediately knew this was going to be a statement piece and ideal for this project.”

“The views in this penthouse are incredible, but the design here allows people to become part of that picture through the senses — you can touch the sky, see the water, feel the breeze, swing on a hammock and hear the grass rustling, feel the sun on your skin as your sit on a bench,” Catalina says. “It is a holistic, spiritual and wholesome experience, and that is my favorite part of the design in this space.”