You don’t have to go to Miami, Fla., anymore to experience South Beach.
A new complex by Amexon Development Corporation aims to bring the beach experience northbound, with South Beach Condos + Lofts, located at Park Lawn Road and Lakeshore Boulevard in Etobicoke, Ont.
“We wanted to bring that flair here to Etobicoke, with the same Art Deco concept, that Miami flair, the bright colours, the linear lines — we took a lot of those features and brought them over here,” said Jason Shiff, executive sales manager for the development.
Shiff said the complex will emulate Ocean Drive in South Beach, with 16,000 sq. ft. of retail space that will sport a café, gourmet restaurant and spa, and 40,000 sq. ft. of amenities, including basketball and squash courts, a cabana-surrounded outdoor pool and a juice bar.
“We saw all the hotels and shops on Ocean Drive and wanted to do something similar here,” he said. “Nothing like this has ever been done before.”
To outfit its interior, Amexon recruited designer Dan Menchions and his team at the design firm he co-founded, II BY IV Design Associates Inc.
“We went down to Miami to experience nightlife, dining, entertainment, hotels, the retail avenue of it, the Deco-style buildings and the wonderful entertainment quality that South Beach has to offer,” said Menchions.
The result takes shape in suites with a similar design aesthetic, but with very different colour palettes to suit a cross-section of prospective residents.
“The Biltmore is almost entry level. It’s a lot more casual in its environment and more loft-like in feeling,” he said of the lighter-coloured model with a heightened bookshelf to match its high ceilings. “The finishing is a lot more casual and it’s a little bit more playful and youthful in its environment.”
Alternatively, the Collins model contains ample blacks and golds, with distinctly geometric furniture and fixtures. “We wanted to do something a little more sophisticated and true to the Deco period, with the very high contrast in finishes,” said Menchions.
Suites at South Beach Condos + Lofts range from 454 to 2,000 square feet. Prices start at $188,000 and surpass $1 million. For more information, visit southbeachtoronto.com or call 416-252-3000.
