Nestled on tropical Belle Island, the easternmost island of the Venetian Island chain in Miami Beach, Bella Isla is an exceptional development. Achieving LEED Gold accreditation, the project reveals what is possible in tropical, multi-family living. Harmonizing modern architecture with wild nature, this 5-story low-rise prioritizes its surroundings. This 3.5 acres site provides residents with an impossibly tranquil respite, somehow sitting only a short walk from the bustling, world famous “South Beach” neighborhood to which it belongs.

It is this juxtaposition between the bustling city and an ecology-first design that gives residents pause. The design encourages contemplation of the history of its environment. Before Henry Flager brought the railroad to South Florida and the Everglades were drained, before the ancient Mangrove Forest was filled to create the island we know as Miami Beach, this barrier island was a unique and vibrant ecosystem. The Everglades sits to the west, the Atlantic Ocean sits to the east. This story is the basis of the design.

The fourth level is an Everglades-themed intensive green roof which brings life to the parking structure below. Planter walls are made with locally-sourced Oolitic limestone. Its plant palette mimics the everglades: Bald Cypress and Buttonwood trees, Royal, Sabal, and Paurotis Palms, Red Mangroves, and an assortment of native shrubs. A “river of grass” water feature relaxes with sound at multiple spill locations and is completed with water lilies and other aquatic plants. The river crosses the deck and funnels towards the lower levels where a transition is made from an everglades-theme to a coastal-theme. Just as the Everglades makes its way to the ocean, so does the design.

A public baywalk pulls the same naturalistic, amorphic geometry from within the property and uses it to meander along the entire frontage of Biscayne Bay, allowing visitors to explore a verdant, coastal-themed garden and enjoy views of the water. This waterfront is planted for resiliency. The salt-tolerant coastal plant palette will tolerate the salt spray, king-tides, and the occasional storm surge. Seagrapes, Buttonwoods, Keys Thatch palms, and Wild Cinnamonbark love the sun and the heat. Sabal Palms thrive along the coast as well as the Everglades and unify the entire site. To mitigate sea-level rise, the central grade and buildings were elevated 7’ during construction. A central sunbathing area houses the lagoon pool and spa. It suggests an elevated dune as it is covered in Cordgrass, Sea Oats, Railroad Vines, and Beach Creeper, and it slopes down to the baywalk below. White concrete paving paints the illusion of a white sand beach, while local Keystone flagstone is intentionally interspersed, bearing ancient coral and crustaceans. It is particularly spectacular to view the paving and planter designs from the rooftop terraces above. The geometry is organic and mingles with the abundant vegetation.