Office to Residential Conversion Symposium
view videoCora
As part of a multibillion dollar reinvention of Water Street, SPP looked to us to create interiors that appeal to twenty- and thirty-something renters looking for a fresh and sophisticated respite in an urban setting.
All photography by Seamus Payne.
Approach/
Cora draws inspiration from Florida’s history of lush tropical escapism with maritime touches reflecting its proximity to the harbor. A palette of white, grey, and soft greens set in small scale textures plays against oak screens and warm amber accents, with details of belting leather, bullnose edges, and reflective bands.
Multifunctional spaces are geared toward both work and play, with tucked away booths dressed in marine-grade finishes, as suited to a break from the pool deck as they are to Zoom calls. Social areas range in scale from the intimate reading room with its recessed banquette facing the sunsets to the social terrace anchored by a curving bar.
Floridian Lushness/
A custom mosaic of marble and iridescent glass tiles crafted in Italy by Sicis lends a glamorous air to the reading room, intertwining with the shadows from the fronds of the plants in the room as the sun goes down. Other mosaics through the penthouse level flood rooms with subtle beige and white fans and bands drawing a focus toward the bar.
Outdoor Living/
Outfitting the rooftop garden and pool deck with the same attention to detail as the interior spaces, lounge chairs and sofas with soft forms hold up to Tampa’s intense sun while corded weaves and umbrellas keep the rain at bay. Soft rose, olive, and taupe tones play across the furniture pieces while inside the gold fluted barstools glimmer beyond large sliding doors that let the spaces flow together.
Tactile Touches/
A column in the lobby sports a padded leather wrap and rounded stone trim where passersby might brush against it, preventing damage while gradually acquiring a patina that tells the story of the building’s use. White and grey marble base clads the room, radiating out in a two tone border while a light cove behind the slatted oak screen that glows up for a dramatic appearance as you pass through to the elevator bank.
Results/
A visit to Cora showed a lobby with a constant stream of exactly the residents SPP envisioned, with a large percentage toting yoga mats, dogs, or both. Recently the Tampa Bay Times ran a piece highlighting the new wave of downtown dwellers, with Cora residents saying “It definitely feels like a dream sometimes,” and “We have everything we need right here.”
MORE CASE STUDIES
Laurel, Grand America Hotel
A modern American brasserie in a re-imagined Neoclassical space
The Elm
Creating a lifestyle to live for in a Scandinavian-inspired multifamily property
