Drawing from the golden age of American travel, DesignAgency realized a distinct aesthetic for The Dalmar, a premier hospitality experience in the downtown area of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

In Fort Lauderdale, The Dalmar, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, offers guests a downtown alternative to the city’s beachside destinations. DesignAgency worked with the Wurzak Hotel Group to both conceptualize the brand, the interiors, and everything from the signage to the flip-flops that can be used throughout your stay to present a unified vision of the hotel as a tropical urban oasis for where business and pleasure travelers can come together with local residents in The Dalmar’s laid back, open-air surroundings.

The design team recognized that the needs of both Fort Lauderdale travelers and local residents were evolving. The Dalmar offers a 209-room urban counterpart to conventional Fort Lauderdale beach hotels, and establishes an authentic hub within the evolving Flager Village neighbourhood.

To drive The Dalmar’s distinctive aesthetic, DesignAgency took inspiration from the golden age of American travel, drawing on a lexicon of references from South Florida and West Coast mid-century modern design elements, mixed with a contemporary perspective. On arrival, guests enter past Rose’s Coffee Bar, where large accordion folding doors blur the interior with an exterior patio whose large living wall, wood-paneled ceiling, patterned floor tiles and bucket chairs take the form of an outdoor room. Warm oak, and deep-blue porcelain geometric tiled walls softly glow from recessed lighting and custom millwork accents. Walnut pantry cupboards display coffee beans, local goods for sale, and potted plants, and a linear white marble bar grounds the composition. Guests perch at marble counters with and brass details, and sink into the sunshine-yellow mid-century modern style sofa and a pair of turquoise leather lounge chairs from which they can catch glimpses into the Terrace Grill.

The Terrace Grill feels approachable and versatile for an array of dining occasions. The soaring ground floor space was inspired by the blues of the ocean, and the greens of a hidden garden. Its centerpiece is a grand, “armoire style” oak paneled bar, topped with Calcutta marble and backed by smoked mirrors and display shelving. Materials were selected for their ability to mellow with age including oak paneling, turquoise and navy seating in leather and velvet upholstery, matched with dark oak and luminous marble tables framed with antique bronze. A large wrap around veranda with bold patterned tiles and copious potted plants captures the essence of modern classicism, mixed with a cozy familiarity that invites long afternoons of sipping rose. Guests relax into oversized armchairs while light breezes wash from the patio through this warm and welcoming milieu.

On the sixth floor, the main reception and amenity level is an airy space enlivened by a large mixed media and neon painting by Canadian artist Thrush Holmes, emerald quartzite walls and spectacular ocean views. After checking in at the sculptural white marble check-in counters, guests are drawn to the Lobby Bar, which mixes an array of tropical style references – such as terrazzo floors flecked with mother of pearl, and white concrete breeze block walls. Potted plants and palms blur the boundaries between interior and exterior.

The guest rooms and suites are calming counterpoints to the buzzy public spaces, defined by their cleanlined simplicity, earth tones and neutral finishes including natural woods and marble bathrooms, wood furnishings with ocean-blue or amber leather upholstery, and custom brass lamps and tables with grey marble tops.

The design turns progressively sophisticated as one rises to The Sparrow, Fort Lauderdale’s highest rooftop bar and restaurant on the 25th floor. Here, DesignAgency worked with New York and Los Angelesbased bar management and consulting company the Proprietors LLC to develop a concept that transports guests into a 1970s retro-inspired experience with colorful carpets, deep velvet couches, lots of greenery, marble, mirror and brass. Neon accents create a soft glow, while the dense seating clusters set the scene for luxurious and comfortable gatherings. A large wrap-around terrace with a graphic mural by Brazilianborn and South Florida-based artist, Amauri Torezan vies with panoramic city and ocean views.

Design: DesignAgency Photography: Bob Gundu

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