The Parisian interior designer behind various Cartier locations worldwide and Printemps New York talks to WWD about making her foray into the U.S.

Parisian designer Laura Gonzalez is working on her first residential development in the U.S. Slated for completion in 2030 and with prices starting at $3.9 million, the interiors of the Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami will incorporate Gonzalez’s flair and the same effortless chic style she infused into a global roster of projects that include Printemps’ first location in New York, Paris’ Saint James Hotel, and Cartier Maisons around the world.

The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami is being developed by Miami-based Swire Properties. Overall, the project includes two towers: the South Tower, with 228 residences and interiors by Parisian designer Tristan Auer, and the North Tower, home to Mandarin Oriental’s new North American flagship hotel, alongside 70 private residences designed by Gonzalez.

In terms of design features, Gonzalez told WWD she wanted to spark joy within each space, and adopted organic textures and soft, curving forms.

“It’s a mix of the sort of design and quietness and hospitality you find in Asia, as Mandarin is an Asian brand with a strong DNA. It’s a quiet and soft space mixing with some statement pieces, some organic shapes, some Miami vibe, but in a very subtle fashion…not very strong,” she said.

Paris-based Gonzalez, who also has a gallery in New York City, has been a recurring figure in hospitality. In February 2024, she teamed up with Dries Van Noten and creative director Oliver Leone for the interiors of Paris’ Hotel Hana. The boutique property pairs traditional Belle Epoque architecture with Japanese minimalism, filtered through a fashion lens. 

Still in its early stages, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami has echoed worldwide, resonating with a fashionable following. Last month, designer Jason Wu told WWD he partnered with the property for bespoke uniforms for the property’s sales pavilion.

The collaboration also highlights the fashion and luxury design’s growing interest in taking a bite of the high-end and branded real estate market, of which Miami has become a major hub. Miami represents one of the top U.S. markets for luxury design and furniture, while the city and Florida’s east coast have become a major hot spot for branded real estate projects.

Fendi Casa will debut Avenia Interiors by Fendi Casa, a 22-apartment residential complex in nearby Aventura, Fla., by the first half of 2027. In 2024, Armani Group unveiled plans for oceanfront property Armani/Casa Residences on Pompano Beach, which is north of Miami.

A recent report by market research firm Intel Market said the global luxury real estate market was valued at $903.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2032, registering a compound annual growth rate of 4.5 percent over the forecast period 2024-32. Earlier this year, hospitality.net said that branded residences market has grown a staggering 176 percent in the last decade. Almost 690 projects are in operation and 617 more are set to launch by 2030.

Gonzalez, too, said the residential facet of her own business is booming and now represents one-fourth of the total, in addition to the restaurant venues, retail spaces, scenography, as well as the design furniture, lighting and decor she designs. “I have a mix of requests. I’m doing a lot of private residences for private clients. So we are doing a lot of houses all over the world, from Italy to the U.S. and in Miami, everywhere.”

Read the Full Article HERE.