World-Renowned Architect Brings Coastal Vision to St. Petersburg
Introducing 400 Central’s Bernardo Fort-Brescia
Behind the Design of the Residences at 400 Central
The Residences at 400 Central is set to become the jewel of the St. Petersburg skyline thanks to the innovative vision of Arquitectonica’s Bernardo Fort-Brescia. The 46-story tower broke ground in the heart of downtown this past October and will cover the full 400 block of Central Avenue. The developer behind 400 Central, New York’s Red Apple Real Estate, has enlisted a team of globally respected industry experts to bring the Residences to life. Miami-based world-renowned architecture firm Arquitectonica led by Principal Bernardo Fort-Brescia was among the first tapped to bring 400 Central from concept to design and into fruition.
The City on the Water
When presented with the opportunity to design the Residences at 400 Central, Fort-Brescia scouted the location for creative inspiration. What he found was a coastal city, surrounded by water. “When you look from the sky at this region of St. Petersburg, all you see is the way land meets water,” Fort-Brescia said. “Water is an important factor in the design of our building.” Arquitectonica felt it was important to convey a sense of being on the Bay, incorporating nautical flowing forms into the round, cornerless design.
“Paying homage to its coastal surroundings, the building is a form of nautical architecture expressed as part of the sky. The tower is placed at an angle to the street to create vibrant open spaces and capture dramatic vistas of the bay.” Fort-Brescia not only sought out a seamless, fluid design for the residents of 400 Central, but for the skyline as well. “Drawing inspiration from the marine surroundings, the rounded form of the building ensures it will never meet the sky with a hard edge — blending seamlessly and changing with the sun throughout the day, adding a dynamic display of light and shadow to the skyline of St. Petersburg.”
Award-Winning Arquitectonica Tapped to Design Tower
Principals Bernardo Fort-Brescia and Laurinda Spear founded Arquitectonica in 1977 and the firm quickly received critical acclaim for its work revitalizing Miami, FL with humanistic modern design. Now an international architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and urban planning corporation, Arquitectonica has received hundreds of design honors and awards, exhibitions, and distinctions, and has earned its reputation as one of the pioneers of globalization in architecture, with projects in nearly sixty countries around the world. Arquitectonica’s best-in-class luxury residential towers include the Testimonio in Monaco, Porta Nuova Varesine in Milan, Mount Parker Residences in Hong Kong, the Ritz Carlton Residences in Sunny Isles, and Oceana Bal Harbour. Other well-known projects include Microsoft’s Europe Headquarters in Paris, the Bronx Museum in New York, Festival Walk and the Cyberport Technology Campus in Hong Kong, the International Finance Center in Seoul, and the American Airlines Arena in Miami. The Residences at 400 Central will bring with it Bernardo Fort-Brescia’s prestigious and innovative design and will rise as the tallest residential building on Florida’s west coast.
A Monument, an Icon to the City of St. Petersburg
The Residences at 400 Central will soar 515 feet above downtown St. Petersburg’s vibrant Central Avenue, capturing breathtaking views from Tampa Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. Floor-to-ceiling windows and large sliding glass doors lead to wrap-around terraces, allowing for St. Petersburg’s expansive, glittering water views to flow freely throughout the Residences.
