Designing a Legacy: Reimagining The Shelborne with ADC & Tuneu

The Shelborne has stood on Miami Beach’s iconic oceanfront since the 1940s, weathering decades of change. Now reimagined as The Shelborne By Proper, its latest transformation by Barcelona based studio ADC & Tuneu is not about erasing that history. It is about continuing the conversation.

This Art Deco landmark’s redesign reflects a thoughtful approach to historic preservation. Rather than imposing contemporary trends, the design team immersed themselves in Miami’s architectural DNA, creating spaces that honor the past while serving modern luxury travel.

“Our design philosophy is rooted in reverence,” the studio explains. “We approach historic buildings with care, preserving their soul while subtly reimagining their story for today.”

The most significant challenge proved to be the project’s greatest asset. The original pink and red marble walls at The Café and behind the Front Desk, protected historic elements that couldn’t be altered, initially seemed limiting. Instead, they became the heart of the entire design story.

“The protected, original red marble details, were originally a constraint, but as the project evolved and we began exploring Miami’s classic film and fashion references, these became central anchor points for some of our favorite color schemes and furniture selections,” the designers reveal.

Step into the reception area and these marble surfaces immediately catch the eye: rich, warm stone that seems to glow from within. Their natural veining tells decades of stories, and their presence guided the development of complementary tones throughout the space.

The cozy café directly across from the reception continues this warm palette, creating intimate moments where guests can almost imagine themselves in a 1950s Miami hotel lobby, but with all the comforts of contemporary luxury.

Walk outside to the pool area and you’ll notice the distinctive aqua-striped fabric adorning the outdoor furniture. This was created specifically for The Shelborne.

“We wanted to link the turquoise of the ocean, the pastel colors of Miami with the original Shelborne building,” they explain. “We found some old drawings with turquoise walls on the façade that we wanted to bring that color back to the new design.”

The outdoor textiles shimmer in two custom shades of turquoise, their softened stripe pattern flowing like gentle waves. Unlike harsh traditional stripes, these feel fluid and relaxed, the kind of detail luxury travelers notice and appreciate.

The fabrics catch the Miami light beautifully, shifting from deep ocean blue in shadow to bright aqua in direct sun.

The original 1950s diving board could have been a museum piece, preserved but irrelevant. Instead, it’s the pool area’s beating heart, restored to gleaming white perfection and positioned as pure sculpture against the endless blue of pool and ocean beyond.

“We envisioned the diving board as the focal point of the entire outdoor space, a sculptural icon that deserved to take center stage,” the designers note. Standing poolside, the board creates a perfect Instagram moment, but more importantly, it connects guests to the hotel’s glamorous past.

The surrounding design is deliberately understated. Low-profile furnishings in those custom turquoise fabrics create intimate conversation areas without competing for attention. Umbrellas and lounge chairs maintain clean lines that echo the board’s streamlined form. “Every element, from umbrellas to furnishings, was intentionally kept low-profile, ensuring the board remains the undeniable centerpiece and a visual bridge between the pool and the ocean beyond.”

Forget the typical hotel experience of endless corridors and numbered doors. The Shelborne invites wandering. With no central hallways dictating your path, each space reveals itself organically, like discovering hidden rooms in a well traveled friend’s home.

“By eliminating central corridors and walkways, the layout invites exploration such that each room is revealed like a quiet discovery,” the designers explain.

Start at reception with its carefully curated art and signature furniture pieces. Notice how the lighting shifts as you move into the intimate coffee corner, a perfect spot for morning espresso or afternoon people-watching.

The grand lobby bar unfolds next, its eclectic mix of art and design pieces creating conversation starters at every turn. The restaurant space recalls the best of modern American dining, while conference rooms surprise with their character and warmth.

“From the moment you enter until the moment you leave you pass through many different spaces, some higher, some lower, some hidden, some unexpected,” the designers explain. “Spaces unfold organically, linked by a soft gradient of pastel hues that transition seamlessly from one to the next.”

Each transition feels intentional yet effortless, the kind of spatial flow that luxury hotels spend fortunes trying to achieve. Here, it feels natural, like the building itself is guiding your journey.

Luxury travelers today expect seamless technology and modern amenities, but they also crave authenticity. The Shelborne delivers both through careful preservation strategies that required navigating complex regulations while maintaining the building’s soulful character.

The iconic neon signage presented a particular challenge: how to preserve these glowing pieces of Miami history while complying with environmental protection laws designed to protect sea turtles. The solution required what the team calls “a delicate and thoughtful approach,” resulting in lighting that maintains the hotel’s vintage glamour while respecting its oceanfront environment.

“Maintaining the iconic neon elements while complying with turtle protection laws and ensuring the interior lighting struck the right temperature required a delicate and thoughtful approach,” the team explains.

The outdoor spaces around the protected diving platform required similarly sensitive planning. Rather than working around these constraints, the designers embraced them, using the existing elements as inspiration for the surrounding design.

Great luxury hotels understand that the experience begins before you reach your room. At The Shelborne, it starts with the iconic round canopy, a sweeping architectural gesture that immediately signals you’ve arrived somewhere special.

“One of the first moments of magic happens the instant you arrive, when you’re greeted by the iconic round canopy,” the designers note. “It’s a striking architectural gesture that instantly evokes the timeless glamour of Miami’s MiMo era, transporting you straight into the elegance of the 1940s and ’50s.”

This sense of theatrical arrival continues inside, where the lobby bar serves as what feels like a scene from a classic Hollywood film. Crystal glasses catch the light, the curved bar invites lingering over craft cocktails, and the carefully arranged seating creates intimate enclaves for conversation.

“With its sweeping design and stunning centerpiece bar, it invites guests to step into the golden age of South Beach, where style, sparkle, and a sense of occasion live on.”

For discerning travelers, true luxury isn’t about thread counts or marble thickness, it’s about how a space makes you feel. ADC & Tuneu understand this distinction, creating environments that feel both intentional and effortless.

“At ADC and Tuneu, we understand luxury in a different way, not as something exclusive, but as something deeply intentional, personal, and experience-driven,” they explain. “Our mission is to design spaces that are both intelligent and intuitive, structured yet fluid, classic yet daring.”

This philosophy permeates every corner of The Shelborne. Rather than following Miami’s current design trends, the team focused on creating something timeless. “We purposely didn’t follow any Miami current trends; we create environments that stand the test of time while allowing for reinvention and evolution.”

The result is a hotel that feels both rooted in place and freed from time, the kind of property luxury travelers bookmark for return visits.

The Shelborne marks the debut of the By Proper brand, which invites creative collaborators to interpret the hospitality ethos through their own lens. For luxury hotel enthusiasts, this represents an intriguing new approach, maintaining core values of thoughtful design while exploring new aesthetic territories.

“We want guests to feel immersed in the rich history of Miami, stepping into a building that echoes the elegance and spirit of the city’s MiMo golden age, while still enjoying all the comfort, style, and effortless cool that defines the Proper brand,” the designers explain.

The challenge was creating something that felt authentically rooted in the brand’s values while being deeply connected to Miami’s cultural narrative. The success lies in the details: the thoughtful spatial flow, the unexpected art moments, the seamless blend of relaxation and discovery that discerning guests expect.

“The community is discerning, design-savvy, and loyal. They recognize refined interiors and appreciate authenticity,” the team notes. The Shelborne delivers both, offering design enthusiasts plenty to discover while providing the elevated experiences luxury travelers demand.

Miami Beach has always attracted style-conscious travelers, but today’s design-savvy visitors expect more than beautiful beaches and Art Deco facades. They want properties that understand and interpret the city’s unique cultural position.

“Miami stands at the crossroads of culture and design, a global hub for luxury hospitality and one of the world’s most influential centers of creativity,” the designers observe. “With its unique position bridging North and South America and deep cultural ties to Europe, especially through Spain, Miami is a city that pulses with international energy and inspiration.”

This international perspective informed their approach to The Shelborne. The presence of other legendary Miami Beach properties creates what the team describes as “a vibrant sense of healthy competition, pushing everyone to elevate their design game.”

For travelers who appreciate design, Miami Beach offers an unparalleled concentration of architectural and interior design excellence. “Design in Miami is everywhere: bold, expressive, and ever-evolving. From architecture and interiors to fashion and art, it’s a place where heritage and innovation meet.”

Walking through the completed Shelborne today, you sense both the weight of history and the lightness of contemporary luxury. Sunlight streams through windows onto those original marble walls, illuminating spaces that feel both familiar and fresh. The pool area buzzes with the kind of relaxed energy that only comes from thoughtful design: guests lounging on custom-striped furniture, children safely exploring the shallow end near that iconic diving board, couples sharing cocktails as the Miami sunset paints everything golden.

“We tried respecting the history of the building and framing key elements of the building. We wanted to homage all the architects and designers that worked in the Shelborne in the past,” the designers reflect. “History is about layers and layers make spaces unique.”

For ADC & Tuneu, the project represents more than successful hospitality design. It’s a statement about the future of luxury travel. “We envision a future where spaces are more than settings: they are catalysts for emotion, inspiration, and transformation.”

The Shelborne By Proper doesn’t rely on fanfare or gimmicks. It appeals to travelers who value substance over spectacle and see hotels as more than just a place to sleep. In a city where new development often replaces the old, ADC and Tuneu have created something rare: a hotel that respects its history while offering a fresh perspective for modern, design-minded guests.

Was The Shelborne By Proper designed by Kelly Wearstler?
No. While many Proper Hotels feature interiors by Kelly Wearstler, The Shelborne By Proper was thoughtfully reimagined by ADC & Tuneu, a Barcelona based design studio known for their architectural sensitivity and global hospitality experience.

What does “By Proper” mean?
The “By Proper” label signifies that the property is operated and curated by Proper Hospitality, but created in collaboration with external design voices. It reflects Proper’s core values: thoughtful design, cultural connection, and elevated hospitality, while allowing each property to express a distinct point of view.

Has The Shelborne always been a Proper Hotel?
No. The Shelborne has existed since the 1940s as a historic Miami Beach hotel. It officially joined the Proper family following a full restoration and now operates as The Shelborne By Proper, blending its iconic past with Proper’s modern hospitality ethos.

What makes The Shelborne different from other Miami Beach hotels?
The Shelborne By Proper is a design-forward property that blends historic preservation with modern luxury. Rather than duplicating what others are doing, it delivers a unique narrative-driven experience grounded in Miami’s visual and cultural history.

What kind of guest experience does The Shelborne offer?
The experience is tailored for culturally curious, design-conscious travelers. With curated spaces, bespoke dining, artful programming, and an emphasis on emotional connection, the hotel offers more than a stay.

Is this a full-service hotel?
Yes. Guests enjoy full-service amenities, including dining and bar service, cultural and wellness programming, beach and pool access, and personalized service.

Why was the diving board restored?
The original 1950s diving board is a protected historical feature. Rather than removing it, the team embraced it as a sculptural centerpiece, honoring its history while making it part of the visual identity of the new outdoor space.