NEWH - Summer 2019 - 70

PROJECT | CVLTVRA

Melting Pot
Bigtime Design Studios marries Latin American influences in a downtown Miami restaurant
By Alia Akkam
Photography by Craig Denis

O

riginally, diners at CVLTVRA were meant to be greeted
by a lively mercado atmosphere, fitting for a Latin
American restaurant in downtown Miami. Then, after
the rest of the 8,200-square-foot space was crafted, local firm
Bigtime Design Studios ultimately decided that a deconstructive
approach was more impactful. The color-saturated entrance is
dramatic, but its depiction of everyday market life is now more
subtle and imaginative.

Callin Fortis, owner at Bigtime Design Studios, describes
CVLTVRA's (pronounced "cultura") energy as frenzied, and that
sweeping vibrancy begins in the entry, where eyes are immediately
drawn to a striking red spherical installation melding repurposed
dried flowers and silk against a backdrop of green moss. It is
invigorated by the flooring-hand-glazed hex tiles in a mélange of
bright hues-and a skeleton of warm, beam-cut cypress overhead.
Wood, organically flowing downward from the ceiling, creates
an evocative frame for the dining room. Once
guests slip through this portal, they find
additional layered references to the Americas,
much of it the handiwork of local artists. "Our
inspiration started with Argentina, but we worked
our way up north, to Brazil, Central America, and
Miami's own deep Latin roots," says Fortis.
Considering the vast size of the squareshaped room, unified by 18-inch-wide striped
plank flooring, Fortis broke it down into a
number of fluid transition zones and "went as
large scale as we could," with certain elements
to foster even further intimacy. White subway
tiles, for instance, are graced by a smattering
of artful, 7-foot-tall spearheads. One can sit at
a communal table beside a column clad in tiles
of various shades of soothing green, or in the
mustard yellow leather banquette set against
a tropical wallcovering showcasing oversized
palm fronds and banana leaves. And to spark a

Left: CVLTVRA's entry is marked by
a vivid red installation made from
dried flowers and silk, and colorful,
hexagon-tiled flooring.

70

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NEWH - Summer 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - Summer 2019

NEWH - Summer 2019
Table of Contents
Guest Perspective
Who’s Who
News
Conference Roundup
Have You Seen?
Scholarships
Interview
Sustainability
Premium Business Members
Q&A: Anne Hiter
Q&A: Matt Deshantz
Q&A: Michelle Purcell
On the Cover
PROJECT: The Blake Hotel
PROJECT: Cultura
PROJECT: Marriott Irvine Spectrum
Chapter Highlights
Save the Date
New Members
Partner Profiles
Ad Index
NEWH - Summer 2019 - NEWH - Summer 2019
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Cover2
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Table of Contents
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Guest Perspective
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 5
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Who’s Who
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 7
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 8
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 9
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NEWH - Summer 2019 - 14
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NEWH - Summer 2019 - 18
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 19
NEWH - Summer 2019 - News
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 21
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Conference Roundup
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 23
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 24
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 25
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 26
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 27
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Have You Seen?
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 29
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 30
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 31
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 32
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 33
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 34
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 35
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Scholarships
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 37
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 38
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 39
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Interview
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 41
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Sustainability
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 43
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Premium Business Members
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 45
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 46
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 47
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 48
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 49
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 50
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 51
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 52
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 53
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 54
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 55
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Q&A: Anne Hiter
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 57
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Q&A: Matt Deshantz
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 59
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Q&A: Michelle Purcell
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 61
NEWH - Summer 2019 - On the Cover
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 63
NEWH - Summer 2019 - PROJECT: The Blake Hotel
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 65
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 66
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 67
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 68
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 69
NEWH - Summer 2019 - PROJECT: Cultura
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 71
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 72
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 73
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 74
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 75
NEWH - Summer 2019 - PROJECT: Marriott Irvine Spectrum
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 77
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 78
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 79
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Chapter Highlights
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 81
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 82
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 83
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 84
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 85
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 86
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 87
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 88
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 89
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Save the Date
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 91
NEWH - Summer 2019 - New Members
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 93
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 94
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 95
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NEWH - Summer 2019 - 102
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 103
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Partner Profiles
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 105
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Ad Index
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NEWH - Summer 2019 - Cover4
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