Biophilic design traces its roots to Frank Lloyd Wright, but the movement has really come into its own in this century. Its proponents believe humans thrive best when surrounded by nature, so built environments should reflect the light, water, air, patterns, and textures found outdoors. This philosophy is at the heart of Morada Haute Furniture Boutique, a Miami-based design store and studio founded in 2015 by Fernan Hernandez and Holger Odenstein, two tastemakers who have also captured that indoor/outdoor spirit at their stylish home.
Hernandez, who is from Venezuela, and Odenstein, who is German, are world travelers with a special affinity for Bali. There, they discovered a lifestyle immersed in nature, which inspired the transformation of their 1950s-era bungalow in Miami Beach. When they purchased the property in 2012, the place hadn’t been renovated in decades. The new owners immediately removed both interior and exterior walls to create spaces that flow together seamlessly—with sliding glass doors across the entire back of the home to make the patio feel like an extension of both the living areas and primary bedroom.
“Every room in our home opens to the outside,” says Odenstein. “We live in a privileged climate, so we wanted to bring the green inside the house. There are studies about how nature can actually heal the nervous system. When you take a walk in the woods, you feel as if your soul connects with the universe. So nature is very important for the well-being of a person. Biophilic design is anchored in bringing natural elements into the interiors. That can be colors, that can be textures, that can be materials, and that’s what we did with this place.”
Lush tropical foliage surrounds the couple’s pool, and thriving containers of green plants bring that organic flavor indoors. “We have a garden in every room,” notes Hernandez. Conversely, high-performance fabric and leather trim on outdoor furniture extend indoor luxury poolside. It’s the ultimate outdoors-in-indoors-out combination.
Beyond the biophilic touches, the home is a showplace for Morada’s elegant inventory. Upholstered pieces are soft, rounded, and inviting, with rich textured fabrics like bouclé and velvet. Acrylic and glass accent furniture keep spaces light and airy. And the palette sticks to the elemental colors found in sand, earth, and minerals.
Evident throughout the different furniture groupings is the fashion sensibility that both Odenstein and Hernandez aim to bring to their products—the “haute” in the showroom’s full name is not there by accident. Morada’s pieces feature not only lush fabrics and innovative shapes, but also details that mimic fine tailoring. In their living room, for instance, a pair of Manchetta swivel chairs resemble shirt cuffs, with back upholstery anchored by metal “buttons.” A “waisted” desk chair in the primary bedroom is wrapped in a striped band that subtly evokes a corset.
Technological features are integrated into the home to make life more effortless but not draw attention. In the primary bedroom, bedside lights illuminate and dim with the swipe of a nightstand’s wooden top. Integrated charging stations are hidden unobtrusively in sofas. In the sleek kitchen, two stainless steel hoods and hidden hardware ensure both style and function.
Still, the home’s most treasured feature, an oversized root ball fashioned into a pool fountain, is an old soul. A Balinese artist carved this large tree trunk to resemble a woman’s face so that the roots entwine outward like Medusa’s snakes. “We bought it on one of our trips,” says Hernandez. “I almost crashed the car when I drove past it. The piece was so heavy we had to bring in a crane to place it at the end of the pool. But she’s survived multiple hurricanes, so it was worth it.” A lasting emblem of nature’s power for sure.
Story Credits:
Text by Betsy Riley
Photography by Alexia Fodere
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