Sir Norman Foster has produced plans for a tapered, oblong 16-storey tower in Miami Beach's Art Deco quarter. The redevelopment of the Saxony Hotel into 68 luxury apartments, including two storeys of leisure - a fitness centre, pool and spa – is the latest additon to a stretch of luxury apartments, hotels and resorts.

The Faena building is being developed by Argentinian entrepreneur, Alan Faena, who has already redeveloped a large chunk of the port district of Buenos Aires and is now buying up land in Miami.

The tower is raised on thin columns over a lily pond and extensive gardens. The light filled atrium appears to float on water.

“We were trying to capture a new image for South Beach and reinvent it for future buildings,” says Brandan Haw, Foster's NY-based senior partner, responsible for North America.