By
Rebecca Gibson |
Carnival Cruise Line’s new Terminal F at PortMiami will feature exterior canopies, metal-clad façades and interiors with colours and patterns inspired by the sea and tropical landscapes, according to architect and designer Berenblum Busch Architects (BBA).
The Miami-based firm is responsible for designing the renovated and expanded facility, which is being updated to accommodate Carnival’s largest-ever ships, the LNG-powered, Excel-class vessels. Terminal F will be the third cruise terminal at PortMiami to be dedicated to Carnival’s operations.
BBA will renovate the terminal’s existing buildings and blend them with new structures to create an integrated cruise facility with “well-thought-out spaces” and plenty of natural light. The terminal will also have an exterior canopy system with a painted metal frame and translucent white canvas roofs. They will be used to protect the passengers from the elements and to orient them as they move between indoor and outdoor areas. BBA will place a translucent media mesh directly below the canvas roofs to allow light to enter the terminal during the day and to display imagery to passengers.
The roof will curve at two moments to create a ripple waveform effect from the south façade while allowing natural light to enter the building from the north through additional glazing.
At night, Terminal F’s north façade will be illuminated with continuous linear LEDs mounted at intervals across the length of the building to make it visible from the MacArthur Causeway. The canopies and metal cladded façades fronting the south elevation of the terminal will also be lit up each evening.
“The design draws inspiration from maritime architecture, the terminal’s prominent location fronting the MacArthur Causeway, and Miami, a city that feels the pulse of the Caribbean,” said Gustavo Berenblum, founding principal of BBA. “The design intends to create a unique sense of place using innovative structural and canvas material for the canopies. This achieves a visual relationship with the existing tensile and canopy roofs of Terminal F.”
Terminal F’s interiors have been designed with curvilinear shapes, white and wood tones with splashes of deep blue, and white-painted steel to reflect traditional ship architecture. Large video or light walls will be placed between the buildings.
“Terminal F will be a building for the 21st century that is thoughtful and consistent with today’s rigid requirements, showcasing PortMiami’s commitment to quality and cruise guests,” said Berenblum.
All renovations are set for completion by October 2022 to welcome Carnival’s Excel-class ship, which will begin homeporting in late 2022.