ORA by Casa Tua vs Una Residences in Brickell: Terrace lifestyle & outdoor living
Quick Summary
- ORA sells outdoor living via terraces plus elevated gardens and rooftop zones
- Una ties terrace life to true waterfront access, marina culture, and bay views
- Density matters: 540 residences at ORA vs 135 at Una shapes daily quiet
- Timeline and rental rules can change how “home” feels in each building
The Brickell terrace question: where does outdoor living actually happen?
Brickell has matured into a neighborhood where “outdoor living” is no longer a marketing flourish. It’s a practical, daily question for buyers who start mornings on foot, host at home, and treat a balcony as a true extension of the interior. Still, the phrase can describe two very different rhythms.
In one version, outdoor time is curated vertically: a generous terrace serves as the primary private retreat, supported by layered amenity decks and rooftop zones designed to draw residents out of the elevator and into programmed spaces. In the other, outdoor living is literal and horizontal: the waterline is central to the building’s identity, and the day naturally bends toward the bay.
That distinction sits at the core of Brickell Terrace Life: ORA by Casa Tua vs Una Residences. Both are positioned around expansive terraces and floor-to-ceiling glass, but they ask you to choose what kind of outdoors you want: elevated garden and rooftop energy, or waterfront calm and marina adjacency.
ORA by Casa Tua: a vertical resort in the center of Brickell
ORA by Casa Tua is planned as a 76-story Brickell tower with 540 residences, ranging from studios to four-bedroom homes. Designed by Arquitectonica, its lifestyle pitch is hospitality-driven - social spaces, dining-oriented moments, and service-forward programming intended to make the tower feel less like a typical condo and more like a private club with keys.
The outdoor living proposition begins at the residence level. ORA’s homes are marketed with expansive terraces, sleek glass railings, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Interiors are presented from approximately 487 to 2,302 square feet, with the terrace positioned as a true continuation of the living area - not an afterthought.
Because ORA’s setting is inland relative to true bayfront addresses, its “nature” is largely built into the amenity stack. The building highlights an elevated garden concept called BOSCO, positioned as a lush escape above the city and integrated into the broader amenity ecosystem. It also promotes a rooftop concept called VENTO, described as a multi-area indoor/outdoor rooftop experience with sweeping views. The result is an outdoor routine that feels intentionally designed: private terrace to elevated garden to rooftop, often within a more communal, energetic setting.
For certain buyers, that’s the appeal. If you want the pulse of Brickell, prefer a building that can support a social calendar, and see your terrace as a private reset between dinners and meetings, ORA’s formula can align.
Una Residences: waterfront outdoor living, scaled down
Una Residences is a 47-story waterfront tower in Brickell with 135 residences, emphasizing a lower-density lifestyle. Architecturally inspired by classic yacht design, it is focused on maximizing Biscayne Bay views - and here, the view corridor isn’t a perk. It’s the premise.
Una’s residences are marketed with expansive terraces and floor-to-ceiling lift-and-glide glass doors intended to blur indoor and outdoor living. The difference is not only how the terrace reads visually, but how it functions day to day. When the bay becomes your outdoor “front yard,” the terrace turns into a daily observation deck: sunrise light, shifting weather, boat traffic, and the satisfaction of being close to water without needing a car.
The amenity program reinforces that rhythm with multiple pools, including a lap pool and family-focused water features - supporting resort-style use as part of everyday life rather than something reserved for occasional weekends. Una also includes a private marina and boat slips, which changes the meaning of outdoor living. For buyers who keep a vessel - or simply want the option of stepping from lobby to dock - the outdoors isn’t a rooftop destination. It’s a tangible lifestyle layer.
The landscape concept is associated with Enzo Enea, with lush tropical gardens shaping arrival and outdoor ambience. Combined with its South Brickell waterfront setting, Una is positioned to feel quieter and more residential than denser central Brickell nodes.
Density, privacy, and the sound of your own terrace
Luxury buyers often start with finishes, but the most durable difference between these towers may be the number of neighbors.
ORA’s planned 540 residences create a faster building tempo: more elevator cycles, more amenity demand, and more day-to-day movement - especially if rental policies support shorter stays. That can be a plus for owners who want the building to feel active. It can also make the terrace the place you go to get away from the tower’s social current.
Una’s 135-residence profile is inherently more private. Fewer residents generally means fewer competing schedules at peak hours and a calmer arrival experience. If you picture terrace life as quiet reading, morning stretching, and low-volume entertaining, lower density typically supports that.
Neither is universally “better.” They’re optimized for different definitions of luxury.
Rental flexibility and the feel of community
Terrace life is shaped not just by square footage, but by who lives nearby - and how long they stay.
ORA is promoted as allowing short-term rentals with a minimum stay requirement of three nights. That flexibility may appeal to investment-minded buyers or second-home owners who want optionality. It can also influence the building’s social fabric, particularly during peak seasons, when a steady cadence of arrivals can make common areas feel more hospitality-forward.
Una, by virtue of its lower-density positioning and waterfront residential character, is presented as a more traditional ownership experience. If you prioritize a consistent neighbor set and a quieter cadence, that distinction may matter as much as the terrace itself.
Amenities as landscape: elevated gardens vs bayfront reality
In Brickell, you don’t simply buy a view. You buy a routine.
ORA’s outdoor narrative is designed: BOSCO and VENTO sit within a stacked amenity ecosystem, turning the building into a vertical itinerary. This suits buyers who want to stay within the tower for much of the day, moving between private terrace, landscaped refuge, and rooftop scenes.
Una’s outdoor narrative is direct: the bay is the anchor, and the marina makes the waterline functional. If you want the outdoors to feel less curated and more elemental, the waterfront siting is difficult to replicate.
A practical question helps clarify the choice: do you want your best outdoor moments to be scheduled and social, or spontaneous and serene?
Neighborhood outdoor life beyond the building
Even with large terraces, Brickell is at its best when the neighborhood itself becomes an extension of home.
The Underline, a 10-mile linear park and trail under the Metrorail, adds outdoor recreation and green space through the Brickell area. For residents who value a daily walk, a morning run, or time outside that isn’t centered on a pool deck, access to a continuous urban trail can meaningfully expand terrace living.
This is where indoor-outdoor life becomes more than architecture. A terrace can be a beautiful room, but a neighborhood that supports movement and greenery changes how often you actually step outside.
Timeline and deposits: when terrace life begins
Outdoor living becomes real once you move in, but pre-construction introduces a second question: when do you actually get the keys?
ORA’s published deposit structure is staged at 20% at contract, 20% at groundbreaking, 10% at a later milestone, and 50% at closing. Delivery has been positioned for late 2028 or early 2029. For buyers comfortable planning ahead - and focused on securing a particular lifestyle concept early - that runway can make sense. For others, it simply delays the point when the terrace becomes part of daily life.
Una has been marketed with a nearer-term delivery that has commonly been cited as 2025. In lifestyle terms, that’s a different proposition: the bayfront routine can arrive sooner, and the purchase timeline may align more closely with near-term plans.
How this translates across South Florida’s luxury buyer set
Brickell isn’t the only context where terrace life is being redefined. Miami Beach, for example, delivers a different kind of outdoor living: less about the bay’s working waterfront and more about walkable coastal energy paired with hospitality-grade service.
If your version of outdoor time includes a beach-forward rhythm and a building that feels like a destination, Five Park Miami Beach captures a modern Miami-beach sensibility that prioritizes views and lifestyle programming.
For those drawn to discreet service and private-club cues, Casa Cipriani Miami Beach reflects a hospitality-first approach where the building’s social spaces can matter as much as the terrace.
And for buyers who want Miami Beach through a branded residential lens, The Ritz-Carlton Residences® Miami Beach offers a service culture that can make indoor-outdoor living feel effortless, especially when entertaining.
These parallels matter because they clarify the real decision. ORA and Una aren’t only competing on floor plans. They’re competing on the lifestyle model you want your home to support.
The decision framework: four questions that clarify the choice
First, decide whether you want outdoor living to be water-led or tower-led. If the bay itself is the anchor, Una’s waterfront siting and marina culture are decisive. If you prefer elevated amenities and a building that can carry your social life, ORA’s BOSCO and VENTO concepts will likely resonate.
Second, be honest about your sensitivity to density. A 540-residence building can feel energetic and convenient. A 135-residence building can read as a more private address.
Third, consider how rental flexibility aligns with your definition of home. Short-term rental policies can be attractive for owners who want optionality, but they can also change the feel of common spaces.
Finally, time matters. If you want to live the terrace lifestyle sooner, a nearer delivery window can be a deciding factor - even when the long-term vision is compelling.
FAQs
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Which building is more focused on a waterfront lifestyle? Una Residences is a waterfront tower and includes a private marina with boat slips.
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Which project is planned to be taller? ORA by Casa Tua is planned as a 76-story tower, while Una is 47 stories.
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How different is building density between the two? ORA is planned with 540 residences; Una is planned with 135, shaping privacy and pace.
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Do both emphasize terraces and indoor-outdoor living? Yes, both market expansive terraces and large glass openings to extend living outdoors.
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What is ORA’s signature outdoor amenity concept? ORA highlights BOSCO, an elevated garden designed as a lush escape above the city.
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What is VENTO at ORA? VENTO is presented as a multi-area indoor/outdoor rooftop experience with sweeping views.
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Does ORA allow short-term rentals? ORA is promoted as allowing short-term rentals with a three-night minimum stay requirement.
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How soon might buyers expect to enjoy these terraces? Una has been marketed as nearer-term delivery, while ORA has been positioned for late 2028/early 2029.
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What outdoor option exists beyond private amenities in Brickell? The Underline offers a long linear park and trail through the Brickell area for daily outdoor time.
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Is there a simple way to choose between the two lifestyles? Choose ORA for a vertical, hospitality-driven outdoor ecosystem; choose Una for bayfront routine and lower density.
For a confidential assessment and a building-by-building shortlist, connect with MILLION Luxury.
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