Green is in this season in Miami. Notorious hotel-condominium multiplex formerly known as Gansevoort South and later as the Perry South Beach, is being reborn. This time however, as 1 Hotel & Residences South Beach. The eco-friendly project bloomed as a result of a joint venture between the LeFrak Organization, Starwood Capital Group, and Invesco. The spectacular property will include 161 residences plus 406 hotel rooms with four swimming pools and 600 linear feet of pristine beach.
The focal point of this beachfront luxury-hotel living, is nature and sustainability. 1 Hotel & Residences South Beach, the brainchild of Barry Sternlicht, chairman of Starwood Capital Group and the creative force behind the W brand, presents a unique environment for homeowners to enjoy a nature-inspired aesthetic and atmosphere.
Sternlicht is combining his vast experience and talents with Richard LeFrak’s real estate development expertise to bring to Miami a truly extraordinary property. “This project, however challenging, is very special to me. The property has an amazing location in the center of South Beach. I am enticed by this place and an opportunity to turn this pumpkin into a carriage,” Richard LeFrak tells Le CITY deluxe in a recent interview. Albeit, the run down structure will remain untouched. “This is an old building and we could’ve demolished it, but leaving the facade was very important. Nevertheless, we’ve redone all of the mechanical systems and made it more energy efficient. On top of that, we’ve made a conscious effort to use materials that are sustainable and are able to regenerate themselves,” says LeFrak.
To help with the revitalization of this desiccated edifice, The Starwood Capital Group honcho Barry Sternlicht and Richard LeFrak, brought on board Debora Aguilar. Celebrated Brazilian interior designer and architect, Debora Aguiar, is in charge of designing the residences. The conceived plan for 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach uses the colors and textures of nature to bring a fresh aesthetic to its interior spaces. Reclaimed materials and natural elements adorn almost every facet of the property. Gardens and sand-floor cabanas on the pool deck blur the distinction between the built and natural environments, thus blending both urban and rural features of Miami Beach.
Design elements in each unit were created to emphasize the exceptional qualities of living in one of Miami Beach’s best locations. Extraordinary views of the sky and sparkling Atlantic Ocean or Miami’s dramatic skyline are fused with the composition as oversized windows and sliding glass doors allow for an abundance of natural light, as well as expansive private balconies to enjoy the rising and setting sun. “Our vision for the rooms is a natural look mixed with modern concept. In some rooms we will have art covering the walls and in others we’ll have art adorning the ceilings. There will be direct light to create cozy atmosphere,” says Deborah Aguilar who is well known for her beautiful and sophisticated approach to design.
The kitchen is perhaps the most direct example of 1 Hotels & Residence’s bond with nature. Their unwavering focus on details brought them to connect with partners of the same perspective, such as the world renowned chef Tom Colicchio. Chef Colicchio has built his career by understanding how each piece is important to the whole.
“What drew me to this project was a lot of the design elements, and the idea that it is environmentally friendly, which is very important to me. In my restaurants all of my meats are antibiotic free and mostly organic. So this idea that you’re doing something friendly for the environment works for me and feels natural. It is something that I was always excited about, so it was very easy to grasp the concept and understand what they’re trying to do here,’” says the American celebrity chef who owns and operates a slew of successful restaurants in New York City and Los Angeles. The Top Chef judge is yet to name his Miami Beach restaurant but he assures that it will be a farm-to-table concept, with a specific concentration on seafood dishes with Mediterranean flavors, and will feature locally sourced produce.
1 Hotel & Residences is set to swing open the gates to their tropical oasis in the fall of 2014. For more information, visit: www.1hotels.com