ONE Sotheby's International Realty Acquires The Surfside-Based Harding Realty

ONE Sotheby’s International Realty has acquired the Surfside-based Harding Realty, adding the boutique real estate brokerage to its growing team. The acquisition expands the firm’s ability to service the Surfside, Bal Harbour and Bay Harbor Islands market and includes the addition of the company’s iconic office on Harding Avenue in Surfside.

“Harding Realty has been a market leader for over four decades and we are thrilled to welcome their team to our family,” said Daniel de la Vega, President of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty. “We look forward to adding value for their agents through the power of the exceptional ONE Sotheby’s brand, our superior marketing tools, and network of top-level professionals who are unmatched in the world of luxury real estate.”

Harding Realty was founded in 1978 by sisters Marta Waserstein and Anita Bigelman. The firm has exclusively represented several of the most recognized developers in the area and sold out buildings including The Majestic, The Palace, The Wave, Bellini, St Tropez and Brickell Ten. With yearly sales in excess of $100 Million, the brokerage’s long-standing success includes record-breaking deals in Golden Beach and Bal Harbour.

“We were approached by multiple big-name brokerages, but it wasn’t until we met with ONE Sotheby’s that we decided this transition was the perfect fit,” said Marta Waserstein, co-founder of Harding Realty. “It was important for us to align with a company that has the same core values and family touch as our office.”

“The ONE Sotheby’s brand recognition and reach across international and domestic markets is unlike any other,” added Harding Realty co-founder Anita Bigelman. “Mayi and Daniel have managed to build a brand with a local footprint as strong as its global presence, and a culture that makes you feel like family—that is extremely rare.”

As part of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty’s aggressive growth strategy aimed at attracting leading industry talent, the brokerage will onboard Harding Realty’s 34 agents to their network of more than 1,000 consummate real estate professionals. The addition of Harding Realty is the firm’s sixth recent acquisition and brings the brokerage’s total number of offices to 21 locations spanning from Miami to Cocoa Village.

Images via ONE Sotheby’s International Realty

DEVELOPING: Champlain Towers South Condo Collapses In Surfside, 159 People Reported Missing

DEVELOPING (Updated June 25, 11:43 A.M.): Around 1:30 AM on June 24, 2021 the 12-story Champlain Towers South Condo, located at 8777 Collins Ave. in Surfside, FL collapsed, leaving 4 dead and 159 reported missing as of 11 A.M. on June 25, 2021. At least 35 people have been rescued from being trapped in the building and rescue operations are underway.

Rescue teams of 10-12 rescuers are attempting to tunnel under the remaining structure into the rubble to locate additional survivors with the help of search dogs. Teams are using sonar as the carefully tunnel into the rubble with saws and infrared cameras. The work is a brave, desperate search for life, putting the rescue teams in peril of potential shifting rubble or the remaining structure to collapse.

Of the 136-units in the building, 55 were destroyed in the collapse. Authorities still have no idea how many people were in the building at the time of collapse and fear that the death toll could continue to rise.

Over 80 rescue units reportedly responded to the disaster. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett and Governor Ron DeSantis were on-site Thursday. American Red Cross volunteers are assisting people who have lost their homes or been displaced by the disaster.

Authorities have not identified what may have caused the collapse and an investigation may take several weeks to months.

Champlain Towers South was developed in 1981 by Nathan Reiber and is part of a condominium complex with two additional separate buildings on adjacent lots. Champlain Towers South featured 136-units ranging from one-to-four bedroom floorpans which range in size from 1,200 SF to 4,500 SF. The building was undergoing its 40-year recertification, which is a one year process to complete, and was also undergoing restoration and roof work at the time of the collapse.

A Penthouse At ARTE by Antonio Citterio Sells For Record $22.5 Million In Cryptocurrency

ARTE by Antonio Citterio, the exclusive boutique condominium which recently opened in Miami’s Surfside neighborhood, has sold its lower penthouse for $22.5 million in cryptocurrency. The deal makes the first cryptocurrency real estate transaction for a new development in Miami. ARTE by Antonio Citterio was developed by Alex Sapir’s Sapir Organization and Giovanni Fasciano. The development became the first new residential development in Miami to accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment earlier this month. The deal was overseen by Tara West of Douglas Elliman, who represented the developer, and Ryan Farbstein and Max Farbstein of The Farbstein Team at Douglas Elliman, who represented the buyer.

The transaction for the 5,067 SF PHB has broken several records including the most expensive price per square foot ever sold in Surfside at $4,440.50 PSF, and the second highest penthouse sale in Miami Beach since 2017. The deal also is the highest price pre square foot sale for a condo in 2021.

For cryptocurrency transactions ARTE has a partnership with blockchain and securities trading platform SolidBlock, which provides custom solutions for buying and selling digital assets. SolidBlock ensures that buyers paying in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum enjoy an easy and straight-forward purchasing experience.

Nestled in Surfside, the seaside enclave between Bal Harbour and Miami Beach, ARTE is a boutique, oceanfront development at the center of the city’s most vibrant cultural, culinary and shopping destinations. Featuring a stunning design by Italian master architect Antonio Citterio, the building offers impeccable interiors and finishes, as well as ten-star amenities and service. The development was built to cater to an exclusive selection of buyers who have not found quality design, exclusive privacy or outstanding service anywhere else in Miami.

ARTE residents enjoy a robust suite of amenities not found in other Miami luxury condominiums. They include a 75-foot indoor swimming pool, an outdoor swimming pool and beachfront meditation pond, a rooftop tennis court, state-of-the-art fitness center and yoga studio and sauna and steam room. Additional facilities include a children’s playroom with space for remote learning, residents’ lounge, catering kitchen for out-of-home entertaining, and private temperature-controlled parking spaces.

Prices at ARTE by Antonio Citterio start at $10.3 million, or the equivalent cryptocurrency rate, and the spacious three- to five-bedroom plus residences range in size from approximately 3,150 to 7,550 square feet. Sales are exclusively handled by Douglas Elliman Development Marketing.

For more information about ARTE by Antonio Citterio, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below:

ARTE by Antonio Citterio Is The First New Development In Miami To Accept Cryptocurrency

ARTE by Antonio Citterio, the exclusive boutique condominium which recently opened in Miami’s Surfside neighborhood, has announced that it will be first new residential development in Miami to accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment. Signifying the developers’ optimism for the city's future as the cryptocurrency capital of the world, all remaining residences can be purchased with digital currency.

To streamline the sale of residences in crypto, ARTE has formed partnership with blockchain and securities trading platform SolidBlock, which provides custom solutions for buying and selling digital assets. SolidBlock will ensure that buyers paying in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum enjoy an easy and straight-forward purchasing experience. They will also be available to assist with any other crypto exchanges or real-world transactions that buyers wish to make in the future as well as legal and tax advice.

As the first Miami condominium to welcome cryptocurrency, ARTE joins Mayor Francis Suarez in the vision to transform the city into a leading technology hub. By embracing digital assets like Bitcoin as the future of business, the building has taken the lead in upending traditional real estate practices in Miami and has set an example for other developments in the market.

"The embrace of cryptocurrency and emerging technologies across all sectors of industry is precisely how Miami will become the city of the century,” said Mayor Francis Suarez. “ARTE is setting an important precedent and I won't be surprised to hear similar stories in the near future."

The announcement also comes at a unique time in Miami, when many of the top Silicon Valley companies and venture capital firms have opened satellite offices or have expanded into the city. According to the developers, this migration has played a role in the decision to launch a cryptocurrency offering at Arte.

“Miami is becoming a true city of tomorrow,” said Alex Sapir, Chairman of Sapir Corp LTD, whose Israel-and New York-based subsidiary, SC 8955 LLC, developed the project. “As the most exclusive luxury building in the city, we’re positioning ourselves for a future where half the world’s billionaires are crypto billionaires, which will happen once Bitcoin reaches $200,000. With cryptocurrencies already creating incredible worldwide wealth, it’s real estate that will sustain that wealth and provide buyers with a legacy. Cryptocurrency is an important and valuable asset, and we believe it’s only natural to set the pace in the real estate industry for these types of transactions at Arte, not just keep up with it.”

“Cryptocurrency is not only a viable and sustainable new asset, it’s also the future of wealth,” said Giovanni Fasciano, co-developer. “As more technology executives move to Miami and bring cryptocurrency along with them, it is crucial that buildings start to devise plans to make blockchain transactions easier and more secure for investors. Arte is the only Miami condominium positioning itself to attract this community at the moment, and we’re proud to take the lead in partnership with SolidBlock.”

ARTE’s collaboration with SolidBlock is the first of its kind. The company pioneered the field of tokenization, spearheading the world’s first successful commercial real estate security token offering (STO), raising $18M for the Aspen St. Regis Resort in 2018. Customizing solutions for private entities to purchase residential real estate in tokens is a new frontier for the platform, and one that could set an exciting precedent for future large-scale luxury developments.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with the developers of one of Miami’s most sought-after buildings,” said Yael Tamar, co-founder and co-CEO of SolidBlock. “Discerning and tech-savvy buyers both local and international will appreciate having access to a platform that streamlines the process and helps them invest in this amazing opportunity.”

Nestled in Surfside, the seaside enclave between Bal Harbour and Miami Beach, ARTE is a boutique, oceanfront development at the center of the city’s most vibrant cultural, culinary and shopping destinations. Featuring a stunning design by Italian master architect Antonio Citterio, the building offers impeccable interiors and finishes, as well as ten-star amenities and service. The development was built to cater to an exclusive selection of buyers who have not found quality design, exclusive privacy or outstanding service anywhere else in Miami.

ARTE residents enjoy a robust suite of amenities not found in other Miami luxury condominiums. They include a 75-foot indoor swimming pool, an outdoor swimming pool and beachfront meditation pond, a rooftop tennis court, state-of-the-art fitness center and yoga studio and sauna and steam room. Additional facilities include a children’s playroom with space for remote learning, residents’ lounge, catering kitchen for out-of-home entertaining, and private temperature-controlled parking spaces.

Prices at ARTE by Antonio Citterio start at $10.3 million, or the equivalent cryptocurrency rate, and the spacious three- to five-bedroom plus residences range in size from approximately 3,150 to 7,550 square feet. Sales are exclusively handled by Douglas Elliman Development Marketing.

For more information about ARTE by Antonio Citterio, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below:

Check Out This Residence At Four Seasons At The Surf Club Which Just Sold For $8.7 Million

A unit at Four Seasons at The Surf Club has sold for $8.7 million, a record $3,952 PSF for a non-penthouse unit. Residence #S705 sold is a 2 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom direct oceanfront residence which spans 2,201 SF. The residence was furnished with built-in shades, closets, travertine flooring, Richard Meier-designed kitchens by Boffi, Sub Zero & Miele appliances, gas cooktop, millwork & cabinetry throughout designed by the famed interior designer. Joelle Oiknine with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty represented the sellers and Jackie Dickstein represented the buyer.

The Surf Club has been an integral part of the cultural history of Miami Beach since its inception as a private social club founded by Harvey Firestone in the 1930's. Located at 9001 Collins Ave, the redevelopment of The Surf Club was led by Nadim Ashi’s Fort Partners and broke ground in March 2014. Four Seasons at The Surf Club sits on 9-acres with 965’ of direct beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean. The building features a 77 room Four Seasons hotel and 150 private residences across 3 glass towers, 2 of which are residential and 1 hotel. The newly restored development also includes full five star amenities including oceanfront dinging, spa, gym, shopping, private and hotel pools and beautifully landscaped gardens.

For more information about private residences at Four Seasons at The Surf Club, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below:

The Largest Listing To Be Revealed at ARTE by Antonio Citterio Hits The Market For $23.25 Million

PROFILEmiami is excited to exclusively reveal Villa Sette, ARTE by Antonio Citterio in Surfside’s latest and largest listing to-date, which just hit the MLS at $23.25 million fully furnished. The unique residence was created in response to demand for more space spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, and a luxury experience that not only meets but rivals the single-family home lifestyle. Villa Sette is a new oceanfront, full-floor residence, made from two combined units offering five bedrooms, six and a half baths and a theater. In total the residence spans 6,262 interior square feet and 4,316 exterior square feet.

The combined units at Villa Sette feature an oceanfront master suite is nearly triple in size and offers the addition of a midnight bar, more closet space and a dressing room. The second and third bedrooms were turned into “sunset master suites” with framed views of Downtown Miami and a luxe home theater was added as one of many in-residence amenities. The full-floor listing is also the only residence at ARTE with a terrace that wraps 360 degrees around the property, with 120 linear feet of direct oceanfront.

ARTE by Antonio Citterio is a 12-story luxury oceanfront building comprising of just 15 or 16 exclusive residences, depending on if Villa Sette is sold as a single residence or two. The building was developed Alex Sapir and Giovanni Fasciano and was designed by Italian master architect Antonio Citterio. ARTE offers impeccable interiors and finishes, as well as ten-star amenities and service. ARTE was built to cater to an exclusive selection of buyers who have not found quality design, exclusive privacy, or outstanding service anywhere else in Miami.

ARTE residents enjoy a robust suite of amenities not found in other Miami luxury condominiums. They include a 75-foot indoor swimming pool, an outdoor swimming pool and beachfront meditation pond, a rooftop tennis court, state-of-the-art fitness center and yoga studio, sauna and steam room and dedicated pet runway and relief corridor. Additional facilities include a children’s playroom, residents’ lounge, catering kitchen for out-of-home entertaining, and private temperature-controlled parking spaces.

For more information about ARTE by Antonio Citterio, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below:

Ivanka Trump And Jared Kushner Rent Condo In Arte by Antonio Citterio In Surfside

President Donald Trump’s daughter and son-in-law, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, have reportedly signed a lease at ARTE by Antonio Citterio in Surfside, developed by Alex Sapir and Giovanni Fasciano. The news comes as President Trump leaves the White House for his nearby Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach. Ivanka Trump and Kushner acquired a property for $32 million in December 2020 on Indian Creek Island, an ultra-exclusive billionaire bunker enclave adjacent to Surfside. The Sapir Organization has close ties to the Trump Organization as the pair developed the Trump Soho in partnership with Bayrock, a hotel condominium in Manhattan’s Hudson Square neighborhood which was completed in 2008.

ARTE is a 12-story luxury oceanfront building comprising of just 16 exclusive residences, located at 8955 Collins Avenue in Surfside. ARTE was developed by Alex Sapir and Giovanni Fasciano and designed by Italian master architect Antonio Citterio. ARTE offers impeccable interiors and finishes, as well as ten-star amenities and service. ARTE was built to cater to an exclusive selection of buyers who have not found quality design, exclusive privacy, or outstanding service anywhere else in Miami.

ARTE features a full-suite of lavish amenities including a 75-foot indoor swimming pool, an outdoor swimming pool and beachfront meditation pond, a rooftop tennis court, state-of-the-art fitness center and yoga studio, sauna and steam room and dedicated pet runway and relief corridor. Additional facilities include a children’s playroom, residents’ lounge, catering kitchen for out-of-home entertaining, and private temperature-controlled parking spaces.

For more information about Arte by Antonio Citterio, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below:

ARTE by Antonio Citterio Breaks Record With $33 Million Triplex Penthouse Cash Sale In Surfside

ARTE, a new oceanfront luxury condominium developed by Alex Sapir and Giovanni Fasciano, have announced the record-breaking sale of its triplex penthouse for $33 million. The all-cash transaction is Miami Beach’s third most expensive penthouse sale in the last seven years, and represents the highest price per square foot ever recorded in the city’s exclusive Surfside neighborhood. In the transaction ARTE was represented by Tara West of Douglas Elliman Development Marketing and Ryan Serhant of Serhant Group and Julian Cohen of Jills Zeder Group represented the buyer.

“We’re thrilled to have sold this penthouse at a record-breaking price for Surfside and Miami Beach, as ARTE is much more than an ordinary luxury condominium,” said Alex Sapir, Chairman of Sapir Corp LTD, whose Israel- and New York-based subsidiary, SC 8955 LLC, developed the project. “Buying at ARTE is like joining an exclusive club reserved for the domestic and international elite who place a premium on privacy, architecture and service, an experience that one can attain at the finest hotels and resorts around the world without the transient environment. We aimed to design a lifestyle that would allow for buyers to always feel like they’re on vacation, even if Miami is their permanent residence. The dedication to the experience and design has been the mission from day one and we hope that all these details are what resonated with the penthouse buyer, as there’s nothing else comparable in the city.”

At roughly $4,300 per square foot, the five-bedroom residence has shattered the previous Surfside record of $3,656 price per square foot. The penthouse at ARTE also secured the second-highest price per square foot in Miami Beach’s penthouse history. The transaction represents the third-most expensive penthouse sale in Miami Beach within the past seven years.

“The world’s most affluent people with homes across cities like London, LA and New York are now coming to Miami for its warm weather, beautiful beaches, tax benefits and unique lifestyle,” said Giovanni Fasciano, developer partner at ARTE. “We are truly the premiere luxury condominium that can offer them the privacy and services that they have come to expect. The design and quality of ARTE will stand the test of time. We are proud to hold the record for most expensive penthouse sale in Surfside and the second-highest price per square foot in Miami Beach’s penthouse history. The titles are truly reflective of the amount of thought and care that went into developing such a special project.”

The triplex penthouse is the crown jewel of ARTE. At 7,681 interior square feet, the penthouse features five bedrooms, five bathrooms, two powder rooms, and an additional 6,260 square feet of terrace space with 360-degree panoramic views of Miami Beach, the Atlantic Ocean and the illustrious Surfside shoreline. The home also includes a private rooftop lounge featuring a show-stopping, 23-foot swimming pool, a wraparound pergola in Botanic Green Quartzite, as well as a fully equipped kitchenette. The record-breaking penthouse was sold completely furnished by Visionnaire, a leading Italian design brand, with showrooms in the U.S. and around the world, to a highly sophisticated individual from New York who works in private equity.

With ARTE, a 12-story luxury oceanfront building comprising of just 16 exclusive residences, Alex Sapir and Giovanni Fasciano created a masterpiece in Miami’s condominium market. Featuring a stunning design by Italian master architect Antonio Citterio, ARTE offers impeccable interiors and finishes, as well as ten-star amenities and service. ARTE was built to cater to an exclusive selection of buyers who have not found quality design, exclusive privacy, or outstanding service anywhere else in Miami.

ARTE residents enjoy a robust suite of amenities not found in other Miami luxury condominiums. They include a 75-foot indoor swimming pool, an outdoor swimming pool and beachfront meditation pond, a rooftop tennis court, state-of-the-art fitness center and yoga studio, sauna and steam room and dedicated pet runway and relief corridor. Additional facilities include a children’s playroom, residents’ lounge, catering kitchen for out-of-home entertaining, and private temperature-controlled parking spaces.

For more information about Arte by Antonio Citterio, private showings or purchasing/ leasing information please fill out the form below:

PROFILE Exclusive: Inside The Mind Of Kobi Karp, Designing For The Future By Remembering South Florida's Culturally Rich Past

Kobi Karp’s restoration design techniques have contributed to a renaissance in one of the United States’ most iconic neighborhoods, Miami Beach’s Art Deco District, which is internationally recognized around the world for its culture, lifestyle and architecture. Kobi has designed everything from large-scale, high-rise condominium and hospitality projects to intimate, small-scale low-rise residential and commercial structures. Over the past three decades Kobi has garnered international acclaim and been selected to spearhead numerous resort projects, growing his firm to service projects in the Caribbean, Black Sea region, and the Middle East. His projects in South Florida include Four Seasons Surf Club, One Hotel Miami Beach, Palazzo Del Sol on Fisher Island, The Cadillac Hotel, and 2000 Ocean, amongst many others. Despite his fast-paced, busy schedule and lifestyle we were able to catch-up with Kobi between his work on his current projects including The Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach and Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale, to get inside the mind of one of Miami’s most prolific and iconic architects:

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PROFILEmiami: Can you tell us about your background? Where did you grow up?

Kobi: I was born in 1962 in Israel. When I was 11 years old, my family moved to Minneapolis, MN. That was a bit of a change, but it was good to grow up in the Midwest. It was a different time. The Midwest in the 1970’s was a cool place, and Israel in the 60’s was also a cool place. We were outdoor kids and we grew up in nature. The environment, whether it is in the Middle East, which is more desert, or Minneapolis, is radically different. In Minnesota you go ice fishing, ride the toboggan, play pond hockey, and you become part of the environment. In Minnesota if you don’t play hockey or you don’t ski, there is nothing to talk about. All sports were part of our daily, ongoing life. That is how I grew up.

PROFILEmiami: When and how did you first get involved in architecture?

Kobi: I was also artistic, and I liked history a lot. History and the art came together in a nice way when I started to study buildings, art and statues. I was also good at drawing, which is what I enjoyed. Later that became urban planning, but not knowing at the time that it was architecture. That led to studying architecture and environmental design at the University of Minnesota, which later led to me receiving a degree in environmental design and architecture. It gave me an opportunity to see the world in a different light and the opportunity to see how people lived. I also lived in Alaska, and began thinking about how eskimos live in igloos versus how people live in trailer homes versus tents. That gave me an ability to deal with people on a completely different level.

When I came to Florida in 1988, that was the Miami Vice and Scarface days, a little bit different than it is today. I worked in the Caribbean. I lived and worked in St. Lucia, in Grenada, in Turks & Caicos, and Bahamas, where I worked on all-inclusive resorts, which were luxury, but at the time, did not have good phones and mail compared to today. The environment played a big role in my development. Florida is the only tropical climate we have in the lower 48 states, compared to my previous past living in Alaska, Minnesota, and Israel. The experience gave me a contradiction. For example, the contradiction made me appreciate the coconut which falls and floats in the ocean and you can drink it, or eat it. It gave me the ability to understand the world we live in in a broader, more correct fashion. It gave me the opportunity to understand the world for what it really is.

Architecture for me is a backdrop to the environment. It is a backdrop to the landscaping, to the mountains, to the river, to the beaches. I don't care who you are, you are a part of your environment. That is what I take as inspiration on a daily basis and try to do with my design in the buildings. I use the environment, the buildings that were built before us in our community, the historical buildings and historical environment as a cantilever, the point of thought and discussion.

PROFILEmiami: What are some of the elements of design that you have brought to Miami?

Kobi: When I designed a building called the Caribbean Condominium in Miami, which was on the ocean, we used the historical building to welcome you when you walk in. We did the same thing at the 1Hotel in South Beach—we restored the existing building and welcome you into the property via the original building. We do it in other locations more strongly, for example in The Four Seasons at the Surf Club, where we restored the historic structure, and then we bring you into the new structure.

The argument is in order to understand the new, or appreciate the new, you have to walk through the original space as well. You then understand who was there before us, 100 years, 80 years before us. It is a bit nicer to walk into the old, and then walk into the new. I do that as well in the Marriott Autograph in Miami Beach and the Confidante Hotel. I try to do it anywhere I can in order to make you appreciate where we came from and the community’s history. I think understanding the history of who we are, as a human race, helps us to have a better idea of who we are individually and who we are architecturally going forward.

PROFILEmiami: How has design in South Florida changed since you arrived here over the past 30+ years?

Kobi: Design is continuously changing and modifying and reflecting who we are as society. It is dynamic, not static. At the same time, the architecture basis, the DNA, is essentially the same. Despite this, the materials and the methods that we use to build today are radically different, and I believe that they will be even more radically different in the next two decades and the next generation. The methods of construction are going to be much more sophisticated than they have been. A lot has happened in my generation, and a lot will happen in the next generation. Since the industrial age, civilizations have moved radically forward. We as architects are the tools to help evolve that environment; we are the tools that help people to live and create the spaces that we live in which are continuously changing.

A house is like a tree or a person. The tree you plant is not the tree you have 50 years later. You have to respect that and you have to acknowledge that. Whether it is a house or hotel or office building. We have to recycle it.

PROFILEmiami: Within the design ecosystem who is driving it? Architects or construction firms?

Kobi: I think it is individualistic. The people who push forward are usually visionaries. It is a minority in the population. East, West, North, South. It makes no difference. It is a minority of people. Sometimes it is the architect, but not always. In my case, yes, I push, but I seek the input of developers, bankers, institutions, operators, etc. who have the same thoughts and ideas. I work very well with Barry Sternlicht, Steve Witkoff and Nadim Ashi, people who have that kind of a thought process and vision.

PROFILEmiami: Can you explain how you developed your relationship with Nadim Ashi and the Four Seasons properties he has developed?

Kobi: Nadim was originally not a developer or builder. He brings the canvas and asks, “What can you do?” He purchased one of my buildings in foreclosure, the Capri, before I designed Four Seasons Surf Club for him. I designed Four Seasons Surf Club in a way that helps make the property successful for him, but also really creates value, and most important created value through historical preservation within the town of Surfside. Four Seasons Surf Club is in Surfside, and there was pushback to call it The Surf Club in Miami Beach, or the Surf Club in Bal Harbour—everyone has their visions and desires of what they want to be. People told me that Surfside was going to be a complete failure, it is the armpit of Miami Beach. You drive through it and it is not as nice as Bal Harbour. Even people on Indian Creek.

The Surf Club used to be a beach club for people that lived in Indian Creek. People would go to the beach, then play a little golf or party at the club, then go to Bal Harbour Marina and get in their yacht and sail out through Haulover Inlet and head down to Havana, Cuba. The minute you understand the history and how rich the history was 100 years ago, you realize that you are just a single designer who has to think “What are you trying to make?” or “What are you trying to create?” It really is the anchor of the direction of that community.

PROFILEmiami: How does the buyer differ from someone who wants to be in an urban city center, like Miami WorldCenter, as opposed to someone who wants to be in a more beach lifestyle location such as The Four Seasons at the Surf Club or Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale?

Kobi: That is a sophisticated question that must be analyzed on multiple levels. People who live in Fort Lauderdale may not have a desire to live in Miami, and vice-versa. This gives you an opportunity to really create a unique destination of a residence for people who want to, for example, live in Fort Lauderdale. The minute you understand that, you will understand that people will live in a town like Surfside if you give them the right property. People will actually buy in the building you are building if you give them what they want, even if it was desolate before. It is my duty, my responsibility to provide them with the product that they want.

In Fort Lauderdale I was able to do that. I was able to have a block on the city’s 50-yard line with great views of the Atlantic Ocean, phenomenal views to the West and Southwest looking towards Downtown Fort Lauderdale and the historic part of Las Olas and the river. It is a great location. If we have a brand like Four Seasons—which was also the anchor of The Surf Club—as well as having one of the best locations in the city, when combined it creates one of the best locations in perpetuity.

We designed Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale so that the land, which is the most valuable commodity that we have, belongs to the community. We have lush landscaping and corner parks and linear parks so that the public can come and sit and enjoy their coffee in the morning or dinner at night. Anyone can come to the building and enjoy the urban fabric of it. We have both indoor and outdoor experiences.

PROFILEmiami: What other features did you use that were unique when designing The Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale?

Kobi: We floated the building up in the air and created semi-private spaces for the hotel and its guests. The hotel guests have a separate entry and the residential units also have their own separate entry. We created an environment of privacy that gets more public and semi-public as you go around the building. We were able to do that because we made the building sustainable and resilient by taking the demand for the parking, and instead of floating it up in the air as a louvered parking garage, we buried it underneath. That freed up the land to make the public and semi-public spaces, which also freed up the building to float above the landscaped marble deck that Fernando Wong created. It makes for really nice, three-dimensional urban landscaping with functional gardens and indoor-outdoor spaces. On top of the public spaces, we were then able to create a lanai deck, which is the pool for the hotel and the residences. That also allowed us to have the pool out towards the ocean in a way that mimics the bow of a ship. The geometry of the design adds a nautical feel to the building.

We also made sure to provide panoramic views not only towards the ocean—which at night is just black—but also to the city side, which at night is vibrant and lit up. The building is pretty sculptural so it has a unique feeling. As opposed to being rigid and geometric, it is free flowing and takes inspiration from the nautical sand dunes and the waves of the ocean. It is a more environmentally sustainable and resilient building, especially as the shape allows for the winds and tropical breezes to blow around and surround the building in a gentle fashion so when you are on the terraces it is enjoyable. People want to appreciate the environment and the Florida weather. I think it all comes together to make Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale one of the best buildings to live in, and it will continue to be.

PROFILEmiami: You are now involved in the redevelopment of The Raleigh Hotel in South Beach with Michael Shvo, can you give us some insight into what you are building over there?

Kobi: Michael Shvo hired me a bit over a year ago to look at the Raleigh Hotel, which itself is already a beautiful piece of architecture that Michael already appreciates. We met there and discussed why many of the previous owners and their past projects at The Raleigh had failed. Michael is a great visionary and saw the neighboring Richmond and The South Seas Hotels, which are not the nicest looking buildings architecturally speaking in modern terms. They were gorgeous at one time, and they were designed by a great architect named Dixon. When he built them they were beautiful. Over time they changed them and different designers updated them; thus, the original charm was lost, and with those changes the original value of the buildings were lost.

After discussing, Shvo went ahead and purchased the adjacent Richmond and The South Seas Hotels, which allowed me to create a master plan known as the Raleigh Master Plan. We went to the city and explained to them that bringing back the splendor of the original structures would restore the properties to their original glory. Instead of just encumbering the development rights, which disengages the design and the DNA of the property, we created a new tower closer to the ocean while restoring the original structures. This harkens back to the way I love to design property, in which you enter the original structure and, as you walk through the building, you are greeted by the old and get a feel for the history of the property before walking into the new. In the Raleigh Master Plan, you walk through the original structures, then out to a historical landscaped garden and pool before arriving at the new tower, which is behind the Richmond and South Seas Hotels and becomes part of the environment. The new structure will in essence float over what we call The Raleigh Gardens, which allows you to appreciate the land; again, the land is the most valuable commodity that we have. You create the value of the architecture by understanding the value of the history and the land.

My job as an architect is to create and think back to our forefathers who were unique and special themselves, whether we have discovered that already, or we are yet to discover that. That is my job as a space-maker and a designer. I not only create value for my client, not only for the community, but also for the end user. The person who will spend a good chunk of their quality time at the property.

PROFILEmiami: Any last words? How about thoughts on your legacy?

Kobi: I don’t really think about a legacy myself. I think that we go through this world like sand; if people remember you, then you are blessed. I just really love what I do. As my wife would say, I would do it for free. We joke that she works in the office to make sure I don’t do it for free. My two most important projects that I have, one I have been working on for 24 years and one for 18 years, are my sons. If I can help sculpt who they are, and assist them, and be there for them, that is really my biggest enjoyment. I love what I do and do not have a reason to retire. It’s not like I want to stop so I can go fishing or golfing—if I want to do that, I go do it anyway. I get self-enjoyment by hearing what people want, and being able to give that to them. To make people happy in their homes is what I enjoy. It gives me a sense of fulfillment, and that is really important.

About Kobi Karp:

Kobi Karp is the Founder and Principal of Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design, Inc (KKAID). Kobi Karp founded the firm in 1996 and has been the Principal-in-Charge of design since that time. KKAID is a full-service architectural and interior design firm providing a vast array of services, ranging from the design of large-scale, high-rise condominium and hospitality projects to intimate, small-scale low-rise residential and commercial structures. His restoration design techniques have contributed to a renaissance in one of this country’s most cherished areas, Miami Beach’s Art Deco District which is internationally recognized around the world.

Kobi Karp has developed expertise in design over the last 20 years, working with a wide range of project types, sizes, complexities, and budgets. It is through this last quarter century working in warm weather climates that KKAID has garnered international acclaim and been selected to spearhead numerous resort projects. Developers and builders in the Caribbean, Black Sea region, and the Middle East have relied on the firm for their design eye and planning.

Kobi Karp is a recognized member of the American Institute of Architects, honored for his award-winning designs and buildings and he is a licensed Professional Architect in 9 states and in Abu Dhabi (UAE). His firm has been featured in renowned national and local publications based on their major contributions in the preservation of historical areas.

Le Sirenuse Restaurant & Champagne Bar at The Surf Club The Latest Permanent Closure Due To COVID-19

COVID-19’s impact on the restaurant industry and commercial real estate is beginning to show its ugly face. Just several years after their well received March 2017 opening, Le Sirenuse Restaurant & Champagne Bar at The Surf Club has permanently closed its doors citing the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Surfside location was the first Le Sirenuse location outside of Positano, Italy, where the original restaurant is located at Hotel Le Sirenuse. Le Sirenuse Restaurant & Champagne Bar at the Surf Club was located in The Four Seasons Hotel & Residences at The Surf Club, at 9011 Collins Ave. The ultra-luxury hotel-condo development was developed by Fort Partners, led by Nadim Ashi and delivered in 2017. The Surf Club Restaurant by Thomas Keller, which is also located at The Four Seasons Hotel & Residences at The Surf Club, remains open.

The Surf Club has been an integral part of the cultural history of Miami Beach since its inception as a private social club in the 1930's. The Four Seasons branded redevelopment led by Fort Partners broke ground in March 2014. The building features a 77 room hotel and 150 residences across three glass towers, two of which are residential and one hotel.