Ritz Carlton Residences at Sunny Isles Beach
Gaggenau Luxury Comes to Florida
Edgardo DeFortuna, president, founder and CEO of Fortune International Group, knows about tastes in a broad variety of luxury markets across the globe. There’s one constant. “European brands are what sophisticated buyers appreciate,” he says. One of the firm’s most recent projects, the Ritz Carlton Residences at Sunny Isles Beach, offers “only exquisite finishes, furnishings, fixtures and appliances” – and that’s why Gaggenau was specified for these stunning homes.
Each of the units, ranging in size from 1,605 to 3,640 sq. feet, afford breathtaking views of the South Florida landand-sea-scape. “Outdoor living and the blending of spaces was critical, especially within the top tiers of the building,” notes DeFortuna. Those top tiers offer spacious terraces that create the vibe of the deck of a massive luxury yacht – albeit one that’s perched in the clouds. This masterpiece in exterior architecture, designed by Bernard Fort-Brescia of Arquitectonica, triumphs with a curvilinear structure brought about by the desire to afford all top floors with outdoor spaces. The interior design is by Italian designer Michele Bönan, in collaboration with the design team at the Fortune Group, including Ana Cristina Defortuna.
“The goal was to create spaces that were maximized and pushed the architectural concept,” he continues, “not the other way around. The result is a spectacular building where the form really did follow functional requirements.”
And the appliances his team chose for the building mirror that design philosophy. “Gaggenau not only delivers perfection in performance, but also newness of features – attention to the little details – both in the design and performance that sophisticated buyers crave.”
“Our clients don’t really know what they want until they see it – it’s on us to bring a building like this to the next level of greatness.”
That’s why DeFortuna and his team take seriously the mission of appointing their buildings with only the best. “We, ourselves, must have discerning taste to find the most distinct, special and cultivated spaces; we scour the globe --- especially European trade fairs --- to discover the things we know our clients will cherish. Understanding our customer lifestyle, in effect living it ourselves, is critical to our ability to deliver; Gaggenau is always a part of the experience.”
