hospitalitystyle.com

(August 2010) posted on Wed Aug 18, 2010 EDT

Philippe Starck to design updated interiors, new restaurants at second SLS locale

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South Beach's iconic Ritz Plaza Hotel will soon undergo a major renovation and rebranding. Owner SBE says it is moving ahead with plans for designer Philippe Starck to update the hotel's guest rooms and relaunch the property as the SLS South Beach in spring 2012.

SBE, Sam Nazarian's Los-Angeles-based luxury hospitality, real estate development and lifestyle company, says Starck's design for the hotel “will feature a stunning surrealistic feel highlighted by a white-on-white palate with limited accents from carpeting, stone or artwork. Perfectly suited for a luxurious yet vibrant beach experience, the project will mark Starck's … return to South Beach, where his 1995-designed Delano remains the market standard.”

SBE announced plans for the Starck-designed SLS chain two years ago, and debuted the concept at SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, a Starwood Luxury Collection Hotel. “SLS in Los Angeles is a full boiling bucket of energy made of life, vision, creativity, intelligence, fertile surprises, love, tenderness and sexiness, but also great food and wine,” says Starck. “It is called a modern miracle. But who said that miracles happen only on the West Coast? The new SLS South Beach shall be another huge bucket of sparkling energy, but with sea, sun and sand.”

In addition to updating the Ritz Plaza's 132 rooms, SBE plans for the site include constructing 10 new luxury pool-side bungalow suites, opening an 8,000-sq.-ft. Hyde Lounge and adding two Starck-designed restaurants: The Bazaar by Jose Andres and Katsuya.

Originally built in 1939 under renowned South Beach architect L. Murray Dixon, the Ritz Plaza features a rooftop architectural design depicting a lantern reaching to the sky and is the tallest art deco structure in South Beach.