1675-21 Raleigh Hotel Sept. 10, 2004
André Balasz
Raleigh Hotel
(212) 965-4314
What will this many hurricanes do to future summer seasons in Miami Beach?
No effect. It's a momentary thing.
What is status of Lido Spa? What will be special about it?Is it true that outside-the-room
bathtubs with little attempt at privacy will be provided, and if so, how much use do you
think they'll get. Will nudity be a part of the Lido ambience?
February. There are 50% of the rooms have private outdoor soaking tubs. Screen
and It's going to be called the Standard. We will have soft opening in Dec. then for
season in curtain, etc. Can't see in.
Miami Beach has lived many cycles.. The Raleigh went through many ups and downs.
Right now it's up, do you see any slides in foreseeable future?
Story of the Raleigh; story of singular. Grand old dame of Miami attracted by
remarkable elegance; little bit of graciousness that setsit other properties. Not
overbuilt. Hasn't been exploited by owners. Back area not exploited; balance. Ken
Zarrilli was pioneer with fabulous eye; previous incarnation. Voted by Life to have
most beautiful pool in America. `Social revival as much as physical. Before Delano,
Raleigh was place to be. Ken's personal illness and for years almost died; property
languished. Knew him, approach to buy. I was down in Miami year and half ago,
bought Lido and went to have lunch, called Ken and we got to talking. Emerged he
was ready to sell; partially because of approach used in Chateau Marmont in
Hollywood, which lost its sould and spirit, Kenny respected what happened there—
saw what Raleigh could become again.
In redoing the hotel when you bought it, did you discover any areas of hidden ambience
that you restored?
My approach to hotel like Raleigh is like an archeolioists, looking for hidden
nuances. Can come out from little details...things that have een covered over.
Trying to feel spirit of the place, create design vocabulary to bring that forth. Lots
of little corners of Raleigh, tried to embrace and bring forth. Didn't want to shut it
down. Incremental approach to renovation. Most of public spaces last year,.
What makes Raleigh d(erent than the genre of new hotels such as the Loews or Ritz
Carlton?
Hotels like Loews and Ritz are by deifinition by size,eight times bigger than
Raleigh; very different feel. Once ahead 140 rooms, boutique—quality of service
changes dramatically. Botique hotel phrases applies to nothing other what Europe
in regular hotel.
Litle shops where owner has point of view, caters to select audience— in retail sense.
That's what means in Hotel sense. Ritz or Lowes is department store. That's
difference. Nothing to do with decoration.
In an interview with the Herald in March you told Lydia Martin that by fall your Raleigh
rooms would be redone in "Old Havana"style? What does that mean?
I did not know either. Catch-all phrase. A good hotel always captures spirite of
where it is, city, neighborhood,works with psychology of architrecture. In this case,
soul of Miami is its Latino heritage and spirit. In envisioning vocabulary to bring
forth from Raleigh, sounds like Latin glamour of 50s, international chic lifestyle.
Does anyone above the age of 35 have a place in today's Miami Beach?
I think so. Age is no longer particularly good. I think 65 year olds dressed like 28
year olds, more matter of spirit, not of age. Certain spirit to Miami Beach.More
broadly defined today than 10 years ago. Miami Beach deeper and diverse than
universe defined by hotels. Next to them hotels with vastly different cultures. Much
younger today than it was; fashion of what's happening in most urban centers.
Think it's quite mainstream.