Welcome to another episode of our serious SLG meetups by Super Luxury group, where we connect with some of the most interesting players in the Luxury market. My name is Alvaro and today we'll be having with us a very special guest. His name is Ralph Choir. He's an architect superstar and co-founder of Choir-Fly Live Fishman, an award-winning architecture and design firm that specializes in tropical, modern Luxury home designs.
Ralph talks about his journey and how he ended up designing some of the most awarded and iconic modern homes in Miami for top celebrities while making an impact in the community. Enjoy. Ralph, my friend. Hey, where are you?
I'm getting it. You? I'm going great. Nothing can go wrong in Miami, right?
That's right. Thank you for joining today. My pleasure. Thank you for having me.
Oh, of course. And Ralph, you know, I was making a little intro about yourself. I mean, you are an architect superstar. You're really bringing the magic into Miami.
Miami is what it is because of you. You're bringing really that tropical, modern Luxury designs to the homes. But the story started way back because, as I can see, your company's been founded since 1983, correct? My company's been around since 1983.
I moved to Miami. I graduated from the University of New York with a Bachelor of Architecture in 78. So I immediately moved to Miami. And I got my license in 1983.
And I immediately started my own firm. I founded very hard to work with other people, four other people, I should say. And some people are meant to work for themselves. So I started my firm in 1983, the year I got registered.
And here we are. Wow. That's an why architecture. Like, how do you end up actually choosing that route?
You know, when I was in high school, I didn't know what I wanted to do. And in my senior year of high school, I had this art class that was mandatory. And I would talk to my professor and with the work, the paintings we were doing and everything. All of a sudden, I got this love for architecture.
I started looking around and reading around. And I went into architecture. Actually, I applied to Pratt fairly late. So I got very lucky that I got in.
That's incredible because I got to tell you, I come from a family where there's five architects, you know, not myself. I actually wanted to become one, but then I went in a different route. But my sister is about to graduate. My father is an architect.
So I really have seen the profession and how hard it is. You definitely did it right because it's been a journey of over many, many years where right now I've seen you feature in many publications, Rob, report, forums, architect, I just like all these different magazines talking about incredible work that you're doing. Let me ask you, like, what was that point of inflection when you actually took off? Like, what was that project?
When you start as an architect with your own firm, you take any job you can. So I was doing work that I'm just disliked. And there were these quasi Mediterranean homes for developers or for people. And I hated it because I came from a modernist background, especially from Pratt.
One day, this developer came to me to do a modern house, which was my big, big break. And so I would go there in the evenings when the house was built and lit up and just admired it. I just couldn't believe it. At that point, modern architecture took off in Miami Beach.
A lot of people started doing it. Some do it right, some do it wrong. And then after that big break, the biggest, what just catapulted me is I did a residence for Alex Rodriguez, the baseball player, in Miami Beach on North Bay Road. And that got so much publicity and it was so beautiful that that's where everything just started taking off.
And it's been terrific since then. You mentioned Alex Rodriguez. I know he just recently purchased another home in Star Island, but what he has been enjoying in Miami has also become a result of what you've been building for him. So that's just a couple of many others.
He actually lives in a house in Ponce Davis that we designed for him. When he sold his Miami Beach residence, we designed another house for him in Ponce Davis and Jennifer Lopez lives there now with him when they visit Miami. And so do Jennifer's kids. I wanted to show here one of the homes that you were talking about because, let me see if I can put it up here.
This one right here, 19 Palm on West and that one right there, incredible. And it's become one of the latest finalists right in the business journals 2020 Structures Awards. It's an interesting home that was designed for a couple from Monaco. What you see there is a picture of a sunken fire pit to the right of it.
You can't see it as a barbecue area with a summer kitchen and a bar. The pool is behind it. You can see the living room is completely open for an indoor outdoor feel. And this house is very unusual in that when you walk in, there's a huge atrium.
So the house has many moments that you can really enjoy. What you gotta say is very unique and it really brings that modern and tropical feeling which is what Miami is all about. So definitely a beauty. And what's the hardest part of coming across this home?
Like how in your profession, what is the hardest part? There's many things that could make it difficult. Number one, the lot can have an odd configuration. And with the zoning code, you have to respect all zoning codes.
So it makes designing a building or a residence very difficult. The second thing is the client's program may be too aggressive. People want what they want. And when they're going to spend this much money, they want to get what they want to get.
So it kind of makes it a little bit more difficult if the program is overemphasized and it makes it more difficult to design. But we tackle all these issues and we get the accessible designs made. Is there any trends that you currently see with everything that is going on? You know, architecture is changed mostly by technology.
Technology. Technologies everything. So my homes are basically mid-century modern in nature and then we warm them up with materials indigenous to the area. So when you talk about trends at one time, sliding glass doors that were impact resistant, you know, we have to meet hurricane codes here.
They used to be eight feet tall. Then they went to nine feet tall and then ten feet tall. Now they're 12 feet. And so that kind of changes the architecture a little bit.
But the biggest change is having a smart home. A home that's energy efficient and reduces the carbon footprint a bit and does many things for you that you can even control around the world from your iPhone even. So that's the biggest, I think that's the biggest change in architecture now that has come and is coming is just basically making homes smarter. Technology.
I mean, it's such incredible thing to see that it's growing so fast. You know, it's so difficult to keep up to it and to implement it in the homes nowadays, it's really a completely life-changer for many, you know, especially nowadays with what's going on. We saw more and more benefit on it. You know, we design our homes with open floor plans and indoor outdoor living that when you open up these vast sliders, when you're inside, you feel like you're outside and when you're outside, you feel like you're inside.
And we want to give the impression that one is coming into an Amman or a Four Seasons Hotel rather than home. We want them to give them a very relaxed feeling, a feeling that they can get away from everything and have the luxuries provided to them. So that's the main goal when we design, especially of course, this aesthetics. But we want to make that person very comfortable and very happy to do their program.
Very nice. Well said Ralph. I mean, just a question. I always like to have the same question, especially to you that you're building such more than tropical homes.
What is luxury to you? Well, luxury comes in many different forms and sizes. I don't know that modern architecture is for anybody, for everybody I should say. It's for most people these days.
But some people may want to go to a Mediterranean, a true Mediterranean home and have all the luxuries that they want. So, and some people like my homes, so they'll get the luxuries. What are luxuries? So, luxury's not only the design of the house and the neighborhood you're in, but what can you do in that house?
How can you live in that house? What can you control to make your life better in that house? So, that's what I mean by luxury. I mean, imagine you're in a master bathroom that faces the bay that all the sliding glass doors open so you feel like when you're in the bathroom, you're actually outside, really on the bay.
And having those views and all of a sudden, with a voice from Manger Shower goes on and things like that, and your shower turns into a steam if you want. Those are luxuries. Luxuries are things that we don't necessarily need in our life, but it would make our life easier. You just told me, Ralph, just by thinking about that voice command and having the ocean views from the bathroom and everything.
That's really right there. So, Ralph, with everything that is going on, I've seen that most people are adapting the spaces in their homes to make that office space, to make that place for the kids where they can have their homeschool, or how is that important to implement in your new designs? Due to our changing world, everybody wants a home office. Some people want a home office that they actually see people, so they want it in the front of the house, so if somebody doesn't have to walk through the house to get into the office.
And some people want it with a view of the water, of the white bay, of the ocean, and so it just depends. And that's their workspace. This is where they're going to do most of their work now. So, it reduces travel, it reduces office space when you have it.
So, that's really one of the things. And of course, playrooms. Playrooms where children can be seen, they're bigger, they're more centrally located, even though they're off the beaten path, either the parents or the caretaker can watch them. So, yes, we are designing the homes for more of, to adapt to today's changing world.
Thank you. Thank you for sharing that. And, Rob, if you have to give some recommendations for those that are looking to build their homes, and they like that concept of modern tropical, what will be our recommendation for you? I think you research your life.
I think research the things that are important to you, where you want things in a residence. You want them in the front. You want them with a view. How many rooms do you need?
What type of rooms do you need? What do you need that house to do for you? And that formulates the program that the architect can really work with the plans. And then, of course, go on to many sites.
You can go on to Google or Pinterest or wherever. See pictures of things you like and show the architect. And even things you don't like that you don't want that architect to, to including their design. So, those are the things that you really should know ahead of time.
And then that will also propel you to see what size home you're going to need, where you want to buy the house. So, those are things that have to be researched. But, step by step, don't just buy a lot blind. Good points.
Or they can just contact you, Ralph. And you just give them the formula. Hey, this is why you need it right there. Absolutely.
Absolutely. And many people do. Many people contact me. And I give them what they should be looking for.
Eventually, they get the right property and we do the house. Getting the recommendation from the experts. So, that obviously helps. And, Ralph, they want to reach out to you to work with you, to find more about how you can help them.
Where can they find you? The best place is to, the best place is to email me. And it's R-Cho-F. And that's R-C-H-O-E-F-F as in Frank Frank at CLF Architects that's CSN Cat, LS and Larry, FS and Frank, Architects is plural with an S at the end.com.
Great, great. That's awesome. And Ralph, so again, I do appreciate your time. I know you're a busy man, especially Miami.
Very demanding. So, again, always a pleasure. I hope to see you soon. And hopefully we can make some good projects together.
Absolutely. I look forward to it. Thank you for having me. All right, Ralph.
Take care and talk soon. And thanks again for everybody tuning in today. We hope you enjoyed it. And remember, embrace it's beautiful success in life.
My name is Alvaro and I'll see you next time.