Penthouse 706: An Art Collector’s Paradise

To fully understand the allure of Penthouse 706 of One Ocean , you must understand the Miami neighborhood it occupies, says  Oren Alexander , the Douglas Elliman agent representing the home. Surrounded by water on three sides, and the site of a major investment by risktaking visionaries, South of Fifth (named for its location, south of South Beach’s Fifth Street) has emerged in recent years as one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods—commanding the highest prices in all of Miami. Rethinking Carl Andre Trabun (1977) by Aldo Chaparro “It became a real neighborhood because of the walkability to its restaurants, and the fact that you can keep a boat in the marina and walk right to it,” Alexander says. The high-rise buildings that were developed here in two separate booms solidified the appeal, he says. “And this penthouse was designed for Jorge Pérez, the developer who pioneered this neighborhood.” One Ocean—the curvilinear building whose floor-to-ceiling windows and wraparound terraces have endless views—was Pérez and his Related Group’s last project in South Beach, Alexander says, “and he built the penthouse for himself.” There are, in fact, eight penthouses in One Ocean, but Penthouse 706’s exposure (it’s situated in the easternmost curve of the building, closest to the water, and overlooking only the single-story Nikki Beach club) provides beach views from every room. Left to right:  Lingham by Claudio Bravo; Untitled (195L) by Philipp Fröhlich; Counter by Trevor Bell And while this home was built to celebrate Miami’s natural beauty, it is above all a showcase of Pérez’s enthusiastic promotion of the city as an international art capital. The Miami Art Museum was renamed the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) after his initial donation of $40 million and Latin American art, followed by 200 pieces from his Cuban art collection. This year alone he announced two major annual unrestricted art awards for artists selected by PAMM—his answer to the Turner and Hugo Boss prizes. Study for Color Study (DreamsMemories) VI by Spencer Finch Among the artists in his own collection are Frank Stella and Helen Frankenthaler (last year he gifted a Joan Mitchell triptych to PAMM for its 35th anniversary). Pérez is passionate about living with and being surrounded by art—a philosophy that’s evident in the living, breathing gallery space that is One Ocean’s PH 706. Left to right: Dónde Dormir (Anahuacalli dia) and Dánde Dormir (Palau I) by Eugenio Ampudia The penthouse comes furnished (with the exception of Pérez’s impressive art selections), which makes the home ideal for a buyer looking for the ultimate turnkey situation. The interior, a blend of sleek white interiors warmed up with a masterful mix of textures and furnishings by designer Sharon Rauvola, is an ideal canvas for another major art collector. Famed landscape designer Enzo Enea, who did the outdoor spaces for the building itself, created what Alexander calls “one of the most ideal rooftops in all of Miami.” With its elevated Jacuzzi, full kitchen, and unusual vantage point, it offers the ability to see the world from a place of unsurpassed privacy. “This is for the person who wants to come to Miami and live the ultimate lifestyle—to walk two minutes to the best restaurants, and then two minutes to the beach, and on the other side, the marina,” Alexander says. —by Andrea Bennett —Photography by Kris Tamburello Learn more about PH 706.