Visionaries

On May 13, 1931, Giuseppe Cipriani opened Harry’s Bar on the first floor of an abandoned rope warehouse off a dead end in Piazza San Marco, Venice. At 50 square meters, it appeared to be a typical “cozy” Venetian restaurant, but with the careful attention to detail and perfectly proportioned furniture, glasses and cutlery Harry’s Bar was anything but typical. Unchanged since 1931 and now a National Landmark, its famously relaxed atmosphere, great food and warm service have catered to a very eclectic clientele that has included through the years Hollywood legends, royalty, artists and people from all over the world. It has been constantly imitated but never reproduced.

In the 90 years since and with three generations of Cipriani family members leading the growth, Arrigo, Giuseppe and his sons Ignazio and Maggio, Cipriani has developed into an international hospitality brand, with restaurants, landmarked event spaces, luxury residential, hotels and private membership clubs around the world including Venice, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Monte Carlo, Ibiza, Mexico City, Dubai, Riyadh, Las Vegas and the upcoming Punta del Este, Milan, Jeddah, Istanbul, and Doha.

The timeless values of love for service, lack of imposition, quality of products and luxury in simplicity are still valid today as they were in 1931.

1508 London is a design studio specializing in private residential, hospitality and multi-unit developments as well as yachts and product design. Born out of the idea of perfection in design, our name is derived from the year in which a then unknown artist named Michelangelo, armed with a pencil, pitched to, and got commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint the frescoes at the Sistine Chapel after drawing a perfect circle freehand. Deeply rooted on a collaborative approach, our designs are derived from measured principles, inspired by history, geography, and the local architectural vernacular. Our expertise extends across all stages of design and construction; from feasibility studies, planning applications, conceptual and detailed design through to monitoring construction on-site, procurement, dressing and hand-over, ensuring each project is finished to the highest level of quality. With offices spreading across four continents 1508 London offers a world leading design service with a global reach.

From its inception in 1977, the firm received almost instant attention and acclaim from critics and the public alike, due to a bold modernism that was immediately identified with a renaissance in Miami’s urban landscape.  Led by Principals Bernardo Fort-Brescia and Laurinda Spear, Arquitectonica continues to push the limits of design with its innovative use of materials, geometry, pattern and color to introduce a new brand of humanistic modern design to the world.  Today Arquitectonica’s practice spans the globe, with projects in 59 countries on five continents.

Internationally renowned designer Tara Bernerd is the founder of the interior architectural practice, Tara Bernerd & Partners. Based in London’s Belgravia, the practice works on a global platform and prides itself on its intelligent approach to interior space-planning and design.

Though each project is unique, Tara Bernerd & Partners’ signature style is one of approachable luxury with an industrial edge and each space possesses a handsome, and ultimately timeless, elegance. Bernerd and her team strive to create a feeling of authenticity within each property by establishing a distinct design DNA that is true to both the location and the people who will make it their home. Whether in a hotel lobby, a restaurant, or a private residence, the team seek to create meaning and connection through a distinct sense of place.

Tara Bernerd and Partners’ projects span the globe, with properties in New York, Miami, LA, London, Hong Kong and beyond. Key clients include Four Seasons, Fort Capital, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Belmond, Starwood Capital, Thompson Hotels, SIXTY Hotels, Palace Hotels and the Berkeley Group.

Australian chef Shaun Hergatt is a Manhattan based, classically trained creative modernist. Renowned for his technically precise cooking and painterly presentations, Hergatt is inspired by childhood memories, nature, art and his daily adventures.

His culinary career began at an early age of 17, when he began a four-year apprenticeship in classical French cuisine at Crystal Twig, a fine dining restaurant in Cairns. In 1997, Hergatt moved to Sydney and became chef de cuisine of The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton, Sydney where he received critical acclaim for his dishes and was awarded “Best Young Chef.” Continuing with The Ritz-Carlton, Hergatt moved to their location in New York City’s Central Park as chef de cuisine, the restaurant was awarded three stars by the New York Times and received a James Beard nomination for “Best New Restaurant.” Hergatt took his culinary skills to Miami and became executive chef at The Setai, a three-star restaurant awarded “Best New Restaurant” from Esquire and in 2008 and 2009, the restaurant placed second in the world on Conde Nast Traveler’s “Gold List.”

In 2009, Hergatt moved back to New York to open his own restaurant, SHO Shaun Hergatt, located in the bustling Financial District. The restaurant received two Michelin stars and a 29 out of 30 Zagat rating and was awarded “Best New Restaurant” by both Esquire and New York Magazine. Hergatt received acclaim for his geographically inspired dishes and was also recognized as “Best New Chef” by New York Magazine. Hergatt opened Juni in 2013, a celebrated fine dining concept that also received a Michelin star.

In 2016, Hergatt opened one of New York City’s first private restaurants at 432 Park Avenue, a residential skyscraper at 57th Street and Park Avenue where he is in charge of the culinary program and FNB for building’s residents and guests.

In October of 2020, Hergatt, executive chef and owner, opened Vestry in SoHo. An American restaurant in one of Manhattan’s most style-forward neighborhoods, featuring seasonally driven dishes, Vestry was greeted with high praise and has been awarded a Michelin star in 2021 and 2022.

In December of 2021, Hergatt opened his first southwestern venture in Las Vegas, Nevada. Caviar Bar, owned and operated by Hergatt, resides inside Resorts World Las Vegas and serves up New American seafood with a focus on world-class caviar. The menu offers fresh seafood and shareable bites alongside delectable entrees and rich desserts.

In 2022, Hergatt opened his first Wood-fired Grill Restaurant, REN. The seasonally driven menu, showcasing the finest and freshest ingredients, features simple yet unique dishes each inspired by Chef Shaun’s travels.

OMA is an international practice operating within the traditional boundaries of architecture and urbanism. OMA is led by nine partners – Rem Koolhaas, Ellen van Loon, Reinier de Graaf, Shohei Shigematsu, Iyad Alsaka, Chris van Duijn, Jason Long, and David Gianotten–and maintains offices in Rotterdam, New York, Hong Kong, and Australia.

Established in 2001, OMA New York is responsible for OMA’s operations in the Americas and Japan and has since overseen the successful completion of several buildings across the United States, including Milstein Hall at Cornell University; Faena Forum in Miami Beach; Pierre Lassonde Pavilion at Quebec National Art Museum; and Audrey Irmas Pavilion in Los Angeles, Tiffany Landmark in New York City, and the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.

Gustafson Porter + Bowman is an award-winning landscape architecture practice which has received public acclaim for creating authentically engaging spaces within a global portfolio.

The development of their design work has continuously pushed the boundaries of what constitutes the field of landscape design and is known for its sensual and sculptural features.

Spanning climate zones, geographical characters, historical and cultural backgrounds, the firms exciting and varied projects include the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial in Hyde Park (London, 2004), Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek (Amsterdam, 2006), Old Market Square (Nottingham, 2007), Parque Central (Valencia, 2019) and the first ever landscape installation at the 11th Architecture Biennale in Venice (2008).

Gustafson Porter + Bowman was established in 1997 as Gustafson Porter, when the acclaimed landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson opened a London office with architect Neil Porter. Mary Bowman joined the practice in 2002. Kathryn, Neil and Mary, together with partners Sibylla Hartel, Donncha O Shea and Eduardo Carranza, are supported by a wider team of landscape architects and architects from around the world.